Amid programs teaching babysitter skills, study tips and sign language, a small group of students are taking advantage of the O’Rourke Middle School’s Summer Enrichment Academy by strutting their stuff with professional-level dance instruction during the week of July 7.
Their teacher is Geoffrey Doig-Marx, who resides in New York City and teaches dance at a number of upper-level institutions. He is the critically acclaimed founder of The Mantis Project Dance Company, where he practices choreography, and the creator/artistic director of The Elan Awards, which honors choreographers.
The dance camp is a small part of the O’Rourke summer programming that runs through July. The dance camp is open to students who are entering grades 6 through 12 next year. One-week courses are generally $45 per student, but the ten students who are participating in Doig-Marx’s dance camp shelled out $175 for the opportunity to work with a world-class instructor.
According to 14-year-old Abby Goudey, you can’t put a price on the experience the camp provides. `You can learn a lot in a week,` she said. `It’s challenging, and you really work hard.`
Doig-Marx has been offering a summer dance program for eight years in the area. He used to do a week with the Shenendehowa School District, then a week with Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, but has since shifted his focus to just BH-BL. He says he enjoys getting an escape from the city, and also seeing family members who reside in Burnt Hills.
Doig-Marx starts his students off at 8:30 a.m. each day, and will teach them jazz, modern and ballet styles over the course of the week. Their efforts will culminate in a free performance on Friday, July 11, at 1 p.m. at the middle school.
They will be performing Doig-Marx’s unique choreography to `Jive Hands` from the musical `Grease` for their jazz element, `Running` for their modern tune and a yet-to-be-decided number to showcase their ballet talents.
Most of the students were already acquainted with each other after participating in the school’s drama club. Some have taken Doig-Marx’s course before, while others don’t have a lot of formal experience.
`We have so many different levels that come in,` said Doig-Marx. He says that doesn’t present a problem though, since all the students work hard.
The dance camp was originally planned to be two weeks long, but after only ten students signed up (two more than last year), it was decided to scrap the second week. Doig-Marx is not ruling out a longer experience for the future, however.
`I would love to do a two-week program,` he said, which would require more interest. `[The program] is like the best-kept secret in the area.` He values students who are passionate about dance, however. `They work hard. If they want to be here they make it through the day easier than if it’s something they were forced to do.`
Those who missed the opportunity to work with Doig-Marx should have another chance down the road, however.
`As long as I can walk, I’ll still do it,` he said.“
