Check out this compelling interview with choreographer Danielle Polanco who provides her views on the current state of dance culture, along with her thoughts on teaching and which singers/dancers she most admires. Bronx-born Polanco has worked with some of the industries greats including Janet Jackson, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga so her thoughts hold a lot of weight.
As of late she has stepped back from choreographing with big celebs and is focusing more on workshops and teaching, including conducting classes at Peridance Capezio Center in the East Village where she specializes in teaching “Vogue Femme” and “Heels,” which are focused on teaching students to be comfortable with their authentic self (watch a video of a recent “Heels” workshop below).
In the interview she covers topics including:
1:29: Men having too much say in dictating how women dance
2:29: The reason all her students are from overseas: “[American dancers] are too caught up in themselves.”
4:17: Why she’s not intimidated by any dancer: “I don’t like dancing next to people who aren’t good.”
4:51: Why she prefers teaching now over choreography.
9:03: Celebrities she’s worked with and admires: “It’s between Beyoncé and Chris Brown, Omarion….” When asked about Janet Jackson, she describes her as “crazy in the best possible way” at her prime, and goes on to explains how Jackson and Beyoncé are different dancers. She mentions Madonna as “her favorite of all time.”
We love her wisdom and certitude, all qualities that have of course have created roadblocks for her as a woman in an industry in which most of the paychecks are still written by men.
