We’ve all been there—standing in front of a sea of eager students, ready to create the next eight counts on them, when our brains decide to shut down. All the creativity we’ve been cultivating in preparation for this choreography session has disappeared, and we are left completely blocked. YIKES! What do we do?? Have the […]
Al Blackstone only recently found his true stride in the dance world. Growing up taking class at his parents’ studio and going to competitions, he loved nothing more than performing. But now, whether he’s teaching a room full of professional-level dancers in New York City, a group of kids at a convention or at the […]
Al Blackstone’s Not For Me For its 21st annual gathering in July, the Fire Island Dance Festival raised a record-breaking $544,555 for Dancers Responding to AIDS. Complexions Contemporary Ballet co-founder Desmond Richardson hosted the festival this year, which included world premieres by Al Blackstone (winner of the 2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award), Joshua Beamish, Pontus Lidberg, […]
We’re excited to be in sunny California for our Dance Teacher Summit this week, where the pages of the magazine come to life. Look who we ran into on opening night: 1. Denise Wall 2. Al Blackstone 3. Kathy Blake 4. Beverly Spell 5. Robin Dawn Ryan and Kim Delgrosso […]
Shifting between hard-hitting jazz and gooey contemporary movement, borrowing modern dance’s bare feet and layering character portrayals as bold as those found on Broadway, Al Blackstone’s choreography samples several techniques. “I always like to tell the story that my mom, dad and sister were truly my teachers because they surrounded me with the different styles […]
Denise Blackstone’s studio supports her passion and her family. “She’s so open, spontaneous, with all the hugs. I think it makes the kids feel freer to express themselves, be creative.” —Al Blackstone, about his mother, Denise Denise Blackstone can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to teach. As you watch her tapping up a […]