The Stage Door Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources to artists, has announced the creation of a new mentorship program. The Time Step Symposium will connect emerging music arrangers/directors and choreographers with industry veterans, bridging the gap between the creative disciplines.
“Let’s face the music...there’s a problem looming on the Rialto,” said the symposium’s co-founders Sam Davis and Patrick O’Neill in a statement. “As emerging choreographers evolve into the creators of tomorrow, an important relationship remains undeveloped, unfostered and untaught. How do we create original dance music when we need to tell new, inspired stories on stage? Enter the Time Step Symposium, a celebration of the relationship between music and dance on Broadway and beyond by inspiring creatives to continue creation.”
The Symposium will assign participants a veteran Broadway choreographer and music director as a mentor. Each week, the mentees will work on a new assignment in the realm of creating original dance music and then will receive feedback.
Symposium mentors will include Tony Award-winning choreographers Susan Stroman and Andy Blankenbuehler, as well as Tony nominee Josh Bergasse and JoAnn M. Hunter. Tony winner Daryl Waters, Tony nominee Sam Davis, David Chase and David Crane will serve as dance arranger mentors.
The Symposium will meet once per week at Open Jar Studios beginning on Nov. 11 and run through Dec. 9. The program is free. Applications are due Oct. 7. Additional information can be found here.
