Kick off your Symposium experience with a welcome from DLNY Artistic Director, Josh Prince (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Symposium Director, Val Salgado (NBC’s SMASH).
How do you tell a story without words? Learn how to establish a beginning, middle and end with a narrative, develop characters, and add texture with movement. Al Blackstone (SYTYCD) and Ali Solomon (Clueless: The Musical) will share a variety of approaches on how to create helpful conflict, develop characters, build tension, and establish a world through movement. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Today’s preparation is the key to tomorrow’s success. During this panel discussion with Karla Puno Garcia (Days of Wine and Roses), Katie Spelman (The Notebook), and Tony nominee and Emmy Award winner Josh Bergasse (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory), you will learn how to optimize your rehearsal time by adopting vital steps and strategies when preparing to choreograph. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Take a deep dive into dance history and how it can inform your own work with Paul Taylor Dance Company Artistic Director, Michael Novak as we view rare archival material housed at the NYC Public Library for the Performing arts. Our guide, Kathleen Leary, will lead us in a presentation on iconic dancer, choreographer, educator, and one of the “Big Four” founders of American modern dance, Hanya Holm. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Take a break, grab a snack, and let all that knowledge sink in.
Have you ever thought about starting your own company? Learn where to get started with paperwork, fundraising, grants, and promotion. New York City Ballet’s Troy Schumacher, founder of BalletCollective, will share his experience founding and sustaining his dance company. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
There is no one path to follow. Join this panel of choreographers including JoAnn M. Hunter (Bad Cinderella), Jeremy McQueen (The Black Iris Project), and Brooke Wendle (America’s Got Talent) who will discuss how they created opportunities for themselves, navigated rejection, and found their voices as choreographers. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session. during the last portion of this session.
Take a break, grab a snack, and let all that knowledge sink in.
In this two-hour session, we all come together to hear our “Keynote Choreographer,” Broadway’s Lorin Latarro (The Who’s Tommy), as she gives us a window into her creative process and offers insight and advice gained from her considerable professional experience. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Take a break, grab a snack, and let all that knowledge sink in.
In the digital age, your website, resume, and reel are your calling cards. Learn how to maximize your opportunities with bi-coastal agent Lucille DiCampli (LDC Artist Rep) and moderator Jason Styres (the Casting Collaborative) by tailoring your materials to successfully represent you and book you the job. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session. Spotlight Choreographer Opportunity!
How can choreographers inspire the very best qualities in dancers? How can we create a safe space for exploration and creativity? How can we as leaders create a healthy and happy work environment for all? Learn strategies from Chip Abbott (On The Town) to empower your dancers and also open yourself up to more fruitful creations. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Grab a cocktail, coffee, or tea and join us for Symposium Social Hour. A moderator will ensure that attendees have an opportunity to connect, share, and unwind together.
We all have inner demons that can get in the way of our creative process. How can we acknowledge these thoughts and get past them in order to authentically enter the studio and create? Under the guidance of Liam Francis (London’s Rambert Dance Company) explore what can hold us back creatively without judgment and develop strategies to diminish doubt and proceed forward with confidence. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
How can we use our power to create more sustainable practices in the rehearsal room? Join us for a discussion with Chloe Davis (Hell’s Kitchen), and Ellenore Scott (Funny Girl), and Cameron McKinney (Artistic Director, Kizuna Dance) about prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and mental wellbeing in your process. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
In tap dance the dancer is also a musician. Hear how tap dance choreographer Dario Natarelli (Illinoise) collaborates with live musicians when creating new work. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Join this panel of choreographers including Tony winner Christopher Gattelli (Schmigadoon!, Wonka), and Tony Nominated Jeff Kuperman and Rick Kuperman (The Outsiders) as they discuss how they created their own opportunities, navigated rejection, and found their voices as choreographers. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Kristy Cummings (SDC) and Dani Barlow (SDCF) walk you through the ins and outs of how the Union and the Foundation can support choreographers at all stages of their careers. Come learn how you can advocate for yourself even if you don’t have representation! You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Take a break, grab a snack, and let all that knowledge sink in.
Let’s talk design! Join lighting designer Yael Lubetzky (Def Poetry Jam), Alejo Vietti (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), and TBD to discuss how forging a relationship with your designers during the early stages of development can spark mutual inspiration. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Do you ever feel like you are stuck repeating the same phrases with each dance? In this learning lab, you will be guided through a variety of strategies with Amanda Castro (Soles of Duende) to break free from habits and discover creative ways of generating fresh material. Be prepared to open your mind and move your body during this session. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Take a break, grab a snack, and let all that knowledge sink in.
How can we ensure healthy dialogue and with music directors, arrangers, and orchestrators? Join this panel including David Dabbon (Beetlejuice) and Justin Ellington (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding) for a discussion centered around collaboration between choreographers and music makers. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
Working with constraints can help illuminate ideas we never would have discovered if given the opportunity to do whatever we want. Join us for this unique learning lab where participants will create choreography and evolve the movement based on thoughts and feedback from our presenter and peers. Spotlight Choreographer Opportunity!
Join this panel of female identifying choreographers including Hope Boykin (HopeBoykinDance), Nubian Néné (A Lady in the House), and Maria Torres (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago) as we discuss the unique challenges women frequently face in the industry and share ideas about how to make space for more female voices in leadership roles. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
In this presentation led by Francisco Graciano (Paul Taylor Dance Company) you will learn how to focus your vision for the screen by implementing choreographic strategies, setting up your shot, and communicating effectively with your collaborators. You will have an opportunity to ask your burning questions during the last portion of this session.
The experiences we have shared these past two days have forever changed us as artists. Join DLNY Artistic Director, Josh Prince and Symposium Director, Val Salgado for closing remarks.
