More than 1,000 young dancers from all around the West descended on Phoenix last week for their chance at thousands of dollars in college scholarships.
A New York City organization is scouting for talent and helping them level the dance floor for future careers.
Inside the McArthur Ballroom at Phoenix’s famous Biltmore Hotel, ballet dancers plie, pointe and pirouette in front of a panel that includes college recruiters and instructors from the New York City Dance Alliance.
Why are they here in Arizona in the middle of the summer?
“Absolutely, a wealth of talent here," said Sascha Radetsky, a former soloist with American Ballet Theatre and a principal with the Dutch National Ballet.
He now teaches future ballerinas and ballerinos at the Alliance.
“You know coming from New York, we’re always a little cynical,” Radetsky laughs.
“But just the earnestness and that they dance with full hearts and they’re so eager to learn and the way they support one another and cheer each other on. And they’re laser-focus. There’s hundreds of kids in a room, but you can hear a pin drop.”
That’s because there is a lot on the line, specifically up to $100,000 in scholarships.
“We seek to kind of democratize the artform and provide opportunities, just like New York City Dance Alliance is, to those who may not otherwise have those chances,” Radetsky said.
The man in charge of the event is Joe Lanteri, who founded the NYCDA three decades ago to help “even the barre” for future professional dancers.
“Dancers have big dreams. They just need access and in this case, they are perhaps looking for some financial support so they can pursue both their education and their training," Lanteri said.
Among those who’ve come through the alliance are Oscar winner Ariana DeBose and “Dancing with the Stars” judge Derek Hough.
As rows and rows of dancers perform, Lanteri and his judges are watching closely and taking notes.
“Dance, like any art, is subjective. And I think it is person by person. So, sometimes someone strikes you because of their technical proficiency, sometimes you can feel their spirit come (out). There’s a light that’s on. And sometimes it is that raw potential that you go wow, with a little more training, this is gonna be a superstar," Lanteri said.
The Alliance scouts dancers as young as 7 or 8, but Lanteri believes many of them don’t come into their own until high school, at a time when many teens fret over body image.
“You’re allowed to come in all shapes sizes because you do bring your own unique self to it and when that uniqueness is what is actually celebrated, then there really are no limits,” Lanteri said.
Also at the judges table are representatives from more than a dozen college dance programs, including from the University of Arizona.
“We look for a variety of things and at least for me has to do with their energy in the room," said Elizabeth George, an associate professor at University of Arizona's School of Dance.
But they’re not looking for anything specific.
“I really feel we’re looking for an openness in general to movement and to constructive critique. And in our school, we really look for strength in all genres," George said.
And while ballet is on display in this particular audition, jazz and contemporary dancers are also being reviewed.
George believes Arizona’s dance scene is vibrant.
“There is a really strong community between the universities to all of the small studios in Phoenix and in Tucson, we have students who come from all over the state and we also have alumni who have graduated from the program who are also dancing and teaching all over the state," George said.
Goodyear’s Madison Greene will soon be one of her pupils. She’s headed for Tucson after graduating from Millennium High School.
“Last year, I participated in the college scholarship audition and auditioned in front of 12 to 15 different college programs and I received three offers from different colleges,” Greene said. “And this year, I’m back again to audition for foundation money because there’s no place that provides what Joe does for NYCDA.”
While success is not guaranteed, Lanteri feels many do have the potential to live their dreams and dance for a living.
“Do I think all of these dancers will end up in a Broadway show or touring with a major company of some sort? No. But do I think all of them could find a home where they feel fulfilled because they’re on stage, doing it and using the talent they’ve been given? Yeah. I think if they go find their stage, all of these dancers could have a career," Lanteri said.
Over the years, the alliance has awarded about $5 million in scholarships to over 500 dancers, helping facilitate their education, both on the dance floor and in the classroom.
This year, many of them could come from Arizona.
