Deep Cove's Emily Tellier is making a move.
The contemporary dancer has long thought of heading to New York City in pursuit of her dreams. In recent months, one opportunity after another to take the stage in the quintessential performing arts town has presented itself, making Tellier's plan to officially relocate, inch all the more closer.
Starting her dance training at age 10, Tellier, formerly a member of Vancouver-based The Source Dance Company, currently teaches at her alma mater, Seymour Dance in North Vancouver.
"After high school I decided that I really wanted to pursue this professionally. ... " says Tellier, 23. "It's just taken me to New York. I've been training there a lot and in the past year I've really decided that that's where I want to be."
Last week Tellier headed to NYC in preparation for her next appearance, at the annual Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival, July 11-13. The festival was founded in 2004 by Michele Byrd-McPhee with a goal of challenging the tradition of men dominating the hip-hop scene and offers a host of workshops, battles and performances all focused on women. According to the event's website, "Each year an elite group of female artists from around the world are selected to exhibit work, teach, and perform as part of the festival. The artists have extensive experience and understanding of the hip-hop culture and are qualified to pass on the traditions of hip-hop culture with accuracy and authenticity."
The opportunity came as a result of Tellier's decision to go to New York in March to train at the Broadway Dance Center.
"It was supposed to be a couple of weeks and while I was there, in one of the classes, the choreographer came up to me and asked me to be a part of her company. And that's when I had my first performance in New York. So I extended my trip and made it happen," she says.
Tellier performed with NYC-based contemporary choreographer Kristin Sudeikis, as part of her Kristin Sudeikis Dance Company, at the Brooklyn Dance Festival in April.
She performed a seven-minute contemporary piece, MomentOhm Continued, along with four other female dancers.
"It was honestly like a dream come true for me when she asked me to be a part of it. I was almost in disbelief that all this work had come to this moment. The whole experience was probably the best experience I've ever had in my life - rehearsals, performance, the group of people we were working with. It was all just a total dream
come true for me," she says.
Back on the North Shore, Tellier was contacted by another NYC choreographer, Val "Ms Vee" Ho, who asked her whether she was interested in performing at the Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival, the 10th anniversary edition. Tellier will be a part of Ho's locking piece, performing a style of hip-hop dance Tellier has become increasingly attracted to in the past year.
"I've really found a love for locking.. .. Now it's a completely different route," she says of the upcoming performance's contrast to her last NYC show.
Tellier will be working with four other dancers over the next few weeks in the lead-up to their performance of the work July 12.
She's set to return to the North Shore July 17. .. unless of course yet another opportunity arises.
"I'm planning on continuing networking, especially in the contemporary world because I haven't been a part of that since this past April. I want to continue to network. Having this opportunity to go down again for a different festival was amazing because now I can continue where I left off," she says.
"Honestly I just can't see my life without dance in it. For me if I was to pursue school or something different I know that I wouldn't be pursuing my truth and that for me is dance. I have such a passion for it no matter how hard it is and it's a really difficult industry to make something of yourself. But, if you love what you're doing, I believe that the universe will give you what you're looking for," she adds.
