{"id":3857,"date":"2013-02-25T11:35:47","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T11:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dancemogul.com\/news\/?p=3857"},"modified":"2020-03-28T19:57:21","modified_gmt":"2020-03-28T23:57:21","slug":"lindsay-nelko-the-next-generation-of-contemporary-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/lindsay-nelko-the-next-generation-of-contemporary-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Lindsay Nelko | The Next Generation of Contemporary"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"linsay2\"<\/a> Lindsay Nelko <\/a>has established herself as a choreographer and teacher whose conceptual vision and execution has moved audiences around the world. Unique, diverse and theatrical, her work stands out as high impact and extremely powerful. Lindsay has had the\u00a0honor\u00a0and privilege to be mentored by one of the industries\u2019 leading Directors\/Choreographers, Brian Friedman.<\/a> With his support and guidance, Lindsay\u2019s work has become varied and always inspiring. Lindsay was kind enough to take us from her humble beginnings to her current success. It’s always an honor when we can prop up the women in dance and we hope Lindsay’s words can inspire the next generation of female dancers.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong> \u00a0At what age did you discover the passion for dance and\u00a0were your parents supportive of you?
\nLindsay Nelko:<\/strong> \u00a0My mothers’ dance school, Shelley Shearer School of Dance, opened the same year I was born, 1986.\u00a0 My very first years were spent at the school every day watching my mother teach and her passion for dance was infectious; she inspired my love for dance. Her guidance and knowledge were invaluable. My parents were extremely supportive but I felt at times the pressure to live up to what I perceived to be their expectations and the expectations of others because I was the school owner\u2019s daughter.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong>\u00a0When did you realize that you wanted to dance professionally and what type of work ethic was involved in making that happen?
\nLindsay Nelko:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0My mother who is a former dancer with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet made sure that ballet was a key element in my training, and I hold my Advanced ISTD Ballet certification. Once it became clear that I didn’t have the physical instrument to become a classical ballet dancer, I was enjoying many professional performance opportunities in Film, TV, and Theatre. I was taught at a very young age that you have to train very hard to be the best and I looked into programs that would expand my education in these areas. I was fortunate that UCLA and NYU were terrific experiences for me. I not only took the dance programs but also studied performance for Film\/TV at UCLA and Musical Theater at NYU TISCH School of the Arts. Both programs exposed me to faculties at the highest level.\u00a0 As an artist, it is important to be exposed to a variety of artistic and educational experiences.<\/p>\n

\"linsay\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dance Mogul:<\/strong> How were you able to receive mentorship from Mr.Friedman?
\nLindsay Nelko:<\/strong> \u00a0Along with other members from my mom\u2019s dance school, we have been attending the PULSE on Tour Dance Convention<\/b> for the last several years. It is an exceptional opportunity to learn from the industry’s top professionals and I began entering my choreography in their non-competitive showcase to receive feedback. The PULSE provides a wonderful opportunity to talk to the Faculty at the Creative Connect for studio teachers and that is where I first met Brian Friedman. He stressed how important it was to make the audience feel something and have an emotional impact. By working hard to apply everything he has said over the past several years I feel his guidance has improved my choreography immeasurably. My pieces began receiving recognition from the PULSE Faculty. From 2010-2012, I received four \u201cChoreographer\u2019s Pick\u201d awards. In July 2012, I won the 2012-2013 \u201cPulse Featured Choreographer\u201d<\/b> award at their New York City Finale.\u00a0 Lindsay says \u201cBrian is a significant mentor in my life and without him, I would not be where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n