International Tour Seeks The Serious Students at Steps on Broadway

Steps on Broadway, NYC's legendary professional dance center committed to training and maintaining the integrity of the art form, increases their international reach with a first-time national and international audition tour. Led by newly appointed Student Programs Audition Director, Davis Robertson, under the direction of Mindy Upin Jackson, Director of Professional Training Programs, and Kate Thomas, Director of The School at Steps, a 12-city tour is underway through early Spring and offers the dedicated dancer various opportunities for study during the summer months and beyond. Through intensive training, performance, and evaluations, these intimate curriculum-based programs, Summer Study NYC: A Contemporary Intensive, Steps Conservatory, and the International Independent Study Program, create polished, versatile dancers brimming with the confidence and enthusiasm to enter the highly competitive world of concert and commercial dance. The audition tour will also be recruiting students for The School at Steps' Senior Summer Intensive, for aspiring professional dancers ages 15-18.

"While we are a home for local dancers to maintain their training, our carefully curated programs utilize the expansive network we have built at Steps, and open our doors to dancers from all over the world throughout the year," explains Diane Grumet, Co-Artistic Director of Steps on Broadway. "These summer programs give dancers an important next step in their training-broadening their home studio or university training with leading choreographers and artists in the dance capital of the world that is New York City."

Summer Study NYC: A Contemporary Intensive (ages 18 and older) is specifically designed for the dancer preparing for a professional career. This program offers intermediate and advanced dancers, one or two 4-week sessions with classes taught by world-renowned contemporary masters as well as by our illustrious faculty. This intensive is designed to strengthen technique and artistry and provide an introduction to NYC's professional dance community. Students take 17 classes per week including technique, Steps with Contemporary Masters, Creative Tools, and Performance Skills, and build relationships with at least nine Artistic Directors and Contemporary choreographers in each session. Students from past summers have been hired by Heidi Latsky Dance, Janis Brenner & Dancers, have freelanced with Francesca Harper, and been awarded apprenticeships with Rioult Dance NY. Upon fulfilling program requirements, students receive a Certificate of Completion at their final performance.

Steps Conservatory (ages 17-24) is a two-year curriculum-based intensive program specifically designed to strengthen technique and artistry, thus preparing the dancer for a professional career in either the concert or commercial dance world. Dancers in the Conservatory take 15-18 weekly classes from our daily schedule as well as private Performance Enrichment workshops, such as vocal training, health and wellness, repertory, composition, dance history, career development, and much more. Over the two years, students build a professional network, thereby positioning themselves for future employment. The program provides an introduction to NYC's professional dance community, not only through study but also through multiple performance opportunities throughout the four semesters. Upon fulfilling program requirements, students receive a Certificate of Completion.

International Independent Study Program (ages 18-35) is designed so that each participant has the flexibility to create their own class schedule and experience New York City's dance community in motion. This M-1 visa program is designed for dancers and dance educators at the intermediate to professional level, who want to explore the diversity of techniques and styles Steps has to offer. To date, the program has hosted dancers from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, United Kingdom, Spain, Morocco, Hungary, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, India, South Africa, Japan, and Taiwan. Students may join the program for three, six or twelve months.

The School at Steps Summer Intensives offer a rigorous multidisciplinary curriculum for the aspiring professional dancer. A minimum of four to five years of significant ballet training is required. Students are placed by audition in either the Junior (ages 9-12) or Senior Intensive (ages 12-18) based on age and ability, each with their own set of core classes and minimum class requirements. Daily classes in ballet and pointe are supplemented with pas de deux, variations, contemporary partnering, repertory, coaching, theater dance, jazz, hip hop, and Horton-based modern. Each session culminates in a studio performance.

AUDITION SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

MEXICO: Escuela Cubana de Ballet de Veracruz, March 13

CHINA: The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, March 18

NEW YORK: Steps on Broadway, March 18, and May 13

NEW YORK: The School at Steps, February 25, March 4, March 18, April 8, and May 6

BOSTON: Boston Conservatory at Berklee, April 2

CHICAGO: Lou Conte Dance Studios/Hubbard Street Dance Center, April 22

JACKSONVILLE, FL: Florida Ballet, April 22

FLORIDA: Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, April 23

Dancers in Sydney, Australia, Florence, Genova, Milan, Urbino and Ravenna Italy have already auditioned.

For the full audition tour and information, visit http://www.stepsnyc.com/professional-training-programs/

PROGRAM LOCATION

All classes will take place at Steps on Broadway, located at 2121 Broadway between 74th and 75th Streets and is accessible by the 1,2,3, C, and B trains to 72nd Street.