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AMBASSADORS “What is your biggest accomplishment of 2016?”
Each year, Inside Dance selects some of our favorite dancers from across the nation to serve as Ambassadors for the magazine. They have inspired us through their dance, their personalities, their work ethic and their pure talent. In each issue, we follow their journey in this beautiful world of dance! CHRISTINA My biggest accomplishment of 2016 would have to be finally figuring out/creating my career plan and going after it!! I’ve always had a passion for acting, dancing, music and singing, but I never really knew how I was going to approach it and become successful in the real industry. After I graduated this summer, I was torn between different options for my next step into my professional career. Now, I can proudly say that I’ve figured out what I desire and what I need to do to accomplish my goals ! I could not be more excited to continue into my career in the arts and I can’t wait to see how it plays out in 2017!
PAYTON When I first thought about this question, I thought my best accomplishment of the year was attending the Juilliard Summer Dance Intensive. In August, southern Louisiana experienced devastating flooding, changing the lives of many and changing my way of thinking. My family’s home was safe, but in the city where my studio is located, over 90% of the residents lost their homes and/or belongings. Schools were closed, some indefinitely, and the start of our dance year was postponed. Along with my twin brother and members of our senior class, I volunteered at a relief shelter and helped with debris removal and clean-up at homes in our community. Although my studio didn’t flood, the homes of many teachers and students did. In an effort to help maintain some sense of normalcy, I spoke with my studio owner and she allowed me to teach classes free of charge to our students and others in the area. Being in dance class again was such a relief for the dancers and their parents. Seeing them happy for a little while in the middle of the chaos was my absolute best accomplishment. My resolution this year will be to appreciate the joy and blessings in my life!
JULIE My biggest accomplishment in 2016 would be launching Battle of the Next Generation. I am the co-owner/director of this new dance event, which provides real-world experience and knowledge of the professional industry to young aspiring dancers. In 2017, my resolution is to continue to expand BNG throughout Canada.
BROOKE Hello Inside Dance Readers! I hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as I am! My greatest achievement of 2016 is becoming Chebar Williams’ assistant along with my sister Mackenzie. I am so thankful and beyond happy to have such an amazing opportunity to assist such an amazing choreographer and person, at one of my favorite conventions, Nuvo. A New Year’s Resolution is trying not to compare myself to others and focusing on being the very best version of myself. I hope you all have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday of the year!
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RYAN 2016 was a year of personal growth for me, and I pushed myself to do things outside of my comfort zone. I am thankful I was accepted as a member of the ImmaBeast Work Study program, and I received scholarships from several conventions. In 2017, I plan to continue training with my studio as well as my personal trainer. I also want to focus on choreographing some of my own pieces.
ISABELLA
Sally Canterna, Bad Boys of Ballet, Shaping Sound Dance Co., Lee Gumbs Photography, Michael Bondanza at I AM JAX PHOTO, Sharkcookie, Chris Reilly , KAR Productions, Levi Walker
AVA My best accomplishment of 2016 was having my tap audition featured on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation. In 2017, my resolution is to continue to expand my tap vocabulary by travelling and learning from the best teachers!
My biggest accomplishment of 2016 is recovering from my Os Trigonum surgery on both feet. This type of surgery removed an extra bone in both my right and left foot. I am very thankful to be doing what I love every day which is dancing. There are always risks when deciding to have surgery. Dancing is my life and I am extremely fortunate to have recovered and able to continue to dance. With hope, faith, hard work and determination, nothing can stop me from fulfilling my dreams. I feel lucky and appreciative of all my blessings doing what I love, knowing that there was a possibility I might not have been able to dance at the same level post-surgery. My New Year’s Resolution is to continue to work on all aspects of my dance goals. I want to give more support to young dancers, whether it’s providing positive advice or being a strong role model. I want to be able to help dancers accomplish their dreams to dance and benefit from all the amazing qualities dance can give a person. I also want to spend quality time with my family and friends that love and support my demanding schedule.
MACKENZIE Happy November everyone! I hope you all have had a fantastic 2016. What I look at as my biggest accomplishment in 2016 is that I have been given the opportunity to assist Chebar Williams at Nuvo dance convention. I couldn’t be more excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity and I’m so excited to kick the season off with so many great things already happening! In 2017, I’d like to improve my artistic style, expand my knowledge of the professional dance industry and learn from as many choreographers as possible. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, happy holidays and enjoy your time with family and friends!
KAELI I feel my biggest accomplishment of 2016, was signing with Wilhelmina Models. I know it’s not exactly dance-related, but modeling is a passion of mine and I’m excited to see where it takes me. I think that dance will help my modeling career and vice versa. My New Year’s Resolution would be to learn to cook yummy vegetarian meals. I’ve recently become a vegetarian and am anxious to see how it affects my energy and body.
