Troy Powell, artistic director of Ailey II American Dance Theater, and Diana White, artistic director at the Scarsdale Ballet Studio, will be teaching dance classes at the Summer Dance Intensive Program at Syracuse University. The dance intensive is offered through the Summer College Program for High School Students.
Powell, a native New Yorker, began his dance training at the age of 9 as a scholarship student at the Ailey School. A member of Ailey II and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater since 1991, he toured throughout the United States, South America, Europe and South Africa before becoming a master teacher at the Ailey School and resident choreographer of Ailey II. Powell has choreographed ballets for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, the Ailey School, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, National Dance Company of the Bahamas and Alaska Dance Theater, as well as three episodes of “Sesame Street.” Powell will work with students Thursday, July 11.
White had a 20-year career with the NYCB and worked closely with George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Her repertoire included principal roles in works by both masters, including Balanchine’s “Apollo,” “The Four Temperaments,” “Western Symphony,” “Serenade,” “Liebeslieder Walzer” and “Jewels,” as well as Robbins’ “Dances at a Gathering,” “The Cage,” “Goldberg Variations” and “Moves.” White toured internationally with the New York City Ballet and as a guest artist with other companies. She has appeared several times on public television’s “Live from Lincoln Center” and “Great Performances.” She now is a private coach and a repetiteur with the George Balanchine Trust. White will work with students Monday, July 15.