"Just Dance": A masterclass with Ailey II
Wednesday, Nov. 6, was a day the dance enthusiasts of La Crosse will not soon forget. Ailey II, a nationally renowned dance group from Brooklyn, New York, made their 2019 Wisconsin debut here at Viterbo University.
A stop on their 2019-2020 national tour, Ailey II showcased their unique dance, a contemporary style with elements of ballet and tribal movements that all were welcome to enjoy. For Viterbo students alone, however, three Ailey II members, Amar Smalls, Brena Thomas, and Carl Ponce Cubero, generously hosted a masterclass to provide exposure to their professional dance careers.
Though it was a brief hour and a half, it was an experience students, like Faith Bartelt, were excited for. “They’re a nationally renowned group... it’s a privilege for us to even have them here,” explained Bartelt, junior music theatre major. “If they’re willing to give us their time why wouldn’t you take advantage of that.”
Undoubtedly, this class was in high demand. The dance studio was sardined with students, both theatre and non-theatre majors, hungry for growth as dancers and professionals.
Led by Cubero, the instructors began by demonstration of their stretch and warm up exercises; followed by a, once in a lifetime, opportunity to learn an intense combo from their show.
“This is a super-duper-awesome thing to be offered at Viterbo,” Rose Louise, senior music theatre major, stated. “It’s essential for dancers to be exposed to new styles and choreographers.”
Being a senior at Viterbo, Louise found this experience specifically important for her plans after graduation. “When I graduate, I will continue my dance training; so, this was a great opportunity to experience styles of dance you won’t find in La Crosse.”
Louise, like every student present, found something important to take away from this experience. “The instructors had such incredible energy; everything they did, they did with purpose... it was truly inspiring,” deduced Julia Harlos, sophomore music theatre major. “When you’re in dance class it’s easy to forget to dance.”
Harlos’ insight was something every attendee resonated with; she explained, “Whether it’s a stretch, a warm up, or learning a combo, I learned to find the dance-element of these movements and own them to the best of my ability.”
“They talked about dancing as soon as you enter the room; that was something that really resonated with me and is what I will remember going forward,” reflected Louise. “You need to give your heart and feelings to your movements... that’s what differentiates a technical dancer and a true dancer.”
Simply being present, in every moment, and remembering to just dance, that was the message Ailey II left the students of Viterbo. Bartelt said it best when she concluded that “in being present, you’ve got to dance... dance through the frustration and the confusion. You’re there to dance, that’s all you’ve got to do, so own that and find the excitement that had you step into the room in the first place.”