INTERVIEW: NY high school students find their choreographic voice
Photo: Young Dancemakers Company will perform through Aug. 3 in New York City. Photo courtesy of the company / Provided by press agent with permission.
The Young Dancemakers Company, under the leadership of founding artistic director Alice Teirstein, has returned for its 24th season, touring different venues around New York City and presenting routines choreographed and performed by New York high school students. The programming runs through Aug. 3 in theaters and auditoriums in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.
Tickets are free, but reservations are required.
At each performance, audience members will have the chance to experience the next generation of dancemakers, all working under the tutelage of some impressive names, including Teirstein, Jessica Gaynor, William Catanzaro, Jonathan González, guest artist Dance Heginbotham and Bridgman|Packer Dance.
Participating in the Young Dancemakers Company is tuition-free for the student dancers and choreographers, and they prepare themselves for this week of performances by going through a variety of workshops.
The students this year are from Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts, Wadleigh Secondary High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Humanities and the Arts High School, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, Talent Unlimited High School, University Neighborhood High School, Brooklyn International High School, John Bowne High School and International High School at Prospect Heights.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Teirstein about the special week of performances. She has been involved in New York City dance since the 1970s and served as a teacher at the Fieldston School in the Bronx. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
For someone who is unfamiliar with Young Dancemakers Company, how would you describe your mission?
Our mission is wrapped in our title: Young Dancemakers Company. We are a performing arts ensemble composed of NYC dance students from public schools who are creating a show of their own original works and offering it in free performances citywide, under the direction of professional artists. I conceived and developed the program throughout its past 24 seasons, and over the past decade with the help of Jessica Gaynor, YDC co-director and my longtime collaborator.
Working intensively as a teacher of teens, I became aware of their need for full expression of their thoughts and lives. Having taught for many years at the Fieldston School, I observed the emotional and artistic outlet that dance provides for teenagers. The success of my dance program at Fieldston led me to develop this idea and expand it into Young Dancemakers Company, as a form of expression for New York City teens.
Original is the key word for what our program strives to achieve; it describes both the creative choreographic process and the music, composed for each work by established professional composers — a rare and unusual collaborative opportunity for teens; this part of the program is curated by YDC Music Director William Catanzaro. The resultant presentation of approximately 10 short student works and a repertory piece by our guest artist for this season, Dance Heginbotham, is performed citywide from July 24 through Aug. 3.
What can audience members expect on your upcoming tour?
Our 2019 tour will have original choreography by teen dance students, performed to original scores by professional composers. Audiences can expect to appreciate profound thoughts and feelings from teenagers, and to delight in their newfound artistry.
Each season the pieces are different, reflecting what is topical to the teen artists in the company. This season, topics include independence and finding one’s own voice, having the courage to ask for help, the consequences of bullying, searching for happiness, one student’s journey from the Caribbean to NYC, and the headlined story of the Exonerated Five — all sensitive issues. YDC encourages the choreographers to develop original movement created from within, beginning with improvisation. Each piece is unique in terms of concept, style and dance vocabulary.
Why is it important to present dance in several boroughs of New York City?
The company is composed of teens from [a] variety of cultural backgrounds; we find them in all boroughs in New York City. It is important to unite teenagers with their emerging creative energies and help them share their love of dance with a variety of audiences.
What are some of the qualities you are looking for in your performers?
We are looking for open-minded young people, interested in sharing their ideas and creative content through choreography and performance. We welcome advanced dance students as well as bold newcomers, who would benefit from the opportunity to choreograph and perform their own work and are ready to commit to rigorous, intensive training. We interview each applicant. At the call-back auditions we also focus on group work. We are thankful to the wonderful NYC public high school teachers who encourage their students to audition for YDC.
YDC holds auditions annually in March. The dancers take a technique class, given by the guest repertory artist, and present a solo with the following instructions: Create a NEW short SOLO STUDY including the following: walk, run, turn, jump, fall, quickness, slowness, stillness, balance, off-balance, smooth, sharp, level changes. Be ORIGINAL. Approach this composition assignment with your own interpretation, idea and images. Do not use music. And have a good time with it!
When did you first fall in love with dance? Is it a love that goes back to your childhood?
I fell in love with dance as a very young child, dancing in the living room to radio music. It grew to a passion as I enrolled in classes and, of course, proceeded into professional performances. Each time I step onto the stage, I feel the honor and privilege of sharing something of my art.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Young Dancemakers Company has a week of performances in several venues throughout New York City. Click here for more information and free reservations.
