U.S. Dance Troupe Teaches Master Class at NYU Shanghai

Sep 26, members of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) came to NYU Shanghai to lead a workshop for students enrolled in this fall’s Contemporary Dance class. The dance troupe had traveled from the US to perform at the 2018 Shanghai Dance Festival, and took time in between performances to visit and teach at local schools. Dancer Qarrianne Blayr (center), led the NYU Shanghai workshop.

DCDC was founded 50 years ago in Dayton, Ohio, to create performance opportunities for dancers of color and remains rooted in the African American experience. At NYU Shanghai, dancers introduced students to Nigerian dance steps and music. DCDC’s Devin Baker (center), shows students how to convey emotion through arm movements.

In addition to NYU Shanghai, DCDC also paid visits to Shanghai Normal University and Suzhou Art School. The tour in China was also sponsored by the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai. Above, Dayton dancer Robert Pulido introduces a new step.

Commitment and confidence can help make your dance movements big enough to look amazing, Qarrianne Blayr and her dancer colleagues advised students.

Aly Rose, Associate Arts Professor of NYU Shanghai, was delighted to welcome the Dayton dancers to her class. “We have been learning about the history of jazz dance in America and its origins in West African dance. So it was just fabulous for us to learn moves and songs from Nigeria with DCDC.”