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Memorable moments:
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular was an awesome
experience. To be so lucky to have a professional job at 11
was amazing. All of my friends and teachers came to see me and
I met great people from all over the country.
Advice for young male dancers:
Be yourself and be confident in what you love doing. If you
hide it and act like you’re embarrassed about dancing, then
you’re an easy target. Keep your true friends involved with
your life – let them know about great stuff that’s happening
to you because of your dance.
Idols/mentors:
Professional dancers like Gregg Russell and Andy
Blankenbuehler inspire me. They are not only great dancers but
great people. At my studio we have some older guys that are
great. Ryan Steele has always been a huge influence. We also
have a guy who’s at Juilliard, Brandon Cournay. He’s worked so
hard and it has totally paid off.
Perspective:
I started dancing because my father made me. I hated it from
the time I started at 3 until I entered college, and then it
became my whole life. Since then, everything I have been
involved in pertains to dance. It has made my life exciting
and interesting, and it has given me a purpose, I have met so
many wonderful dancers and teachers on my tours around the
country, and I look at life from a whole different angle. I
couldn’t be happier.
Advice for young male dancers:
Explain [to those who criticize them] that some of the biggest
athletes in the country, in many fields, take dancing to
improve their jumping, coordination, and stamina.
Idols/mentors:
From years ago, a dancer named Swen Swenson, Gene Kelly of
course, and Patrick Swayze, who is known as an actor but whom
I consider a terrific dancer. As for a mentor, I had the best:
my father, Jules Stone. He was a teacher, an inspiration, and
my best friend.
Bob Mann
is in his 41st year of teaching at the Robert Mann Dance
Centre and serves as national executive secretary of Dance
Masters of America.
Perspective:
Most people my age start to reflect on our accomplishments.
Did I do what I set out to do with my life? I think for the
most part I did. I think I did my parents and my mentor proud.
I have had many students, male and female, who have become
successful as performers and dance educators. My former
students keep in touch all the time, letting me know how they
are doing or asking for my advice.
Memorable moments:
My first audition, for the original Gypsy with Ethel
Merman, for one of the Newsboys. I made it to the end! Opening
my first studio—I spent all the money I had saved and borrowed
a few hundred dollars. Getting a call from J. Howard Ferguson,
telling me that the advisory committee would like me to teach
tap at the National Convention in Boston. Seeing my students
recognized at the national competition was a wonderful
experience. Becoming the youngest president of the New York
City Chapter of DMA. The proudest day of my life was being
elected national president of Dance Masters of America.
Advice for young male dancers:
Today there are many more opportunities for dancers,
especially for men. If you are serious about your dancing (by
that I mean you attend classes regularly, to study how to
dance, not just to dance) you will make it. In today’s market
you have to be good at everything. When you attend an
audition, you never know what they are going to want, so you
have to be prepared. That includes all types of dance
training, vocal training, and acting. Those who really want it
and are hungry enough to work for it will get the parts.
Idols/mentors:
I admire
Matt Mattox for his passion in everything he taught; Leon
Danelian for his encouragement; Robert Joffrey for making me
aware of my ballet potential; Bob Audy and Phil Black for
those
wonderful days in tap class. My mentor has been [my first
teacher], Miss Vickie Sheer. She has always been the most
influential person in my dance life.
Advice for young male dancers:
If you want to dance, dance! Do what makes you happy! Being
tormented at school is very hard to deal with, but if you
really want to dance, then go for it. Mean people at school
aren’t going to make it as far as you, because you have a goal
and a desire to do what you love, and in the long run you will
be happier. Your dance teachers and parents are great people
to talk to about being teased at school.
Idols/mentors:
I look up to Andy Blankenbuehler [a teacher at Broadway Dance
Center and with New York City Dance Alliance] very much; he is
the most inspiring teacher I have ever taken from. He has a
strong masculine quality in the way he moves. I also have a
lot of mentors from my studio back home. Having so many older
guys to help me along the way, I’ve established friendships for
life.
Memorable moments:
Dancing onstage for up to 80,000 people in concert, seeing
major motion pictures that I’m in at the theater, and dancing
on my first award shows. As a choreographer, the highest
points are seeing world tours come to life onstage and
being nominated for choreography awards.
Advice for young male dancers:
Once you get out of school, you realize what a small part of
life that is. You have to stay true to what your heart wants,
and if it’s dance, you can’t let anything or anyone stand in
your way.
Idols/mentors:
As a young dancer I looked up to other local Arizona male
dancers, but as I got older looked up to choreographers,
including Bob Fosse, Vincent Paterson, Michael Peters, Jamie
King, Kenny Ortega, Marguerite Derricks, and Mia Michaels.
