Photo by Spencer James Weidie
WHAT IS IT?
SHIFT is an exclusive three week online mentorship program for pre-professional dancers. Throughout the program, we will engage in weekly classes, webinars, and discussions to help you identify and manifest the goals you have for your professional dance career. You will have access to classes with current professional dance artists and have the opportunity to engage in discussions with established teachers, dancers, and choreographers from across the United States.
In addition, you will work closely with me in one-on-one sessions to help prepare, organize, and cultivate strategies and techniques to reach your specific career goals. The end of this workshop will culminate in a final project that each participant will create on their own. Examples of this might included: Instagram improv challenge, dance video series, live virtual shows, structuring an open class, create an online space representative of themselves, etc. I will be there along the way to encourage, guide, and assist in bringing your projects to fruition.
SHIFT provides the opportunity for dancers to increase their network and better set themselves up for a positive career as professional dance artists.
SUMMER SESSION 2021 (June 7-June 25)
Photo by Chris Scott
WHO IS IT FOR?
This program is for pre-professional dancers from the age of 17-22. If you are currently in college in the spring of 2021, you are eligible for this program.
WHATS THE COMMITMENT?
The daily commitment to SHIFT is 1-3hrs/day Monday-Friday + weekly assignments. The time we spend together outside of the studio will help us engage in the entrepreneurial skills we can utilize in our day-to-day lives as professional dancers.
Due to the size of the program (10 participants), we will create the final schedule based on those accepted. All classes and discussions are recorded and the participants will have access to them through a private Facebook group and email links.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
Access to a network of successful industry professionals, myself, and other pre-professional dancers.
Create a strategy to tackle your career head on with more confidence, energy, and specificity.
Weekly online dance classes + Webinars
One-on-one career coaching with me, Brandon Coleman!
Exclusive information to help guide you on your personal dance journey.
ARE YOU IN?
This program goes beyond the classic structure of a traditional summer program and asks its participants to dive deeper into what not only makes them exceptional dancers but also incredible people. If you’re in, LETS DO THIS!
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Total tuition: $495 for three weeks
*$100 deposit upon acceptance into the program.
Payment Plan Available:
—Security Deposit: $100 upon acceptance
—Payment 1: $197.50 — May 28th
—Payment 2: $197.50— June 11th
*includes access to Facebook group, three online classes every week, weekly webinars and Q+A discussions with guest artists, and 1:1 career coaching with Brandon to help you set up and reach your specific career goals.
NOTE— A lack of financial resources should not prevent you from accessing the information provided through SHIFT. If you require financial assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out: BrandonPColeman@gmail.com
HOW DO I APPLY?
APPLICATIONS for Summer 2021 are now Closes! Come back for 2022 programing soon!
About Brandon—
Photo by Spencer James Weidie
Brandon Coleman is a NYC based performer from Katy, TX and is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where he received his BFA in Dance and BA in Communication with a minor in Arts Administration. While in school, Brandon received the prestigious Undergraduate Creative Achievement Award for performance and choreography. He attended Springboard Danse Montréal in 2016 and 2017 and received additional training from River North Dance Chicago and KEIGWIN + COMPANY. Throughout Brandon’s career, he has successfully created and executed multiple teaching tours, workshops and video series across the US.
Brandon toured throughout China with Art.If.Act Dance Project, assisted Sam Watson at the Tanz Bozen- Bolzano Danza International dance festival in Bolzano, Italy, and performed as a guest artist with Zikr Dance Ensemble in Denver, CO. Formerly a member of Visceral Dance Chicago, Brandon has also worked with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a guest artist for their 2017 Summer Series. Since moving to NYC in 2017, Brandon has danced with KEIGWIN + COMPANY, the Metropolitan Opera ballet, VIM VIGOR Dance Company and is currently a performer at SLEEP NO MORE.
As a teacher, Brandon has taught across the country in major cities such as NYC, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Brandon has been on faculty with Visceral Dance Center in Chicago, IL and Inspire School of Dance in Naperville, IL but is a regular guest teacher at Hubbard Street Dance Center, Millennium Dance Complex LV, and METdance Center. Brandon now teaches a regular Contemporary Forms class at Gibney Dance Center in NYC. Currently working as a guest teacher for a variety workshops and intensives across North America, Brandon's class revolves around movement quality and a positive learning environment.
2021 Guests Teachers and Speakers
FLOCK
Alice Klock and Florian Lochner met while serving as dancers and Choreographic Fellows at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In 2017 they founded FLOCK a co-choreography dance company which they now operate full time.
