Daniel
“That’s the beauty of dance! You can constantly challenge the audience to step in to your world and share stories with them, or allow them to create something magical that is all their own.”
Harder
CULTURAL AMBASSADOR by lisa lipsey
mart, sexy, fit, strong and talented Daniel Harder is in beauti- ful company on the stage of Segerstrom Center for the Arts this month. Come admire his artistry as SCFTA presents the brilliant Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by the United
States Congress as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” brings a series of dances including Arden Court, the first Paul Taylor piece to be brought into the Ailey repertoire; Home by bold hip- hop choreographer Rennie Harris; Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16, featuring improvisation and audience participation; and one of Robert Battle’s first bravura solos, Takademe. The Ailey will also perform repertoire favorites including Battle’s The Hunt, Ulysses Dove’s Urban Folk Dance and Ailey’s Streams, Memoria and Night Creature, as well as his beloved masterpiece Revelations. Daniel Harder is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. program in
dance where he was awarded the Jerome Robbins/Layton Founda- tion Scholarship and participated in the Holland Dance Festival with the School and as a member of the Francesca Harper Project. After dancing in the European tour of West Side Story, Mr. Harder became a member of Ailey II and is now proud to be part of the U.S. national tour. What drew you to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater? I originally discovered the Ailey company from my first male dance
teacher, who is a former company member, Stephen Smith. I had never seen a man move the way Stephen did. He was powerful, pas- sionate, and so generous and I wanted to be just like him. That’s what started my love affair with the Ailey company. Who are your muses? Or who inspires you as a dancer? There are many people who inspire me. The biggest name at the top
of my list is Janet Jackson. She inspired me to start dancing. Also, I feel that she embodies the ultimate performer. Janet always appears in control, and exudes grace, confidence, power and love for her work. How did you get your start in dance? Originally, I only wanted to be a hip-hop dancer—hopefully behind
Photography by Andrew Eccles 16 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2012
Janet Jackson. So I studied music videos and copied the choreography to a tee, until I had every step perfected. Yet, I had no formal training. At the age of 15, I auditioned for a production that Debbie Allen was putting on at the Kennedy Center. Although I didn’t make it in to the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76