Kevin Jenkins is a Christian choreographer and the owner of Ballet Counterpointe in San Diego, California. Jenkins worked with varying skill levels of students from the South Carolina School of the Arts February 14 and 15 at 91福利社鈥檚 dance studios.听
Following masterclasses in contemporary ballet and modern dance, Jenkins lectured in Merritt Auditorium about his choreographic creative process. According to South Carolina School of the Arts Director of Dance Lauren Imhoff, Jenkins is a multifaceted choreographer/artist.听
鈥淗e is a Christian choreographer who is creating and teaching in the highest tier of the dance scene,鈥� Imhoff said. 鈥淗e seeks to engage with other Christian universities across the country鈥� I was thrilled that he knew we have a dance program.鈥�
Jenkins鈥� work is on Instagram at kevin_jenkins_choreographer or, also on Instagram at balletcounterpointe.听
Imhoff said that a dance masterclass course is offered every two years at 91福利社.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most exciting courses we get to offer. Every single week on Wednesdays we get to bring in a guest artist that the students don鈥檛 usually train with,鈥� Imhoff said. 鈥淪ome of those are local professionals. Others travel in from North Carolina or are occasionally flown in from New York or from across the country.鈥�
Imhoff feels that inviting these high caliber guest artists 鈥渋s a great way for students to hear from different points of view, from different perspectives to gain insight from their past experiences, and the classes are always followed by some sort of Q&A or talkback so the artists themselves, from what they鈥檝e gotten to know about our students, can also give back to them and offer advice.鈥�
Imhoff continued, 鈥淢asterclass is vital for their education to take class from as many different instructors as possible, though it鈥檚 wonderful for us as their primary faculty to be able to get to know them and carry them through the four years with steady training. It鈥檚 also incredibly important for them to hear from professionals working actively in the field of dance. On every contract they go out there to pursue, it will be a different person of leadership, a different choreographer who is brought in just for that month and then they go off again. It鈥檚 not only good practice for the expectations of the dance world, but it allows them to receive feedback and coaching from a variety of individuals, which strengthens them as artists.鈥�
In its Department of Theatre and Dance, The South Carolina School of the Arts offers a variety of courses of study in theatre and dance: BFA in Musical Theatre; BFA in Acting; BA in Theatre; BA in Dance; and a BA in Theatrical Design. Details can be found online.听