Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current city: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 39
Did you attend an arts high school? Yes, LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts
College and degree: NYU Tisch School of the Arts, B.F.A
How you pay the bills: Dancer, Teacher (ballet, modern, Pilates)
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You attended a performing arts high school, correct? Describe that experience and its influence on your career path. Do you still have friends and mentors from that time?
Yes I did. I’ve known since I auditioned for LaGuardia that I wanted to be a dancer. It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by other kids who were so talented in many different fields, not just dance. I met future singers, actors, musicians and visual artists, who were good at what they did and at age 13 it was life affirming. I knew it was where I was supposed to be.
We divided our time equally between our discipline and academics. I started the day by taking a ballet class and a modern class, and then after lunch it was time to focus on academic classes. So, I learned to be serious about both right from the beginning.
Absolutely, two of my closest friends are dancers that I went to high school with; they had great dance careers. My friend Jessica went the Broadway route. She toured the world dancing in many musicals and now owns a successful Pilates studio in NY. My Friend Troy danced with a ballet company in Canada and also performed in musicals. Now he’s very involved in the theater world working behind the scenes.
Penny Frank...she taught the Graham technique(she was a dance teacher in the original Fame movie, 1980). Ms. Frank had a huge impact on me. She was a no-nonsense teacher, who cared so much for her students. She taught me a very important lesson that I remember every time I perform. She was the first person to tell me that a performance I did was just average and that it could have been better.
I’m sorry, What?! That was devastating to hear as a teenage dancer who thinks everything she does is great. After thinking about it though, I knew she was right.
I learned that day to be self critical; it’s the only way to become a better dancer/performer. We can always improve.
Michelle performing in the Mark Morris Dance Group ("Mozart Dances")
How did you get into MMDG (audition, seen in class, workshop, connections through college)?
While at NYU Tisch in my last semester, the chairperson at the time (Kay Cummings) told me to go to the audition. I went, made it down to the last few dancers and was asked to take company class, which I did. Later I was asked to understudy "L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato" for a three city tour to Hong Kong, Costa Mesa, CA and London. I couldn’t believe that I was going to dance, travel and, more importantly, get paid for it. A few months after working with the company I was asked to be the company’s first apprentice, and the rest is history. I’ve been with the company for 17 years.
To young dancers, I would say there are many ways to dance for the company you want. Going through a five hundred person cattle call isn’t the only way to get the job. Be open to alternate paths. It’s most important to develop a relationship by taking class, work study if there is a school, and understudying. Be positive.
Can you talk about touring, life on the road, finding time for friends, family, and relationships?Do you keep an apartment in NYC? Talk a little about your most memorable place you’ve toured with the company.
Well, I just returned from a five week tour of Asia, and as always it’s important to keep your connections at home alive. Now a days it’s so much easier to stay in touch with social media. Not only do my friends see what’s going on in my travels, I get to see what’s going on in their lives. When you travel as much as I do, it’s easy to feel out of the loop. I miss friends and family celebrations like weddings and birthdays all the time. So, when I’m in town I have lots of lunch/dinner dates and try to catch up with everyone. Sometimes it’s overwhelming but it’s so important to make an effort to let your loved ones know that you care.
Let’s see....I have a couple of memorable places. Berkeley, CA is a favorite because we’ve performed there so many times I can’t count and it truly feels like my home away from home. It’s nice to go to places where you can get into a routine, great breakfast places, grocery stores and hang out spots. Adventure is great but not all the time. Sometimes familiar is wonderful especially after a hard show; knowing where you’re going to get dinner is a comforting feeling.
As I said earlier we were recently in Asia and we were able to go to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was amazing. Every aspect of the trip was an adventure from riding in tuk-tuks, meeting and dancing traditional Cambodian dance with local dancers, to going to the Temples of Angkor Wat. It was a trip I’ll never forget.
Michelle's recent trip to Angkor Wat
Write a little bit about “company classes” and training expectations in the company.
When we’re in Brooklyn rehearsing, we begin each day with a ballet class taught by Mark. It’s one and half hours long, and we use that class to work on technique, strength and stamina, so in the afternoon we’re able to rehearse the repertory and concentrate on the nuances of the movement.
The role of teaching within your position in the company:
On occasion, I’m one of the dancers asked to teach company class when Mark is unable to teach. I teach various outreach classes when we’re on tour. I also teach Pilates mat classes when I can. Generally, most of us teach technique and repertory classes during MMDG Intensives.
How do you train these days? How do you maintain and care for your body?
These days I do a little of everything: Pilates, yoga, cardio on the bike, elliptical and the treadmill. I take class everyday. I also try to walk at least 20 minutes a day. That could be to the subway in the morning, which is a nice warm up before class, or a cool down after work, although it’s a bit harder after a long day of dancing. I also find it’s a great way to focus on my goals for the day.
Pilates and yoga has been great because it’s something I can do on the go. It really is a quick reset and tune up for my body, and it’s been a great way to prevent serious injuries.
What are you working on/exploring/are curious about as a dancer these days?
These days I’m interested in dance as an art form that anyone can do, completely accessible to all. During our recent trip to Asia we did a lot of outreach with kids with disabilities, adults dealing with domestic/sexual abuse, as well as work with professional dancers. The effect I saw on everyone who participated was the same; it was the joy of learning and working on the movement. The sense of achievement I witnessed across the board was beautiful, and I want to see more of it.
Can you talk a little about where you are now, as a dancer in your 30s, versus in your 20s?
As a dancer in my 20s I was excited about traveling around the world and being paid to do what I love. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so everything was an adventure. My body was in top form, I had very few injuries and honestly I felt invincible. It was easy; I warmed up, I danced and it was great. Very simple.
In my late 30s dancing is a little harder and I have to warm up a lot longer but that’s inevitable because nothing stays the same forever. I’m grateful that I’m still dancing and enjoying it.
I will say what has become better over the years is my artistry and performing from the waist up. When people come to see a show they want to see the whole person. Beautiful, extended legs and pointed feet are wonderful but if you don’t connect with the audience and stay true to the piece of work you’re performing no one will remember your performance.
I’m also thinking about the next phase in my life. I’m not exactly sure what that is but I think about it all the time. However, I do know dance will always be a part of my life.
Advice to young dancers, especially dancers who want to be in NYC :
I would say to young dancers, start an exercise regimen like Pilates or yoga now, not later. The benefits are incredible. The earlier you start the better your body will be during your career. And to young gentlemen, I’d say start weight training. It’s important for male dancers to be able to partner safely and efficiently for you and your partner.
I would also say have a back up plan. Continue to learn about different topics that interest you. Pay as much attention to your mind as you do to your body.
If you want to be a dancer in NY I’d say to try everything, there are so many types of dance that exists in NY, so take advantage of it. See lots of dance performances, especially the things you think you don’t like because you might be pleasantly surprised. Take class and attend workshops; it’s the best way to connect with a choreographer that you like or a company you’re interested in. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
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