Rebecca H. Walker

Student Spotlight: Jamie Sanderson

February 24, 2013 by Rebecca H. Walker

For our Student Spotlight this week, we are pleased to introduce dancer Jamie Sanderson…

1. Can you tell readers how you became involved in dance?

I first became involved in dance at the age of 14. I was originally involved in amateur productions every year with my local theatre summer project; I then started to look into dance too. I watched a showcase performance by my previous performing arts school and got goose-bumps – I was amazed at what I was watching. I remember thinking to myself, “I want to do that, I want to dance!” – sparking my involvement.

2. What do you find you like best about dance class?
With dance I find that it is really personal. Every movement you do has its own personality: it’s like saying ‘there’s no two people in the world that are identical’ in any single way, because that is impossible. Dance is for you, dance is about you and dance is you. I think the moment you start to dance you find everything you do becomes more expressive and dynamic, and you open yourself up a lot more. It therefore seems that my life is easier now – in some aspects – because I dance.

3. What’s the hardest part about dance for you?
The hardest part of dance is money, however it is a part of dance itself. I think to be involved in dance you need to understand the reality, and if you don’t, you are making more trouble than you need. You need knowledge of the job sector, what is available, and you need to think wisely.

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?
I would say ‘never give up, never stop, just keep dancing’, because to be dancer, you must never stop being involved in dance, in any aspect.

5. How has dance changed your life?
I believe dancing has changed my life as it has allowed me to understand a lot about myself, and others. It has allowed me to express myself and communicate in ways I haven’t learned intuitively. Dance has become an ever-changing life style for me and will continue to be so for a very long time. There is always something new to learn as it is such a hands-on experience, something that I shall never stop striving to grasp.

Jamie is a third year student at Middlesex University studying Dance Studies. He is currently the co-ordinator for MDXdancers – a company enabling dancers to broaden their range of dance styles outside their study programme. Jamie is also part of the MDX Cheer Dance Squad, winning 1^st and 2^nd place respectively at the British Cheerleading Association Nationals in 2012.

Outside of university, Jamie dances with two companies: avoiDance and Kansaze Dance. With avoiDance he has performed two company works at various festivals, and has taught avoiDance company class for students at Middlesex University. Kansaze Dance has seen Jamie perform showcases, and most recently at Resolution! a platform at The Place in London.

Aside from dance experience Jamie has appeared as an extra in the 2009 British film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Student Spotlight: Kelsie Moreno

February 18, 2013 by Rebecca H. Walker

For today’s Student Spotlight we give a warm welcome to dancer Kelsie Moreno…

541446_10150664405691868_611825027_n — Dancer, Kelsie Moreno

1. Can you tell readers how you became involved with dance?

My mom put me in gymnastics when I was 5. I did it for 2 years but because I wasn’t very flexible I didn’t really enjoy it after a while. I tried soccer at 8, but it wasn’t for me. My mom put me in ballet just before my 9^th birthday. I did ballet 1 hour a week for 6 months before I also added jazz. I started taking more classes after that and by the time I was 12 I was competing. Even though I had been competing since I was 12, I didn’t really get into dance or discover my passion for it until I was 16. I am so glad and very grateful that I was put into dance.

When I was 17, my old studio closed down and it left me without a place to dance. I went to another studio for a bit but it just wasn’t the right one for me and I started to question my commitment to dance. I found Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance after seeing them at a dance competition. Once I started taking classes at Nuevo, I rediscovered my passion for dance and why I wanted to be a dancer. Being here has given me the right tools to develop into a much better and well-rounded dancer.

2. What do you find you like best about dance class? [Read more…]

Student Spotlight: Max Azaro

February 11, 2013 by Rebecca H. Walker

In this week’s Student Spotlight, we’d like to introduce you to dancer Max Azaro from Princeton Dance & Theater Studio…

1. Can you tell readers how you became involved with dance?

My mom tells me that I’ve been dancing around the house since I was a toddler. In fourth grade, she started asking me if I wanted to try a dance class, but I refused. Naturally, I thought that dance classes were for girls, so I didn’t really consider it. At the time, I was content with gymnastics which I had been doing for a few years. But as the year went on, her suggestion kept coming back to me and I decided to try a ballet class. I’m not really sure how I came to that decision – maybe I thought something different would be a good idea. My mom took me to a trial class before I had time to change my mind. My first class was a boys’ class with Henri Valendia at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio. I have little recollection of the class, but what I do remember is that I fell in love with ballet instantly.

