Colburn Dance

01/01/2021

Happy New Year from the Colburn School!

12/21/2020

We're on break through January 4. Enjoy the time off, and we'll see you in 2021!

12/19/2020

North Texas ballet dancer practices unconventionally during COVID-19 pandemic

We love watching our dancers find creative ways to keep dancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashton Bradley, a Colburn Dance Academy alum, recently joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division, and he is determined to overcome the challenges that so many dancers are facing. Watch more about his inspiring story below:

Ashton Bradley was accepted to Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division in the summer. He still hasn't danced with his team, and is doing practices via Zoom.

12/11/2020

Four of Our Favorite Dancers Collaborated on This New Toy House

When Colburn faculty member Charlie Hodges is not teaching classes, he can be found designing innovative and sustainable toys. His most recent project involved a collaboration with Colburn Dance Dean Jenifer Ringer, and faculty member Janie Taylor. Read Dance Magazine's article below for more information on this exciting creation, which is available just in time for the holiday season!

Today, even the youngest, most successful dancers are confronting the ephemerality of their careers right now, as they watch month after month slip by with few (if any) traditional performance opportunities. The pressures of the pandemic have led many to ask, What's next?For Hodges, he'd long had a....

12/03/2020

PNB trainee Destiny Wimpye - Dance Informa Magazine

Colburn Dance Academy Alumna Destiny Wimpye, now a dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division, talks with Dance Informa about why she chose Colburn Dance on her path to reach her dance goals.

"She switched to the Colburn School in L.A., moving into dorms at just 13 stating that...

'After SAB [School of American Ballet], I knew I really wanted to do ballet, specifically Balanchine technique, and I knew that I had to make a change with my school to get that type of training. I did a lot of modern, hip hop, jazz. I was doing it my whole life. It came naturally for me. But ballet was something I wasn’t a big fan of when I was younger. That intrigued me. I thought, ‘Why can’t I get this right?’ I’m kind of a perfectionist; when things don’t work for me I want to find out why and fix it. With ballet, you do the step, then you have to make it consistent. I love how difficult ballet is. I know there’s something I’ll always be working on, my whole career.' ”

Dance Informa speaks with Destiny Wimpye, who is in the professional division of Pacific Northwest Ballet.

11/18/2020

Katherine Cowgill Summer Dance - YouTube

Dance looks a little different around here these days! But no matter what, we keep dancing and creating together. Here is a brief video of some of our lovely Ballet students dancing choreography they learned with faculty member Katherine Cowgill over the summer.

10/19/2020

It is Colburn Dance wellness week. We are taking a screen break from online learning with no group classes (except our Adult Classes which will continue) October 19 thru October 25. Turn off the screens when you can and have a restful and healthy week.

07/21/2020

As She Approaches 40, Janie Taylor Says There's Always More to Discover About Dancing

Colburn Dance faculty, Janie Taylor is highlighted in Dance Magazine. Janie just completed her first choreographic work and film project with our students this summer. Stay tuned for that beautiful piece of art to be shared soon!. Check out what she says about her current journey in dance here- https://www.dancemagazine.com/janie-taylor-why-i-dance-2646438652.html?share_id=5666095

I'll turn 40 this year, an age beyond which I never imagined dancing. It's got me thinking a lot about where I started, and what's kept me at it up to this point. I've already retired from one company, the New York City Ballet. At the time, I had no intention of dancing again, and I was happy with m...

07/21/2020

Colburn School

We're so happy to have been able to work with Eric Whitacre and the NAMM Foundation to bring life to his new piece, Virtual Choir Virtual Choir 6: Sing Gently! Thousands of singers around the world submitted videos that came together in a single remarkable performance accompanied by a piano track recorded by Samuel Glicklich, a student in the Conservatory. Listen to the piece now! https://bit.ly/32DlHht

07/14/2020

Failure doesn't exist. Limitations breed innovation. | Charlie Hodges | TEDxACCD

Check out Colburn Dance faculty Charlie Hodges' Ted Talk on how limitations breed innovation using his dance experiences to overcome adversity. Charlie teaches a Twyla Tharp Choreagraphy workshop starting next week as part of our 2-week Colburn Dance Summer Session 3. Spots still available for this dance intensive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmUoAjuiV7w

In face of overwhelming odds, how do you create your own reality by dreaming big? Charlie Neshyba hodges danced professionally for nearly 2 decades, predomin...

07/13/2020

Charlie Hodges is teaching a two-week Twyla Tharp workshop starting the next week as part of our Colburn Dance Virtual Summer. Join our intensive with two classes a day followed by this choreographic workshop to be filmed at the end of the session. July 20–August 1- click here to our enrollment page- https://www.colburnschool.edu/youth-dance-programs/summer-programs/

07/10/2020

Colburn believes that the performing arts community needs to reflect the diversity of our communities and nation. We have an opportunity – and a responsibility – to do more. Read a message from our President about the School’s new and expanded Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives that build upon our past work, allow us to make immediate change in the present, and lay the groundwork for a lasting commitment. https://www.colburnschool.edu/equity-diversity-inclusion/

07/05/2020

Silas Farley to create a new dance and film with Colburn Dance summer students. Classes begin Monday- Enroll today! Check out this incredible work he created for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

07/05/2020

How ballet dancer Silas Farley finds inspiration in The Met collection | Met Stories

Colburn Dance's Choreographic/film project with NYCB's Silas Farley begins tomorrow. Last chance for students to enroll is Today! Check out Silas' collaboration with NY's @Metroplitan Museum Of Art in this short video
https://youtu.be/_BlDtdC5rBY

"Dialogue across the ages" New York City Ballet dancer and choreographer Silas Farley shares how he finds rhythm, movement, and creativity through centuries ...

