nuevo school of contemporary dance

Student Spotlight: Emma Hemsley

October 5, 2012 by 4dancers

Today meet Emma Hemsley – a dancer who is originally from Haiti…

nuevo school of contemporary dance — Emma Hemsley, Photo by Chapman & Dillingham Photography

My name is Emma Hemsley. My Haitian name is Emmana Jules. I am a Freshman in High School. I am home schooled. I was born in Haiti and adopted when I was 2 years old. My birth Mother passed away when I was one year old and I was brought to an orphanage in Port Au Prince.

My parents signed me up for dance when I was 3 years old.

Every year I wanted to dance more and more. Last year I started taking classes at Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance. This year I joined the company. Dance has been a way for me to express myself.

I would like to encourage young dancers to have faith in their skills and not give up on the dream of dance.

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

When I came to the US, I had a lot of energy. My parents wanted to keep me busy and my older sister worked at a local dance studio and suggested a Tap/Ballet combo. I barely spoke English at the time and it helped me to focus, and I have been in love with dance ever since.

I just joined Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance with Francisco Gella and it has been such an amazing experience. Learning so much about technique and the art of dance. Seeing dance from a Concert point of view is so inspiring to me.

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

Student Spotlight: Steffi Acain

May 14, 2012 by 4dancers

Today we have another “student spotlight” to share with you. Meet Steffi Acain from Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance….

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

When I was four years old my parents thought I was very shy and awkward around people my own age because I was an only child. So to remedy my lack of social skills, they enrolled me into my first dance class at The Dance Spot. My parents thought it would just be something fun for me to do after school. But after those first initial years, I think they started to take notice that I actually held promise and passion for dance. I then started competing at dance competitions, performing at recitals, attending various intensives, and taking classes at other studios in order to expand my dance vocabulary.

Currently, I am eighteen years old and a member of the Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance. I train about four to five hours a day, five days a week, in styles ranging from ballet and jazz to contemporary and hip hop. After having dance in my life for so long, my love and appreciation for the art form has grown every single day. And if it were up to me to judge, I would say that I’m not as socially awkward as I used to be.

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

For me, I think just having that opportunity to take class so that I can learn and grow more as a dancer is my favorite aspect. One of the most important lessons that I’ve learned from dance is that you get what you put into it. Taking class can be nothing but help to a dancer because it is one of those rare times when mistakes are forgivable and expected. This is the time when you can experiment with what works on your body and truly explore who you are & can be as a dancer. Class can only be what you make of it. So although it is important to be physically present, you will only truly benefit if you are mentally and emotionally invested as well.

Nuevo 1 — 'Palladio' with choreography by Francisco Gella, Steffi Acain - back row center

Taking class is such an amazing experience because that is when I not only get to enjoy dancing myself, but also watching my friends dance and learning from them. Seeing different people interpret the same music and choreography in their own way is very eye opening since it shows the universal language of dance. The classroom experience is so real because you can’t hide behind make-up, costumes, or stage lights. It’s simply just dance at its most authentic state.

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

Personally, the hardest part is staying motivated and focused. Being in high school, especially as a senior, there have been so many times when I have let my mind wander off because I was worried about where I was going to be next year and what I was going to be doing. I would especially get even more anxious when trying to figure out how dance was going to fall into the equation. However, when I stopped thinking about problems that I could not fix at the moment and started focusing on what I was doing right then and there, that is when I got the most out of the class. Fortunately, I have an outlet like dance that allows me to temporarily forget about my problems and express how I am feeling through movement.

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?

My advice to dancers would be to always have faith in yourself. As dancers, we are constantly being compared and ranked against one another. It’s then that we begin to feel self-conscious of our looks and even question our own abilities. But despite what a judge at a local competition or a random bystander may think, it’s always important to have confidence in yourself and what you do. Their opinion is just one out of many people watching. It’s only natural that we are drawn to specific dancers more than others. By letting a couple of negative comments affect how you perceive yourself, you are not only doing an injustice to yourself but also to the many hours you have worked and trained to get to where you are.

Basically, just remember to believe in yourself. Even if you may not have the best technique or you’re not as skinny as the dancer standing next to you, I think everyone is drawn to a performer who possesses confidence. Before you expect people to believe that you are good, you have to believe that you are good enough and worth their attention. Although it is easier said than done, I think believing in yourself -both onstage and off- is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself.

