Since 2017, Troy University dancers have traveled to Italy to participate in the Danza in Arte a Pietrasanta and interact with renowned international dancers. Now, a two-day intensive will bring those same master performers to the TROY campus, where dancers will expand their creative and cultural perspectives.
Open to dancers age 14 and up, the TROY-DAP International Dance Experience will offer participants a wide range of educational and performance opportunities, including master classes, interactive sessions with international performers, and feedback sessions designed to support developing choreographers.
Adria Ferrali, TROY-DAP’s associate artistic director and the DAP Festival director, said she is thrilled to join forces with TROY.
“This production seamlessly brings to the American stage the unique concepts, international curation, and world-class artists of DAP, beautifully aligning with the historic America 250 celebrations,” Ferrali said. “Beyond their spectacular performances headlining the Gala, our international star dancers will also directly mentor and teach TROY’s students, creating a profound educational bridge from the studio to the stage. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Jack Hawkins and Janice Hawkins for believing in this vision from the very beginning. It is an extraordinary testament to what we can achieve when we merge TROY’s exceptional production capabilities with DAP’s artistic and educational soul, and I look forward to finalizing this brilliant program alongside our esteemed partners.”
People are also reading…
Dancers will learn more about the DAP Festival in Italy and the opportunity to perform on a global stage. Featured dance artist Maxwell Simoes said the connection built between Troy University and the DAP Festival is creative electricity.
“As an artist and educator, there is nothing more rewarding than jumping straight from an intense masterclass with passionate students onto the Gala stage alongside them,” Simoes said. “This experience is designed to challenge and inspire young dancers, giving them a real taste of the international professional world. I’m incredibly excited to perform, teach, and celebrate this historic cultural bridge in Alabama.”
Simoes is an Italian-American dancer, actor, movement director, and film and television performer. He received his professional training at the Ecole-Atelier Rudra Béjart in Lausanne, Switzerland, and has built a dynamic career that combines the worlds of concert dance, theater, film and television. His diverse artistic background and passion for movement have allowed him to create and perform across a wide range of disciplines, inspiring artists both on and off the stage.
Featured dance artist Stefanie Noll said the collaboration reflects the universal power of movement.
“Dance is an international language without borders, and this partnership between Troy University and the DAP international festival is a perfect testament to that,” Noll said. “I am so eager to share my artistic journey and movement philosophy with the students at Troy. To mentor them in the studio and then unite our energies on the Gala stage is a beautiful experience. It is an honor to be part of this incredible vision.”
Noll is a Ukrainian-American dancer, choreographer, and movement director currently performing with Ballet du Grand Theâtre de Genève. She received her professional training through the Joffrey Trainee Program, Marymount Manhattan College, and the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program, where she developed the technical excellence and artistic versatility that have shaped her international career.
Sebastian Kloborg, award-winning Danish choreographer, dancer, director and TROY-DAP featured dance artist, emphasized the opportunity to collaborate for this landmark event.
“It is a privilege to share European contemporary vision with American students and audiences,” Kloborg said. “Sharing and collaborating is the key to the development of art and dance.”
Kloborg’s innovative work has been recognized around the world. He received his professional training at the Royal Danish Ballet School in Denmark and has built an internationally acclaimed career through his powerful choreography, artistic vision and dynamic performances.
Maria Kochetkova, former San Francisco Ballet principal dancer and TROY-DAP featured artist, echoed Kloborg’s emphasis on the importance of the cross-cultural collaboration in dance education.
“Sharing and collaboration is also key to understanding of the human body as a medium for our emotions and dreams,” Kochetkova said. “I look forward to sharing the stage and our time together with the dancers of Troy University. Thank you to DAP and to the entire TROY team for hosting this great project.”
Kochetkova is also a former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and has performed internationally as a freelance principal dancer. She received her professional training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia and has inspired audiences around the world with her exceptional artistry, technical excellence and her passion for dance.
To register for TROY-DAP, go to www.troy.edu/troydap. Registration for the full two days is $500; single-day registration is $250. Both options include instruction by guest artists and TROY faculty, on-campus housing (with a commuter option also available), meals, admission to all dance performances, and access to special events, receptions, Q&A sessions and social events.
For more information contact TROY Theatre and Dance at 334-808-6142 or theatreanddance@troy.edu.
