Bringing People Together at All-4-1 Dancepalooza
A Conversation With Festival Producer Daniel Wilkins
By Madison Huizinga, DWC Blog Editor
It’s no secret that the dance world today is riddled with competition. Whether it’s the stages of dance competitions or within the crowded studio of an audition, dancers are often encouraged to pull out their best skills to win over the hearts and minds of judges, casting directors, and audiences across the globe. Within a competitive world, it’s easy to lose sight of the supportive communities that dance can foster. Daniel Wilkins of DASSdance strives to promote an inclusive and celebratory environment at All-4-1 Dancepalooza, a dance festival showcasing over a hundred young artists in the greater Seattle dance community March 12-13, 2022.
Daniel describes his upbringing as “atypical,” as his parents held roles as dance teachers, choreographers, and directors at various dance schools and companies. While Daniel found success with baseball as a child, his father encouraged him to give dance a try. In high school, Daniel dove into the arts, taking up acting and modeling. With the support of his family, he began training in dance as well, ending up earning a scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet and later attending the School of American Ballet after several tries of auditioning. At the School of American Ballet, Daniel was fortunate enough to train under the likes of iconic instructors like Richard Rapp and Stanley Williams.
“I would love to see more mechanisms in place that give opportunities to young artists and young companies”
After graduating, Daniel danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under his first company contract. Upon his returns to New York and Seattle, Daniel drew inspiration from the emerging grunge music scenes at the time, asking himself how tradition-dense dance genres like ballet could be made more current. After leaving Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Daniel returned to New York and worked with companies like Daniel Byrd - The Group, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Suzanne Farrell Ballet, before moving on to choreographing himself. He later founded DASSdance in New York and Seattle “after seeing a need for daring and innovative movement in the dance community.”
Photo curtesy of dassdance.org
Daniel says he was inspired to create the All-4-1 Dancepalooza after moving to Seattle and witnessing a lack of diversity in the local dance scene. “I wanted to do something that brought communities together somehow,” Daniel shares, desiring to break apart silos of dancers and foster a greater sense of inclusivity and community. He also points out the significance of bringing dancers in conversation with one another to create nuanced styles and progress techniques. When dancers of different backgrounds are exposed to one another, opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and creativity can emerge.
Daniel says that one of the pivoting factors for All-4-1 Dancepalooza was meeting Tyrone Crosby of N the Kutt Dance Studio in the greater Seattle area. The two came in conversation with one another and thought of different dance companies and studios to invite to the festival. All-4-1 Dancepalooza was able to draw in dance makers from all across Washington State year after year.
All-4-1 Dancepalooza offers dance classes and performance opportunities aimed towards young dancers ages nine years old and older. Attendees are exposed to experienced master class teachers in an array of genres, including ballet, hip hop, contemporary, jazz, and acro partnering. In addition, professional dance companies are invited to perform, including the DASSdance professional company.
“I really enjoy seeing the kids enjoying themselves and having all these great master teachers excite them with their amazing abilities,” Daniel says of All-4-1 Dancepalooza. He thinks it’s important for dancers to be able to feel confident in the classes they take but also challenged.
Photo curtesy of dassdance.org
In Daniel’s eyes, what sets All-4-1 Dancepalooza apart as a festival is its initial mission to open dancers’ arms and eyes and have conversations with different performers across the region. Daniel feels strongly about All-4-1 Dancepalooza being a non-competitive environment, and rather a place for people to come together, showcase their work, and meet new friends. While participating in other sports growing up, Daniel felt a strong competitive drive, but not as much when dancing. “It’s an art form, that’s what it is first and foremost,” Daniel says of dance. “I don’t want that to be lost.”
Daniel doesn’t subscribe to the idea that a dancer must fit a certain mold to be talented, as trying to force dancers into a pre-determined form can be incredibly limiting, especially for young aspiring artists. “I would love to see more mechanisms in place that give opportunities to young artists and young companies,” he says.
All in all, Daniel appreciates the diversity of artists that are showcased at the festival, particularly amid the youth companies, which are the core of the festival. Ballet companies, hip hop companies, contemporary companies, tap groups, and more can be expected to grace the stages of Broadway Performance Hall on March 12 and 13, 2022. “We have a great group of amazing dancers, master teachers, and choreographers. It’s going to be an exciting lineup,” Daniel shares.
