Choreographer Lindsay Nelko is an artist you want to follow. The young Canadian's work has been featured on So You Think You Can Dance and The X Factor. Awarded "Choreographer's Pick" by The PULSE four times, Nelko is also the 2nd runner up of the 2013 Capezio A.C.E. Awards presented by Break the Floor Productions which provided funds to produce her latest piece Awakening, that will premiere August 6 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in NYC. It is Nelko's first full-length work and stars 25 dancers from Complexions, Cedar Lake, Broadway, and more. Click here for rehearsal footage and to purchase tickets. Nelko describes her style as uniquely theatrical and thanks mentors Brian Friedman and Desmond Richardson (swoon!) for helping her to cultivate her innately expressive choreographic instinct. Lindsay recently spoke with The World Dances as her dancers were warming up for a rehearsal about her sources of inspiration, experience choreographing for high-profile television, goals for the future, and tips for young artists.   

What inspired Awakening and its themes?

Awakening is loosely based on my life. It's my life's journey -- my path. I have this whole fascination with the dream state and the blurred state between wakefulness and sleep. I was diagnosed with hypnagogia (a sleep disorder that causes waking dreams) as a child and would experience visions between wakefulness and sleep. I basically was awake in my dreams and I vividly remember that, so I created Awakening around those dreams and visions -- and also my reality. The show follows journeys that have shaped my life -- through love, sadness, fear, joy, friendship, loneliness, hurt, baggage. And, hopefully, at the end there is healing and resolution.

Awakening

What have you learned working so closely with Brian Friedman?

Brian really taught me that it isn't about steps. You should make someone feel something. He would always push to ask the reason, the purpose, the intention informing every movement. You don't just do fouetté turns. That's something for class; it's not for the stage. Also musicality -- he's a musical genius and I didn't understand music as well before I started working with him. The way he hears music, visualizes it, and brings it to life is super interesting. 

What wisdom and lessons has Desmond Richardson shared with you?

To stay true to who I am and really trust my vision. His belief in what I do makes me believe more in myself and what I'm doing. We all have insecurities. My stuff is unusual. For him to appreciate the level of theatricality, understand how it makes sense, and believe my work is beautiful drives me to keep going.  

Read more about Nelko's advice for aspiring choreographers, the difference between making dance for stage vs. TV, her creative process and more!

 by Tamara Johnson 

Peridance Capezio Center in collaboration with The Salvatore Capezio Theater presents Peridance's Summer 2014 Faculty and Student Showcases Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st.  Twice a year, Peridance rounds up an exquisite weekend of dancing, featuring work by their current faculty members and by up-and-coming student choreographers. It is the perfect opportunity for artists, both new and established, to present their work in New York City under the creative, blossoming, and supportive umbrella of Peridance Capezio Center. This summer's programs include 12 Peridance Faculty members and 12 student choreographers, introducing some talent to the Salvatore stage for the first time.

The Faculty Showcases will be August 30 at 8 PM and August 31 at 4 PM. The Student Showcase is on August 31 at 7 PM. Tickets are available here or at the Peridance box office. 

Send us a photo that best captures your summer intensive experience.  We will feature your photo on The World Dances Pinterest page and enter your name in a contest to win 1 of 10 The World Dances t-shirts. To enter, send your name, your address and the photo you would like us to share  to kaelani@theworlddances.com.