2. What do you find you like best about dance class?

The part of class I enjoy the most is petite allegro, or small jumps. Even though this is not one of my strengths, I find it particularly fun because it challenges my mind and my body to coordinate at a very fast pace. Sometimes, the quick changes of direction make my brain go numb and my feet get tangled, but a good petite allegro combination makes me determined to do it again and again until I get it right. There is nothing more satisfying than mastering a mind-boggling combination that makes me have to change my position and weight on a dime. Petite allegro is the perfect physical and mental challenge.

3. What is the hardest part about dance for you?

The hardest aspect of dance for me is flexibility. I am not naturally turned out, I don’t have natural splits, and I don’t have perfect feet. I had to work extremely hard to get where I am now, and I still have more work to do. These things don’t feel natural for my body like they do for some dancers, so I have to work much harder to achieve them. Every dancer has strengths and weaknesses. The challenge for me, and probably most dancers, is to train the weakness instead of always working on what comes easy.

4. What advice would you give to other dancers? [Read more…]

Student Spotlight: Ana Ines Estrada

January 21, 2013 by Rebecca H. Walker

For today’s student spotlight, we are pleased to introduce Ana Ines Estrada from Princeton Dance and Theater Studio…

ballerina doing an arabesque — Ana Ines Estrada

1. Can you tell readers how you became involved with dance?

When I was little my father used to correct my hunched posture and the way I walked. When I turned 8 years old he took me to ballet school to correct it. Once I was taking classes I liked it and then, I fell in love.

2. What do you find you like best about dance class?

I like it from beginning to the end. The moment I find myself at the barre and I start the first exercise, I enjoy class.

3. What is the hardest part about dance for you?

The most difficult part of dance is attaining muscular memory and understanding and putting into practice each one of the corrections that I get every day in class and rehearsals.

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?

This is a job that requires lots of effort and energy everyday. Yet as hard as this career may be, it is something magical and unique. Therefore, my advice is that you should have and maintain the passion, dedication, and respect for everything you dance.

5. How has dance changed your life?

I see life in a different way. Everything I do in and outside of ballet, I try to do it the best that I can. Dance has helped me to be self-disciplined and to persevere in every situation, whether it is good, bad or difficult.

Student Spotlight: Morgan Forth

January 14, 2013 by Rebecca H. Walker

Featuring in today’s Student Spotlight is dancer Morgan Forth, recent graduate from Middlesex University.

1. Can you tell readers how you became involved with dance?

Coming from a secondary school where dance was a part of the curriculum, it started off as merely another subject. My true passion for dance came when I was 14 when (dragged by friend) I joined a new boys’ dance group called Alpha Dance. Their first project was the opening ceremony of the Olympics in which they saw an opportunity to get ‘boys into dance’. During this I found a whole new sense of accomplishment and I began to fall in love being able to perform and not quiver to the background as I was used to. I began to feel at home in dance.

2. What do you find you like best about dance class?
Getting lost in the movement has always been my favourite part of class. Not so much that you forget what you are meant to be doing, but just enough that your emotions start to spiral in and develop into a phrase. Becoming one with the movement is genuinely exhilarating.

3. What is the hardest part about dance for you?
The hardest part will always be the little demons that tell me I’m not good enough to be doing this. Suffering from low self-esteem has always been a great obstacle and often damages my belief to progress. It doesn’t normally help when you’re constantly surrounded by others that seem to be able to continue to push and achieve at a higher rate, but you then remember why you love it and things start figuring themselves out again!

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?
One thing is to never let other people dishearten you. You need to always remember why you dance. As soon as that is clear then nothing else will matter because you will know in your core that what you are doing is the right thing. Dance at its base is a freedom of expression, but in order to have this freedom you must have discipline. That is not to say you can’t be immature: some of the greatest pieces came from messing about! But in order to push the boundaries you need to know what the boundaries are.

5. How has dance changed your life?
Dance has given me a sense of purpose, it turned me from an extremely quiet and shy nobody to a quiet and shy person that can perform to hundreds of people and not be scared. It brought me great friends and mentors, people I hope never to lose contact with. It has taken me on tour to the Fringe festival and through playful workshops lead. It constantly reminds me that I can be more and do more, and that if you fall over just do it with style and carry on…no one needs to know.

BIO: Morgan Forth graduated from Middlesex University with First class honours after completing both GCSE and A Level dance at North Leamington School and Arts College. He joined Alpha Dance youth dance company in 2003 and took part in various productions across Coventry and Warwickshire until 2008. Throughout university Morgan had the chance to collaborate with Masters students in their choreographic work and also understudied both male parts in Bertram Ross’ Nocturne. He is currently a company dancer and Administrator with KindredDance, performing at Sifdans festival, at artsdepot London and for eleven.org. In addition to this, he is also a company dancer with Avoidance, touring London and to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012. Morgan is currently beginning to pursue research into the progression of modern dance and the internalising use of breath for the body.

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