Memorable moments:
I was taking a class at a DMA convention in NYC many years ago
from Charles Goddertz. At the end he asked me to perform with
him, for the entire convention class, the number he had just
taught. Another time I had been taking tap class for two weeks
at Broadway Dance Center.
The teacher had injured his foot and asked me to demonstrate
his classes for him while he sat and conducted the classes.
Advice for young male dancers:
If you have the will to dance and want to do it, forget what
others might say. It’s your life, not theirs. Live life to the
fullest, and if dance is part of it, give it your 100+
percent.
Idols/mentors:
Fred Astaire, for his finesse and grace; Donald O’Connor and
Ray Bolger for their ability to perform many types of dance;
Bob Hope and Gene Kelly. Jack Stanly, whom I only got the
chance to take one lesson from, would probably be my male
mentor. Most of my background in tap, jazz, and choreography
is from him. He was a choreographer before his time.
Memorable moments:
I was teaching a workshop for Dance Masters in Miami, FL, some
30 years ago. The first acrobatics class that I taught was for
the teachers, and I suddenly realized that sitting in the
front row taking notes was my teacher and mentor, John Plaza,
who had taught for DMA many times. It was nerve-wracking
teaching a subject that I had been trained in by the man who
was now scrutinizing everything I was doing. When I finished,
he stood up and said, “This young man came to New York as a
14-year-old student from Connecticut and has for over 14 years
been a student of mine. When I retired I turned my classes
over to him. He knows as much about acrobatics and how to
teach the subject as I did, and probably now knows more than I
do.” The entire room stood up and applauded.
Advice for young male dancers:
In this day and age, most boys who decide to dance can
overcome ridicule from classmates because they are more
knowledgeable about the arts field. But those who have a hard
time fending off remarks about being gay or sissy because they
dance have to be strong-headed and ask those lowly people,
“Can you do a round-off back handspring?” or “Can you jump and
change feet in the air four times?”
Idols/mentors:
I had many great male teachers. I went to New York because my
small-town teacher, Evelyn Macfarlane, wanted me to further my
education with better teachers. She sent me to Jack Stanly’s
school, where all the teachers were male. When New York
teachers started to teach modern jazz, I studied with Matt
Mattox,
Peter Gennaro, Claude Thompson. My mentor was John Plaza.
Perspective:
For male dancers, training options are limited. Many studio
teachers are not familiar with the needs of male dancers. They
need to find appropriate and tangible role models for these
kids. There’s nothing worse than feeling alone and powerless
when you are a young boy who is different than the others.
Teachers can help these young men grow and develop to their
full potential.
Memorable moments:
Playing Rooster in Annie was one highlight, and seeing
a former student be nominated for a Tony was also quite
exciting. Having my former students come home from college at
Thanksgiving break and jump into my arms is the most rewarding
experience of all. They can’t wait to see me cry when they
say, “Thank you, Mr. Dan. I really left here prepared.”
Advice for young male dancers:
Dream big! And remember that you only need to stay in your
hometown until you graduate from high school. There’s a big
world out there that will appreciate you for your talents.
Nurture your talent and work on specific skills. Don’t be
afraid of the struggle—it’s part of your grow the experience.
You need it to become stronger. Find a mentor in your
community and don’t lose sight of your goals and dreams. Work
hard and be humble. Humility is only a short step from vanity,
and vanity is not becoming in anyone. There will always be
someone auditioning with you who is just as good as you, but
humble beats out attitude at any audition!
Idols/mentors:
Linwood Dyer. He trained me as a child. A theatrical wing of a
library is dedicated to him now, and he received a Jefferson
Award for Contributions to the Arts and Theater from the
Jacqueline Kennedy Foundation.
Memorable moments:
Two months
before he passed away, Gene Kelly invited me to his house
and we talked for over an hour. Another was dancing in the
movie Newsies. That was my first job in Los Angeles.
Seeing myself on television for the first time was awesome,
and getting interviewed and featured in TV Guide. And
directing my first commercial last year, for Carvel Ice Cream.
Advice for young male dancers:
Despite how tough it can be, don’t let others influence what
you want to do. If you are a guy and want to dance, then
dance! If other kids are playing soccer or sports and you want
to fit in, try their sport along with dancing. If that doesn’t
interest you, then be proud of your dancing and show it off in
the community. One tip is to learn whatever is popular
(break-dancing, gymnastics, etc.) and let ’em have it!
Idols/mentors:
My brother was a big influence, just by seeing what he had to
go through. Also, Gregory Hines, Gene Kelly, Frank Hatchett,
Henry LeTang, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. These guys were strong
male dancers who you could meet on the street and not know
they were dancers. That was a big deal to me when I was
growing up and trying to fit in.
