Wednesday, July 8, 2009

BDC Partners with Rosie's Broadway Kids for "Spotlight on Broadway"

Spotlight on Broadway

August 3-7, from 9:00-5:00 pm
Ages 9-15 years old, Adv Beg to Int Skill Levels

Rosie’s Broadway Kids and Broadway Dance Center are pleased to announce our Summer 2009 Spotlight on Broadway Musical Theater Workshop. We invite you to join us at the new Maravel Arts Center just steps from Broadway’s Theater District, for a fun and educational 5 days!

Spotlight on Broadway will be held daily from 9am to 5pm. Your day will begin with master classes in theater dance from BDC’s renowned staff, followed by classes with RBKids acclaimed vocal coaches, tap instructors and acting coaches. The week will culminate in a showcase for friends and family. In addition, there will be visits from the Broadway community, a New York City casting director and members of the film and television communities.

Each child will receive an autographed Rosie’s Broadway Kids t-shirt, a daily afternoon snack and a cookout on our magnificent roof garden! Class sizes, most importantly, will remain small to ensure that each child will receive individual attention.

We hope you join us for this exciting week!

Classes held at:
Rosie's Broadway Kids
445 W. 45th Street
New York, NY 10036


Workshop includes:

  • Dance Training
  • Drama Coaching
  • Vocal Classes
  • Visit from a NYC Casting Director and members from the film, Television and Broadway Communities
  • Small class sizes

Other Benefits:

  • 2 Drop-In Classes at BDC
  • An Autographed RBKids T-Shirt
  • Daily Afternoon Snack
  • Performance in a Casual Showcase

Friday, July 3, 2009

Maria Torres Named Artist-In-Residency

From BroadwayWorld.com:

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director), announced the appointment of Maria Torres as Artist-in-Residence, naming the Latina director and choreographer to spearhead a new initiative in dance theatre, The Maria Torres Emerging Artist Project. The Project will showcase the talents of a new generation of young, professional dancers as they perform Torres's signature multiculturally-inspired choreography in newly developed Amas work.

"Maria has been in the Amas family for years, having choreographed 4 Guys Named Jose (2000) and directed and choreographed our hit Latin Heat (2003)", says Trinkoff. "A major part of the Amas mission is to support the emergence of new talent, and while Maria's career is in full bloom, it's time for the world to see her impact on the next generation of performers. These young dancers are phenomenal", she adds. "In the coming weeks and months we'll be presenting them in exciting new performance pieces in work that will be developed at Amas."

The Maria Torres Emerging Artist Project will train aspiring performers as young as eight, but the professional performing cadre will focus on those from 14 to 30 years of age. "I'm thrilled to have Amas Musical Theatre as my home for this groundbreaking project", says Torres. "We have such exciting plans for these young talents, and we'll be announcing some of these projects very shortly", she added.

Torres has starred on Broadway in the musical Swing! and as a choreographer is a veteran of stage and screen. Her work can be seen in the upcoming Tim Allen and Andie McDowell film The Six Wives of Henry LeFay and she has recently appeared as guest choreographer on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. She has trained Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams for the film Enchanted and Raven Simone in College Road Trip. Torres also choreographed Jennifer Lopez and Marc Antony in El Cantante, a film in which she also appeared.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director) is New York City's celebrated pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968. Amas ("you love" in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. In recent years, Amas has emerged as a leading not-for-profit laboratory for new musicals, and has produced a string of award-winning productions, many of which are receiving additional productions either at regional theatres or commercially. Shows recently emerging from Amas include Wanda's World, Shout! The Mod Musical, Stormy Weather, Imagining Lena Horne (starring Leslie Uggams), Lone Star Love, Magpie, From My Hometown, Latin Heat, Zanna, Don't!, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, and 4 Guys Named José... And Una Mujer Named Maria. Amas also administers several long-running education programs including The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy, and The Immigration Experience, Urban Mythography, and Lens on Live Theatre Artists-in-Schools Programs. Visit www.amasmusical.org.

Photo credit: Melissa Hamburg

Luam's Clothing Line on MTV's Made


Check out BDC instructor Luam's clothing line on the June 27 episode of MTV's Made. The contestants performed with Sean Kingston and sported the purple hip-hop shirts that are part of the L.U.A.M. (Love Undteerstands All Music) line by Wildchild.

Click on the photo to view the video!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Sue Samuels: Preserving Jazz Dance

Check out the article about Sue Samuels and her new company, Jazz Roots, in this week's Backstage Magazine. We're so proud to have Sue in our BDC family!

Sue is quoted in the article saying, "The mission of Jazz Roots is to keep the traditional forms of jazz dance alive."

Sue's class at BDC is a great way to get a taste of her traditional jazz dance expertise. Try out a Basic Jazz class Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:30-3 p.m. or a Beginning Jazz class Mondays Wendesays, Fridays and Sundays 10:30-noon; Friday 7:45-9:15 p.m.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Hip-Hop and Hoofers: Russell Simmons, Jr. Visits BDC!

BDC faculty member Jared Grimes was featured in "Tapper's Delight," the latest episode of Run's House on MTV. In this episode, the girls take Russy to Broadway Dance Center for his very first tap lesson. You can check out the full episode online at mtv.com. For more about Jared's class, visit his bio page.