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Category Archive: Dance

  1. Pittsburgh Changemaker: Trevor Miles

    We interviewed Trevor Miles, Pittsburgh choreographer, Americorps Public Ally at Public Allies Pittsburgh, and a Community Engagement Fellow at KST. Trevor is a self-proclaimed fashionista, reality television lover, fast food junkie and author of the KST Changemakers blog. Read more about his journey here as this week’s Changemaker!

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    Trevor Miles performing “The Awakening Pt. 1” at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater 

     

    What do you do for the community now and why is it important?

    I currently serve as an Americorps Public Ally at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, working as their Community Engagement Fellow. As a Public Ally, I’ve been teaming up with like-minded individuals for several months, developing a citywide clean-up day for the Homewood neighborhood in Pittsburgh, and other service projects like hosting community discussions. I’ve made so many fascinating connections through the Public Allies Pittsburgh program!

    I’m also currently the Artistic Director of TCDC | Trevor C. Dance Collective, my own youth performing arts group based here in Pittsburgh. Forming this group has been amazing because it allows me to take youth that typically wouldn’t have the opportunity to perform and mentor them, train them, and get them in front of audiences across the city. TCDC isn’t the first team like this that I’ve spearheaded. For seven years prior to TCDC’s creation, I worked with CHANCE (Creating Hope and Newfound Courage Everywhere) based in Clairton, PA. During my seven years with that team, we raised over $10,000 for charities like Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Homeless Children’s Education Fund, Friends of Danang… so many!

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    CHANCE at KST’s East Liberty Celebration with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto

     

     

     

    The really fascinating thing about my work with CHANCE is that we raised money off of pure grassroots methods. We worked eight to ten months putting our shows together, and only charged $3 per ticket for the final event. We sold Sarris Pretzels during the school year to purchase t-shirts for our dance group. The students would be in class all day, then spend hours with me after school creating routines. We put in work. That taught us all discipline, and showed us how to work as a family.

    Operating an organization like CHANCE was a humbling experience for me because it taught me the importance of garnering community buy-in. Clairton is a ‘sports town’, and dance didn’t really exist there before CHANCE kicked that initiative off. I had to get people to believe in our mission so they would come to the shows. Not only that, CHANCE at KST’s Halloween Mayhem performing Zombiji had to get the youth to believe in the power of movement.

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    CHANCE was inclusive—I opened the team up for students K-12 so literally anyone who was interested in helping out could hit the stage, or volunteer as a stagehand or costume decorator. I didn’t want kids to shy away because of a lack of training/dance knowledge. I teach my students not to be afraid to perform because they don’t possess the ‘right’ body type. I look for heart in my dancers. I tell them, “Give me the energy I need, and I can work with you. Go on stage and hit. Give me life.”

    I didn’t have a massive marketing machine behind me when I coached CHANCE. There was no startup budget for us. We had to knock on doors. We had to use word-of-mouth. We faced hurdles because we were operating out of a school district, like scheduling issues, grades, transportation problems, you name it. We were simply a group of 30 students from a tiny town, battling the odds. However, we wanted to enhance art in our community and help charities, and we never gave up on our mission. I’ve been blessed to be able to teach hundreds of kids during this process. When I was 23, the NAACP Clairton Chapter recognized my efforts in Clairton, and they awarded me the 2013 NAACP Community Service Award. Getting to perform with my team in front of the different NAACP chapters in Pennsylvania at their Human Rights Banquet was definitely a milestone for me. I’m proud to say I was a driving force in making performing arts a staple in Clairton.

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    TCDC operates the same way; we are a small team of seven young artists ages 9-25 that infuse contemporary and hip-hop into our storytelling. Young people have stories to tell as well, and our voices are loud. TCDC is very artistic in our approach and anyone who knows me knows I bring the drama during a performance! I’m looking forward to continuing to tear up Pittsburgh stages with TCDC during our 2015-2016 season!

     

    What is one defining moment of your life?

    My defining moment was when I was 17 and I discovered dance as an old man (17 is often considered old to begin dancing). I was a senior in high school and thought, “Well, it’s now or never to see if I can do this”. I always wanted to be a gymnast or singer, figure skater, actor or performer in some way as a youngster, but I never had the money or resources. I started learning African and Modern, and after a few months of stumbling around and struggling to remember the choreography, I hit the stage in a showcase at my school. And I did it!

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    I remember challenging my instructor Ennad Murrell a lot. I thought the modern music we were dancing to was odd, and I didn’t care for some of her choreography. However, I am so appreciative of that  because now that I teach kids, I see their discomfort in trying something completely new—I’ve learned that’s a beautiful thing. It’s a teachable moment—the amount you can get a child to grow from trying and conquering something new like dance is invaluable. I’m glad Ennad pushed me.

