Celebrating Dance and
Segerstrom's 30th Anniversary
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| Tour de Force III - Diana Vishneva in Le Divertissement du Roi.
Photo credit: Yulia Plakhotnikova |
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts celebrates its 30th anniversary this month with Tour de Force III. The program will feature luminaries from across the dance world, including Diana Vishneva, Natalia Osipova, Marcelo Gomes, and many more. The World Dances spoke with Segerstrom's Executive Vice President, Judy Morr, about the Center's anniversary, the challenges that dance presenters face, advice for artists, and more. For more about the Tour de Force III program, to be performed on August 27, click here.
Congratulations on the Center's 30th anniversary! How did you decide the program to celebrate such a milestone?We're really happy for the 30th anniversary and we're really happy about the program. It's going to be exciting. We've worked frequently in recent years with manager and producer, Sergei Danilian. He and I were talking about what we could do to celebrate the 30th anniversary. I said that I'd love to have a visit from many of the dancers who have been so much a part of our success. What about doing another Tour De Force, Tour de Force III? It's a combination of the dancers who have been incredibly instrumental in bringing great dance to the Center and new dancers from the Mariinsky, dancers from the Royal Ballet, and many more. It's a variety that should make for an extraordinary night. |
| Tour de Force III - Tristesse.
Photo courtesy of Segerstrom Center |
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role? Presenting dance is a responsibility that I take very seriously. It's a very expensive art form and sometimes the decisions have to be very carefully made--not only what you love and what you think the audience will love or what you'd like them to love. Can you find the resources to make it possible? That's an ongoing challenge that we face every single day. Finding the resources is very much a part of what we have to do to present great art on the stage. It just isn't possible to sell enough tickets or charge enough money to make it possible without finding other sources of revenue.
How do you make these difficult decisions, in that case, about what to present?
It has to be forward thinking as well as retrospective of what's been wonderful in the past. The community around the Center is not unlike other communities around the country in that it's a changing community. It's very diverse. All kinds of populations come to the Center. Some have experienced classical dance before and some people haven't. Each year is an opportunity to start all over again. And it really is an opportunity if you choose to see it as a part of this great plan to make sure the arts stay vibrant and connected to audiences. That's an honor.
Read more insights and advice from Segerstrom Center's Judy Morr.
By Tamara Johnson
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Rosie Herrera Returns
to The Joyce
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| Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre
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The World Dances first spoke with Rosie Herrera three years ago following her company's first engagement at The Joyce in New York. Since then, the young and innovative choreographer's career has been flourishing. Following an exciting year of residencies and creativity, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre is returning to The Joyce through August 6th with its new work, Carne Viva.
"I fondly remember watching my first performance at The Joyce and feeling like a part of something so much bigger than myself," says Herrera. "I never would have imagined that one day it would be my name on the marquis. It still feels like a dream. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all the experiences that have brought me here and so honored to be able to be an advocate for my community outside of Miami."
The August Joyce program will feature the new work, Carne Viva, and Herrera's first work, Various Stages of Drowning: A Cabaret. "I think it quite fitting to pair these two pieces together as they both represent times in my life of great growth and transition, eight years apart. I have been saying for a long time that I feel my creative process has been shifting in a new direction and this new work sits in the middle of that evolution. Although it is already very different from my previous choreography in its visual simplicity and exhausting physicality, I sense that I have some ways to go before it feels fully complete. I am excited for what this new process can reveal for me personally, and I hope it will bring more dimension to my entire creative vision."
Read more about Rosie Herrera's choreographic process and plans.
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What Inspires You to Dance?
An important and intriguing question, the sources of what inspires dancers range from meaningful music, the never-ending challenges, watching iconic dancers, to camaraderie with other dancers, relationships with mentors and teachers, and beyond. We asked three past Harlequin Floors Scholarship winners what inspires them to dance.
