A Step Up

Written by: Kyle Marshall

My week at BAM for the DanceMotion USA℠ Professional Development Program will change the course of my dance making. I was introduced to so many dance artist and entrepreneurs from New York and all over the world including; Colombia, Russia, Peru, Kazakhstan, and Korea! We run dance companies, own studios, are students in universities, teachers, and community organizers. Our training ran the spectrum of classical Indian dance, Contact Improvisation, and even Kazakh folk dance. Our masterclasses with Michelle Boulé and Seán Curran untied us as a dance body. Our Creative Capital professional development classes introduced me to whole new frameworks for understanding what my dance organize is and could be.  We received feedback on our public speaking, company websites, and grant writing. We were encouraged to write down goals we had for the next 2, 5, and 10 years of our lives. In my one-on-one sessions with my artist mentors, I was able to ask deep personal questions regarding my work and how to navigate the world of presenters and producers. And of course, we all thought of ways to build a better life/work balance and foster self-care. DanceMotion USA℠ has led me to think boldly about my future in dance. I see the potential of creative exchange as a powerful tool for diplomacy and peace. I know these relationships are only beginning to blossom. I am excited to see how one short week can change the trajectory of a career in dance.