MENTORSHIP 4 DANCERS
To have a sustainable career in today's dance world
— as a professional dancer, choreographer, artistic director or educator –
One must know themselves as an Artist, and possess the creative entrepreneurial skills necessary to carve one's own path.
About M4D
Mentorship 4 Dancers (M4D) is a holistic & international professional program for both emerging and established dancers of all ages to deepen into their artistry, explore creative possibilities and strengthen their position in the commercial space in order to become Empowered Movement Artists.
Dance in the 21st Century is experiencing a revolution.
Dance is everywhere — in advertisements, on television, in the streets...
Professional dancers of the next generation are more versatile than ever before,
and thus need to be properly prepared for a myriad of career trajectories.
This program is designed to support dancers' journeys, both in the short & long-term.
Dancers will build & strengthen their portfolios, receive direct 1-1 feedback, gain practical tools, real-world knowledge and a global network to support them in navigating their direction.
M4D grounds dancers in their ability to see themselves as Artists —
not just those who dance behind them.
Whether you are interested in pursuing commercial | concert | street dance, choreography,
creative direction/production or education, M4D will listen and guide you towards your vision.
FIND YOUR CREATIVE IDENTITY & ARTISTIC LINEAGE
UNDERSTAND THE CREATIVE PROCESS | UNLOCK YOUR INTRINSIC STYLE
BUILD + STRENGTHEN YOUR PORTFOLIO (Headshot, CV/Resume, Reel)
CAREER PATHWAYS + AUDITION PREP
HOW TO SUBMIT / PITCH
Q & A WITH GUEST MENTORS
BIZ 101 FOR DANCERS + AUTHENTIC BRANDING
HOLISTIC WELLNESS FOR DANCERS
This program is designed for emerging and established professional movement artists of all abilities, backgrounds & styles.
PAST GUEST MENTORS
ASHLEY MENESTRINA is a movement artist with deep connections to improvisation. She has performed her work around the world since 2016. Her self-choreographed work, "The Human Condition: Absent Presence" premiered at The Martha Graham Theater in April 2018 and has since toured in New York City, Los Angeles, Turkey, Mexico City, Portugal, Oklahoma City (received ‘Best Creation’ Prize at Solocoreografico Festival), and Israel, taking home 3rd place at the International Choreography Competition in Jerusalem. Her newest work, "Combative Echoes” was created for Die Wolke Art Group’s Unit Motives: GRM festival in Thessaloniki, Greece (2019), and has since been accepted into the 24th International Solo-Dance-Thetare Festival Stuttgart in 2020, and the 39th Edition of Battery Dance Festival held in NYC. Ashley is looking forward to the creation process of a new solo work titled, “The Woman in the Wire Suit”. Since relocating to Seattle, WA in 2021, Ashley has received the following opportunities: 2022 recipient of Velocity Dance Center’s Bridge Project residency, a role in the new musical “Afterwords” at the 5th Avenue Theatre, a residency/commission at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, and an opportunity to collaborate and choreograph for the Amazon Artist in Residence, Anna Mlasowsky.
DARRELL "FRIIDOM" DUNN is a multifaceted artist and innovator in the field of movement. He holds a degree in Arts and Technology from The University of Texas at Dallas and has extensive experience in directing, choreographing, acting, and performing in various media and platforms. He has collaborated with renowned brands and artists such as Samsung, Universal Music Enterprises, Freeform Tv, LA Dance Project, Cannons The Band, Tyler the Creator, Lin Manuel Miranda, Dick Van Dyke, Will Smith, and more. He is based in Los Angeles, CA. Friidom is the creator of “The Epiic” movement philosophy, which combines elements of Krump, Street Styles, and philharmonic conducting to express emotions and stories through music and motion. He developed this unique style as a way of coping with his personal challenges with anxiety, depression, and health issues. He uses “The Epiic” to create immersive and cinematic experiences that inspire audiences to discover their inner creativity and potential. His work aims to transform the world of movement, visual arts, technology, and entertainment.
KRISTEN HOLLEYMAN is an Internationally Award-Winning Choreographer, Teaching Artist and Movement Arts Filmmaker who travels globally to exhibit her work and collaborate with influential contemporary choreographic voices while exploring themes of eco-consciousness, sustainability, cultural inclusion, women’s empowerment, improvised choreographic structures, able-ism, mental health and transformation on momentary, personal, global and historical scales.
She is currently an M.F.A. candidate in choreography with an emphasis in film and culture at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she teaches courses such as experimental contemporary dance and ballet. Supported by her background in Secondary Education (Colorado State Certified Teacher) and Spanish (B.A. University of Colorado, Boulder), she reaches diverse populations.
Integrating seemingly disparate movement forms into a united expression is one of Kristen’s fortés. From experimental contemporary movement, to hip hop elements, to partnering, to storytelling, to collaborating with African and other native traditional dance artists, she weaves together imaginative, embodied expressions of our shared human experience and our relationship with our natural word, while recognizing, honoring, and paying respect to each movement form and its associated culture.
TESTIMONIALS
Zoe Rappaport is not only an incredibly inspiring & knowledgeable professor, but a genuine person in the industry whom i can trust. She goes above and beyond for her students’ successes and will be a forever mentor;
always teaching, always there.
HANNAH GRAVELLE / PROFESSIONAL DANCER / L.A. LAKER GIRLS
Zoe creates a space for movement exploration with no judgement, which is a little rare to find nowadays!
She offers a perspective on dance through storytelling, rather than shape-making,
and encourages you to push past your own artistic limiting beliefs.
MCKINSEY SHEA / PROFESSIONAL DANCER / B.F.A. COMMERCIAL DANCE PROGRAM GRADUATE
"The mentoring process with Zoe not only opened a door to a better understanding of the professional dance world from a real perspective, but it also helped me to develop confidence in my path as a dancer and artist. Each class nourished me with new tools to develop a broader view of what it means to be a movement artist. I deeply appreciate the energy, enthusiasm and unconditional support of Zoe in showing us a glance of our greatest potential."
EMI LATORRE / PROFESSIONAL MOVEMENT ARTIST / ARGENTINA