Perspective:
I have been training my heart out here and loving every minute
of it. My only wish is that I had found this passion earlier
in my life, so that I would not be so far behind today. I wish
more males could be exposed to dance at an earlier age, for if
they find that they love it and can make it through that
initial ridicule from peers, there would be nothing to stop
them.
Memorable moments:
When I first auditioned for the dance department I was blown
away by the company and didn’t have the talent for it. Now
I’ve worked hard enough to make it in. Standing out on that
stage after my performances, with the company I had watched
just a year ago, I realized that I had done the undoable.
Advice for young male dancers:
It is such an opportune field for males that if it is
enjoyable, then continuing in dance is a great path to
follow. Over time the ridicule will largely cease, and
if it doesn’t, while other guys hit each other full
force trying to get a pigskin and others roll around
with each other on the floor in Spandex, a male dancer
gets to spend his days with beautiful, talented women
and other men who share their passion for the art.
Idols/mentors:
Ever since I saw [the movie] Center Stage I’ve
wanted to dance like Sascha Radetsky and Ethan Stiefel.
This was before I started dancing. Ethan does a switch
leap in a jazz class, and I remember thinking how I
would never be able to do something like that. Now
switch leaps are one of my favorite tricks. I also
model myself after one the upperclassmen at UB. He’s a
very strong dancer of a similar body type, and I’ve
been working toward rivaling him ever since I first
saw him.
Memorable moments:
Getting into and going to Juilliard—it was the best training I
could have gotten and it opened my eyes to so many aspects of
dance that the studio and competition world didn’t. Also,
getting offers from a few companies on my first audition run
and dancing the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet.
Advice for young male dancers:
Kids will make fun of anyone and anything that they don’t
understand. I had a passion to be a dancer, and no matter what
people said to me it was mine, and I wouldn’t let them take it
away from me. In a way it made the passion stronger. I think
no matter what you want to do, if it’s really inside you, you
just let the torment bounce off and push harder.
Idols/mentors:
I was completely inspired by Gene Kelly when I was a kid. He
was able to do any kind of dance and make it look beautiful
and masculine at the same time. Now I am inspired by the other
men I dance with. They all come from different places and have
different things to offer. There is this unspoken bond because
most of us dealt with the same obstacles as kids and pushed
through to become successful artists.
Advice for young male dancers:
There are many benefits to being a talented male dancer, so
keep your head on straight and try not to let the kids in
school run your life for you. I was interviewed on TV when I
was 10
Years old for dancing at the White House, and they asked me
what the kids at school said about my dancing. I said, “They
make fun of me sometimes, but I’ll be making the big bucks
when they’re picking up trash.” And 10 years later I’m living
in Los Angeles dancing for Mariah Carey and in movies and
commercials. I went back home to Stoughton [MA], and there it
was—two kids from my high school riding on the back of the
trash truck, picking up my trash from my house! So that’s what
I tell every young boy who’s dealing with the crap I used to
get.
Idols/mentors:
Growing up
in a studio that had male teachers was huge for me. I was
lucky enough to have trained
at Sherry Gold Dance Studio, where I had Rhee and Rennie
[Gold] to look up to. Rennie was my everyday teacher; I refer
to him as a second father. He showed me that I could dance
like a man and filled the studio with the best faculty, which
taught me discipline and makes me better as a professional
dancer.
Perspective:
My career in dance has served me well in every aspect of my
life. I operated a dance school, and one can never adequately
express the gratification that comes from being part of the
development of today’s youth. Teaching young people to
activate their minds and bodies as a unit, to yearn to be
downstage center, and to project their feelings to the last
row of the balcony [is unique to] the performing arts. I, at
48 years old, am proud to say that I am a former professional
dancer, and no matter where I say it, people are fascinated.
Memorable moments:
Spending my senior year in high school in a touring company
and being dance captain was one of the greatest experiences of
my life. The travel and rigorous experiences prepared me for
the professional career that lay ahead. The high point of my
career was being named national director of Dance Olympus/DANCEAMERICA.
I grew up on the Dance Olympus ballroom floor, and to be in
charge of the operations of this great educational vehicle has
been the most fulfilling aspect of my career.
Advice for young male dancers:
Pull yourself up by the bootstraps and continue. I will never
forget the first time I returned home after living and working
in New York.
I pulled into a gas station in my new Malibu Classic Sedan and
guess who was there pumping gas—the ringleader of the gang who
tormented me so in high school. I loved having him service my
car and clean my windows, while I was on my way to the bank
with a check from performing that I am sure was more than he
would see in a month. I eventually went back to my hometown
and opened a dance school. The
best part of continuing my dance career was when the same
people who had mistreated me brought their children to me for
lessons. It was a silent reinforcement that even though they
were so unkind as youths, their sensibility as parents allowed
them to make the right decision concerning their children’s
education. My passion has served me well and it always will.