06/27/2020

Be inspired with New York City Ballet dancer, Silas Farley and re-invigorate your artistry with a Colburn Dance 2-week intensive including a choreographic film project. Spots are still available- details and enrollment here- under Advanced/Pre-Professional Ballet Intensive.
https://www.colburnschool.edu/youth-dance-programs/summer-programs/

06/27/2020

‘Seraphic Track Stars’ Dancing About Freedom at the Met

New York City Ballet dancer, Silas Farley will be creating a new choreographic film project virtually on our Summer Session 2 dancers. Spots are still available to enroll
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/arts/dance/silas-farley-metarts-live-metropolitan-museum.html

City Ballet’s Silas Farley takes over three galleries at the Met in a dance to spirituals and songs written by men in San Quentin prison.

06/23/2020

Special announcement from Colburn School President, Sel Kardan about the fall semester
"After very careful consideration and months of planning, the Colburn School has determined that it will begin the Fall semester online and remain online until such time as we determine it safe to fully reopen our campus"
click the link for more detail and full message.
https://www.colburnschool.edu/fall-semester-instruction-update/

06/22/2020

All Balanchine Program · Lincoln Center at Home

Starting tonight at 5:00pm PDT you can watch some of our Colburn Dance faculty and past guest teachers in performance from a select broadcast of Live From Lincoln Center. Former Colburn Dance guest teachers and performers to see include Wendy Whelan, Maria Kowroski Nilas Martins, Helgi Tomasson and current Associate Dean, James Fayette - http://lincolncenter.org/lincoln-center-at-home/show/coppeacutelia-858

We’re streaming landmark works by George Balanchine from rarely seen New York City Ballet performances. The program includes three highlights from the 2004 broadcast of the…

06/15/2020

What Can Dancers Do If They Don’t Feel Safe Returning to the Studio?

Colburn Dance Virtual Summer classes are completely online using Zoom for June, July and August and we have been enjoying a lot of success with over 100 weekly classes. While we look forward to returning to the studio in the future, for the safety of our students, faculty and staff we will continue to remain online for the summer.
https://www.dancemagazine.com/unsafe-returning-to-dance-studio-2646168999.html

As we head into summer, all 50 states are taking steps toward reopening after the coronavirus shutdown, despite the fact that only a handful meet safe reopening criteria. Most dancers in New York City and other urban areas have accepted that we won't be returning to live performance as we knew it un...

06/02/2020

Colburn unites with the music industry for Blackout Tuesday.
#theshowmustbepaused

05/30/2020

Summer Enrollment is open. In this time of social distancing, the power of creativity and dance is more important than ever. This summer, stay engaged, inspired, and progressing in both your artistry and technique by joining us for a class in the Colburn Connected Virtual Dance Studio.
https://www.colburnschool.edu/youth-dance-programs/summer-programs/

05/12/2020

Colburn Dance is having a Netflix Party tonight to watch Center Stage together online. Some special guests to join us in the chat room! Happy 20th Anniversary!

05/12/2020

Interview with retired NYCB principal, Jenifer Ringer!

Colburn Dance Academy student Olivia Jacobus interviews Colburn Dance Dean, Jenifer Ringer Fayette.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZMd5IXGXqE

In this vid, I got to interview my teacher, Jenifer Ringer, who is retired NYCB principal and now dean at Colburn Dance Academy in Los Angeles :) Tiktok: htt...

05/10/2020

American Ballet Theater Moves Its Spring Gala to YouTube

Don't miss the American Ballet Theatre gala streamed on youtube this Tuesday, May 12th.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/arts/dance/abt-virtual-gala.html

On May 12, the company will present an hour of tributes and quarantine performances by dancers, Tony Bennett and Cynthia Erivo.

05/09/2020

NYCB Digital Spring Season: Concerto DSCH

Tonight take some time to view this beautiful work by choreographer Alexei Ratmansky- Concerto DSCH performed by New York City Ballet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGyDkiXwuK0

Concerto DSCH, Alexei Ratmansky's ingenious and richly-textured second original ballet for the Company, is choreographed on a score that Dmitri Shostakovich ...

