Velocity Dance Center

// Seattle Youth Dance Collective //

SEATTLE YOUTH DANCE COLLECTIVE (SYDC)
A Choreographer’s Lab

FALL 2015 SESSION
SATURDAYS OCT 3 – NOV 21 /  2-5PM
(EXCEPT NOV 14 / 2-4PM)

REGISTER HERE >>>>>>

SEATTLE YOUTH DANCE COLLECTIVE SHOWING
SAT NOV 21 / 4PM
Velocity Founders Theater 1621 12th Ave
Suggest Donation $5

” I learned that dance has no boundaries.”
–– Hang, SYDC participant, Age 18

“My favorite part of SYDC was working with different people with such distinct styles and understandings of dance. Through SYDC I gain the confidence to create dance pieces that I am proud of.”
— Kaya, SYDC Participant, Age 15

PHOTO GABRIEL BIENCZYCKI

WHO:
SYDC is open to aspiring dance artists, ages 14 – 20.

WHEN:
FALL: October 3, 2015 – November 21, 2015  
Saturdays, 2 – 5PM (Except NOV 14 / 2-4PM)

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email sydc@velocitydancecenter.org or call 206.325.8773.

REGISTER HERE >>>>>>

ABOUT SYDC

SEATTLE YOUTH DANCE COLLECTIVE is an exciting space where young artists make and produce their own work in a fun, collaborative environment under the mentorship of leading Seattle choreographers.

Every Saturday, up to 25 diverse dancers ages 14-20 meet from 2-5pm for ten weeks in the heart of Capitol Hill at Velocity Dance Center. Students learn choreography, creative process, dance and performance production skills through creative investigations and professional mentorship. As a part of SYDC you collaborate to create your own performance and learn to produce + promote your own work, culminating in a professional performance in Velocity’s Founders Theater.

• Learn dance making tools from leading Seattle choreographers
• Gain the confidence you need to present your own professional productions
• Improve your dance skills
• Learn creative approaches to develop individual + group choreography through a collaborative process.
• Participate in year-round opportunities to see performances and master classes
• Have your work presented on local stages in front of live audiences
• Be a part of Seattle’s epicenter for contemporary dance – Velocity Dance Center

2015 LEAD MENTOR:
Maya Soto (soto style)

MAYA SOTO is a choreographer/performer with a passion for arts education, advocacy and outreach. She has been integral to the progress and development of SYDC since the program’s beginning. In 2011, Velocity’s Artistic Director, Tonya Lockyer approached Maya with plans to create a youth outreach program focused on collaboration and community building through contemporary dance. Together, informed by teen focus groups and community feedback, they created Urban Youth Dance Project. In 2012, Velocity partnered with Seattle Theater Group and Urban Youth Dance Project became Seattle Youth Dance Collective. Maya stayed with the program and became a member of the teaching faculty. After working as a teaching artist in the program for 3 years, Maya is now SYDC’s Program Manager and Lead Mentor. As a dance educator, Maya has extensive experience working in both public and private sectors. Whether teaching in a high school, college, a workshop or a studio class, Maya works to cultivate meaningful relationships and motivate students through the sheer joy of movement. She brings an upbeat, energetic teaching style that embraces all people.

2014-2015 GUEST MENTORS:
Amy O’Neal (AmyO/tinyrage), Tonya Lockyer (Velocity), and Olivier Wevers (Whim W’Him), Ellie Sandstrom (SANDSTROMMOVEMENT) and Mark Haim (Mark Haim & Dancers).

PAST MENTORS INCLUDE RENOWNED CHOREOGRAPHERS:
Donald Byrd (Spectrum), Mark Haim (Mark Haim Dance & Theater), KT Niehoff (lingo), Kirsten Cooper (Westlake), Sonia Dawkins (SD/Prism), Anne Gilbert (Creative Dance Center), Patricia Lent (Merce Cunningham Dance Company), Gregory Maqoma (Vuyani Dance Theatre/South Africa), + Tonya Lockyer (Velocity).