Communications Associate, Kiersten Resch, recently interviewed dancer and Dance Complex teaching artist Sharon Montella to learn more about her recent experience at WAXworks—a choreography showcase in Brooklyn, New York. Sharon is a seasoned performer and choreographer in the New York and Boston areas. Her unique style combines her extensive hip hop and ballet training which transfers into her company, Dangerous Brood, and her classes at The Dance Complex. Sharon shares her passion for movement and dance with her hip hop students at The Dance Complex on Monday nights.
Interview has been edited for clarity
Q: Can you tell us more about WAXworks?
A: WAXworks is a wonderful showcase that provides selected artists with the opportunity to present their work in a supportive environment with audience feedback intended to foster creative growth. WAXworks producer Ellyn Sjoquist and her staff offer an extremely well-organized process leading up to and following performance in the lovely Muriel Schulman Theatre at Triskellion Arts in Brooklyn, New York. The process brings with it the opportunity for networking as performers from different groups share space while preparing for their technical rehearsals, then join the audience members to support fellow artists.
Q: What led you to participate in this choreographic showcase?
A: I have performed many times in various venues in New York myself, bringing professional solos and duets as well as ensemble work set on students from UMass Boston and Pine Manor College where I also teach. As I watched my hip hop dancers from The Dance Complex steadily grow stronger in their work with me, both from a technical perspective and in their creative passions, I was inspired to offer them increasingly challenging performance opportunities. After I saw the beautiful work they did preparing for The Dance Complex December 2018 Teaching Artist Concert, I knew they were ready to travel to NY for a professional showcase. I presented a proposal to WAXworks and it was accepted! I found out about the acceptance on our closing night of the Dance Complex December show and we were on our way!
Q: How has The Dance Complex and/or the community at The Dance Complex aided in your ability to participate in WAXworks?
A: My hip hop company grew out of the opportunity The Dance Complex gives its faculty to present their students in performance. In 2016, fellow faculty member Adrienne Hawkins inspired me to get a student piece together for a show she was curating. The experience was so productive and fun for everyone that my dancers asked me to let them know about the next opportunity to perform. Over the next three years, the group grew into a company I named Dangerous Brood. Their dancing and ensemble work grew strong enough for me to pursue my goal of bringing the company to New York to perform.
Q: What experience/knowledge will you bring back to The Dance Complex community from WAXworks?
A: To The Dance Complex, we bring back our gratitude and the energy of having travelled away from home to perform. It is the incredible support of executive director Peter DiMuro and The Dance Complex administrators and staff that made it possible for us to begin and to grow. The majority of our rehearsals for WAX were held in The Dance Complex studios! Again, I want to give a word of thanks to Adrienne Hawkins for providing the opportunity for the first student/faculty concert in awhile in 2016.
Q: Can you tell us the best part about your involvement in WAXworks?
A: There are so many positive words I could share about performing at WAXworks. The company and I got to meet the other beautifully skilled and passionate artists presenting that night, all sharing their joy to perform in such a beautiful theater and safe environment. The process provided videography of our piece as part of the package, and stunningly beautiful photography by Elyse Mertz.
