You’ve seen them twist; you’ve seen them turn; you’ve seen them leap. The Fieldston Dance Company is a group of phenomenal dancers who are dedicated to display meaning behind their movements. They will be performing next week at Fieldston’s annual Spring Dance Concert. This year the concert will cap a year dedicated to the life and work of Alice Teirstein.
This winter, they presented a dance called the David Dorfman Repertory Project, and although that name might look like any other show name, it was not. As obvious in its name, this dance was choreographed by David Dorfman and his 30+ years of expertise. This was also the first Repertory Project since Covid, making it even more exciting for audience members who missed our talented Company’s work.
However, this project was especially important because it was dedicated to Alice Teirstein. Not only did she start this project 30 years ago, she was also a staple in NYC dance altogether. Head of School, Joe Algrant, wrote of Alice:
“Alice was a force of nature and the heart and soul of the ECFS Dance Department…Her work powerfully demonstrated the beauty and value of ECFS at its core: creativity, practical arts, learning by doing, service to the greater community, and “deed over creed.” “
When she wasn’t teaching at Fieldston, Teirstein created a free summer dance program where anyone was welcome to join, aspiring young dancers to live up to their full potential. Teirstein danced herself, but also served as a choreographer in plays and musicals i.e. “Electra” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Her presence and character is what makes this project alive at Fieldston. Through the motions of Logan Farmer (Form IV), Gabriela Abreú (V), and Elsa Lyons (Form VI), her memory will be commemorated.
This might sound like a small group compared to the ulterior group sizes in past years, but the tight-knit group have gotten to know each other deeply. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for more (and with this Spring season, new members have been recruited). “Yes, our Company this year was small, coming off of a couple of years of pandemic restrictions and no DCO performances,” explained Robert O’Neil, director of the Fieldston Dance Company. “We are hoping to build this ensemble next year. In past years we have had as many as 16 dancers in Company! It is time to DANCE again!”
The Company is additionally looking to switch up some genres. O’Neil mentioned that next year will focus on Hip- Hop with a Repertory Project collaboration with a hip-hop choreographer; this is a first for the company (although O’Neil states that past choreographers have been hip-hop influenced). He is trying to grab Fieldston students who have an interest in hip-hop to take dance as a graded major next year.
Gabriela Abreú, a dancer of the company ever since she was in ninth grade, feels the impact that dance has made on her personal life. She states, “with dance I am able to express myself and my moods and emotions, sometimes in hopes of the audience to feel what I feel, but other times just to put it out there. Instead of writing in a journal or creating poetry like some people do, I dance.” She also mentioned, “I have also been able to connect with people that I would have never spoken to if it weren’t for dance.”
If you’re not joining the Company itself, look out for an email with tickets to Fieldston’s next dance concert! Like O’Neil previously stated, “It is time to DANCE again!”