As FLOCK, Florian and Alice co-create and perform their own work, teach as a team, and produce shows and short films. Alongside their self produced work they have choreographed for numerous institutions including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Arkansas, the Goethe Institut, Adaptations Dance Theater on Maui, the USC Glorya Kaufman/Hubbard Street Summer Intensive, the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA, and the 92nd Street Y.
For more info, visit https://www.flockworksdance.com/
ISADORA WOLFE
Isadora Wolfe is from Lowell, Massachusetts. She is the Resident Director of Punchdrunk's New York City production of Sleep No More, and has been a cast member since 2011. She was a founding member of the johannes wieland and danced under Wieland’s direction at Staatstheater Kassel (Germany) in 2007, 2013-2015. Wieland's Kurt Jooss-prize winning duet shift was created on her, as well as several evening-length works. Isadora has performed nationally and internationally with choreographers such as Gerald Casel, Martha Clarke (Garden of Earthly Delights and Angel Reapers original cast), Mark Dendy, Fiona Marcotty, Neta Pulvermacher, Tami Stronach and Muna Tseng, among others. Her theater credits include the acclaimed production of The Hairy Ape (dir. Richard Jones, Park Avenue Armory) and Peter Pan (Peter, Berkshire Theatre Group).
Isadora has been a guest teacher, movement director and rehearsal director at various universities, theatrical productions and festivals, and is currently adjunct faculty at The Juilliard School.
GABRIEL HYMAN
Gabriel Hyman began his dance training at Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE and later graduated from the Governor's School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA. He received his BFA in Dance with honors from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program as a Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholar and a Glorya Kaufman Dance Scholar. He has attended summer programs under full scholarship at The Ailey School, The School at Jacob's Pillow, and Nederlands Dans Theater.
He has performed and toured with Ailey II and with Jeremy McQueen’s The Black Iris Project for Ballet Across America at The Kennedy Center. Hyman had the privilege to perform for President Barack Obama amongst other international delegates at Germany's Hannover Messe 2016. His TV appearances include ABC's Good Morning America, FX’s Pose and HBO series, Succession. Mr. Hyman was a part of the world premiere musical production of The Prince of Egypt with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in California and the international debut in Denmark, Europe with Fredericia Teater. He made his Broadway debut in King Kong: Alive on Broadway. Most recently he played Charles Lee in the touring company of Hamilton: An American Musical.
GAREN SCRIBNER
Garen is a New York-based producer and dancer. Founder of GarenMedia, he is the creator and host of the broadcast TV series Broadway Sandwich (Emmy Nomination) and the creator and executive producer of And The Nominees Are, both for New York Public Media (PBS/ALL ARTS). On stage, Garen starred as Jerry in the Broadway + National Tour productions of An American in Paris and was a soloist with the San Francisco Ballet and artist of Nederlands Dans Theater 1. He starred as The Matador in the Metropolitan Opera’s brand-new production of La Traviata (2019, 2020), simulcast around the world in cinemas for Great Performances on PBS. Garen co-founded Dance For a Reason in 2012, an annual benefit performance that has successfully raised $500,000+ for non-profit organizations like the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, UCSF Melanoma Center, Human Rights Campaign, and others. (photo:NYC DANCE PROJECT. Ken Browar & Deborah Ory)
For more info, visit: http://garenmedia.com/about
KAYLA FARRISH
Kayla Farrish is NY based dancer, choreographer, director, and photographer. She is a North Carolina native born into a dance-loving family. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Arizona summa cum laude, and was awarded the Gertrude Shurr Award for excellence in modern dance and passionate dancing. Since moving to New York, she has freelanced with various artists and companies including Punchdrunk Sleep No More NYC, Kyle Abraham/Abraham. In. Motion, Kate Weare Company, Helen Simoneau Danse, Rashuan Mitchell/Silas Reiner, Aszure Barton and Artists, Madboots Dance, Nicole Von Arx, Danielle Russo Performance Project, Chris Masters Dance Company, Elena Vazintaris/Dance Projects and others.
Both independently and through companies, she has worked as a rehearsal assistant and teaching artist, instructing at various programs including University of NC School of the Arts, University of the Arts, The Juilliard School, NYU Tisch Dance Program, and local dance organizations and studios, and beyond.
