by Corey Bliss
From the moment she began training with NJDTE at age 9, it was clear that alumna Jenny Hegarty (2004) was destined to be a dancer. Even in technique class, she stood out for the special spark and presence she brought to each and every exercise. A captivating performer with a vibrant sense of musicality and keen attention to detail, Jenny went on to dance numerous soloist roles with the Ensemble, including Clara and Dew Drop in "The Nutcracker."
From the moment she began training with NJDTE at age 9, it was clear that alumna Jenny Hegarty (2004) was destined to be a dancer. Even in technique class, she stood out for the special spark and presence she brought to each and every exercise. A captivating performer with a vibrant sense of musicality and keen attention to detail, Jenny went on to dance numerous soloist roles with the Ensemble, including Clara and Dew Drop in "The Nutcracker."
NJDTE is the best foundation anyone could ask for as an aspiring professional dancer. I was given the opportunity to work with amazing artists and perform in theaters a professional would dream of.
Photo by Jenny Abreu. A lead dancer with Dance NOW! Miami for the past five seasons, Jenny was hand-selected by Artistic Directors Hannah Baumgarten & Diego Salterini to take on the role of Rehearsal Director for the company. She eagerly accepted the challenge, and has enjoyed adding a new dimension to her involvement with Dance NOW!'s diverse repertory.
"Being a rehearsal director has always been a role I looked forward to having in the future, but I had no idea the opportunity would present itself now. It has been and continues to be both amazing and challenging at the same time. My approach to the rehearsal process has always been in-depth and involved, as I like to understand the ins and outs of and details of a work. Now, this interest has grown even further. I’m allowed to stretch a different side of my brain when asked for my input or assistance in decision-making." It's a learning process, to be sure, but one in which Jenny is finding new inspiration:
"Being a rehearsal director has always been a role I looked forward to having in the future, but I had no idea the opportunity would present itself now. It has been and continues to be both amazing and challenging at the same time. My approach to the rehearsal process has always been in-depth and involved, as I like to understand the ins and outs of and details of a work. Now, this interest has grown even further. I’m allowed to stretch a different side of my brain when asked for my input or assistance in decision-making." It's a learning process, to be sure, but one in which Jenny is finding new inspiration:
Still dancing full-time and having a leadership role in a small company is challenging, but it has taught me a lot about my peers and about myself. I love being a liaison between my fellow dancers and the choreographer/directors, and am excited to continue growing in this new part of my career.
Jenny in José Limón's "A Time to Embrace." Photo by Jenny Abreu. This season, Dance NOW! was granted permission to perform iconic repertory by José Limón, staged by legendary Limon dancer Daniel Lewis. The company performed “Limon Suite,” a combination of three pieces: duets from “A Choreographic Offering” (1964), “A Time to Embrace” from the larger work “There is a Time” (1956), and “Beethoven Sextet” (1978), choreographed by Daniel Lewis. he took ideas and variations that Jose Limon was working on before he died and arranged them into a dance for six as a tribute to his mentor.
Jenny performed the duet “A Time to Embrace” and “Beethoven Sextet.” It was one of the highlights of her career, and an experience she will not soon forget.
Jenny performed the duet “A Time to Embrace” and “Beethoven Sextet.” It was one of the highlights of her career, and an experience she will not soon forget.
Performing these pieces were some of my favorite moments I've ever had on stage. There is a great responsibility that comes with performing such iconic work, and we all wanted to do it justice. The choreography and connections made on stage created amazing moments.
The rehearsal process with Daniel Lewis was "strenuous," but incredibly rewarding. "Being dancers, we sometimes get caught up in the technical. What arm is this? What count is this on? etc. Danny made it so we had the opportunity to understand why we were dancing, the connections being made between each other, and where it all comes from," Jenny explained.
The experience reminded me that we are all always students and always learning, even as professionals. There are amazing things happening as dance moves into the future, but there’s definitely something to be said about what comes from the past.
Jenny with Dance NOW! Miami in Carolyn Dorfman's "Odisea." Photo by Jenny Abreu. Speaking of the past, Jenny has fond memories of the many years she spent at the NJDTE Summer Intensive. "The Summer Intensive was my favorite part of the year because we were able to dance all day, but also because I made some of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life during that time. Besides all the fun we had together, we were able to dive into our training more intensely than during the year, and learn amazing repertory from many different artists and companies."
Some of Jenny's favorite pieces she learned during the Intensives were “Steps in the Street” by Martha Graham, staged by Miki Orihara; “Vol du Nuit” by Eduardo Vilaro, who is now Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico; and “Duel” by Bradley Shelver, Artistic Director of STEPS Repertory Ensemble. When she returned as an alumna to Summer Intensive Program Manager, she also had the opportunity to learn Twyla Tharp's “TORELLI," staged by Jason McDole, who is currently on faculty at Point Park University.
Some of Jenny's favorite pieces she learned during the Intensives were “Steps in the Street” by Martha Graham, staged by Miki Orihara; “Vol du Nuit” by Eduardo Vilaro, who is now Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico; and “Duel” by Bradley Shelver, Artistic Director of STEPS Repertory Ensemble. When she returned as an alumna to Summer Intensive Program Manager, she also had the opportunity to learn Twyla Tharp's “TORELLI," staged by Jason McDole, who is currently on faculty at Point Park University.
The connections made at the NJDTE Summer Intensive and throughout the year are undeniable. And on top of that, I left NJDTE with friends that have become family.
As NJDTE's class of 2016 prepares to graduate and enter the next stage of their artistic development, Jenny shares this advice on the importance of connections and first impressions in the professional dance world:
 Photo by Carlos Baez. | Always make a good, professional impression. So many people from my childhood came back into my life as instructors, choreographers, and potential people that could hire me. You have all the best resources at your fingertips right now, so soak in all the information you can and always put your best foot forward. You have the technical training, so let it go and dance. Know that your training will be there for you when you need it. And lastly, enjoy these last months you have together. Life moves fast, but the friendships you make at NJDTE will definitely be with you forever. |
