A Conversation on Partner Dancing While Social Distancing
A Conversation on Partner Dancing While Social Distancing
On May 12th, Dancing Classrooms NYC hosted a special conversation on the state of partner dance while social distancing, attended by 100 old and new friends. How do we sustain an artform that has traditionally required physical connection while stuck at home alone? What will social and partner dance culture look like and feel like post-pandemic? Panelists addressed these questions and demonstrated techniques they have discovered to keep their skills sharp and instruction fresh during this time of coronavirus.
Click here to watch the video.
Panelists: (above, clockwise left to right)
Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine, U.S. and World Professional Rhythm Champion, coach, judge, and choreographer
Jill Sternheimer (moderator), Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Edward Simon, U.S. Ballroom Champion, judge, and So You Think You Can Dance choreographer
Derrick León Washington, United Nations Human Rights Fellow and Director, Urban Stomp
Alee Reed, Director of Curriculum and Training, Dancing Classrooms
Ovations from a Champion
A salute from Mayo Alanen, one of the most awarded ballroom dancers in the US today and the recipient of the 2018 Gala Humanitarian Award.
Meet Pierre Dulaine: Taking the Lead with Generations of Children
Watch Pierre Dulaine's TED talk. Pierre created a unique and proprietary teaching methodology that coupled the joy and practice of ballroom dance with the development of essential life skills of respect, collaboration and partnership for children.
Pierre Dulaine grew up as a poor, shy boy in London kid, trying to fit in and survive a bullied youth. He first saw ballroom dancing as a 14 year old. Scraping together his earnings for lessons, he practiced his newfound passion and shifted from awkward teen to winning every major ballroom award with superstar Yvonne Marceau, his partner since 1976. Together they won numerous awards including the 1977, ’78, ’79 and ‘82 British Exhibition Championships, the Fred Astaire Award for Best Dance on Broadway, Dance Magazine’s award for excellence, the National Dance Council of America award, the Dance Educators of America award, and the Americans for the Arts “Arts in Education” 2005 award.
In 1984, together with Otto Cappel, they founded American Ballroom Theater Company which eventually became the birthplace of Dancing Classrooms.