NY Dance Community Gathers To Honor Choreographer Chet Walker With Evening Of Performance And Tribute, June 10

Presented in partnership by Steps on Broadway, Steps Beyond Foundation, and Broadway Dance Center, the dance community honors the extraordinary legacy of Chet Walker with Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Chet Walker, an evening of performance and tribute on Saturday June 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Steps Studio Theater at Steps on Broadway. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

The evening will feature a program that showcases the talent and creativity that Chet Walker inspired, offering guest performances that exemplify his unique style and influence in addition to esteemed speakers who will share their personal insights and reflections on his immense impact. A touching video montage of archival footage, memories, and heartfelt remarks from family, friends and colleagues will also be compiled, with a reception to follow.

A luminary in the world of dance and choreography, Walker left an indelible mark on colleagues, students and friends. His biography is a testament to his numerous accomplishments that spanned across Broadway, television, film, music videos, and commercials. He quickly rose to prominence with his Broadway debut in On the Town at the age of 16, and went on to dance in Ambassador and Lorelei as well as in Fosse's The Pajama Game, Pippin and Dancin' before moving to Los Angeles to teach and perform in commercials. He returned to Broadway to perform in the 1986 revival of Sweet Charity, Fosse's final production before his death. In 1998, Walker co-conceived and recreated choreography for the tribute musical Fosse, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1999, and in 2013, he was nominated for a Tony for his choreography for the revival of Pippin. Throughout his illustrious journey, Chet collaborated with renowned artists and mentored countless aspiring dancers under his 20-year tenure directing the Jacob's Pillow musical theater program and all over the world. At the time of his death in the Fall of 2022, Walker was working on two new musicals, with a mission to preserve and amplify the work of Jack Cole.

“Chet's exuberance, passion and joy of dance was infectious in Our Studios,” expressed Diane Grumet, Artistic Director of Steps on Broadway. “He shared his heart and bared his soul with every step he taught. His respect for mentors and their legacies set a foundation for his own teaching that engaged and energized his students as well as spurred his creativity.  Whether teaching theater jazz, repertory or a Jack Cole workshop, the atmosphere was electrified and inspired. He was a charm.” "Chet was so passionate about dance history and gracious about sharing his experiences in the dance world,” adds Patricia R. Klausner, Managing Director of the Steps Beyond Foundation. “His two Artists Talks for the foundation on Jack Cole were so inspiring and rich with detail for our audience -  dance students and the community at large.  He was a true dance ambassador to the core." "I first met Chet in the late '90s when he was teaching every Tuesday and Thursday at BDC,” remembers Reese Snow, Associate Executive Director of Broadway Dance Center. “His dedication and passion for dance created a unique atmosphere of excitement, inspiration, and professionalism in each and every class he taught."

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Chet Walker will be held Saturday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Steps Studio Theater at Steps on Broadway located at 2121 Broadway at 74th Street, accessible by the 1, 2, and 3 trains to 72nd Street.

Tickets are FREE and RSVP is required at https://www.stepsnyc.com/chet-walker-tribute/. A reception will follow.

The community is invited to submit memories to be included in the evening's presentation by Monday, June 5, 2023, at https://form.jotform.com/231224919398060

Steps on Broadway is an internationally recognized dance training center serving the needs of dancers of all ages and abilities. Generations of aspiring and professional dancers, as well as dance enthusiasts, participate in a myriad of in-person and virtual programs, including drop-in classes, master classes, workshops, curriculum-based professional training programs, youth programs for children of all ages (including a pre-professional program), and an international visa study program. Steps offers classes seven days a week in eleven studios on New York City's Upper West Side.

The Steps Beyond Foundation is dedicated to developing and sustaining dance artists and to the cultivation of the dance community. Specifically, the Foundation is committed to supporting excellence in the field by providing collaborative opportunities among established and emerging artists through community engagement, creative project support, and presenting performances & special events.

Broadway Dance Center (BDC) has provided quality dance education to professional and recreational students of all ages in the heart of New York City since 1984. BDC offers more than 350 classes weekly, taught by some of the world's most renowned teachers and choreographers. Offerings include a robust drop-in schedule (virtual, in-person, and on-demand classes), specialized workshops, intensives, and events, as well as full-time programming for US and international students. Continued dedication to the international dance community, state-of-the-art studios, and a prime location in NYC's theater district make BDC the ultimate destination for dancers around the globe.