{"id":3685,"date":"2013-02-20T01:24:19","date_gmt":"2013-02-20T01:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dancemogul.com\/news\/?p=3685"},"modified":"2020-03-20T11:26:20","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T15:26:20","slug":"derrick-yanford-a-ballet-mogul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/derrick-yanford-a-ballet-mogul\/","title":{"rendered":"Derrick Yanford |<\/strong>Inspires Dancers<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"derrik\"<\/a>D<\/span>errick<\/span><\/strong><\/em> began his formal training in a local studio of his hometown Southwick, Massachusetts where he studied ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics with his teacher Brenda Barna. After furthering his dance education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Derrick began his professional career and has had the pleasure of performing with Ballet Hispanico of New York, Battleworks Dance Company, The Joffrey Concert Dancers, Northern Connecticut Ballet, Koresh Dance Company, and A.S.H. Contemporary. Additional performance credits include the First National Tour of “Footloose” and “A Few Good Men DANCIN’…”, the European Tours of “Evita” and “West Side Story”. \u00a0Walt Disney World’s “Kids of the Kingdom” and Radio City Music Hall’s “Christmas Spectacular”, as well as the World Premiere of the Opera “Le Cid” starring Placido Domingo.<\/p>\n

Derrick has also gained recognition as a choreographer and has had his work commissioned by ABC Television for the “Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”, the 2000 Republican Convention, “Sunoco’s Welcome America’s 4th of July Parade”, the “Barrymore Awards”, “76er’s Dance Team” and the “Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Millennium Kick-Off” to name a few. While currently residing in New York City, Derrick serves as the Artistic Director of the newly formed company Bridge Dance Concepts, serves on faculty at Connecticut College, freelances as a choreographer, master class teacher and adjudicator for major dance organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Derrick took the time to take us on his journey through dance, we hope that his story inspires and empowers you to want more and do more within the arts.<\/p>\n

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Dance<\/span> Mogul<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Exclusive Interview<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Dance Mogul:<\/strong> When did you develop a passion for the arts and who were your inspirations?<\/span><\/em>
\nDerrick Yanford:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0I would have to say my passion for the arts developed around the age of 13. \u00a0I was always dancing around when I was young. \u00a0I was a rather rambunctious child. \u00a0There was always music in my house so I just seemed to be dancing all the time. \u00a0I didn’t start my formal training until I was 12 but, it didn’t take long for me to figure out that dance was going to be a major part of my life. \u00a0I had my first professional job at the age of 15 and from then on I knew this was what I was going to do.\u00a0As far as my inspirations are concerned, the biggest and most influential person in my life during my formative years was undoubtedly my teacher, Brenda Barna. \u00a0Such an amazing woman. \u00a0I learned so much from her. She showed me the world of dance and it’s possibilities. \u00a0I would not be where I am today without her.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:\u00a0<\/strong>Were your parents supportive of you?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/strong>\u00a0My mother was very supportive of my dancing. \u00a0She was the one who encouraged me to start training. As for my father, I didn’t have the greatest relationship with him. \u00a0When I started taking ballet, my mother and I just didn’t mention it to him. \u00a0You have to understand that my father was from a very different culture. \u00a0He was born and raised in Liberia, a small, war-torn country in Africa. \u00a0American life and cultures were still somewhat unfamiliar to him. \u00a0We weren’t sure how he would react so, we thought it best to leave it unsaid.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong>\u00a0Out of all the dance styles out there what made you choose ballet?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/strong> \u00a0The reality for me is that I have a love affair with dance itself. \u00a0I have always enjoyed the feeling of my body in motion. \u00a0The ability to express myself in a nonverbal physical manner has always resonated strongly with me. \u00a0I started out as a jazz dancer. \u00a0I love jazz. \u00a0It’s how I learned to move, how to dance. \u00a0Jazz has had the biggest influence in my life artistically and I am still very connected to the art form. \u00a0It will always be a part of me, of who I am. \u00a0As for ballet, my interest in it peaked at the age of 16. \u00a0When I watched ballet dancers, it appeared as if they were perfect. Their lines, their flexibility, their strength I was enthralled. \u00a0I wanted to discover how to be able to do what they do. \u00a0I began studying ballet at a deeper level and added more of it to my training. \u00a0I was fortunate to be able to attend a performing arts high school and study with great teachers. \u00a0It just kind of blossomed from there. \u00a0Studying ballet made me a stronger dancer and a stronger person. It added to and helped me refine my artistry. As this occurred, I began to realize how important it was to deepen my understanding of it. \u00a0I knew that the more I understood ballet, the more I would understand dance itself for having a firm understanding in classical ballet allows one to expand in limitless ways.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong>\u00a0Can you give us some history on the roots of ballet and its connection to African American culture?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0From my understanding, ballet’s routes began as baroque dance.