Duke Dance students attend a Martha Graham Dance Company 100th Anniversary Season performance during their weekend in New York City. (Courtesy of Duke Dance Program)
Duke Dance Students Take Their Practice to New York City
From April 10–12, Professor Woods Valdés and eight Duke Dance students — including Dance majors, minors and Program II students — traveled to New York City for the inaugural Duke Dance Program New York Weekend, sponsored by the Hymowitz Guest Artist Residency. Participants included Michela Arietti, Diego Benitez, Gabriel Bostick, Katherine Cheng, Aissatou Diallo, Ashley Greeno, Rachel Tang and Destiny Touchine.
The weekend offered a blend of live performance, professional training and alumni engagement. Students attended productions featuring a wide range of artistic voices and approaches to movement, including Hadestown, Hamilton and the Martha Graham Dance Company 100th Anniversary Season.
Students deepened their practice through classes at New York studios, including Steps on Broadway, Brickhouse NYC and Gibney. These sessions allowed students to train alongside professional dancers and engage with the city’s dance community.
A highlight of the weekend was a brunch and networking gathering with Duke alumni working across the arts and entertainment industries. The conversation offered students valuable insight into career pathways and opportunities available in the arts and entertainment industries.
The trip was designed to extend learning beyond the studio and into real-world contexts, helping students connect their academic work with professional practice. Valdés said that it was fulfilling to see students come full circle with their academic and life experiences and expand their knowledge through real-world interactions.
Read our student testimonials
"The Duke Dance Program NYC Trip was one of the most enriching, empowering and inspiring university trips that I have been on. Every show, conversation, meal and moment left my heart so full and excited for the future of possibilities that lie ahead in the arts field; I am truly grateful!” – Gabriel Bostick
"The highlight of the trip was the ability to talk with Duke Alumni who are currently working in the arts industry. Their love for Duke was evident, and they gave invaluable advice about the skills we would need to be successful." – Aissatou Diallo
"Seeing the arts world during this NYC trip was an incredibly meaningful experience, bringing to life how we can engage with the arts in Duke's Dance Program now and even beyond graduation. From when we first stepped foot off the plane, we were instantly immersed in the NYC arts scene, taking classes, connecting with alumni, and experiencing Broadway shows and dance performances. This trip brought a new layer of clarity and inspiration for how I hope to further my path with the arts." – Rachel Tang
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