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MATTHEW MURPHY |
A fire has been lit inside Judy Rice, and I can warn you that it’s only getting started. When I sat down for lunch with Ms. Rice the other day, I saw a woman who was transformed. You see, Rice was one of my very first ballet teachers, so I’ve known her for quite some time. She used to come to Montana every summer when I was just a young boy who could barely plie and thought that a battement was a creature that lived in the mountains by my house. It goes without saying that Judy played a key role in my passion and development with ballet from the start.
In a strange turn of events, my best friend ended up at the University of Michigan where Judy has held a post on the dance faculty for the past 17 years. Suddenly I had more reason than ever to journey to Ann Arbor and even though my nights were spent with friends, my days were spent under the watchful eye of this incredible teacher. Now in an even more exciting turn of events, Judy Rice has arrived in New York City to take a job on the faculty at Broadway Dance Center.
Words cannot even begin to express what an exciting event this is for the dance and theater community. Rice has a passion that is unrivaled in her teaching and an eye like a hawk. She claims she’s been likened to Jaws, that famous shark who creeps around in the water to attack one minute and go under the next. Yet nothing about Rice’s teaching habits ever seem ferocious. From the moment you meet her, you can tell she cares personally for every student in class. Some teachers struggle giving individual attention without neglecting the rest of class but Rice excels in giving each and every dancer personal attention that seems like private coaching. Her years of teaching experience across the US, highly successful video and CD series “Behind Barres,” and training in National Ballet of Canada followed by a career with Joffrey are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her immense talent.
Part of what sets Rice’s class apart, from my viewpoint, is the incredible mix of students that it encompasses. Not only will you find Broadway professionals (she’s responsible for training Tony Nominee Gavin Creel, among MANY other hotshots) but you will find professional dancers and others who haven’t danced in years. One thing that her class never lacks is a sense of invigorating energy and fun. Armed with a witty sense of humor and her ever watchful eyes, she has everyone laughing yet never doing anything but their hardest work. This is such an incredible attribute and part of what has always drawn me to Judy. Some teachers intimidate dancers to the point of submission but Judy only provokes a work ethic that you may not even know exists before you set foot into her room.
I, for one, couldn’t be happier that she is here. One thing that can be especially difficult with dancing professionally is the difference in personal attention from that which you receive during school. Just because you have a contract under your belt doesn’t mean that suddenly the work stops. In fact, personal attention should only multiply but due to the insane schedules of company life, it is nearly impossible to replicate that schooling you were once accustomed to. Every dancer has a certain teacher who they gravitate to and finding someone you feel comfortable with is a deeply personal and sometimes difficult task full of hits and misses. However, I feel 100% confident recommending that everyone go and try Judy Rice’s class at Broadway Dance Center. As soon as I’m healthy I will be there in a heartbeat. Rice’s class has a way of changing you, as my friends will attest to. After I returned home from my first Michigan trip in 2005, they all noticed that I had a newfound excitement for dancing. Perhaps I was mistaken when I said a fire had been lit within her, because Judy is simply on fire and she’s busy lighting the fire within everyone else. The city obviously agrees with her and I can’t wait to see what the next year holds in store.
Judy Teaches M/W/F @ 10:30am and T/Thu @ 9am.
Check out Broadway Dance Center for more info.
