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Dance Gap Year

Why choose Dance Gap Year?

Dance Gap Year offers dancers the chance to explore movement, creativity, collaboration, community and personal development while traveling the world. Pizarts, the founding company of Dance Gap Year, located in New York, helps dancers, teaching artists and dance educators produce community events, international teaching tours and public performances.

Pizarts offers a Dance Teaching Fellowship in the summer a paid 4 week program for selected participants to tour and teach their own works in Argentina. Applicants have either completed the Dance Gap Year (New York and Argentina) program or have fulfilled a college degree or certificate program (2 years in length) from an accredited institute

Pizarts connects with Latin American countries to offer experienced professionals short term immersive projects promoting dance education worldwide

Reviews

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Andreya
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

DGY review

My experience was good, I had fun, and I got to go to Puerto Rico and meet a lot of cool people. I have everything I think I need to start auditioning, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I got to dance more. If given the option, my advice is to speak with different alumni before fully committing. It’s definitely an experience you won’t get anywhere else.

If you need guidance in answering the question “who are you?” then this also may be another reason to take part in this program. My last piece of advice would be to treat the decision as a big financial decision.

Pros
  • I have a headshot and CV
  • I met cool people and went to Puerto Rico
  • I learned things that I know I would not have anywhere else
Cons
  • I feel my technique suffered and I’m out of shape
  • Some teachers had problems with being on time
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Christian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Gap Year 10 STARS

I was able to train as professional dancer in NYC for a semester , I grew in my craft immensely. Was able to get had shots and countless pictures and videos that I can not only always cherish but grew my rapport. I also had the opportunity to go to Puerto Rico ( for my first time ) being of Puerto Rican decent it felt as though it was a right of passage. It certainly was a life changing experience with people who I now consider my chosen family. DOM IS THAT GIRL . The entire program was a one in a life time experience that I would not only do again but highly recommend.

Pros
  • Prof.Level Classes with Instructors that genuinely want to see you grow
  • Content !! So much content.
  • A real look into what it is like working as a dancer
Cons
  • Had to wake up super early
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Florencia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

FLOWERPOWER

Definitivamente una experiencia que marcó mi vida, conocí nuevos humanos de diferentes partes del mundo que con los días se convirtieron en mi familia incluyendo profesores y porsupuesto la directora del programa, siendo de un país con lenguaje distinto encontré que el arte fue uno de los medios de comunicación más bonitos que desarrollé. 100% recomiendo el programa para encontrarte, reencontrarte, descubrirte o redescubrirte. DGY what a fortune to me connect with you.PD: PUERTO RICO ESTÁ CABRÓN

Pros
  • New Knowledge
  • Travel
  • Networks
Cons
  • I think the cons will depends about
  • Your perspective
  • English language for me but actually Nah
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Lucia
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gap Semester in Nyc

Dance Semester in NYC for free spirited, open minded dancers. Great teachers, mentors, and great classes. Focus is not on dance training however. This is a program for a dancer who prefers more free spirited dancing and improv rather than someone who is looking for a physical, technical, and strengthening program, as we only had 2 dance classes a week. I could have really used a little more of a push for things such as technique classes or college applications, and auditions, so if you are someone who needs a push to work hard sometimes, it might be a bit difficult. I’d say you definitely have to be a certain type of person for this program. Dominique works hard for everyone to feel safe and comfortable in the program and find what adjustments might be needed for each person. Overall a great experience and learned a lot about myself.

Pros
  • learn about yourself and dance
  • photo shoots and video shoots
  • create connections with people in NY and California
Cons
  • No physical training
  • Price of program and living in NYC
  • slightly unorganized
Ako
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The most exciting dance experience ever!!

I had such a wonderful experience on this gap year program.I really wanted to know another country's dance community but I didn't have any connection. And one day I found this program.

Since I cannot speak fluent Spanish so I was a little bit worried to go to Argentina but I had a great support from the program and ended up with the most amazing trip ever in my life. It was a pleasurable moment to communicate through dance even though we cannot communicate verbally, and we were able to share a love of dance each other. If you already know what you love and if it's 'dance', this is the program you should choose. The memory of communicating and expressing yourself through dance (universal language) will be the treasure of your life!

Programs

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Dominique Robinson

Job Title
Director
Dominique Robinson is an American performer, choreographer and dance film director. In 2014 she brought to both the dance and gap year community Pizarts Dance Gap Year. She has traveled to countries Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Canada having taught thousands of people in vast cultural settings. Robinson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from East Carolina University in Choreography and a Master of Arts from New York University in Dance Education.
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What is your favorite travel memory?

It was a beautiful fall day in New York City and a group of Dance Gap Year (DGY) students took the birth of Hip Hop tour. On the trip we visit the the Bronx Documentary Center, the gallery space El Fogon, and the Bronx Music Heritage Center, a long standing non-profit that presents live events and classes proliferating the history and preservation of music created in the Bronx.

After passing through several iconic areas of South Bronx (So Bro), we have lunch in So Bro's La Cocina Boricua for an authentic Puerto Rican meal. I really love this trip because Hip Hop has resonated with so many people around the world and the chance to give students a look into Hip Hop's backyard is a visceral experience.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have met so many incredible people who have linked me with amazing artists from all walks of life and we have created some beautiful dance works together. As a member of the Dance Gap Year team I get the chance to give that experience and more to our students.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

A student on the New York trip was at a workshop in downtown Manhattan. At the time of her trip she had only been a student never having performed. She was asked at the workshop to demonstrate the choreography in front of everyone.

Although she was terrified she couldn't get herself to say no, so she stood up and did her thing. She later shared that that moment in the city helped her overcome a fear.

Since then she has blossomed into an amazing teacher and performer.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company is unique because we give trained dancers the chance to experience a gap year combining daily practice in self, community and dance making.

I was extremely proud of my team when a Dance Gap Year (DGY) student was able to co-teach at an international festival with a DGY staff member. We were able to introduce this student to different elements of dance and a few years later she excelled as a teacher and choreographer.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Our company is successful because we work with different communities who all contribute to the development of our programs and we continue expanding projects with the help of previous DGY students who have become members our team.

Professional Associations

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