Emma Willard in the News

EW to Host Master Jazz Dancer

October 3, 2006

mma Willard School has announced that renowned jazz dancer and instructor, Cathy Young, will serve as guest artist in residence at the school from October 13–20.

Young received her B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University in sociology and women’s studies, and her M.F.A. in dance from the University of Illinois. She is nationally recognized as a master teacher of jazz dance, and has taught at more than 30 colleges around the country, as well as at major U.S. festivals, including Bates Dance Festival, Florida Dance Festival, and the international Open Look Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a performer, she has danced with a number of companies including Zenon Dance Company and Danny Buraczeski’s JAZZDANCE!, touring extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and performing in prestigious venues such as the Joyce Theater in New York and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.  For the past 10 years she has been focused on her own work—a dynamic mix of styles and dance forms that intermingles jazz, modern, contact improvisation, social dance, and gymnastics—and creating choreography for her company, Cathy Young Dance.

During her residency at Emma Willard, Young will be providing instruction and rehearsals for varying levels of classes, including contemporary, jazz, and ballet. She will also perform at an informal assembly and work with members of the Emma Willard Dance Company as they prepare for their spring 2007 tour.

For more information about Cathy Young’s residency at Emma Willard, or to arrange interviews and photos with faculty and students, contact Steve Ricci at sricci@emmawillard.org, (518) 833-1785.