BRIGGS This past spring, I finished my freshmen year at Kent State University. I am studying Modern Dance with a minor in Psychology. I have enjoyed the program and the exciting challenges it has provided me to conquer! My hopes for 2017 are to continue growing and learning as a dancer obviously, but also continue to explore my choreographic side! I hope to begin to develop more of my own personal work! It will be an exciting adventure, and I can’t wait to start moving!
ERIC I believe my biggest career accomplishment of 2016 is touring with Shaping Sound. This is my second tour with them this year - I was the swing in the February tour, where I jumped into six shows, and now I’m part of the cast of the fall tour, which is 10 shows. Dancing with them is a dream come true because I’m dancing my favorite styles while traveling around the country and being the star of the show (as opposed to backup for an artist). I have many goals for the upcoming year, and one of them is to work with Dana Foglia Dance. I would also love to get more into hip hop and hopefully do another tour with SS.
HALEY 2016 Accomplishment - Making the University of St. Thomas Dance Team. 2017 New Year’s Resolution - Stay focused and work hard to help my team defend their national title!
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TravisTALK In each issue of Inside Dance, world-renowned and award winning choreographer Travis Wall shares from his life experiences, recounting some of his best memories and also sharing insight into his processes and mindset. As we reflect on 2016, we revisit some of our favorite Travis Talk moments.
iD: As a choreographer and teacher as well, how do you get someone to go from just going through the steps to really feeling that emotion and being able to put their heart out there? TW: It has to be applying yourself – staying present. For me, you have to connect with yourself and your partner. So when you’re teaching someone the steps, you have to break down each step and be like okay why are you doing this step? And for me that comes from the choreography first before the dance when you get to execute it.
iD: It seems like your career has just evolved naturally from such a young age. Did you have to struggle much? TW: I did a commercial when I was nine years old and I really loved the idea of working. I was like, “I want to work. I want to be a professional this or a professional that.” After Music Man - when I finished around the age of 12 or 14 - I had a huge injury and realized how much I wanted to dance. With some body problems along the way, I realized I wasn’t going to have the longest dance career possible and a huge talent of mine was choreography, so I started choreographing at a very young age. iD: What’s your process for developing pieces? TW: I visualize everything first. Usually I have a song or an idea that I want to go with. Movement always comes last because I feel like “why are we moving?” There should be a purpose or motive. I visualize what the routine looks like first or I have to know what my story is.
Photo courtesy FOX
iD: Do you take time to listen to music as much as possible? TW: The soundtrack to my life is always playing - I’m always playing music! I visualize new dances all the time because I hear a song and I’m like, “wow I want to create a piece to this music.” So music always come first. Music is my biggest inspiration in choreography. Life would not exist without music!
Do you have a question for Travis or a topic you’d like to see him cover in Travis Talk? Tweet it to us @InsideDanceMag. NOVEMBER 2016
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Gianna Martello
Growing Up Abby, One Foot After the Other Grabbing a coffee, a manicure and a little beach time whenever a free minute pops up, Gianna Martello is a California girl. At least on this day. Abby Lee Miller’s student turned choreographic assistant, Martello dishes on her journey, splitting her time between coasts and living her best life.
There’s a cool, calm, creative texture yet snap-toit-ness about Gianna Martello. She’s sharp, to the point, incredibly gracious of her opportunities and the spotlight. She knows her craft and knows it well, crediting her strengths to studying in the studio with Miller. She’s earned regional and national titles for her choreography. You can also see her work in music videos for Meghan Trainor, Todrick Hall, and Alexx Calise. Being recognized is still remarkable to Martello, who grew up in Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, because she doesn’t consider herself a star. “I used to just get recognized around the dance scene, but now, it’s in the mall, or out getting my nails done. A lot has happened in just a few years,” she says of the move, Dance Moms and the celebrity that came with it. Growing up around dance, both Mom and Grandma were early influences, “Gia” as she’s known to friends and family, joined ALDC when she was seven. Today, she’s part of the whirlwind momentum created by Lifetime’s Dance Mom’s phenomena. And while the show certainly has its critics, Miller, Martello and the kids are a team on and off the floor, many having gone on to huge success having been catapulted by the show, such as Maddie Ziegler and Chloe Lukasiak. The original group, Maddie Ziegler, Lukasiak, Nia Frazier, Mackenzie Ziegler, Paige Hyland and Brooke Hyland are no longer together, but Martello was there from the beginning and has grown with the show as well. “We do have some hard times. Abby’s a tough teacher. There are tears. It’s a drama show.” Reality tv is their reality. And while fans who follow the show see a tough, intimidating and often ominous Miller, Martello is quick to point out that, “Oh, I think Abby was much tougher on us!” NOVEMBER 2016
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2017
FASHION TRENDS
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Fall Fashion reveals can inspire our creative processes for the upcoming season and year. Whether you are dressing your dancers for winter showcases, spring recitals or the competition stage, Inside Dance is here to guide you through your process. We are pleased to share with you lovely fashion trends of 2017 for the dancers in your life!
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