“There is something in the music that I want you to embody. Listen to it,” Sulé Adams, choreographer, dancer and teacher, told Spence’s Dance Ensemble students at a recent rehearsal.

 

Adams is one of five guest artists this year who bring their expertise in dance, music or drama to the School’s classrooms and studios. Adams taught a West African master class to the Middle and Upper School Dance Companies last year, but this year he is spending eight weeks in residency, choreographing an original piece for the Winter Dance Concert at Symphony Space February 22 and 23.

 

“Workshops and rehearsals involve different focus and dedication,” Adams said, differentiating between last year’s workshops and this year’s rehearsals. “Most classes or workshops ask dancers to retain information for the duration of the class, incorporating notes and corrections to help their technique. The younger the student, the less they worry about technique or how they look. They go for it fearlessly.”

 

This year, with older students and more time to learn the movements, Adams said the approach is different in that it asks more of the students.

 

“The Upper School students must approach rehearsal with an openness to learn new movements each session, while tapping into their knowledge of dance technique and vocabulary, then retain it for the next rehearsal, rehearse to perfect the choreography (hopefully beyond just our time together) and work to develop synergy and perform in unison,” Adams said. “Because of all these components, I too have to remain open, while creating a nurturing space.”

 

Overall, Adams said his goal is for the dancers to “understand self-love and self-care and that trying will lead them on a path to achieving their ambitions, goals and dreams.”

 

Caleigh B. ’18, one of the Dance Ensemble students, described Adams’ style as purposeful and thoughtful. She noted that his style is a culmination of the different types of dance he has studied in his life—modern, African, hip-hop and ballet—and that these elements are incorporated in the piece they will be performing in February.

 

“Mr. Adams really stresses the importance of dancing with your mind, your soul and your whole body,” Caleigh said. “He encourages us to imagine that we are ‘dancing in our bedroom to our favorite song.’ He asks us regularly to consider why we love dance and why we devote our time to it. I’ve learned how much of dance is conveyed through emotion and how much mindset plays a role.”

 

With “New York” as the theme for this year’s dance concert, Adams chose to focus on the challenges the dancers and other teenagers may be facing in this city (and worldwide), such as self- and social-awareness, responsible decision-making and relationship skills.

“New York can be intimidating not only to transplants, but for natives as well. The excitement, hustle and bustle, fashion, images and constant movement can influence us all,” he said. “‘Beautiful Dreamers’ is a reflective piece created to motivate and remind individuals to always be their authentic selves and by all means have fun.”