Loading Events

Jazz Dance Workshop with Michael Montoya

Thu, November 17th, 2022
4:15 pm
- 6:15 pm

  • This event has passed.

As a transgender dancer who performed in both traditionally male and female roles, Michael Montoya has been able to develop a teaching and choreographic style which draws upon his experience with a wide variety of theatrical, commercial, and vernacular dance techniques and encourages exploration into movement beyond masculine and feminine labels. His choreography honors and incorporates the individualism of his dancers, drawing upon the strengths of each performer, while challenging them to grow as artists.

In this workshop Michael will be introducing intermediate/advanced dancers to a variety of elements of jazz technique and style, encouraging the individual dancer to explore movement in ways that are comfortable for them regardless of their gender or sexual identity.

“Dance is neither male nor female. It is a creation of movement that is neither masculine nor feminine. And, just like musicians and the music they create, given the opportunity, all dancers have the same potential to create all qualities of movement regardless of their gender or sexual identity.”

 Michael Montoya, from his documentary Out From the Wings

TO RESERVE A SPACE in the workshop, please contact Janine Parker.

For the past twelve years dancer, choreographer and director Michael Montoya has taught jazz and contemporary dance in the Hudson Valley New York area. Prior to moving to New York, Michael trained and taught at professional dance studios in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Costa Mesa, California.

Michael has performed as a principal dancer, soloist and choreographer with the Jazz Spectrum Dance Company, Step 1 Jam, and Metro Dance Ensembles, and as a guest artist with the Capital City Ballet. He is also the former director of his own company, The Montoya Dance Ensemble, and in 2021 returned to working with the Jazz Spectrum Dance Company as a guest artist, choreographer, and advisory board member.

Michael’s commercial dance credits include television commercials, music videos, and network and cable television special performances. His choreography has also been selected for performance at The Choreographer’s Showcase of Orange County, Jazz Dance Los Angeles and the Al Gilbert Showcase of Los Angeles.

Most recently Michael has produced the documentary film, Out From the Wings, which addresses traditional gender roles in dance and their effects on LGBTQIA+ dancers. The film is currently screening at venues across the US and was chosen as an official selection of the 2022 Reel Affirmations LGBTQ film festival in Washington, DC.

In this workshop Michael will be introducing dancers to a variety of elements of jazz technique and style, encouraging the individual dancer to explore movement in ways that are comfortable for them regardless of their gender or sexual identity.

Event/Announcement Navigation