About This Show

Fast Forward provides opportunities for choreographers working in all dance forms to workshop 25 – 35 min pieces on a shared bill curated around a theme.

FORCED (CoreDance Contemporary)
Choreography by Rebecca McCormac
FORCED is a vigorous investigation of the bodies’ capacity to do work in order to cause physical change.  By allowing bodies and tactile objects to interact/react in the space we are able to change the motion of an object.  FORCED allows the viewer to see what is happening and question why?

Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Ms. McCormac completed her Masters in Dance at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2006. In 2008, Ms. McCormac moved to New York City to join Barry Blumenfeld’s Tap Fusion, Ellen Stokes-Shadle’s Dance Works and the faculty at Perfect Pointe Performing Arts Studio. In 2011, Ms McCormac founded CoreDance Contemporary, an Australian Modern Dance Company, which holds residence in New York City. McCormac has an interdisciplinary approach to her work drawing ideas both contextually and visually to create work that is engaging for herself and her audience. Her work has been shown at APAP, Your Move NJ, Alvin Ailey, Steps on Broadway, DANY Studios, PMT, Dixon Place, White Wave, Triskelion Arts, The Actors Fund Arts Center and Green Space.

Jazz on the West Side (Jazz Roots Dance Company)
Choreography by Sue Samuels, Kelly Carrol and Judy Emmett
Jazz on the Westside is a multi-media Jazz Dance Celebration of love & relationships set to contemporary renditions of songs from West Side Story.

Sue Samuels has established herself as one of the staples of the performing arts community of today. With over 45 years of experience, her expertise is often sought after for mentoring and coaching purposes by professionals and aspiring artists alike from around the world. Her students have included numerous stage, film and tv stars including Melba Moore, Brooke Shields, and Irene Cara. She received the Flo-Bert Award from the NY Committee To Celebrate National Tap Dance Day for her many contributions to both the Jazz and Tap dance community and continues to serve on the Bessie Award Committee (New York Dance and Performance Awards).

Kelly Carrol began her dance training in Chicago and spent three years touring internationally with the Lenore Sutton acro-dance company. She came to New York and began a long career as a triple threat performing on Broadway, television, film, night clubs and international concert venues. Kelly choreographed a revival of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Longacre Theater on Broadway, Jazz Age Revisited music video, Rockula music video, The Gaslight Club Speakeasy review, and a special dance segment for As The World Turns. She also created choreography for the lead and back-up singers of musical acts such as Vickie Sue Robinson’s international tour, 70s Disco Revival at Radio City Music Hall, and The Harlettes. Kelly has been lovingly choreographing for Jazz Roots Dance Company since its inception.

Judy Emmett performed in Night Clubs and production shows throughout the US for 18 years. danced in Las Vegas night club shows at the Sahara Hotel with choreographer Jerry Jackson, the Marina Hotel with choreographer Ron Lewis, and many years at the Flamingo Hilton where she both danced and ice skated. Her early training took place in and around Tampa, Florida. She was a member of the Tampa Civic Ballet and Central Florida Ballet. Judy most recently toured with the Move Free Dancers, promoting Schiff vitamins. She lives in Stamford CT where she taught for 10 years at Classical Kids. She also taught at D’Valda and Sirico Dance Center in Fairfield CT. Judy has been inspired by the dancers of Jazz Roots Dance and is excited to be apart of the creative team for Jazz on the Westside!