Sharing more videos from the season. These are two of the most talented dancers I have EVER worked with and their duo this year was everything and more! Their technical ability, musicality and performance is top tier and it was an honor getting to work with them! Enjoy 😊
Song: “Heaven is Here” by Florence
Dancers: Xelayna Flordelis @xelaynabdancer and Miah Castro @miahcastro_3
Studio: Dance 10 @dance10studio
Choreography: Leanne Poirier
Song Edit: Dani Medvedovski @dmchoreo
This season, I got to work with five incredible teen artists from @evjenacademy ! And I was so lucky to see them all dance in person last weekend at Embody Dance Conference.
1 - Nola McCormick “Whole Lot of Heart”
Nola, your control was out of this world. Watching you consistently nail your routine was a delight. I was so proud of the maturity you brought to the movement and emotional performance.
2 - Maya Smith “Moments”
Maya, from the beginning you were determined to make this solo the best it could be. Your technique shined in this dance. But what made me most proud were the emotions you put behind the movement, especially as the season progressed.
3 - Adrianna Colwell “The Way I Do”
A, I am SO proud of you and this solo. It was a push outside your comfort zone and man did you grow through the process. To see you move and groove with so many textures and spot on musicality was such a highlight of my year!
4 - Isabelle Gianesini “My Favorite Things”
Izzy, you truly unleashed a new beast this year! You embodied your character with so much commitment and got better every single performance. I loved seeing you dance with such power and abandonment!
5 - Finlay Rackliffe “State of Emergency”
Fin, this solo raised the bar from day one. You brought such fire to it from the moment we started working together and it kept getting better. Your musicality was unmatched. Your intensity and emotion were everything and more!
So proud of these 31 dancers (Lily, Lydia, Emma and Jordan not pictured). The making of “It Comes in Waves” was very much a (tedious) process and included trying different versions of sections over and over. These girls stayed with me through it all and the product is better for it.
Cannot wait for them to get to perform for the @embodydanceconference closing show today! @evjenacademy
#itcomesinwaves
It takes a village… and these three have been the center of mine! From contributing choreography, assisting in rehearsals, being my literal eyes and ears and so much more, “It Comes in Waves” would not be the piece it is without them!
Thank you, Kayla, Reese and Ashley for helping me create a work that is so near and dear to my heart. And truly one of my proudest accomplishments. I could not have done it without you!
Now go enjoy your final competition day 🥹
Thinking about how EXCITED I am to see my girls perform in person this weekend at Embody Providence!
My senior small group, “Crucify” features 4 graduating seniors… So happy to get to be there for their last competition! Counting down the days!
Dancer of the week goes to someone who continues to make me proud on and off the stage, Adrianna Colwell. Adrianna has been working hard to tap into a funkier movement quality this year and it is really starting to show! This week in line her peers chose her as the one who did our “anger” phrase with the most 🔥 Keep up the great work, Adrianna!
“It Comes in Waves” is one of the most complex pieces I have ever created. Since choreographers don’t get an opportunity to have a program note at dance competitions, I am going to unpack the piece on here.
Let’s start with the opening image.
We start in a non-linear line because the grieving process is often just that. It is chaotic and does not follow a set timeline or orderly, predictable steps. It is often a rollercoaster ride alternating between moments of intense pain and relative peace. At the peaks of each junction are my five leads, who each represent a stage of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Congrats to my @evjenacademy line group, “It Comes in Waves” for receiving the Highest Scoring Advanced Routine this weekend at @hddancecomp ! Your hard work is paying off my loves. So proud!
Proud of these ladies and their performance of “Crucify” yesterday. They continue to improve with each performance, which is always the goal. @evjenacademy
Weather didn’t allow us to have a full in-person rehearsal this week. But that didn’t stop this group of ladies from putting in the work in between competitions. Can’t wait for “Like A Prayer” to hit the stage again this weekend! @evjenacademy
My angels 🪽
So proud of my @evjenacademy teen small group and their debut performance of “Like a Prayer.” This group is extremely talented and they work so hard! Cannot wait to see what all they accomplish this season.
