High School Dance
These images are from the Annual Spring Dance Concert at Poly Prep Country Day School, which involves over 100 upper school students ranging in age from 13-18 years (grades 9-12), mixed gender and mixed abilities. Dance is an elective that is taught as a part of the students' daily curriculum, focusing on technique, composition and history, and the Spring Dance Concert is the culmination of their work throughout the year in dance.
Jazz Dance
Jazz incorporates classical forms such as Luigi, which was influenced by musical variations and infused with stylistic relevance, and extends to musical theater and street. The jazz style allows students to apply their classical technique to a performance-based genre, where they demonstrate character through dance.
Ex's and Oh's
Jazzy twist on traditional line dancing performed by Poly Prep Country Day School Upper School sophomore-seniors dance elective.
Ballet
Through Lincoln Center, I am trained to teach the New York City Ballet Workout Program, which combines the grace and technique of ballet with the strength and conditioning of fitness, making ballet more accessible to a wider range of students. My students study the classical repertoire of the New York City Ballet, and re-imagine the pieces while maintaining the integrity of the original choreography.
Ballo della Regina
This ballet was re-created based on original choreography by George Balanchine, performed by Poly Prep Country Day School Upper School Grade 9 dance elective. Dance was culmination of participation in the New York City Ballet Work-Out Program at Lincoln Center.
Modern and Contemporary
Through the use of improvisation and the study of choreographic devices, students become storytellers through dance. The free-flowing movement inspired by different prompts, allows students to explore their individual movement style, eventually leading them to create new and innovative movement.
D-Man in the Waters
This canonical modern dance piece, originally choreographed by Bill T. Jones, was re-imagined and restaged by the Poly Prep Country Day School Upper School sophomore-seniors dance elective.
World Dances
In addition to teaching my students about dance for the sake of performance, I believe it is important for them to understand dance as an anthropological component, and how dance fits into society and its history. It is important for them to learn the vernacular of different traditional global and social dances, from African Dance to the Virginia Reel.
Musical Theater
Dance for musical theater gives students the opportunity to emote through their bodies and convey character through gesture and movement. Theater dance incorporates technical elements from different genres of dance, so students can pull from many styles for inspiration. I aim to maintain the integrity of the original compositions in my choreography.
Chicago Medley
Musical theater dance performed by Poly Prep Country Day School Upper School sophomores-seniors dance elective. Music by Kander and Ebb.
Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop is one of the most relevant and engaging dance forms for teens because it allows them to connect to current music, dance and cultural trends.
Beat It
Hip-hop infused street jazz dance performed by Poly Prep Country Day School Upper School sophomores-seniors dance elective. Music by Michael Jackson.