Congratulations to the following dancers who auditioned for the Scholarship Program in our summer workshop supported by friends of The New York Baroque Dance Company and partially by a special grant from San Jose State University, the Artistic Excellence Grant.
Sade Warner “Young Dancer” scholarshipI began dancing at age three and have spent most of my time in a dance studio ever since. In 2011 I graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Dance where I furthered my studies in ballet, modern, and ethnic dance forms. Since graduating I have taught classical ballet for the last six years and choreographed for various shows and competitions. As a performer I am fortunate to begin my 4th season with Academy Danse Libre, a dance troupe based in Palo Alto that specializes in recreating 19th and early 20th century dance. Outside the studio I enjoy all things old. I’m passionate about history as well as period costume design and look forward to enhancing my knowledge of the baroque era.
Why Historical Dance?
Ballet has endured and evolved over the decades and it is the foundation for many other dance forms and techniques. But what was the foundation for ballet? This workshop is such a remarkable opportunity study from the best and to learn the history behind the steps we do everyday. Dancing ballet is not only enlivening but it is truly special to know that you are continuing a tradition that is full of history. That is a thrill that I want to share with my students.
Marisa Castillo: “Shirley Wynne Memorial Teacher” scholarshipMarisa Castillo is a lifelong student of movement and dance. Marisa loves all dance genres and has studied a diverse range of styles including Classical Ballet, Modern, Hip-hop, Contact Improvisation and Salsa to name a few. She has studied at the Ailey School in New York City and holds a B.A. in Dance from San Francisco State University. For the past 13 years she has been honing her skills as a somatic classical ballet
teacher in San Francisco under the mentorship of Augusta Moore. Ms. Castillo has also had the pleasure of studying Experimental Anatomy and the application of it to dance with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. She became involved with Historical Dance in 2015 while performing with the San Francisco Renaissance Dancers. Marisa is excited to be a scholarship recipient and is eager to immerse herself into this much-needed look into dance’s past.
Why Historical Dance?
I feel that historical dance is a major component for understanding today’s dance, especially classical ballet. Where did the steps come from? How did they develop the ballet technique we employ today? This all stems from Baroque and also Renaissance dances. I feel it is critical as my role as a dance educator to pass this knowledge onto my students. I also see it as a way to help students understand that ballet didn’t just all of a sudden appear but it comes from a history and lineage
worthy of study and examination.
Isabelle Sjahsam : work study / Teacher’s assistantMs. Isabelle Sjahsam studied the rigorous Royal Academy of Dance system with Connie Vaughan, and at thirteen, moved to England to continue her training and complete her major examinations in London. While in the United Kingdom, she competed in the All England Dance Competition, reaching the Quarter Finals with her ballet solo. At the age of eighteen, she completed her Advanced examination, receiving her certification to teach the Royal Academy of Dance. She has an International Baccalaureate from the American Community School in Cobham, England. She also graduated from Mills College with a degree in Dance.
Ms. Sjahsam has performed with Bay Area dance companies including SF Renaissance Dancers, Em Space Dance, Jenny McAllister/13th Floor Dance Theater, and Anna Halprin and Dancers. She appeared in the works of Michael Lowe while working with Moving Arts Dance, Black Diamond Ballet Theatre, and Menlowe Ballet, and has toured internationally with Leyya Tawil’s Dance Elixir.
Her choreography has been presented in venues
including Counterpulse, Temescal Arts Center, Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival, Cal Arts Electronic Music Festival, and West Wave Dance Festival. From 2005 to 2011 Sjahsam collaborated with actor and director Malinda Trimble to create new works for their dance-theater troupe ArtFace Performance Group. In 2008, she received a new work commission by Middlebury College Dance Company. The work she created
there, Standing Mother, premiered in Vermont and was also performed in Tabor, Czech Republic. In recent years she has collaborated with Saint Helena based Ehlers Art Society, and LA based artist Daniel Leland Crook.
Why Historical Dance?
To explore the origins of ballet in order to deepen the practice.
The New York Baroque Dance Co. 
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