Young Dancemakers Co. presents 20th season

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Young Dancemakers Company (YDC) will present its ensemble of talented, ethnically diverse high school dancers in seven free-to-the-public performances in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens between July 23 and August 1. 

The teens’ original dances, which range from solos to group works, were created under the experienced eye of veteran director Alice Teirstein (who founded YDC two decades ago) and music director William Catanzaro. All events will end with the lively “Dance With Us,” in which audience members with dancing feet are invited onto the stage to improvise with the dancers, accompanied by percussionist Catanzaro.

YDC kicked off its season on Friday, July 17 with an Alumni 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert at Fieldston School Auditorium in the Bronx. It featured original choreography by YDC alumni from 1998 to 2013.

YDC teens have something to say through dance, and the performances always feature a refreshing variety of themes, styles and music choices. Every year the ensemble also learns a dance by a noted choreographer, and this year they will appear in an excerpt from a dance by choreographer Jessica Gaynor, who has joined the staff of YDC this year as associate director. Past years have featured dances by Mark Morris, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, Robert Battle, Paul Taylor and others.  

The public performances are preceded by four weeks of the ensemble working together, collaborating and creating the original choreography, as mentored by director Alice Teirstein and William Catanzaro.

For more information, visit www.youngdancemakerscompany.org. While all performances are free, reservations are recommended. Call 718-329-7300 or email aliceteirstein@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Photo courtesy of Young Dancemakers Company.