{"id":3310,"date":"2019-05-03T02:41:07","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T06:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danceparade.org\/?p=3310"},"modified":"2019-05-04T19:26:17","modified_gmt":"2019-05-04T23:26:17","slug":"team-spotlight-meet-rebecca-a-progressive-east-villager-with-a-flair-for-publicity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danceparade.org\/es\/team-spotlight-meet-rebecca-a-progressive-east-villager-with-a-flair-for-publicity\/","title":{"rendered":"Team Spotlight: Meet Rebecca, a long-time East Village resident with a flair for Publicity!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In each issue of our STEPS! Newsletter we try to cast the Spotlight on one of our awesome team members to find out more about where they came from and to suss out their connection to dance and supporting the Dance Parade team.\u00a0 In this issue, we put the spotlight on Rebecca Myles.
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Hi, Rebecca.\u00a0 Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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How did you first find out about Dance Parade?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I first came across DanceFest as it\u2019s held in Tompkins Square Park and I live close by. Performing on stage was a salsa group where this rather senior dancer suddenly flipped his partner upwards and twirled her around his neck. My mouth dropped open in wonder and then admiration at his skill and stamina. I was riveted to the spot, wondering \u201cwhat is this?\u201d and got hooked into Dance Parade.<\/p>\n

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What is your current role in Dance Parade New York?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head of Publicity. We aim to make sure as many New Yorkers know about the parade through listings and pre-parade interviews and coverage, and then on the day coverage.<\/p>\n

Every year we host a press conference at City Hall during the week leading up to the parade. The upcoming one is Wednesday May 15th at 2pm.<\/a>\u00a0 We will receive a Proclamation from the City which declares the coming Saturday as Dance Parade Day. It is a charming tradition and the Proclamation is beautiful. I am always intrigued by the inventive ways the Mayor describes the Parade and DanceFest.<\/p>\n

The New York press are very generous to us and we\u2019ve been featured over the years on NY1, New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, Time Out, Gothamist, AMNY, The Villager, 1010 WINS, WABC, WBAI, Univision, to name but a few.<\/p>\n

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What is your favorite style of dance to watch? to participate in?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love watching all kinds of dance because it transports me to a heartfelt space for experiencing an emotional \u201cmovement\u201d story. Most recently I attended a lecture by Catherine Turocy, Director of New York Baroque Dance, which included demonstrations of Baroque dance styles. It was exquisite and what struck me was the intimacy of couples dancing and the inevitable poetry of two bodies in motion knitted by hand and eye touches. The evening was organized by NYU\u2019s La Maison Francaise.<\/p>\n

The last dancing I did was on Jeannie Hoppers\u2019 Liquid Sound Lounge \u201cDisco\u201d boat. She has another name for it but that\u2019s how I encourage friends to come. My friend Jenny always turns up as she understands the sheer brilliance of dancing on the East River against a backdrop of a New York skyline with Jeannie on the turntables, and live musicians.<\/p>\n

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What is your dance background or interest in dance?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I remember wanting to do ballet as a kid but that didn\u2019t happen. I suspect there was no extra cash. I had lots of excess energy even after climbing trees and biking everywhere so perhaps I saw dance as a channel, a home. I did ballroom dancing in college, and always went clubbing. I loved the free jazz dance floor downstairs at the Rock City in Nottingham. When I got to New York it was off to Nell\u2019s, the Bank, Palladium, Robots\u2026and for a while I took dance lessons in swing, African\u2026but with pairing dances too often I land in trouble wanting to lead all the time.<\/p>\n

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If you could share the stage with anyone in history famous or not, living or deceased, a trained dancer or not, performing a routine choreographed by yourself…who would it be?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bob Fosse \u2013 because he understood the erotic and ascendant power dance.<\/p>\n

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Last year we celebrated the repeal of the Cabaret Law with the theme \u201cThe Cabaret of Life\u201d — What does this year’s theme “Movement of the People ” mean to you?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is a potent theme in the 21st Century because it rests with us, the people, to wrest back our power to shape the world we want \u2013 fairness to people who need help, economic policies that support all our lives on earth with the other inhabitants, and thoughtful inclusive policies for education and healthcare.<\/p>\n

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What dance group or dance style are you most looking forward to seeing this coming year in the parade?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Native American Circle Dance<\/a> that will open the parade reclaiming Mannahatta for the Lenape peoples. Dance, prayer, true thoughtful beauty – can’t beat that.<\/p>\n

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If you could choose a Grand Marshal for this year’s parade….who would it be?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michelle Obama has done so much to address physical fitness with her Let\u2019s Move Initiative when she was First Lady. Just check out this video with the So You Think You Can Dance All Stars! (as Rebecca whips up this video on her phone\u2026)<\/p>\n