5. How has dance changed your life?

Dance has been such a positive influence on my life. I definitely would not be the same person without it nor can I imagine my life without dance. Aside from growing as a dancer in the studio, dance has helped me grow as a person in the real world. From dance, I’ve learned what hard work, dedication, and perseverance can bring. The work ethic that has been instilled in me at the studio has also helped me succeed in school and other activities. Most importantly, the friends and relationships that I have made through dance are ones that I will carry even after the stage lights go down. My entire dance experience thus far will forever have a lasting impression on me.

Student Spotlight: Abby Roque

March 12, 2012 by 4dancers

For our Student Spotlight today we have Abby Roque–a 14 year old conservatory and pre-professional company student at NUEVO School of Contemporary Dance.

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

I started dancing at the age of 3 in my parents’ hopes of helping me overcome my shyness. I started with one creative movement class an hour a week. I performed at my very first dance recital a few months later, and then joined the competition team the following season. After eleven years of performances, competitions and training, I am still very much in love with dance. I am currently training a maximum of five hours a day, five days a week after school, and also take dance p.e. at my high school.

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

I’ve always looked forward to improving my dance skills, and I know the only way to do it is to train long and hard in dance classes. When I’m in class, I try to focus on the lesson, striving hard to perfect a skill or overcome a weakness. I hang on to my teachers’ every word, advice, or critique. The classes motivate me to keep working, to keep improving, and to look forward to witnessing the results of my hard work.

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

Time management is probably the hardest part of dance for me. Having to juggle my school work, family life, dance, and still have fun with friends outside of dance is something I constantly work on. Something or someone always has to give. I stay up late every school night to make sure my grades don’t suffer, and I know my friends are probably sick of hearing me say, “I can’t, I have dance.” But that’s just the way it is and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

WK5X7809 — Student Spotlight: Abby Roque

4. What advice would you give to other dancers?

Never give up no matter how difficult it may seem. There is always a way for you to achieve your goals if you put your mind to it, but realize that it doesn’t come overnight. You have to train and put in the hours in dance classes day in and day out. You are your strongest competitor so don’t bother comparing yourself to others. Work hard with unwavering determination and passion, and the results can only be exceptional.

5. How has dance changed your life?

Dance has been nothing but a positive influence in my life. It has helped me express my emotions more openly through movement and has boosted my self confidence. I have met a number of life long friends in dance whom I can rely on at all times. Dance has kept me physically fit and helped me maintain balance in my life. It has taught me commitment, team work, and passion for the art.

10 Questions With…Francisco Gella

February 6, 2012 by 4dancers

Our “10 Questions With…” feature today is with Francisco Gella–and we’ll be hearing more from his students (and other students) soon when we debut our new feature, “Student Spotlight” down the line….in the meantime, get to know this talented man a bit…

1. How did you become involved with dance?

I was a freshman at the University of Washington and had just recently quit gymnastics. I decided to take a Dance 101 class just for fun. What was supposedly just for fun ended up being a life altering experience. That beginning dance class instilled a love for dancing that I knew as a child but never really pursued. It was the beginning of an amazing journey that continues to this day.

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

Currently I have been teaching and choreographing all over the North American continent. I also founded and am the current artistic director of Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance which boasts a hybrid curriculum combining the training aspects of the concert dance world with the commercial dance genre. Although I do take class on a regular basis, my professional dance career ended in 2007. It was a choice I made to concentrate more on developing my teaching and choreography skills.

3. What is the best advice you have ever received from a teacher or mentor?

The best advice, which was consistent with many of my mentors and teachers: to not be afraid of being yourself, to be who you are, and to be accepting of your own individual merits both as a person and as an artist. This was important in fully developing the confidence and most important, to truly be comfortable with who you are, without judgement, both in life and on stage.

4. What has been your greatest challenge in dance?

The greatest challenge is to be and truly accept who you are without falling into the trap of always comparing yourself to other dancers/artists. Everyone is different and it is the uniqueness that we each hold that I find to be the most difficult to accept without having to conform to what is trendy, what is acceptable, and what everyone else is doing.

5. What has been your biggest strength as a dancer?

My biggest strength is my total and unconditional love for the art form. This is what has helped me to keep going in the most difficult of situations and especially during times where an individual has to truly face the truth without judgment.

Francisco Photos (by Alex) 012 — Francisco Gella

6. Would you share one of your career highlights?

My most memorable career highlight (I want to make a note that there are several actually), was dancing at the Closing Ceremonies at the 1998 Nagano Olympics in Japan. It was the most amazing experience seeing the entire world come together, watching different races and cultures put their differences aside to celebrate sportsmanship and what makes humanity so beautiful. I was so emotionally high for several weeks after and saw the world in a more hopeful and positive way.

