Emerging Leaders Introduction

The emerging dance leaders of the 21^st century are a varied group of individuals representing a spectrum of viewpoints about the future of dance. These dancers are poignant artists presenting an intriguing blend of personal storytelling, heightened relationships to music, cultural vitality and are redefining existing movement definitions.

Many of these dancers’ philosophies are rooted in the fusion of classical technique with new variations of individualized movement vocabulary.  George Balanchine a founding visionary of American ballet said, “There are no news steps, only new combinations.” This is evident in the next wave of dance leaders, as they create new styles and interpretation of movement based upon a foundation of shared terminology.

These new leaders are expanding the artistic boundaries of dance by incorporating a variety of visual mediums into their work. Visual projections, innovative stage settings and puppetry are some of the mixed mediums dancers are bringing to the forefront of their creative work. Some of the work is never even presented live; using film to transcend reality and offer a new dimension for watching dance. The dance leaders are also reinitiating the connection between dance and music. Music is no longer one supporting element of a dance production; it is becoming more prevalent as an equal component in the creation process.

Outlined below is a short synopsis of the emerging leaders our group chose to focus on, with links to a more thorough report of each artist. 

Beth Ratas is a contemporary and modern dancer, performer, choreographer and artist who lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA. Beth’s current preferred form of dance is improv and modern dance. She feels that to do improv, you have to understand your instincts, not question or judge them. (Jessica Bower)

Miguel Gutierrez is a “dance artist” based in Brooklyn who creates both solo work and productions with his ensemble, The Powerful People.  His works, which explore human vulnerability and the connection between body and mind, incorporate a variety of artistic media in addition to movement, including spoken word, sound effects, music of his own or other’s creation, and video projections. (Michelle Cheng)

Mirenka Cechova is a 30 year old native of the Czech Republic, whose work combines elements of mime and theater with dance to create a unique, modern style - one focused more on natural movement than traditional choreography. (Marissa Cinquanti)

Akram Khan Company is unique in their ability to take human themes and blend them into different cultural perspectives while still producing a work that is relatable to all audiences.  The inclusion of various cultural backgrounds, visual artists, and musicians further adds to the blending of traditional dance forms that creates an entirely fascinating performance. (Rebecca Fink)

Crystal Pite, a classically trained ballerina, is well known for integrating movement, original music, and rich visuals into Kidd Pivot (her own company) pieces. By fusing classic elements and the complexity and freedom of structured improvisation (Forsythe) Pite creates routines that are as varied as the different elements she employs. (Eric Gerdts)

In a Hulu web series, Christopher Scott and Harry Shum Jr., choreographers of the Legionof Extraordinary Dancers, have helped producer Jon Chu create a world of dance that is able to fuse together dance genres making each style accessible, engaging, and visually stimulating to dancers and non-dancers alike. (Audrey Kwong)

Justin Peck is a rising star in the ballet world, having choreographed three pieces for the New York City Ballet and been promoted to soloist with the company in the last year, all at age 25.  His style built upon exploring the classical vocabulary, and includes an emphasis on music, quick, athletic movements, and a democratic use of the ensemble and principals.  (Jesse Montgomery)

Kyle Abraham is an emerging choreographic visionary fusing ballet technique with urban hip hop influences. His work is often an autobiographical introspective of the social issues prevalent in our culture today. (Kelsey Small)

Big Dance Theater may have a unique style of storytelling, but ultimately their works rely on movement and the power of dance to express their strange tales of being tourists to many cultures. (Rachael Wilkinson)