Interview: Sylvia Waters and JERSEY NEW MOVES EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS at NJPAC 6/17

The second annual Jersey (New) Moves! Emerging Choreographers will be presented at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Friday, June 17th at 8:00 pm in the Victoria Theater. It is an initiative of Jersey Moves! Festival of Dance that is now in it's sixth year. Emerging Choreographers features never-before-seen pieces. Four young talented choreographers were selected through an open, online submission process. Accomplished mentors have partnered with Garden State talents to develop the works that will be premiered.

Kyle Marshall of Jersey City is mentored by Sylvia Waters, Artistic Director Emerita of Ailey II. Marshall is originally from North Brunswick, NJ, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University with a BFA in Dance. He currently performs with Doug Elkins Choreography Etc, Tiffany Mills Company and 10 Hairy Legs. Kyle Marshall Choreography was organized in 2014.

Sylvia Waters was personally selected by Alvin Ailey in 1974 as Artistic Director of Ailey II and led the company for 38 years. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Ms. Waters earned a B.S. in Dance prior to moving to Paris, where she appeared regularly on television. She has also performed in Brussels and at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City. In 1968, Ms. Waters joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and toured with the Company until assuming leadership of Ailey II. In 1997, she received an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York at Oswego, and she has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. Ms. Waters is a recipient of the Legacy Award as part of the 20th Annual IABD Festival, Syracuse University's Women of Distinction Award, a Dance Magazine Award, and a "Bessie" Award. Currently, Ms. Waters leads The Ailey Legacy Residency, a lecture, technique and repertory program for college-level students that looks definitively into the history and creative heritage of Alvin Ailey.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Sylvia Waters who told us a little about her experience and working with Marshall on Emerging Choreographers.

Who were your early mentors or inspirational figures in the art of dance?

My mentors, early on dancers and choreographers and teachers: Donald McKayle, Mary Hinkson, Carmen DeLavallade, and members of the Juilliard faculty who were also members of the Martha Graham Company.

Tell us a little about working with Kyle Marshall.

Kyle is so focused in his rehearsal... His interaction with his dancers is marvelously fluid and energetic. He seems to come to rehearsal prepared with fresh material, or a new take on previously tried movement phrases. He's not afraid to change or alter whole segments of a work... His dancers are enthusiastic and work full out all the time. Kyle has a firm yet quiet approach... very concentrated... I am impressed with his approach.... He is open, and works with great clarity of purpose. Space, shape and dynamic quality concern him, as well as the music choices. Each rehearsal session is videoed, which must be an invaluable tool. I look forward to seeing this work come to life on stage.

What would you like Broadwayworld.com to know about Jersey (New) Moves?

I really believe that New Jersey E Moves is an incredible program for emerging choreographers. It is very important that a choreographer has rehearsal space, time, dancers who are accessible. These are the prime elements that an artist needs to create with a sense of consequence. To have the exposure to an audience is the supreme fulfillment. How fortunate for any young artist to be a part of this.

NJPAC is located at 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey; a short walk from the Newark Penn Station stop by Newark-bound PATH Train or Amtrak. On Friday, June 17th, the doors for Jersey (New) Moves! Emerging Choreographers will open at 7:30 pm and the performance begins at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $34. For more information, visit the New Jersey Performing Arts web site at: http://www.njpac.org/events/detail/jersey-new-moves.

Photo Credit: Eduardo Patino

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