    When I got on stage, executed my moves and noticed the audience’s reaction… there was something very addictive about that. I think that’s a huge reason why I love performing today. I enjoy knowing the stories I tell on stage resonate with people, and that I can give them my energy and they return with their energy. We create this space of happiness and celebration. Dance brings humanity together, and it’s pretty freaking amazing to pioneer that.

     

    What advice do you have for youth that want to become a changemaker in their community?

    TCDCFind your passion and run with it. I’ve found youth who make an impact on their communities by selling cupcakes. Making jewelry. Cheerleading. Being a part of the science club. And of course dancing! Find that thing in the world that gives you life, and let it explode within you. Live, breathe, eat, and sleep your passion. That’s how you change the world around you. You have to love what you do.

     

    What is a song on your playlist? (A song that motivates and drives you). 

    Because I’m extra, I have five songs on my playlist: It’s All Good by Ciara, Warriors by Dawn Richards, Work by Ciara, Let’s Go by Icona Pop and 1 Thing by Amerie… in that order!

    Honestly, I have a million choices. I enjoy music that moves me. If a song is on and I start thinking of choreography, I put it on my playlist. I let it happen very organically. EDM, folk, jazz, symphonic—I don’t care, as long as I can dance to it!

    TCDC | Trevor C. Dance Collective is currently developing two stage performances, Dreaming and RENEGADE for their 2015–2016 season. To keep up with the team, visit them on Facebook.

     

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  2. Pittsburgh Changemaker: Yanlai Wu

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater is presenting local leaders that have been changemakers in Pittsburgh. Mentors, teachers, artists— KST acknowledges these pioneers. This is Our Story: KST Recognizes Pittsburgh Changemakers. We interviewed Yanlai Wu, founder of the Yanlai Dance Academy.


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    Yanlai Dance Academy. Photos Courtesy of Yanlai Dance and JuliaBelechak.Wordpress.Com

    What do you do for the community now and why is it important?

    As the first Chinese dance academy in the Pittsburgh area, I feel a deep obligation to provide a cultural outlet for the Chinese American community in the region and also a great desire to introduce the beauty and intricacies of Chinese culture and dance to everyone in Pittsburgh. China and the US are important leaders in the world and I believe it is important for Chinese people to understand the West and Americans to understand the East. The Yanlai Dance Academy is trying to act as a bridge between those two communities.

    What is one defining moment of your life? (When you decided to do what you’re doing now).

    After retiring as a professional dancer, I was living in Houston and teaching at a Chinese dance school there (one that has been featured on the television program America’s Got Talent). Two of my friends and former classmates at the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy were principal dancers for the Pittsburgh Ballet. They told me that the Pittsburgh region did not have any Chinese dance schools and that I should come here and open one. I took the leap, moved, and opened my school in 2004. Shortly after that my friends left Pittsburgh and returned to China, but I still am happy that I made the move and made Pittsburgh my home.

    What advice do you have for youth that want to become a changemaker in their community?

    At Yanlai Dance Academy, I emphasize the importance of hard work, a belief in oneself and perseverance to overcome adversity. I believe those are the cornerstones of a great dancer and an accomplished individual. I work with students from age three to adults. I’ve watched my students mature from giggly children to impressive, poised adults. I encourage the students to work hard to perfect the dances that I choreograph for them. I get them up on local stages at many festivals and events throughout the year to build their self esteem and confidence. And I encourage them. They all hit obstacles that they find difficult and—through patient coaching and practice—I help them conquer those problems and reach their goals.

    These cornerstones of dance—hard work, belief in oneself, and perseverance makes great dancers, but these attributes also make an individual a great leader who can make positive change to his/her community. We also instill in our students an appreciation and understanding of Chinese culture. Most of my students will never be professional dancers but the skills they learn and the worldly perspective that they get at Yanlai Dance Academy will help them become thoughtful and productive citizens of the world.

    BasicWhat is a song on your playlist? (A song that motivates and drives you).

    I know that this answer will make me sound very boring, but I don’t even HAVE a playlist—let alone one song that drives me. I’m very busy right now mounting our May 9th performance of The Chinese Nutcracker at the Byham Theatre. Not only am I choreographing and teaching the dances to all of the students, I’m also selling ads for the programs, designing costumes and props, working with the Pittsburgh Art Institute to create video backgrounds, creating my lighting plan, overseeing marketing and ticket sales and occasionally sleeping. Ask me about my playlist again after May 9th and I promise that I will have a better answer for you.

     

     

    Yanlai Dance Academy is presenting The Chinese Nutcracker on Saturday May 9th at The Byham Theatre.

    The code Special2 (not case sensitive) gives $5 off each ticket (Adult becomes $25.75 and child becomes $15.75. Babies/todders in arms are admitted for free). Tickets are available here or at the Box Office. You can also check out Yanlai Dance Academy’s YouTube here.