For more information visit, www.KaylaFarrish.com
KELSEY MIDDLETON
Kelsey Middleton is from Oak Park, Illinois, a village adjacent to the west side of Chicago. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she received her BFA in Dance Performance. After completing her undergraduate education, she became a founding member of Visceral Dance Chicago, a contemporary dance company. After three fulfilling years with Visceral, Kelsey transitioned to DePaul University College of Law to develop the education and skills necessary to be an effective legal advocate. After an inspiring first year, Kelsey transferred to the UCLA School of Law to pursue her dream of living and working on the west coast. There, Kelsey was Founder and President of the Cannabis Law Association, Recruitment Chair for the Black Law Students Association, and engaged in volunteer legal services for at-risk youth and the indigent.
Kelsey is presently a Regulatory Specialist in the Los Angeles office of Vicente Sederberg’s LLP, where she focuses on licensing and regulatory compliance. Kelsey is responsible for assisting a dynamic range of cannabis clients with obtaining state and local cannabis licenses, permits and approvals, and navigating the complex and rapidly evolving regulatory landscape of the cannabis industry. She routinely helps clients prepare the requisite applications and documentation for state and local licensing and permits, and facilitates communications with cannabis industry regulators to promote efficiency and compliance throughout the licensing process.
In her free time, Kelsey enjoys social and political organizing, writing, art, and exploring LA's endless food and beverage offerings."
SHAUNA DAVIS
Originally from Weston, Florida, Shauna Davis is a freelance dancer and choreographer based in Los Angeles. Since moving to LA in 2017, she has worked with Ate9 Dance Company, No) One. Art House, Ezralow Dance and with artists such as Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Shawn Mendes, Sylvan Esso and Jarina De Marco, among others. She has performed the works of Robert Battle, Danielle Agami, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and Chris Emile. Shauna is a graduate of New World School of the Arts and Southern Methodist University, having received additional training from the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Summer Lee Rhatigan. She is represented by Bloc Talent Agency.
Shauna’s works have been performed at the Dallas Dancefest and Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival and she has created for Avant Chamber Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the LA Chamber Orchestra. She is currently developing new work as a resident artist with La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club.
Past Guest Teachers and Speakers
PAIGE FRASER
Paige Fraser (Originally from The Bronx, NYC). She graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program. Paige danced professionally with Ailey II, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. In 2016 she was featured in an INTEL commercial “Experience Amazing.” She is a Princess Grace Award recipient (2016) and Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2017). Theatre: West Side Story(Lyric Opera) and The Lion King National Tour. Founder of The Paige Fraser Foundation; which aims to create a safe space for dancers with or without disabilities.
CHRIS JAROSZ
Christopher Jarosz has been teaching and dancing professionally for over a decade. After his childhood dance training, he was accepted to the prestigious Southern Methodist University dance program on scholarship. At SMU, Chris studied ballet, modern, and jazz, and performed works by Twyla Tharp, Alvin Ailey, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor as well as many others. His choreography at SMU was featured multiple times in the Best of Student Choreography showcases. In 2008, Chris competed as one of the top 20 dancers on the fourth season of the hit reality TV show So You Think You Can Dance. There, he had the honor of working with Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, and Tabitha and Napoleon.
After the show, Chris returned to college where he graduated with a BFA in dance. Immediately after graduation, he became an original cast member of Cirque Du Soleil's Viva ELVIS! in Las Vegas. Chris represented Cirque Du Soleil on many television shows, such as So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelor, and The Emmy’s.
His work in TV/Film continued in LA with features on Glee, Fuller House, ABC's The Secret Life of an American teenager, Toyota 2015, LA LA Land (Choreographer Mandy Moore) and Behind the Candelabra (choreographer Marguerite Derricks). He was paired with JLO on her "Dance Again" single album cover, and performed alongside Taylor Swift in her VMA’s “Shake It Off” performance. Chris continued his work with Cirque Du Soleil as an IRIS cast member at the Kodak theater. In 2016, he moved to NYC to be an original cast member of Radio City’s summer show, The New York Spectacular. The following year, he booked the National Tour of the hit Broadway show WICKED.
Chris continues to reside in NYC where he works commercially with artists such as Derek and Julianne Hough, Betty Who, Stacey Tookey, Spencer Liff, Vincent Paterson, Bonnie Story, Mia Michaels, Rich and Tone, Al Blackstone, Nick Henkel, Zach Woodlee and Brooke Lipton on many different programs and platforms, some including Good Morning America and The Today show. His latest work has been with Tanisha Scott on Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll; Chris Scott on In The Heights; James Alsop on Devil Wears Prada. His dancing will be featured this upcoming Met Season as one of the dancers in their production of Der Fliegende Hollaander, and Jlo’s upcoming film Marry Me.
