A Letter from Josh Prince
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What they're saying.....!
Up one levelJerry Mitchell, Choreographer "La Cage Aux Folles"
“DanceBreak gives these young choreographers the chance to show that they can do it and that’s a shot they wouldn’t get otherwise. It's amazing. I can't wait to hire them all."
Casey Nicholaw, DanceBreak 2003, Choreographer, "Spamalot" "Drowsey Chaperone"
"The program is so good. It's alot for a choreographer who is just starting out on their own... and this helps them do that. I wouldn't be standing here choreographing my first Broadway show without DanceBreak. Thank you, DanceBreak!"
Mia Michaels, DanceBreak 2004, "So You Think You Can Dance."
"I walked into the room this year (the DB 2005 reception) and all these faces that I don't know were saying 'I loved your work. I saw it last year!' It's circulating now. It took a year, but it's circulating now. I believe that timing is devine."
Walter Bobbie, Director, "Chicago" "Sweet Charity"
“Even if you know someone’s reputation, even if you have watched their work, there is something about this context (DanceBreak) and seeing them deliver something in front of a very, very demanding community with confidence and with style and with commitment and I think it can cement someone’s reputation.”
Stephen Schwartz, Composer /Lyricist
"DanceBreak is fantastic! It’s so well thought out. I particularly like that the choreographers get to do a piece completely of their own devising because that’s when you really get a feel for them. It’s a fantastic idea.”
Kevin McCollum, Producer, "Avenue Q"
“I was impressed by how much stronger every year gets in terms of story-telling and the enthusiasm of those people who care about the theatre…. making this a ‘must see’ every year.”
Andrew Asnes, Producer, "The Color Purple."
“As a producer, I couldn’t ask for anything better than to come and see talent and look for people who are trying to express themselves and show what they have to offer. They don’t get that opportunity too often, so more power to DanceBreak.”
Ed Strong, Dodgers Theatricals, Producer
“I always enjoy this event and I find it incredibly useful for a producer or creative person to see. The quality gets better every year.”
Marge Champion
"It gives me great pleasure to see the torch passed. This is the best show on Broadway!"
Ted Chapin, Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization
"Gathering a bunch of choreographers and giving them Broadway-caliber dancers, then having them create numbers the decision-makers can see is a brilliant, brilliant idea.”
Patricia Wilcox, Choreographer,DanceBreak 2002
“DanceBreak gets you interviews, it gets your name out there, it gets you seen, and it gets you jobs.”
Jac Venza, PBS "Dance in America" Director/Producer,
“I thought it was particularly interesting that some of the choreographers would tackle, head on, Fosse. But I thought, ‘That’s good. They’re fearless.’ ”
Barbara Hauptman, Executive Director SSDC
“DanceBreak is a chance to invite the industry in to see these choreographers and to see their work. It’s sensational!”
A.C. Ciullo, Choreographer, "Footloose"
“The director/choreographer relationship is so important. If directors and choreographers can get to know one another, not by seeing a choreographer’s ‘reel’ but by actually meeting and getting to talk, it breaks the ice. They get to know each other personally. I think DanceBreak is an amazing opportunity.”
Matt Williams, Choreographer, DanceBreak 2004
"Just six month's after DanceBreak, I had a manager, a union card, and my foot in the door. I'm a working choreographer and I'm totally stunned! Dreams do come true."
Van Kaplan, Producer
“DanceBreak is really useful because we are able to see rising choreographers’ work and their performers. What DanceBreak is doing for these choreographers is just phenomenal!”
Andy Blankenbeuhler, DanceBreak 2002
"Because I developed relationships, many through DanceBreak, those people paid attention to me over the past four years and now they are employing me."
Ray Leeper, Choreographer, DanceBreak 2005
"Dancebreak has been one the most positive experiences of my professional life. It was an amazing opportunity that gave me the exposure many of us need to take the next step. Dancebreak has encouraged me, reassured me, and given me the confidence to continue to follow my dreams as a choreographer."
Jeff Shade, Choreographer, DanceBreak 2005
"I am so thankful for the opportunity to have played in such a safe sandbox of creativity. Your support, from start to finish, was always present and made for a confident adventure. I am forever grateful."
Karen Azenberg, Choreographer, DanceBreak 2002
"We were able, in one fell swoop, to have our work seeen by all of th people we have been trying to get in touch with for years. All in three days. It was incredible!”
Daryl Gray, Choreographer, DanceBreak 2005
"DanceBreak forces one to examine and decide who one really is as a choreographer and along with worthy craftsmanship, what one has that is special to contribute to the Broadway Theatre community today. Hopefully this process and networking will connect and lead me to opening the door for collaborating on a new Broadway show!"
B.D. Wong, Actor
"DanceBreak is a really refreshing and hopeful kind of event. It puts out there this talent, these visions, and this new energy. It is so important for the musical theatre art form."
Krissy Richmond, Choreographer
"A vote for creativity in this business and at this point in time, for somebody taking a risk to do something new...I applaud them all."
Stephen Flaherty, Composer, "Ragtime"
“The fact that all these amazingly talented people are here in one afternoon…that would be like scouring the country for a whole year to get that.”
Kitty McNamee DanceBreak 2006
"I was so honored to be embraced by the NYC dance community...the level of commitment of everyone involved in DanceBreak was truly inspiring! it was a very intense, stimulating experience."
Nick Kenkel DanceBreak 2006
"DanceBreak provided a forum for me that I don't know I could have obtained anywhere else. And not only do I respect it as a major opportunity, the numerous industry people that I talked to, consider it a major event as well."
A Letter from Josh Prince
When Josh, DanceBreak 2007, found he could not make it to the performances this year, he sent in this letter to be read from the stage.