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  3. newMoves Fast Facts: Joan Wagman

    This spring, KST presents the sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to presen short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7–9.

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    Joan Wagman, Pittsburgh Choreographer

    • Joan was a dance professor at Chatham College, Youngstown State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro
    • She has shown her work at Wood Street Galleries, the Byham Theater and the New Hazlett Theater
    • Joan has also done choroegraphy for plays, operas and musicals, including Romeo and Juliet, The Mikado and Parade
    • Joan Wagman’s newMoves piece is entitled Pinkification
    • Pinkification lightly touches on cancer, sexuality and inhumanities

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     Watch examples of Joan’s work on her vimeo, and order your newMoves festival passes here.

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  4. newMoves Fast Facts: Moriah Ella Mason

    This weekend, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9.

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    Interdisciplinary artist Moriah Ella Mason 

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    • Moriah graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2009 with a B.A. in Modern Dance and International Development
    • Her choreography has been presented at Future Tenant, the New Hazlett Theater, Vox Populi (Philadelphia Fringe Festival) and venues throughout Philadelphia, Tucson and Brooklyn
    • Moriah’s newMoves piece is named Diasporate.
    • Diasporate reflects on Jewish history, and will feature two dancers using embodied experiences of ritual, prayer and inclusion
    • Diasporate also explores whiteness, otherness and privilege in the United States
    • Point Park graduate Riva Strauss will also be featured in this piece

     

     

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    You can read an excerpt of Moriah’s work with RAW/Yes Brain Dance Theater, and order your newMoves festival passes now.

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  5. newMoves Fast Facts: Alexandra Bodnarchuk

    This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9.

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    • Alexandra began training in jazz, ballet and tap at Benvin Dance Academy at the age of two.
    • She has also studied various ethnic dance styles, including Eastern European Folk Dance and Ghanian Dance.
    • Alexandra has presented work at the American Dance Festival, and the HATCH Presenting Series (NYC) and RAW Pittsburgh and RAW Minneapolis (June, 2015).
    • Alexandra premiered CONNOTATIONS: unknown in May 2014 at PearlArts Studios.
    • Her process is rooted in an exploration of visceral physicality through the lens of multiple techniques
    • She’s also interested in photography
    • Alexandra’s newMoves piece,…and countingexplores the values of numerical facts by which we define ourselves, as a means of assessing the past, present and future.

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    Photo By Lindsay Dill.

    Pick up your newMoves festival passes today and check out Alexandra’s newMoves piece this Thursday.

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  6. newMoves Fast Facts: Elizabeth Atwell

    This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9.


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    Factory Street Studio Dancers

    • Factory Street Studios is based in Athens, Ohio
    • Artistic Director Elizabeth Atwell has studied at American Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Ballet Met and other sites
    • Elizabeth also served as an AmeriCorps member in Appalachian Ohio, and she is registered with Yoga Alliance
    • Her choreography has been shown at the West Virginia Dance Festival and the Ohio Paw Festival


    Elizabeth Atwell, Choreographer

    • Her newMoves piece, Revolution, explores “What is dance? Movement? Someone dancing?”, and features four high school seniors.

    Purchase your festival passes now to see her performance at newMoves and be sure to check out Factory Street Studios.

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  7. newMoves Fast Facts: Jil Stifel

    By Trevor Miles

    Next weekend, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9.

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    Jil Stifel, Performing Artist, Choreographer

     

    • Jil Stifel is a collaborative artist who works in movement, dance and performance
    • She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Highest Honors in dance from Rutgers University
    • Jil recently collaborated with choreographer Ben Sota on a circus/ modern dance hybrid, Waywardland

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    • She has also worked with Maree ReMalia | merygogo,  Staycee Pearl Dance Project and Dave Bernabo’s MODULES
    • Jil’s newMoves piece is named Knuckle Press
    • Knuckle Press investigates how shared body schema can allow us to work intricately as a single unit, and utilizes discreet movements and gestures

     

    Visit Jil’s page for more of her work and purchase newMoves tickets on our website.

     

     

     

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  8. newMoves Fast Facts: Megan Mazarick

    By Trevor Miles

    This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th.

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    Megan Mazarick, Choreographer

     

      • Megan is a Philadelphia-based choreographer, performer and teacher
      • Megan’s work has toured internationally. She considers it to be visceral, humorous and political
      • In some of Megan’s performances, she has danced on the hood of a moving car, swung from the side of a rock cliff, and rolled through the remains of crumbled buildings
      • Her most recent work monster was performed in Cairo, Egypt at the By Chance Contemporary Dance Festival in 2015
      • monster is a solo that faces female identity and being unladylike in new ways
      • The performance presents the idea of women being able to transform into ferocious predators

     

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    Check out Megan’s site for more videos, pictures, and her full biography. You can also grab your festival passes right here to see monster live.

