This fall, one of Aaron Tolson’s lifelong dreams will come true—but he’s been reluctant to share the news. “It’s such an honor, and it’s so humbling, that it’s hard for me to say,” he says. “There was a part of my life when I wanted everyone to know my name, and now there’s a program […]
For Peter Chu, teaching dance is about more than just giving corrections and watching as students apply them. “I want dancers and artists and humans to start finding connections on their own and just utilizing me more as a guide,” he says. This idea comes to life in his chuthis ideas class, which he developed […]
It’s not uncommon to hear dance teachers say that they believe anyone can dance. And when Lauren and Christopher Grant say it, they mean it. Not just dance, but partner: The Grants’ innovative partnering class aims to show beginners to professionals of all heights and sizes that they can be bases and flyers. And they […]
When Hilary Cartwright was a soloist with The Royal Ballet, she suffered two falls that severely injured her back. She had slipped discs, which resulted in nerve damage and numbness down one leg. Ultimately, Cartwright had to stop performing due to the injury. After spending two years exploring other paths, she went on to use […]
When master tap teacher Debbi Dee asked the Library of Congress if they would be interested in acquiring her multivolume collection of instructional tap DVDs, she was hoping for a positive response. What she actually got was a counteroffer: They wanted all of the resources she was willing to give them. The Library of Congress […]
Simonson Technique, developed by master teacher Lynn Simonson, holds the philosophy that anyone can dance: “Any age, body type, cultural background, experience level—if you can move, you can be taught in a dance class,” says Teresa Perez Ceccon, a veteran Simonson instructor. “Also, no two bodies are the same. We want students to understand their […]