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Mykala Wimberly, a graduate of Mesa Ridge High School, recently completed an intensive dance workshop in New York City.
Named for legendary dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, the Ailey Experience offers an intensive, week-long curriculum that immerses young dancers in a broad spectrum of techniques, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, West African, and more.
Mykala Wimberly, a graduate of Mesa Ridge High School, recently completed an intensive dance workshop in New York City.
Named for legendary dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, the Ailey Experience offers an intensive, week-long curriculum that immerses young dancers in a broad spectrum of techniques, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, West African, and more.
Mykala Wimberly fell in love with dance after taking an introductory class at Colorado State University, but at age 20, she feared she was too old to begin pursuing her dream.
“I didn’t grow up dancing, because it wasn’t something our family could afford,” said Wimberly, a Mesa Ridge High School graduate. “I thought you had to begin at a very early age.”
But this summer, a week-long workshop in New York City helped renew Wimberly’s confidence, instilling a belief that anything is possible.
Wimberly, 23, was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the inaugural Ailey Experience NYC workshop. Named for dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, the program offers an intensive, week-long curriculum that immerses young dancers in a broad spectrum of techniques, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, West African, and more.
“We want the students to come away with a deeper understanding of Mr. Ailey and his work, as well as what it feels like to be a prestigious Ailey dancer, the hard work that goes into it,” said Lisa Johnson-Willingham, director of Ailey Extension.
“We see the grace and poise and skill of a dancer when we watch them perform. But you don’t get to see the hard work behind the scenes.”
When Wimberly registered for an Introduction to Modern Dance course three years ago, she initially felt intimidated, she said.
“I didn’t know anything, because it was my first exposure to dance,” she said. “I didn’t know how to pirouette, I didn’t know how to point my feet.”
When she discovered she had an ability to access her deepest emotions and express them through movement, she was hooked.
“I didn’t know that was possible,” she said. “I knew I wanted more of it.”
Borrowing a leotard from a friend, Wimberly auditioned for CSU’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and was accepted.
She resolved to make up for her lack of experience with passion and determination, spending her free time developing her technique, asking questions and seeking feedback.
“I did anything I could to improve,” she said. “I still have my audition tape from three years ago, and when I look at it now, the progress I’ve made has been incredible.”
The hard work paid off, and when Wimberly attended a two-day Ailey Experience workshop in Denver, she caught the eye of Johnson-Willingham, who offered her a scholarship to the New York City program.
“She was graceful, powerful and fluid,” Johnson-Willingham said.
Wimberly was floored by the invitation.
“Lisa came to me and said she would love to see me (at the New York workshop),” Wimberly said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was so happy, I cried.”
During the workshop, participants attended two technique classes each day, training with professional dancers at the Joan Weill Center for Professional Dance. Instructors included former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company members.
“For the entire week, I was a sponge,” Wimberly said. “I just wanted to soak up everything, to learn as much as I could.”
At the end of the workshop, the students put on a performance for family and friends at the Ailey Citigroup Theater.
Wimberly said the experience has made her a better dancer, with a renewed perspective and sharper focus.
“The whole experience was just so much fun,” she said. “Everyone was so welcoming, including the other students. One of the students called me a prodigy, which I always thought was a term for someone who shows promise at a very early age.”
As she begins her senior year at Colorado State University, Wimberly has a clearer idea of what she wants her dance career to look like. While completing her Performing Arts requirements, she plans to keep refining her technique before auditioning for an Ailey School scholarship or independent training program. Ultimately, she hopes to perform at Madison Square Garden as a member of the Knicks City Dancers, the official dance team of the New York Knicks.
“Dancing for the Knicks is my ultimate dream, and a few years ago, I never would have thought it was possible,” she said. “Now, I believe it can happen.”
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