Chris' classes and choreography take him all over the United States and the world.
LARRY KEIGWIN
Larry Keigwin is a native New Yorker and choreographer who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to downtown clubs to Broadway and back. He founded KEIGWIN + COMPANY in 2003 and as Artistic Director, Keigwin has led the company as it has performed at theaters and dance festivals throughout New York City and around the world.
KEIGWIN + COMPANY presents Keigwin’s electrifying brand of contemporary dance on a myriad of stages including, The Kennedy Center, The Joyce Theater, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, New York City Center, among others. Since his company’s premiere performance at Joyce Soho in 2003, Keigwin has created dozens of dances for himself and his dancers, as well as for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Martha Graham Dance Company, New York Choreographic Institute, The Juilliard School, Vail International Dance Festival, and many others.
His work in musical theater includes choreography for the 2011 production of the musical Tales of the City at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and the off-Broadway production of Rent, for which he received the 2011 Joe A. Callaway Award from the Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation. In 2013, Keigwin choreographed the Broadway musical If/Then, starring Idina Menzel. He was most recently selected as one of the first choreographers to be commissioned by Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance.
Keigwin has designed and choreographed special events including Fashion’s Night Out: The Show in New York, which was produced by Vogue magazine and featured more than 150 of the industry’s top models. Keigwin has also mounted 11 versions of Bolero, his acclaimed large-scale community project that has been commissioned by communities across the country. Keigwin has created Keigwin Kabaret, a fusion of modern dance, vaudeville, and burlesque presented by the Public Theater at Joe’s Pub and by Symphony Space.
As a dancer, Keigwin has danced at the Metropolitan Opera in Doug Varone’s Le Sacre Du Printemps and Julie Taymor’s The Magic Flute, in addition to his work with Mark Dendy (receiving a Bessie Award in 1998 for his performance in Dream Analysis), Jane Comfort, John Jasperse, Doug Elkins, Zvi Gotheiner, and David Rousseve. He appeared in the Broadway show Dance of the Vampires, the off-Broadway show The Wild Party and the Julie Taymor, Oscar nominated film Across the Universe.
He is a co-founder of the Green Box Arts Festival in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, a multi-disciplinary festival designed to increase cultural opportunities in the region, as well as provide creative residencies to young, emerging choreographers. Keigwin is a member of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society.
Photo by Whitney Browne
WESTON KRUKOW
A Californian Native, and University of Arizona School of Dance alumni, Weston Krukow began his dance career with Smuin Ballet where he honed his artistic voice.
In 2015 Weston, along with Ben Needham-Wood and their Comcast Sportsnet team, became an Emmy award winning Choreographer creating and producing BaseBallet. Two years later, Weston and Ben’s company Athletic Art Productions won four more Emmys with BaseBallet: Into the Game. 2016 marked his final year on the Smuin Ballet team, but began his freelancing career, performing at the Lyric Opera under Helen Pickett's Les Troyens, dancing three seasons with Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, and touring as a Swing then Dance Captain both Nationally and Internationally with Christopher Wheeldon’s An American In Paris. Weston deeply thanks his family, friends, and teachers for guiding his path that humbles and inspires him everyday.
GREGORY LAU
Gregory Lau was born in Honolulu, Hawaii where he began his training at Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts and is a graduate of LaGuardia Arts High School. After attending The Juilliard School, Gregory joined Nederlands Dans Theater 2 in 2013 and then went on to join Nederlands Dans Theater 1 in 2016. He has worked with choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Marco Goecke, Paul Lightfoot & Sol Leon, Hans Van Manen, Johan Inger, Edward Clug, Medhi Walerski, Alexander Ekman, Camille A.Brown and more.
Gregory is a recipient of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts 1st Level Award in Modern Dance and Ballet. After leaving NDT1 in 2019, he served as a ballet master for the production of Postscript by Leon & Lightfoot for NDT2 and in 2020 joined Crystal Pite's production company Kidd Pivot.
OWEN SCARLETT
Long Island native Owen Scarlett is a performing artist, choreographer, photographer, videographer and visual designer based in Los Angeles. He attended Point Park University for Jazz Dance/Arts Management but also explored other areas of art and design. He was a founding member of Visceral Dance Chicago, and performed with the company for four seasons. He’s performed and explored work by Ohad Naharin, Fernando Melo, Sidra Bell, Mónica Cervantes, José Limon, Erica Sobol, Marguerite Donlon, Robert Battle, Toru Shimazaki and Shannon Alvis. Owen has created works for several companies such as DanceWorks Chicago, Dance in the Parks and Visceral Dance Chicago.
