Composer and multi-instrumentalist; recognition and funding from NEA, The Samuel S. Fels Fund, New York State Council on the Arts, Harkness Foundation, NYU Humanities Council, NYU Service/Learning Fund; commissions include choreographers Anna Sokolow, Steve Paxton, Viola Farber, Milton Myers; work presented nationally and internationally with the New Danish Dance Theatre, TanzFabrik Berlin, Amsterdam Theatreschool, Cyprus Festival, Teatro San Martin, The Alvin Ailey School, Philadanco, Player’s Project, Dallas Black Theatre, Jacob’s Pillow, DTW, and others. Former accompanist and teacher of music for dancers at The Juilliard School, Marymount Manhattan College, José Limón School, Martha Graham School, New York University. Current faculty at The Alvin Ailey School and Steps on Broadway; music director for the Young Dancemakers Company. SLC, 2003–
Undergraduate Courses 2023-2024
Dance
Music for Dancers
Component—Spring
This component will provide students with the opportunity to play a full array of percussion instruments from around the globe: African djembes, Brazilian zurdos, Argentinian bombo, Peruvian cajon and quijada, Indian tabla, traditional traps, and more. Students will also be able to program and execute electronic drums such as the Wavedrum and Handsonic. The focus will be prevalent toward enhancing a dancer's full knowledge of music but also will expand the vocabulary for choreographers, actors, and composers, as well. The component will grant students the tools needed to fully immerse themselves in the understanding of the relation of music, dance, and the performing arts. Students will expand their knowledge of terminology and execution and will be able to learn the basic rudiments of notation. We will analyze the interaction of music from both intellectual and cultural points of view. We will learn how to scan musical scores with various degrees of complexity and explore the diverse rhythmic styles that have developed through time and through different geographical and social conditions. Classes will consist of group playing. All instruments will be provided and available for practice.
Faculty
Previous Courses
Dance
Music for Dancers: The Logic Behind Interaction
Component—Spring
This course will provide students with an opportunity to play a full array of percussion instruments from around the globe: African djembes, Brazilian zurdos, Argentinean bombo, Peruvian cajon and quijada, Indian tabla, traditional traps, and more. Students will also be able to program and execute electronic drums, such as the Wavedrum and Handsonic. The focus will be prevalent toward enhancing a dancer's full knowledge of music but also will expand the vocabulary for choreographers, actors, and composers as well. The course will grant students the tools needed to fully immerse themselves in the understanding of the relation of music, dance, and the performing arts. Students will expand their knowledge of terminology and execution and will be able to learn the basic rudiments of notation. We will analyze the interaction of music from intellectual and cultural points of view. We will learn how to scan musical scores with various degrees of complexity and explore the diverse rhythmic styles that have developed through time and through different geographical and social conditions. Classes will consist of group playing. All instruments will be provided and will also be available for practice.
Faculty
Music for Dancers: The Logic of Interaction
Component—Spring
This component will provide students with the opportunity to play a full array of percussion instruments from around the globe: African djembes, Brazilian zurdos, Argentinian bombo, Peruvian cajon and quijada, Indian tabla, traditional traps, and more. Students will also be able to program and execute electronic drums, such as the Wavedrum and Handsonic. The focus will be prevalent toward enhancing a dancer’s full knowledge of music but will expand the vocabulary for choreographers, actors, and composers, as well. The purpose of the component is to grant students the tools needed to fully immerse themselves in the understanding of the relation of music, dance, and the performing arts. Students will expand their knowledge of terminology and execution and will be able to learn the basic rudiments of notation. We will analyze the interaction of music from both intellectual and cultural points of view. We will learn how to scan musical scores with various degrees of complexity and explore the diverse rhythmic styles that have developed through time and through different geographical and social conditions. Classes will consist of group playing. All instruments will be provided and made available for practice.
Faculty
MFA Dance
Dance Making
Component—Year
In this class, graduates and upperclass undergraduates with a special interest and experience in dance composition will design and direct individual choreographic projects. Students and faculty will meet weekly to view works-in-progress and, in conferences taking place the following afternoon, discuss relevant artistic and practical problems. Music, costumes, lighting, and other elements will be discussed as integral and interdependent elements in the choreographic work. This will culminate in performances of the works toward the end of the semester in the Winter Performance and Spring Performance programs. Performances will take place in the Bessie Schönberg Dance Theatre or elsewhere on campus in the case of site-specific work.