Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Hannah Keife

January 28, 2013 by 4dancers

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

I began dancing at a very young age; however, I did not realize how passionate I felt toward the art until I was about 13 years old. Before I joined my current dance studio, Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance, I was dancing at a studio that had a very negative vibe. I was never excited to dance and was scared of the teacher. When I joined Nuevo, my love for dance grew tremendously and I immediately knew it was my home.

2. What do you like best about dance class?

What I like best about dance class is the satisfaction you feel knowing you did your best. When I am in class, it is the time for me to train, practice, but also have fun. If I ever have something on my mind then I can go into class and let out all of my feelings. I understand that no one is judging me and I can dance just because I love it.

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

Student Spotlight: Anya-Jae Brown

January 7, 2013 by 4dancers

This week’s Student Spotlight features Anya-Jae Brown from the School at Steps…

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

I first became involved with dance when I was about 6 years old. I had seen the Rockettes perform in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for the first time and I was absolutely mesmerized by how beautiful they were. After the show, I came out of the theater kicking my legs and swore that one day I would be up on that stage!

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

My favorite part about dance class is the environment. I am able to work with people who share the same passion for dance that I have. I also enjoy learning from other dancers in my classes. Having the opportunity to watch others dance allows me to learn from them and expand my personal style and skill set.

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

The hardest part about dance for me is probably adjusting to corrections. I find this most difficult because I sometimes struggle to forget how to do something after I first learn it a specific way. Therefore, when my teacher gives me a correction, it can take a while before I apply it correctly and master it.

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?

The advice I would give to other dancers is to never give up and always try your hardest. Nothing is impossible if you try.

5. How has dance changed your life?

Dance has given me an outlet to better express my feelings. I have gained confidence in the studio, which allows me to perform better in school and better express myself with friends and family. Dance has also changed my life in the sense that it has given me more to do, so I am always busy.

The School at Steps is a training ground for students, ages 2-18, who are interested in exploring various dance styles, as well as for those students already focused on a particular discipline. The school offers an Academic Year and Summer Program, with classes in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, theater dance, hip hop, and Pilates. Students at the school are also given performance opportunities, and workshops on dance and career-related topics. Beginning with the Young Dancers Program and continuing through the most advanced pre-professional classes, The School at Steps provides children with an opportunity to explore the word of dance, to learn and experiment with technique, and to enrich their appreciation for the various forms of the art.

Student Spotlight: Luke Spalding

December 17, 2012 by Ashley David

ballet dancer practicing — Luke Spalding

Today’s Student Spotlight features Luke Spalding from Chicago Ballet Arts…

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

I became involved in dance primarily through my older sister. I remember going to these little creative movement classes with her around Evanston before my mom learned about Chicago Ballet Arts. My sister started taking ballet there when I was in kindergarten and really liked it so when I got to first grade my parents signed me up and I have stuck with dance ever since.

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

Grande allegro always has been the part of class I like best. It is just so fun and exhilarating to finally travel a lot and take up the entire room. Also I love the jumps that come with it that are unique to only that part of class. Flying through the air and reaching the extremes of motion is definitely a feeling that is unique to dance.

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

The hardest part of dance definitely is the long hours that it entails. It is very challenging to find the balance and self-discipline to finish homework, attend class, and do any other activities or extra curriculars after going to school. Junior year has been especially hard academically, which has made it more difficult to attend as many dance classes as I would like to attend this year.

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?

The advice that I would give to other dancers would be to really stick with it especially for other guys. I admit I really did not enjoy dancing after doing it for a couple years when I was in elementary school. I thought ballet class was extremely boring at times. But gradually I began to love dancing and to enjoy taking class in a different but better way than when I was little and starting out.

5. How has dance changed your life?

Dance has changed my life in so many ways. Going to summer intensives and dance events and performances allows one to meet so many passionate teachers and so many fellow dancers that are just so much fun to be around. In addition to the great people that you meet, dancing has made me very fit and extremely conscious of my body’s movements. It also has made me very conscious of my body’s aches and pains and has forced me to be able to deal with and avoid the injuries that are ever present in a dancer’s life.

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