05/09/2020

Misty Copeland and 31 Ballerinas From Around the World Danced Together, and It's Mesmerizing

The video performance features 32 ballerinas representing performing a variation from Le Cygne (The Swan). The video hopes to raise $500,000, and those proceeds will be distributed to the relief funds of the participating dancers' companies.
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/swans-for-relief-raises-money-for-dancers-amid-covid-19-47449883?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=post&utm_campaign=fitness&fbclid=IwAR1LL88EA7pb18HClNaUIuNdFYBw7OVljIfek0wvkmXpyexBTa2QeHQU0UA

Like countless other arts organizations, ballet companies depend on ticket sales to stay in operation, but selling tickets is impossible when performance

05/03/2020

NYCB Digital Spring Season: BALLO DELLA REGINA & AFTER THE RAIN PAS DE DEUX

https://youtu.be/Dnc_dwvxoGE

This streaming program is a double bill of Balanchine's notoriously challenging "underwater" ballet Ballo della Regina, set to a lighthearted Verdi score, an...

05/02/2020

Donald Byrd on Confronting the Uncomfortable

Choreographer Donald Byrd talks about being present and alive in dance and confronting the uncomfortable. check out this inspiring short video-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joSOmaCFrUM&list=PLmufVsbMHst90rH4fD05yHIfI8L_GDi5k&index=1&utm_source=Dance+Media+Email+Newsletter+List&utm_campaign=d4ea9ed624-TheDanceEdit20200501&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_833b5eb50e-d4ea9ed624-67581925

Master choreographer and Doris Duke Artist Donald Byrd speaks to dance’s power to engage people around society’s most difficult and unsettling issues.

05/02/2020

Genevieve Labean teaching open Intermediate/Advanced Ballet class today at 3:00pm PDT on #colburnconnected. Don't miss the chance to work with a former professional dancer from the New York City Ballet

https://www.colburnschool.edu/dance-online-learning/colburn-connected-virtual-dance-studio/

05/02/2020

MARTHA MATINEES: CunningGraham

Check out this wonderful comparison of Merce Cunningham and Martha Graham-
Merce Cunningham began his career in Martha Graham’s company. Was his new style a complete revolt from Graham or is there more in common between these two geniuses than we think? 'CunningGraham' presents a comparison of the two physical systems—the classroom techniques—they invented to serve their visions for the stage.

Performed February, 2020, Martha Graham Studio Theater
Hosted by Janet Eilber and Virginie Mécène with guests Jennifer Goggans and Daniel Madoff; featuring Graham 2 and dancers from the Cunningham Trust.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAuPL7WkOnI&feature=youtu.be

Merce Cunningham began his career in Martha Graham’s company. Was his new style a complete revolt from Graham or is there more in common between these two ge...

05/02/2020

Don't miss an opportunity to see Christopher Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale Online Broadcast streaming today. Colburn Dance Academy students viewed this broadcast in a movie theter in downtown Los Angeles a few years ago and were amazed at the complexity of the storytelling and incredible dancing. Should not be missed- details here -
https://www.roh.org.uk/streaming/the-winters-tale

04/30/2020

Alvin Ailey's Night Creature

Because we are launching our weekly Horton Technique Class today (Thursday) with Yuka Fukuda at 3:15pm PDT on our Colburn Connected Virtual Studio we are sharing, for a little inspiration, "Night Creature" from Ailey All Access.
“Night creatures, unlike stars, do not come OUT at night­– they come ON, each thinking that, before the night is out, he or she will be the star.” -Duke Ellington

https://youtu.be/lR4sQXBZDTQ

“Night creatures, unlike stars, do not come OUT at night­– they come ON, each thinking that, before the night is out, he or she will be the star.” -Duke Elli...

04/30/2020

Feeling Down? Try a Good Vibes Dance for Your Hands

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/arts/dance/keone-mari-madrid-good-vibes-dance.html

After their own battle with the coronavirus, the hip-hop choreographers Keone and Mari Madrid propose a few simple gestures that you can do anywhere.

04/29/2020

Open Modern Class in Horton Technique with Yuka Fukuda tomorrow, Thursday at 3:15pm PDT on our Colburn Connected Virtual Studio Platform. Yuka trained at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School and performed with Alvin Ailey II from 1999-2002, worked with world-class choreographers including Robert Battle, Jessica Lang, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Donald Byrd, and Ronald K Brown in addition to an impressive collection of musical theater productions. Yuka has been teaching at Colburn Dance for over 5 years. Link to our open classes found here-https://www.colburnschool.edu/dance-online-learning/colburn-connected-virtual-dance-studio/

04/28/2020

NYC Ballet Presents NEW BEGINNINGS

This video by New York City Ballet "New Beginnings" is described as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a tribute to the future of the city that New York City Ballet calls home.
The dance is an excerpt from Christopher Wheeldon's "After the Rain" ballet. Colburn Dance was lucky enough to present this pas de deux performed by now Associate Artistic Director of NYCB, Wendy Whelan and Principal Dancer Jared Angle as part of our annual See the Music, Hear the Dance event and artists in residence in 2014 at the Colburn School accompanied by the Colburn: Conservatory of Music.
The primary inspiration for this film danced by Maria Kowroski and Ask la Cour was the resilience demonstrated in response to 9/11 but those themes hold very true during today's challenges as well- enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zMCxmdkcRY

NEW BEGINNINGS New York City Ballet presents NEW BEGINNINGS on September 12, 2013. Filmed at sunrise on the 57th floor of 4WTC in lower Manhattan, this short...