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  9. newMoves Fast Facts: Jamie Erin Murphy

    By Trevor Miles

     

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    This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival! This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th!

     

    • Jamie is a graduate of Point Park University, and has taught Modern and Contemporary Movement at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for eight years
    • Jamie has presented in PA, OH and NYC
    • Jamie was also a part of the previous Murphy/Smith Collective
    • She also performed in Shana Simmon’s work Passenger and previewed this work at the Alloy Studios
    • Jamie has also worked with Attack Theatre and Xpressions Dance Company
    • She has also danced in I Am Woman, Accidentally, and Much More Than Bones for KST’s Next Stage Residency Program
    • Jamie’s newMoves piece is entitled Makeshift, and is a movement exploration about replacement and support
    • Makeshift will feature music by Olaf Bender and Ben Frost

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    Teacher and Choreographer, Jamie Erin Murphy

    For more info on Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s newMoves Festival and tickets/passes, visit our website here.

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  10. Pittsburgh Changemaker: Mario Quinn

    By Trevor Miles

    Kelly Strayhorn Theater is presenting local leaders that have been changemakers in Pittsburgh. Mentors, teachers, artists— KST acknowledges these pioneers. This is Our Story: KST Recognizes Pittsburgh Changemakers.10153256_282015405313431_506241731959586971_n

    Mario Quinn, Alloy School Teacher and Choreographer 

     

    1- What do you do for the community now and why is it important?

    Right now I am focusing on teaching and mentoring the youth in the community by way of Hip Hop Dance. I feel it’s important because not only do I teach them a skill but I have a lasting impact on their lives. In my classes I encourage the students to approach everything they learn with a “can do” attitude, that I feel will transfer over into real life situations. It is easy to learn movement and expression but believing in your own expression is what I find to be the best jewel a student can have. Someone special in my life told me “fortune favors the brave” and in everything I do artistically I want that to be my main message and my goal is to pass that on to the youth. Currently I am a Teaching Artist for Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s Alloy School where I teach hip hop to youth ages 8-12yrs and choreograph for We Rock Workshop, a residency program lead by Liz Berlin of the multi-platinum band Rusted Root. We Rock Workshop guides young ad10313443_285339441647694_6993436347806586492_nults (ages 14-22) across Allegheny County who are currently involved with the Department of Human Services to open up through the arts by exploring the creation, production and performance of music and dance. The course culminates with the recording of original songs created by the participants and a final performance at Mr. Smalls Theatre. In addition, I am also a Hip-Hop Educator through Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K which is one of Greater Pittsburgh’s premier mentoring and arts education programs. The program shows the ability to identify and connect with youths ages 8-18, and teaches relevant life-long skills such as leadership development, organizational skills, cooperative economics and knowledge of the music business that can be applied to everyday situations as well as math, science and literacy. I hope that moving forward I can continue to do work that matters and reach more youth in the community through the art of expression and dance. I feel that this is what my life purpose is and I must say my journey has been incredibly rewarding so far.

     

    2- What is one defining moment of your life? (When you decided to do what you’re doing now).

    I would say that my defining moment was the first time I saw Michael Jackson, as silly as that may sound. As a child, I was amazed beyond belief at what I was seeing and knew in my heart that dancing and performing was something that I wanted to pursue in life. As far as teaching, that defining moment happened while in college at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I started their very first hip-hop dance club. I was teaching peers and had no idea that it would be something that I actually enjoyed. After college I was recommended by a close friend to teach at a local studio known as Pittsburgh Heat in 2010. Since then I have been teaching and mentoring all over the GreateIMG_32151-458x458r Pittsburgh Area.

     

    3- What advice do you have for youth that want to become a changemaker in their community?

    Find what it is that you are great at, what is your talent? Take that and figure out a way you can help people in the community with your talent, there you will find your purpose. I’d also say BELIEVE in yourself, follow your hearts desire and don’t be afraid to try new things and open up to opportunities, again, “Fortune Favors the Brave”. Lastly I’d say be prepared, have a way to spread what it is you do. For example have a business card, a website, something that shows what you offer to your community. Remember the five P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents a Poor Performance, and remember that “Luck Favors the Prepared.”

     

    4- What is a song on your playlist? (A song that motivates and drives you).

    That’s a tough one… I have to go with The Man by Aloe Blacc. It’s one of those songs that I play while getting ready for my day—it reminds me that what I think of myself is what is most important. Takes me back to the “belief” thing. It really helps me to focus my mind on the things I want to happen in my life.

     

    Check out Mario’s website here. Visit the KST website to read more about his hip-hop class at the Alloy School!

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