Every Summer Has A Story

In this post written by SLMDances’ 2015 summer intern Nadia Mbonde, we invite you to get acquainted with the women who comprise the 2015-2016 company.

---

This summer I have had the privilege of getting to know the SLMDances company members. They are an inspirational group of women who have taught me a lot about sisterhood and self-love. Following their individual journeys as artists helps me envision how I can turn my dreams into reality. I am amazed at the different types of activities that they've done while they've been off for the month of July!

Italy Welton went home to Greenwood, South Carolina and brought the first dance workshop to the Little River Missionary Baptist Association Summer Camp. During her four-day workshop entitled “Dreams to Greatness,” Italy taught both youth and adults from the community various African dance styles. Her work was featured in the local newspaper, Index-Journal.
For more see: http://www.indexjournal.com/lifestyles/accent/Dancer-pays-it-forward-with-workshop#frmComment

Katherine Bergstorm joined Dance/NYC’s Junior Committee this summer. She also interviewed Kelly Pollock, Executive Director of Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, MO. Check out the interview “Ailey’s Legacy, at Home in St. Louis” on her blog Points of Contact for exciting details on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd joining the COCA faculty this August: http://ptofcontact.com/2015/07/24/aileys-legacy-at-home-in-st-louis/.

Kayla Hamilton has been working on a solo project called “Nearly Sighted” through which she tells the story of self-identified black female choreographers in the United States. This summer she has been working on a solo by Francine E. Ott. For more information check out her blog: www.sightbuzz.wordpress.com

Candace Thompson was interviewed by Eva Yaa Asantewaa about her work as Executive Director of Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE. Candace also presented a new duet with Nehemoyia Young called Colliding Scopes/Circles of Inquiry as part of the “Dapline! Five on the Black Hand Side” series at University Settlement on July 31. For more see: http://infinitebody.blogspot.com/2015/07/candace-thompson-caribbean-dance.html

Allegra Romita presented on Functional Awareness: Anatomy in Action for Dancers at the International Conference on Teaching Somatics-Based Dance. She is also preparing to present at National Dance Education Organization (NDED) and International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) for this Fall. For more see: http://functionalawareness.org/

Ava Louise Untermyer was offered a position in Pennsylvania as a Lead Preschool Teacher and Coordinator of the Dance Department at the Doylestown YMCA. 

Kimberly Mhoon has been moving, swaying and stirring things up in the summer sun at the Harlem Arts Festival and NYC's SummerStage. Check out her facebook page to see more:https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.mhoon.3







Julie Goldberg has been working on a piece called Death Both Theory which will be premiering on August 15th at the chashama 461 Gallery in Harlem (461 West 126th Street). The performance will take place during a visual arts show at a chashama residency called "The Quarters Project." For further details see: https://www.chashama.org/event/the_quarters_project






Kailey McCrudden has spent the summer performing in NYC and Philadelphia. Catch her piece gray area about the performance of gender on August 26th at Triskelion Arts Summer Shake-Up! For more information check out: http://www.triskelionarts.org

Autumn Scoggan has been enthralled in her graduate school courses - Teaching Methods, Childhood and Adolescence Development, and Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Classrooms. She has also been applying for full time dance teacher positions in public schools.

Nehemoyia Young danced with Candace Thompson in the duet Colliding Scopes/Circles of Inquiry as part of the “Dapline! Five on the Black Hand Side” series at University Settlement on July 31. 

Rachel Russell just began her graduate studies at New York University, pursuing her Master’s Degree in Performance Studies. For more see: http://performance.tisch.nyu.edu/object/ps_masters.html

Kiki Williams embarked on a 100 day improv challenge improvising a new dance routine every day. Kiki dedicated the month of July to self-care by practicing yoga and meditation, taking hiking trips and spending time at the beach. See Kiki improvise here: https://instagram.com/kwilliams0916/