Is it me or does the sound of this upcoming new year make you think of flying cars and elevators being suspended mid air? We are already knocking on the door of year 2025 but before we sign off let's look at a few top-tier, congratulatory, historic dance moments from this year.
Once you get to the end of my five, feel free to share this article to your social accounts and add your five! No matter what the years bring, dance always leaves me inspired, ignited, reinvigorated and restored. So, here we go! In no particular order, here are my top 5 dance moments of 2024.
First up is Robert Battle becoming the resident choreographer for Paul Taylor Company. After over a decade of carrying the legacy of Alvin Ailey as its third Artistic Director, Mr. Battle announced his plans to resign from the position. When I read of the news it was jarring but I figured I had to get over it. Not long after, however, I'd hear of happier news and I couldn't be more delighted for him.
Next up is a personal but very cool one. Earlier this year I became a finalist for the National Dance Education Organization's Outstanding Leadership (DEI) Award. Although I was not the chosen winner, going through the process of compiling my current work in and for dance put me in a space of gratefulness and amazement. One day I will be known not only as an impactful and beautiful dance artist but one who is a history-making, philanthropic dance advocate, educator and coach.
Number three on the list is a special one. During the middle of this year, the school formerly and affectionally known as UARTS announced that it would be closing its doors indefinitely. Although it had absolutely nothing to do with me, it hit me hard. After reaching out to some of those dancers who'd been displaced and connecting with collegiate professors and directors of dance in my network, dancers were able to continue their training and education at Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University.
The next dance moment that actually lasted for what seemed like months and months may honestly have taken the cake. I don't think any of us were prepared to deep dive into the deception that came from that one dance company in Dallas, TX. Their name rhymes with "Pallas Plack". After wrongfully terminating their entire main company as a result of them unionizing, the company was then ordered to backpay over $50,000 to the dancers, and basically set the record straight in various ways. And boy! What a ride it was!
Coming in hot as the fifth top tier dance moment of 2024, Alicia Graf Mack and her appointment to Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre! This one hit the dance world in the best way! As an alumna of the Ailey Company, former professional dancer, dynamic collegiate dance educator and now the 4th Artistic Director of AAADT, this was certainly a nod to the changing of the guards within dance and an expectation of great hope.
As we eagerly await the arrival of yet another year, let's stay excited to embrace and contribute to every great thing that 2025 will bring!
Honorable mention: Connecting with Dance Data Project and getting some cool merchandise, Auditioning for Robert Battle; Reaching Australia, Germany and United Kingdom as top percentile interactions through my business, THE DANCE CAREER COACH.
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