She has movie-star looks and immaculate technique, but Lauren Adams is no superficial beauty: Her greatest gift is her sophisticated choreographic mind. Adams creates deeply felt works—loved by everyone from concert audiences to comp kids—that pulse with an energy at once raw and romantic. A native of Chesterfield, MI, she trained at Shelley’s Spotlight (now […]
Precision. Musicality. Charm. Swag. Kida Burns’ talents were on full display during the finale of “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation” in September. He was his All-Star partner Fik-Shun’s equal in the two routines the pair revisited for the finale: Misha Gabriel’s bee-themed piece and Kida’s own feel-good robot number. He returned […]
You might have seen 16-year-old Leili posing in a Discount Dance Supply ad, or competing at the 2015 Youth America Grand Prix finals in NYC. But this super-focused aspiring ballerina spends most of her time away from the spotlight, training at the San Francisco Ballet School. In fact, Leili first fell in love with the […]
Hip-hop phenom Kenneth San Jose has so much natural talent that his lightning-fast technique and mesmerizing musicality developed practically overnight. Though he can hold his own with dancers twice his age, he’s only been formally training for two years! Kenneth was already an accomplished singer and actor when he decided to add dance to his […]
Carla Körbes is one of those rare ballerinas who transcend ordinary stardom, exuding a grace and delicateness that complement her powerful stage presence. When the Brazilian native announced her retirement from Pacific Northwest Ballet last year, hearts collectively broke. After training at the School of American Ballet, Körbes joined New York City Ballet as an […]
For the past decade, Kellie Epperheimer has captivated Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s audiences with her graceful fluidity and elegant lines. Her raw, emotional performances and musical sensitivity make her an artist in every sense of the word. A Los Osos, CA, native, Epperheimer trained at the Academy of Dance and Civic Ballet of San Luis […]
Nina Bartell is such a complete performer that when she was crowned Teen Outstanding Dancer at the 2015 New York City Dance Alliance gala, it felt inevitable. You’d never have guessed the 16-year-old had only begun competing solos two years prior to her big win. Bartell trains at Sweatshop in Denver, CO, where she studies […]
Hip-hop phenomenon Phoenix Lil’Mini is a girl on fire, with ultra-precise animation skills and larger-than-life stage presence. So it’s no surprise her resumé lists one dream gig after another, like hitting the “So You Think You Can Dance” stage with her mentor Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer, dancing in Missy Elliott’s “WTF (Where They From)” music video […]