Past Winners
A few of our former participants and top prize winners shared what they are doing now, some of their favorite CI memories and offer advice for future choreographers!
Dance and being a part of a choreographic process is a huge part of my day to day. I have been working as a professional dancer for 5 years.
The process of choreographing for this initiative helped me build the confidence and clarity to bring an image from my mind to a three-dimensional space. By choreographing on other dancers, I learned new tools regarding dynamics and musicality. I still use these concepts daily to support choreographers to bring their vision to life.
My favorite memories from the initiative were the late-night rehearsals when everyone is exhausted from the day and you are all just pushing through together. They were the most bonding and venerable.
My advice would be to trust your first instinct. Let your creativity flow, you can always go back later and adjust.
Jonathan Dole - 2016
Ashton Titus -
2017 & 2019
Dance and Choreography IS my life! I am currently in my senior year as a BFA Dance Performance major at Chapman University where I continue to choreograph.
CI gave me the space and opportunity to begin to define my artistic voice at a young age, which has helped me as I continue to grow as a choreographer.
To new choreographers, I would say that it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to get done! Release your expectations and the art will flourish.
My favorite CI memory is seeing my work on a stage for the very first time!
Baylee Ferrerra - 2018
I’m currently finishing up my BFA in Dance at CSU Long Beach. Outside of school, I feel so lucky to be busy dancing, teaching at studios and schools and starting my new Pilates business. As a dance educator, choreography plays a huge part in my profession and this semester I am also one of 5 student choreographers chosen to present work at CSULB Dance’s Fall BFA Concert.
Looking back, the experience gave me a lot of confidence in what I was capable of. When I submitted my piece to CI, I had never choreographed a full dance on other people before. It was my first time cutting music, costuming a piece, having creative control of lighting, everything. It was such an incredible opportunity to share an idea that I had, as well as experience what it meant to create and present something.
It’s easy as dancers and choreographers to get discouraged. So remember that the only opinion in art-making that matters is your own. Keep working and creating—and if you enjoy any part of that process, then your art is worth being shared with others.
I was lucky enough to perform at CI a number of times as well present my own work and I always loved getting to see the other pieces. It was so inspiring to see the creativity of other young artists it made me feel connected to my dance community in a new way.
https://www.baylee-ferrerra.com
Ashlynn Skulick -
2019
Dance is still a huge part of my life. I am a part of Jacob’s company, SCDT. I have not done a ton of choreography since the last Choreographer’s Initiative. Choreography is something I have always had an Interest in, but haven’t had a lot of opportunity to do. I am so excited that CI has made an appearance again!
Participating in CI was HUGE for me. It was my first time fully creating a piece and I used so many different skills that I had never used before. The creative process was very overwhelming at times but I loved it. During CI, I was only 13, but a part of me knew choreography was going to be something I would love forever. After CI, I was very set on doing some more choreography on my friends and pursuing dance more professionally. Unfortunately, COVID hit and I had lost a lot of my creativity. Since then, choreography has still been a thought and interest in the back of my mind. I am hoping to do a lot more with that creative side.
My advice for new choreographers is to never change your choreography to something you think another person or crowd would like better. What makes a choreographer so amazing is that they have their OWN qualities and an affect that make their work so authentic. Do what feels and looks the best to you and you will soon have your own way of choreographing. Your work will then too have its own quality and authenticity.
My favorite CI memory was definitely looking back at the whole process of my piece. There were so many ups and down, choreography changes, song changes, and everything else you can think of that probably stressed me out. I was very doubtful of most of the things I did. All of the doubts however, had left once I saw my piece on stage. I was so proud of my girls, and myself, for how far we had come.