New Year’s Resolutions

Hear from your favorite dance artists and be inspired for 2012!

By Deborah Searle.

What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Do you make goals for yourself at the start of a new year, in the hope of becoming a better dancer, choreographer, or teacher? Even the industry’s most renowned dance artists set new goals for the new year. Dance Informa spoke to international dance stars to find out their plans for 2012.

Erin Lamont
LA Based Choreographer and Creative Director
www.erinlamont.com

“My choreography and dance goals for this year include: choreographing a national commercial, my burlesque group ‘The Lalas’ to be in a residency at a resort/casino in Las Vegas (www.thelalas.com), and to work on a hit sitcom show choreographing a “spoof” scene for actors. I LOVE working with non-dancers on comedic routines. I always have such a blast! Other goals are to choreograph for another CSI episode. I recently worked on CSI:NY and the experience was amazing. As a dancer and choreographer I felt so appreciated and respected. I also had a lot of artistic freedom in the scene which made for fun improvisation. Also, SYTYCD. Need I say more? Lastly, I aim to work my agent to the bone and keep her so busy with all of my bookings. I just signed with The S Agency in L.A, and I am so excited for what lies ahead!”

LA based, Detroit born, Erin Lamont is an in demand choreographer with feature credits including The Video Game Awards with Neil Patrick Harris, Lady Gaga, Kevin Rudolph, Trace Adkins, Boys Like Girls, the Veronicas, CMT’s Your Chance to Dance, L.A Fashion Week, and ESPN. Erin tours internationally as a guest artist and choreographer and is also the producer and director of L.A’s hottest burlesque group, ‘The Lalas’.

Joshua Blake Carter
Company dancer, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago

“In 2012 I plan to take better care of me. So often as a dancer I find myself rushing from one place to another without any time to cool down or stretch. This year I want to set aside 10-15 minutes at the end of my day that I can use to stretch, do yoga, or simply just relax without any other distractions. Taking care of our bodies is an integral part of our careers. It sounds easy, but I know this just might be the hardest thing to accomplish!”

Joshua Blake Carter, originally from Atlanta, GA is a company dancer for Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, as well as a freelance choreographer. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Cum Laude from the University of Arizona. In 2008 Joshua’s work was accepted as a finalist in the Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, CA. The following year he was selected as a finalist and won Ballet Nouveau Colorado’s national choreography competition, dancemakers2.0.

Brian Friedman
Creative Director The PULSE On Tour, Choreographer The X Factor

“Try and take more time off of work and to take up a new hobby! I need to learn a new craft… maybe a foreign language.”

Brian Friedman has choreographed and directed some of the most popular and groundbreaking music videos and performances for Britney Spears, Prince, NSYNC, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Usher and more. As a dancer, his screen credits include both Charlie’s Angels hit movies, ‘You Got Served’, ‘She’s All that’ and ‘Austin Powers Gold Member’. His television shows include Will & Grace, David Letterman, Oprah, That 70’s Show, the Billboard Music Awards and The X Factor, amongst others.

Desmond Richardson
Artistic Director/Co.Founder Complexions Contemporary Ballet, faculty of The PULSE On Tour

“Simply- live without fear!!!!”

Hailed by the New York Times as one of the great modern dancers of his time, Desmond Richardson was a principal dancer for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre for seven years, before dancing for American Ballet Theatre and then on Broadway in ‘Fosse’, ‘Movin’ Out’ and ‘The Look of Love’.

Robert Hoffman
Step Up 2: The Streets, faculty of The PULSE On Tour
www.punchrobert.com

“To make ‘The Yes Dance’ into a movie… Grow as a person… And create a lot of smiles, wonderment, and laughter.”

Robert James Hoffman danced in the movie ‘You Got Served’ and performed supporting roles in ‘She’s the Man’, the prime-time missing person-themed series ‘Vanished’, and the supernatural horror movie ‘Shrooms’ . Hoffman then rose to fame as the lead male in Jon M. Chu’s urban dance drama ‘Step Up 2: The Streets’.

The PULSE On Tour® is a powerful weekend dance event featuring the most renowned instructors, choreographers and educators of today. Dancers and teachers walk away from the conventions feeling stronger and more empowered to reach their next goals in dance. The Pulse promises to show you a dance experience of a lifetime! www.thepulseontour.comwww.facebook.com/pages/The-PULSE-On-Tour

Michèle Assaf
Artistic Director of World Dance Movement-The International Workshop

“To create more outlets nationally and internationally to educate dancers and support this community that has brought me a lifetime of joy.”

Michèle Assaf is an internationally renowned producer/ director/ choreographer and master teacher, having worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional and international theater projects as well as film and television.

Paul Knobloch
Company Dancer, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet

“This New Year I will be joining Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, moving from Australia to San Francisco and making my mark on the American dance scene. I guess my resolutions for the new year are much like my ultimate dance dreams:
To be the best dancer I can possibly be.
To give myself completely as an artist.
To bring happiness, joy and inspiration to all I am blessed to dance for.
To learn, absorb and soak up as much knowledge available to me in order to inspire and share the gift of dance with others.
To inspire other people who have a love and passion for dance, and encourage them to reach for the stars in pursuit of their ultimate dreams.”

After eight years as a leading dancer with The Australian Ballet, Paul Knobloch then joined the renowned Béjart Ballet Lausanne in Switzerland. Paul has graced the stages of the world and danced throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, China, America and Japan. Now America is calling and Paul will join San Francisco’s Alonzo King LINES Ballet in 2012.

Alessa Rogers
Company dancer, Atlanta Ballet, fourth season

“Lemons! My New Year’s Resolution is to consume the juice of one lemon a day. It’s such an easy lifestyle addition- just squeeze it over water or use as a salad dressing- and it provides so many health benefits. It is an antibacterial, a blood and liver purifier, a great digestive aid and it strengthens the immune system. What’s not to love about that tiny incorporation!

My artistic goal for 2012 is to create my body as a stronger and more versatile machine by doing various forms of cross-training. This past October my yoga practice came in handy when I had to do the “bird of paradise” yoga pose in Wayne McGregor’s Eden/Eden. I think that doing cross-training in various fields like rock climbing and tennis will help make my body more capable of tackling difficult ballets even if I won’t actually be rappelling on stage. But you never know! “

Alessa graduated from North Carolina School for the Arts. She spent one season with North Carolina Dance Theatre II, where she performed works by Salvatore Aiello, Dwight Rhoden, and Alvin Ailey before joining Atlanta Ballet. She has been a guest artist for three summers at the Roanoke Island Festival in Manteo, North Carolina.

Jackie Nash
Company dancer, Atlanta Ballet, debut season

“My New Year’s dance resolutions are pretty simple, but also kind of complicated. I want to work up the confidence to find a spot at the barre in company class, where I can actually see myself in the mirror. I am also really determined this year to find pointe shoes that really fit my feet!”

A native of Connecticut, Jackie Nash started her pre-professional ballet training at the Connecticut Dance School under the direction of Alan Woodard. She then spent two years in the dance and academic residency program at The Rock School for Dance Education and graduated in 2009. She has enjoyed dancing roles such as Marya in Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker and performing works by James Kudelka, Mark Godden, Lila York and Matt Kent of Pilobolus Dance Theater.