At age 11, Adam Vesperman was ushered into an impromptu audition for Billy Elliot: The Musical at a West Coast Dance Explosion Nationals. Despite an off-key rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” his strong dancing skills secured him a callback. After a few intense audition days in New York City, Vesperman landed the role on London’s West End, launching the professional dance career he’s pursued ever since. Growing up in Kent, Washington, Vesperman began dancing at age 8 at Allegro Performing Arts Academy. After booking the role of Billy, he moved to London for two years, where he quickly learned […]

The post Sekou McMiller Teaches Afro-Latin Contemporary appeared first on Dance Teacher.

We know that busy dance educators like you need to have teaching resources right at your fingertips. That’s why we’re excited to announce our brand-new DanceTeacher+ video library. Now you can access our growing collection of technique and lesson plan tutorials, teacher talks, and in-person workshops led by leading dance educators, all in one convenient place. Many of these videos also pair perfectly with our full-length articles, offering you the opportunity to delve even further into each topic. Be sure to take advantage of this incredible digital resource that you can tap into on demand at any time here.  Later […]

In most college dance programs, the curricular focus toggles between physical training and theoretical study. But one critical area is often overlooked: the business of dance. Despite how important it is, students are often not equipped with the tools or knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of the dance economy. The omission is striking, given the financial realities dancers face, including low pay, little to no access to insurance and other benefits, and a lack of job security. These circumstances raise an important question: Why aren’t more college dance programs teaching students what it means to be financially literate? That […]

The festival at T-Works, Hyderabad, features an art showcase, mural workshops, and classical dance performances

Mayadhar Raut, who passed away recently, contributed immensely in reviving the dance form and putting together its repertoire.

Sekou McMiller is equally at home in a downtown underground Latin club as he is in an uptown college dance department. The artistic director of New York City–based SMc Dance Company, McMiller is known for his unique blend of Afro-Latin dance with West African and Western concert styles like jazz and ballet.  Also a choreographer, professor, and dance historian, McMiller says that this type of blending is already present in African diasporic dance forms. For example, samba, mambo, salsa, and hip hop iterate in different regions. “It’s the embodied experience of the people. It’s the food, it’s the smells, it’s […]

Gear up for an evening of Kathak, Odissi and Kuchipudi with the first edition of Anaadya Taal Tarang dance festival, to be held in the city

Nimagna, a Bharatanatyam dance production by Ganesa Natyalaya, was held at the R K Beach in Visakhapatnam, captivating audiences with its grace and artistry