Dance inspires me because it has become my voice. It is a form of communication that helps me to feel better when I'm sad or even feel happier when I am already happy. When I am dancing, I am able to just feel the movement in my body and block out everything else that is going on. At that moment, nothing else matters except for the message that I am communicating. Dancing is a part of who I am. It has influenced me because it has taught me to work even harder when challenges are in front of me. It also has taught me that I have the ability to influence others around me. Most importantly, dance has taught me to never give up on myself and I apply that to everything I do. Dance also has the ability to influence the whole world. Have you ever noticed when people are in a room dancing? You do not see the divisions that you see in everyday life. Just dancing, people smiling, laughing, and feeling good while moving their bodies to a wonderful rhythm. This is the power of dance. It has the power to bring people together." Sage Evans-Rainey - May 2016 Viewers' Choice
Dance itself inspires me everyday. There are so many ways to understand a dance and a piece of music--and this intrigues me. It is such an odd but beautiful art and I feel so honored to be able to become a part of this world of ballet. Music is always inspirational to me and I love to listen to classical music before a ballet class. My favorite track is "Romeo and Juliet." It is such a beautiful ballet with such expressive music. Finally, I also get inspiration from my idols. The person I look up to the most is Maria Kochetkova. Ever since I watched her perform Juliet in San Francisco Ballet's "Romeo and Juliet," I have been moved mentally and emotionally. I also can relate to her because I am also short! Erica Raver - April 2016 Judges' Choice
I get inspired by watching other dancers and choreographers work. It helps me step outside my box of doing the same things. What also inspires me is the support my friends and family have given me. Always telling me to keep moving forward and never hold back. It's just amazing to know they've all got my back. Thomas Archey - July 2015 Judges' Choice
Looking for inspiration of your own or just feel like watching some great dance? Visit the Meet the Winners pages on TheWorldDances.com to learn more about and from a wide variety of dancers just like you!
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TheWorldDances E-Newsletter Team
Publisher: Karla Johnson
Editor: Tamara Johnson
Producer: Ester Rodriguez
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August 3, 2016
Follow
The World Dances!
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Congratulations to the July 2016 Harlequin Floors Scholarship Winners
Harlequin Floors has been supporting dancers for decades with scholarships to help make their dance dreams come true. It's thrilling to see the more than 2250 dance videos that dancers have posted on TheWorldDances.com to enter the Harlequin Floors Monthly Scholarship contests. Thank you for sharing your terrific, versatile, inspiring dance with us! Congratulations to the four July scholarship winners - Angel Inniss, Leilana Majri, Madi Hicks and Imani Peterson. We celebrate all dancers, their teachers, and their parents. For your opportunity to receive a Harlequin Floors monthly scholarship, please post your dance videos now on TheWorldDances.com. Harlequin Floors grants $1000.00 in scholarships every month!
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Judges' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship Winner
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| | Angel Inniss
Mr. Paganini |
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Judges' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship Winner
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| | Leilana Majri
Music Center Spotlight |
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Viewers' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship Winner
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| Madison Hicks
Madi Hicks Solo |
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Viewers' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship Winner
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| | Imani Peterson
2016 Contemporary Solo |
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The World Dances
more inspiring photographs of dance
from around the world.
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Job Opportunities
Are you looking for a new role or career change in the dance world? There are several well-established dance companies and organizations looking to fill new job openings right now. Louisville Ballet seeks a Director of Education and Peoria Ballet is conducting a search for an Artistic Director. Mordine & Company Dance Theater in Chicago is hiring a part time Managing Director. Bowen McCauley Dance has an opening for a Development Associate and is looking for additional Teaching Artists. The Joyce Theater Foundation has several new opportunities including an Artist Services Manager, a Marketing Manager, a Producer, and a Programming Assistant. You'll find these and dozens more current job listings on TheWorldDances.com.
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| McKinney, TX - Four Dance Classes from Beyond Limits Dance Center
69% Off
$20 |
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