\u00a0Baroque dance was a form of social dance that was done in the ballrooms of high courts\u00a0during the Italian Renaissance. \u00a0It is King Louis XIV that we give credit to the birth of ballet as an independent art form. He was an avid dancer and it was under his rule in the 1600s that he\u00a0established the Acad\u00e9mie Royale de Musique (now known as the Paris Opera) within which emerged the first professional theatrical ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet. The styles of ballet have gone through many changes and modifications and look quite different now then it did back then including classical, neo-classical, post-structural, and contemporary ballet. \u00a0The history involving African American ballet dancers is not unlike the civil rights struggle in this country. \u00a0There was a time that you would never see a dancer of color performing in classical ballet. \u00a0It was not long ago that the popular opinion was that ballet was for white dancers; that blacks were not deemed worthy to dance the classics. \u00a0We have come a long way since those days. \u00a0You can now find ballet dancers of every race on stage.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong> \u00a0Do you feel more African American youth male and female need to participate more in ballet and how do you convince them that there is<\/span><\/em> success<\/span> at the end of the tunnel?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/strong>\u00a0It is my belief that a person, regardless of race, sex, religion, or gender engage in whatever activity they so desire. \u00a0I believe that it is important for young people to become passionate about something. \u00a0To develop their own love affair with whatever peaks their interest. I think it is important that parents nurture their child’s passion and be thankful that they are passionate about something. \u00a0I also believe as adults, we should help our youth figure out how not only to chase but to capture their dreams. \u00a0Give them the tools to make their dreams into realities. \u00a0I have come to learn that it is impossible for someone to convince anyone else of something. \u00a0People can only convince themselves!!! \u00a0As a teacher, I show my students “what” is possible and try my best to instill in them the belief that “anything” is possible the rest is up to them.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong>\u00a0With ballet what have you been able to accomplish in your career?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford: <\/strong>I have been blessed and fortunate to have had many accomplishments in my career. \u00a0Not only with ballet but with dance in general. \u00a0I have danced with a variety of companies. \u00a0I have toured the world as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. \u00a0But most importantly, I have been able to share my love of dance with so many other people. Whether they have been students, colleagues, or friends. \u00a0Dance has presented so many opportunities and experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life!!!<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:\u00a0<\/strong>What advice would you give to the youth and their parents that want them involved in the arts professionally?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0I really kind of answered this in question 5 but, what I didn’t say is that it’s not going to be easy. \u00a0You’ve got to work hard. \u00a0You must be professional, polite and respectful. \u00a0You must constantly work on improving your craft. \u00a0You must educate yourself about your industry and how it works. \u00a0You must set goals for yourself. \u00a0You must have faith and belief in your abilities for if you don’t, no one else will either. \u00a0It may be a long, hard, arduous journey that may challenge you to your very core but speaking from my own experience I wouldn’t change it for the world. \u00a0The rewards are priceless!!!<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:\u00a0<\/strong>The arts have brought you a lifetime of success, how do you feel about the arts being removed from the public school systems.
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/strong>, Of course, it saddens me to learn that it may become even more difficult for our youth to have access and exposure to the things that have enriched and fortified my life. As much as I love our country, I think it is unfortunate that we don’t hold the arts in higher regard. \u00a0Yet, I remain hopeful that there will come a time when we think differently about the arts and their importance to society. \u00a0We are a relatively young country still growing and changing. \u00a0I will do my part to let the younger generation help secure the arts for our future.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:\u00a0<\/strong>What are your plans for 2013 and beyond?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/strong>\u00a0My life has unfolded in such a way that I really do my best to take each day as it comes. A one day at a time philosophy has done wonders for me so I do my best to hold true to that. \u00a0Life is so short and can take such unexpected twists and turns that I have allowed myself to enjoy the moment and live for today because it all could be taken away in an instant. With that said, I plan to keep teaching, educating, dancing, choreographing, playing, loving, discovering my way through 2013 as I have been for years.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong>\u00a0Is there anyone you like to thank for helping you on your journey?
\n<\/span><\/em>Derrick Yanford:<\/strong> \u00a0EVERYONE!!! \u00a0Everyone whom I’ve come in contact with. \u00a0Everyone who has touched my life. \u00a0Everyone who has shown me something new. \u00a0Everyone who has cared for me. \u00a0Everyone who has challenged me. \u00a0Everyone who has let me be me. \u00a0Everyone I have loved and has loved me. \u00a0It’s because of everyone that I am who I am today and I really appreciate that so thank you, everyone. \u00a0Love!!!<\/p>\n[vc_row][vc_column]