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Natalia Gonzalez sets the tone for every Miami HEAT dancer’s audition by reminding hopefuls that each “no” is a chance to learn and improve. Gonzalez would know—she auditioned for the team four times before making it. Originally from Miami, Gonzalez grew up dancing ballet before attending New World School of the Arts. It was there, she says, that she realized dance was something she could do for the rest of her life. After school, Gonzalez took a handful of professional dance jobs and toured with performing artists before deciding to build her dance career in her hometown.  Four auditions, four […]

As a teen, I vividly remember struggling with focus in dance classes. Whether learning combinations or receiving generalized feedback, my mind would zigzag in and out of the studio. Realizing I was no longer mentally present, I would panic, fearing my teachers would notice or I was stunting progress. Yet, somehow, once beckoned to dance, my anxiety would subside and I became laser-focused, recalling exercises, counting music, and applying corrections all at once. In hindsight, signs I had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were clear. Still, it took nearly 25 more years to stumble upon my diagnosis. I believe we best […]

An ambitious new exchange between the Rambert School in London and The Juilliard School in New York City will give students the chance to experience different training methods and styles. The culmination of this collaboration will be a world premiere by British choreographer Wayne McGregor, to be performed in London in May 2026 by students from each school (19 from Juilliard and 15 from Rambert School).        The Rambert–Juilliard partnership will unfold in three phases. First, students on their respective campuses will work with artists from Studio Wayne McGregor, creating original works to be performed at their respective schools. Juilliard will […]

When I teach Bartenieff Fundamentals, we begin on the floor, eyes closed. A meditation becomes improvisation. Each cue builds from anatomical inevitability—a kinetic chain. The invitation is to sense and flow, not to arrive, copy, or perform. Inevitably, someone lifts their head to look around—abandoning comfort and breath in favor of sight.  Even in stillness or guided breath, I see it happen. First-timers contorting, scanning for cues, wanting to know if they’re doing it “right.” What I believe they’re asking is: Am I safe here?  That moment pierces me. There’s a tender sadness I feel watching a dancer choose accuracy […]

Season 2 of Dikshitar-250, curated by Veena C. Seshadri, will feature solo dance performances of the composer’s works.

Each summer, Young Dancemakers Company brings together a diverse group of teens to create and present their own choreography at multiple venues throughout New York City. A fully tuition-free summer intensive for public high school students citywide, YDC was launched in 1996 by educator Alice Teirstein. It’s now run by artistic director Jessica Gaynor, who was a student of Teirstein’s at The Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the 1990s; Gaynor works as an independent choreographer and performer. Along with music director William Catanzaro, associate program manager Ivi Whitehead, and program assistant Tiana Ayala, Gaynor provides YDC participants with the opportunity […]

When I think about the dance teachers who influenced me, the modern program at my performing arts high school stands out. Bambi Anderson taught Limón, Rebecca Cannan taught Horton, and Peter London taught Graham. I think having codified modern techniques from ages 14 to 18 took my training to a whole other level. I grew up as a competition dancer and took ballet classes at Miami City Ballet School. To have these modern techniques available within a public-school education was life-changing. For people like me with diverse backgrounds and financial situations, this free education was an incredible opportunity. I got […]