Idols/mentors:
Gene Kelly—his athletic style of dance proved that the male
form could be strong and artistic at the same time. I have to
give John Travolta credit for bringing the role of the male
dancer to the foreground in the late ’70s. His masculine
demeanor showed that men can dance and still evoke manly
traits, yet yield to a sensitive side that had not been
portrayed in film.
Terry
Lindholm
is a talent agent who represents dancers and choreographers in
Los Angeles and New York.
Memorable moments:
Dancing with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for Chicago’s 15th
birthday celebration, and teaching for Tremaine Dance
Conventions. There is nothing more rewarding than teaching.
Also, touring with Reba McEntire—she and her husband are the
epitome of professionalism and I have never been treated as
well by anyone. Sitting on the board of the American
Choreography Awards is rewarding because we present an evening
that acknowledges our peers and reminds us that we are part of
a community that we must cherish.
Advice for young male dancers:
Standing up for yourself and what you believe is important.
Being smart about picking which battles to fight is important
because sometimes all people want is for you to engage. The
best defense is an offense—being successful shuts people up.
If you really want to dance you will find a way to make it
work and a group of people that accepts you.
Idols/mentors:
Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse, Jack Cole, Jerome Robbins. These people
brought such passion and diversity to their craft. They
incorporated ballet, jazz, and tap into their choreography as
well as an individual style that is incredibly inspiring.
Memorable moments:
Winning the U.S. Latin Ballroom Dance Championships and
representing the U.S. in the World Latin Dance Championships
with my sister, Kippy. Also, being the third recipient of the
DMA Ivy Hall Award, which was first presented to Gene Kelly.
Advice for young male dancers:
Find support through family and friends for what you love to
do. I believe that nothing can destroy one’s passion or
destiny to dance. Dance is a calling.
Idols/mentors:
Mikhail Baryshnikov personifies the word “artist.” He was not
afraid to take chances in his career. He crossed over into
many artistic endeavors: from classical ballet to modern, from
Broadway to film to television. I admire master teacher Joseph
Giacobbe, the artistic director of Delta Festival Ballet, for
his knowledge of dance and understanding of how to develop an
artist.
Memorable moments:
Winning Mr. Dance of America 1999 and getting accepted to
Juilliard. Living in New York City and attending such a
remarkable school with such talented dancers was a
life-altering experience. Getting my contract with Les Grands
Ballets Canadiens before graduating
was also a great moment. I felt like I
could
grow as an artist and try different
types of choreography.
Highlights of my career in the
company
have been working with Mats Ek and
Ohad Naharin. Their work is
amazing, beyond
physical, but exhilarating to perform.
Perspective:
Being a
dancer is not an easy occupation. You need to take care of
yourself and listen to your body. It can be challenging, but
you need to connect and reconnect to why you are there in the
first place. For me, that is because I have to express myself.
When times get tough I go into a studio, put on some music,
and just move. I don’t worry about whether it looks bad or if
I am being dramatic or whatever. I just move and let myself
get lost in whatever I am doing. That helps me. If what you
are working on is not that inspiring, inspire yourself.
Advice for
young male dancers:
Find a group
of people that you feel comfortable with and that you can be
yourself with. Surround yourself with their positive energy.
That is going to be really helpful. You are the only person
who can judge yourself. If you are kind to yourself, you will
have a much easier time. Work toward a goal. It is not always
easy to attain it. Ironically, when you tell yourself to chill
out, your body responds to that. Your muscles relax and
function more properly, especially for ballet. Just focus on
one thing at a time. Slowly, things will improve.
Idols/mentors:
I look up to
my peers. Seeing their strengths helps me to work on myself.
At Juilliard, the late Benjamin Harkarvy and my ballet
teacher, Alexandra Wells, helped me find my place in the dance
world and in the world in general. They were great teachers.
Check out
the companion piece to this article, Men In Dance . . .
click
here
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Copyright 2006 Gold Standard Press, LLC. Goldrush and Goldrush Online are published six to twelve times times a year. All rights reserved. Contents of Goldrush Magazine or Goldrush Online may not be duplicated in whole or in part without permission of the publisher. Inclusion in the Goldrush does not imply endorsement by Goldrush or its employees. |
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Alex Hathaway
Art Stone
Brandon Cournay
Brian Friedman
Butch
Theisen
Chuck Kelley
Jason
Stotz
Jeremy
Raia
Kenny
Wormald
Pearce
McLain
Tom Ralabate
Tony
Bougiouris