7. What do you think are the most important qualities for a dancer to have?

Although having natural facility can be advantageous, it is important to understand that even without amazing and natural physical gifts, through proper training the body can be changed, developed and adjusted to attain proficient and excellent technique. In addition, I feel another important quality to have is to not be afraid to look at the ugly within oneself and work to make it beautiful. Sometimes we tend to want to hide our flaws and avoid having to take responsibility and fix them. Finally, dancers should never be satisfied. Technique and artistry should always be improved throughout the life span of a dancer. Once you think and feel you are ‘there’ so-to-speak, it is all over. Learning becomes difficult and less satisfying if one thinks they have attained perfection, when in reality there is no such thing.

8. Is there any advice that you can give to young dancers?

To always work hard, to be truly honest with yourself and be realistic with our personal and professional goals. Also: never give-up. Anything is possible if you really want it bad enough and are willing to work hard for it. Finally – never take anything for granted. Be thankful for each and every moment that we are fortunate enough to fully express ourselves through movement. Not everyone is granted this talent.

9. What is it that you love about dance so much?

The physicality of it and the art of it; referring of course to both dancers and choreography that exhibit memorable, unforgettable, and timeless qualities. Dance is a method of expression and a visceral art form that can never be matched because the main instrument used is our own human body. And, in my personal opinion, there is nothing like dancing beautiful choreography to the most amazing piece of music. The combination is pure bliss.

10. What is next for you?

There are several projects upcoming for choreography. I am currently working on a commission for Long Beach Ballet. Now that Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance has become more established and is flourishing, it is now time to concentrate more on my own personal endeavors such as further pursuing choreographic opportunities and to continue to develop my overall skills as a dance educator. The long term goal is to establish both a youth dance collaborative and finally to create a successful professional dance company.

BIO: Francisco Gella’s career as a successful choreographer and dance educator proves that his philosophy of combining the commercial and artistic aspects of the dance world is sought out by many prestigious professional organizations.

Mr. Gella has choreographed for Pennsylvania Ballet’s Shut-Up and Dance production, and has set pieces on PHILADANCO’s Danco on Danco Program, Danco/II, Ballet East of Austin, Texas, Tucson Regional Ballet, Reflections Dance Company of Washington, D.C., Ballet Pacifica, California Ballet, Long Beach Ballet, the University of Utah Ballet Ensemble and the University of Washington Dance Program. Other choreographic credits include two highly acclaimed duets performed at the Laguna Dance Festival directed by Jodie Gates. His work for South Bay Ballet entitled “Configured Echoes” garnered the Best Choreography Award for the Pacific Region at the National Regional Dance America Conference. Francisco choreographed a solo entitled “Tango en Pointe” which was performed for the Presidential Scholars Gala held at the Kennedy Center. Mr. Gella has been a finalist multiple times for the MacCallum Theater’s Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival and he has also created several award-winning contemporary solos for the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition. He was recently awarded the Outstanding Choreographer Award at the 2011 Youth America Grand Prix Competition in Los Angeles. Mr. Gella was the assistant choreographer of Patricia Zhou’s solo featured on Dancing with the Stars.

Mr. Gella has been a guest instructor with SUNY Binghamton Summer Dance Institute, Extravadanza in Montreal, Canada, West Coast Dance Academy, Lula Washington Dance Company and School, California Ballet Conservatory, Ballet Pacifica Conservatory, Festival Ballet, Tucson Regional Ballet, Long Beach Ballet Summer Intensive, California Dance Theater Summer Intensive and the Orange County High School for the Arts. In addition, he taught master classes at numerous prestigious colleges and universities while on tour with the Philadelphia Dance Company. Francisco was on faculty for 4 years with Coastal Dance Rage, co-owners Blake McGrath & Shannon Mather’s dance convention which tours all over Canada and the United States.

Mr. Gella has been a company member with the Philadelphia Dance Company aka PHILADANCO, Repertory Dance Theater of Salt Lake City, UT., Spectrum Dance Theater of Seattle, WA., the Chamber Dance Company, Leaving/Ground Dance, California Ballet and Ballet Pacifica. He was part of the National Choreographers Initiative two years in a row, performed at the Closing Ceremonies in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan, a worldwide broadcasted event, as a principal soloist and was featured in a PBS: Dance in America Special in Daniel Ezralow’s holiday satirical work entitled the “X-mas Philes” (Mr. Ezralow is also the choreographer of Cirque du Soleil’s, The Beatle’s LOVE).

Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, Francisco first began dancing in college at the age of 19 and graduated with a B.A. in Dance from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to dancing, he was a competitive trained gymnast for 8 years.

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