In 2018, Owen moved to Los Angeles to explore the commercial dance industry while focusing on photography and design as well. Since moving he’s had a diverse performing experience. He’s worked commercially doing jobs with artists like Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey, Rebel Wilson, The Dixie Chicks, Taye Diggs and more. He’s also been exploring dance in the film industry. Most recently dancing/acting in a new Netflix Original Movie directed by Ryan Murphy titled “The Prom.” Beyond performing, he’s also been able to further his choreographic career. He was an Assistant Choreographer for Maks and Val’s Confidential Tour, Co-Choreographer for a Canon Commercial and created work for the Dancers Love Dogs Press Event directed/ produced by Ashleigh Wilson-Clarke and Sarah Hay.
Owen has a great compassion for dance, and enjoys giving back to others in the dance community. In 2015, he founded Owen Scarlett Productions, a design/film production company. This company has allowed numerous dancers to market themselves cost effectively. Since then he’s been able to create digital work for non-profits such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, BodyTraffic, Visceral Dance Chicago, Rivernorth Dance Chicago and The American Cancer Society. There are so many outlets that fulfill his need to create. He couldn't possibly choose just one. He is thankful for that because he’s been able to connect with such beautifully eclectic people throughout his journey.
For more information, visit www.owenscarlett.com
EMILY SCHOEN
Emily Schoen is a New York City-based dance artist, named “Top 25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine.
Emily is a sought-after choreographer and educator. Baryshnikov Arts Center chose her as their Martha Duffy Resident Artist for their BAC Space Residency. She’s also won the Gibney Dance boo-koo grant for emerging artist in NYC, a Princess Grace Fellowship nomination by METdance, and various domestic and international residencies including at the Tunisian National Theater in Tunisia. She has been Artist-In-Residence at multiple organizations, including for Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning’s Choreographers and Composers series. She’s won commissions for Santa Barbara Dance Theater, METdance (Houston), Ormao (Colorado Springs), Columbia Ballet Collaborative (New York), among others, and has taught for university programs all over the country.
Emily’s group, Schoen Movement Company, is home to her collaborative and creative endeavors. Their recent work--a 2 year collaboration with dancers from Tunisia--culminated in an evening-length premiere in New York, titled “See me in your eye.” This work received support from Baryshnikov Arts Center, Queens Council for the Arts, and the US State Department, and required the successful acquisition of Visas for 5 Tunisian artists.
Beyond the stage, SMC produces “A Movement Flight”--a site-specific, happy hour performance crafted for breweries-- and tours it around the country.
As a freelance dancer, Emily worked for Kyle Abraham/AIM; the Metropolitan Opera in works by Doug Varone, Mark Morris, and Carolyn Choa; the Rolling Stones in their 50th Anniversary reunion tour; and for 8 years with Keigwin + Company.
For more information, visit www.schoenmovementcompany.com
ALEX YONKOVICH
Born & raised in Orange County, CA, Alex began her dance training at a young age. After dancing both competitively & artistically, she is now a graduate of The University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance.
Alex has spent inspiring summers with Interlochen Arts Camp, Brockus Dance Project, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, & River North Dance Chicago. She had the opportunity to tour 14 cities of China with Art.If.Act Dance Project in The Great American Dance Tour, as well as assisting Sam Watson at the Bolzano Summer Dance Festival in Bolzano, Italy. In 2015, she performed on Dancing with the Stars: Showstoppers alongside Sharna Burgess & Val Chmerkovskiy. Alex also had the pleasure of performing with Walk The Moon at Life is Beautiful Music Festival 2019.
In the fall of 2016, Alex assumed Guest Artist in Residence for the UNLV Department of Dance for two semesters. She has had the pleasure of teaching all ages of dance at The Rock Center for Dance, Millennium Dance Complex Las Vegas, The Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre, as well as Theatre Arts Prep School Las Vegas.
Alex performed in Cirque Du Soleil’s One Night for One Drop (2018 & 2019), Cirque Du Soleil’s A Choreographer’s Showcase (2017, 2018) & Cirque’s Cabaret at the Zumanity Theatre (2018). Alex most recently wrapped up her five years as a full-time ensemble dancer & soloist in Cirque Du Soleil's The Beatles LOVE, where she also assumed Dance Captain and Artist Coach (2015 - 2020).
For more information, visit: www.alexyonk.com
