More about the New Directors at Steps
Company:
Steps on Broadway
STEPS ON BROADWAY is proud to present
'1 VISION...3 DIVISIONS'
A program of dances representing the three divisions at Steps:
* The School at Steps
* Professional Training Programs
* Steps Repertory Ensemble
appearing in works by Petipa, Heidi Latsky, Malik Kitchen, Aurelien Peillex, and Bradlsy Shelver
PLUS Introductions of
RONALD ALEXANDER, new Program Director of the Professional Training Programs, and
BRADLEY SHELVER, new Artistic Director of the Steps Repertory Ensemble.
Friday December 6 at 9 PM
Steps on Broadway, 2121 Broadway (74th Street)
Steps on Broadway, one of New York City's premier dance studios, is proud to present, '1 VISION...3 DIVISIONS, an in-house performance that represents the three major divisions of the organization: The School at Steps, Steps on Broadways’ Professional Training Programs, and Steps Beyond’s Steps Repertory Ensemble, on December 6 at 9 PM. The evening will also serve to introduce to the dance community two major new staff members at Steps: BRADLEY SHELVER, new artistic director of the Steps Repertory Ensemble, and RONALD ALEXANDER, Program Director of the Professional Training Programs. The evening will also demonstrate the scope of training and education provided at Steps and will range from ballets by Petipa to contemporary work by Heidi Latsky.
RONALD K. ALEXANDER was the former Principal and Dean of Admissions of The Nutmeg Conservatory in Torrington, Ct. As a dancer, he was a member of The National Ballet of Canada, and the Frankfurt and Hamburg Ballet Companies from 1973 to 1981. Ronald received a Masters of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a Certificate in Administration from City College of New York. He has worked as Chair of the Harlem School of the Arts, School Administrator for Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Principal of The High School for Contemporary Arts in the Bronx. His new position at Steps is Director of Student Programs and International Student Advisor.
BRADLEY SHELVER, from South Africa, holds advanced diplomas in tap, jazz and ballet through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London. He attended the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and received his South African National Colors in Dance in 1996. On full scholarship to the Ailey School, he moved to NY, where his dancing career has including performing with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Company, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions, Ballet Hispanico, Limon Dance Company, and more. His choreographies have been seen in companies throughout the U.S., South Africa, Brazil, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Israel. He has taught at schools throughout the world, and is currently company teacher for Matthew Bourne's "Adventures in Motion Pictures" and the Phoenix Dance Theater, UK.
The presentation of December 6th, following welcoming remarks by Diane Grumet, Co-Artistic/Managing Director of Steps, will open with two variations from La Bayadere, Act II, staged by Leslie Browne, former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and star of the movie The Turning Point. The variations will be introduced by Kate Thomas, Director of The School at Steps, and danced by Ashley McAleer, age 17, and Sofia Robbins, age 18. The School at Steps offers a comprehensive training program that includes both the classics and contemporary dance styles.
Ronald Alexander, new Program Director of Steps’ Professional Training Programs, will introduce Heidi Latsky's If, created by the choreographer in collaboration with the dancers in a class called Performance Skills, part of Steps new Two-Year Conservatory Program. Well known for her work in the drama and dance worlds for over 30 years, Latsky has set the dance to music by Handel along with original compositions by Randall Woolf and Stan Strickland. If is designed to push the students' performances skills to another level through a series of tasks constructed to be experienced in a deeply internal way.
Steps Repertory Ensemble will perform three works, introduced by new artistic director Bradley Shelver:
Ensemble member Malik Kitchen has created Aura, for a quintet of dancers. Focusing on perception and individuality, Mr. Kitchen's dance is a physical depiction of thought, emotion, and the process of creation.
In the Mirror is a solo created and danced by Ensemble member Aurelien Peillex. The choreographer asks: "Have you ever stared at yourself in the mirror and talk to your reflection? Well, I do it all the time."
By new company artistic director Bradley Shelver is an excerpt from his 3114 BCE, danced to Ravel's Bolero. The title refers to the year 3114, which marks the start of the 5000 year Mayan Calendar that ended on December 21st, 2012. The work is a commentary on the evolution of man, the inherent animalistic nature that remains, despite the era in which we now live.
The Steps Repertory Ensemble is the resident dance company of Steps on Broadway. The ensemble commissions choreographers from around the world, both established and emerging, to create new works and to restage repertory for the company, which consists of 10 to 12 professional dancers, selected by audition. The Steps Repertory Ensemble performs in and around New York and internationally throughout the year.
The evening will conclude with closing remarks by Diane Grumet, followed by a reception.
www.stepsnyc.com
