New Middle and Upper School Dance teacher Gypsy Ingram is looking to take the Dance Company in a new direction by incorporating diverse styles of dance.
“I want people to see that you can get a really strong technical training here but also we’re going to explore a lot of different styles, and we’re going to have a lot of fun,” said Ingram. “I think opening up the amount of styles that we’re doing, and then adding some new things into the mix that didn’t exist before might make people excited to come be a part of what we’re doing.”
The company’s Oct. 23 performance, was a culmination of this philosophy. It incorporated multiple styles including jazz, hip hop, musical theater dance, contemporary, lyrical, and ballet.
“I think the more ways people can like see themselves like, ‘Oh, I really like hip hop,’ or ‘I really like to tap,’ ‘I didn’t know could do those things,’ then gets them excited about showing up or signing up to take a dance class,” said Ingram.
A New Vision
Ingram was hired with a vision for growth in the Greenhill dance program for both Dance Company and the musical’s choreography, according to Head of Fine Arts Terry Martin.
Martin says he was particularly enthusiastic about Ingram’s experience in theatrical dance.
“She talked about dance as a fine art and not just something that could be challenging,” said Martin. “She talked about a lot of different styles, she also came from not only a heavy dance background, but she had theater background as well. I felt that having someone who is a performer and a storyteller, [was] just a real match for what I envisioned our dance program could be.”
Sophomore Natalie Lugo, who is involved with both the musical and Dance Company, says that dance practice for the musical has been different under Ingram’s direction.
“[Ms. Ingram] pushes the students to try new movements and work on our technique,” said Lugo. “In the musical she really wants to make this year’s choreography different and unique to Greenhill and tries her best to showcase every student’s individual talent.”
Goals for Growth
Martin says Ingram’s passionate and energetic approach to teaching dance along with her propulsion toward growth were major selling points when she was interviewed for the position.
“Everybody seemed to really be excited about her energy and her focus and felt that she was going to bring a really great energy to grow,” said Martin.
Upon Ingram’s arrival, she wanted to address two characteristics she perceived within the dance program.
The first issue was that the Dance Company mainly just performs alongside other groups, like orchestra and choir.
Ingram is reinstating a performance in March that will only feature the Middle and Upper School dancers.
“It kind of seems like for the last couple years, dance has been the guest star at everybody else’s performances, so we’re really trying to put Greenhill Dance Company front and center,” said Ingram.
The second issue was that many students who dance outside of school choose not to be involved with the dance program at Greenhill.
Ingram says this was particularly surprising to hear.
“I’m coming from a public school background where, if you danced, you danced at school too, like it was a point of pride to dance on your school team or be in your school’s Dance Company,” said Ingram. “So, one of the things that I would like to work on is the pride of Greenhill dance so [people] want to be a part of that culture.”
Ingram says one idea to accomplish this initiative would be for Dance Company members to show up at halftime during a school basketball game or in other places where they haven’t typically performed.
“I’m excited about seeing them become more of an integral part of the fine arts tapestry here at Greenhill,” said Ingram. “I really think they have the potential to be great ambassadors.”
