Returning to SAB – Emily Kikta

Recently, we spoke with New York City Ballet Soloist Emily Kikta about her new role as SAB’s Female Choreography Fellow.  In this role, she mentors Advanced female-identifying students who are participating in the School’s Female Choreography Project made possible by support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Through this program young dancers create ballets for the Student Choreography Workshop held in the fall. Then they work with Emily to learn more about the art of choreography by meeting with and attending performances by professional female choreographers. The aim is to refine their skills and explore the intricacies of creating a dance. These activities also prepare students to refine and re-present their ballets in the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Evening for Female Choreography held in the winter.

As part of her mentorship, Emily accompanied students to see ballets choreographed by Lauren Lovette (SAB alumna, former NYCB Principal, and current Resident Choreographer for Paul Taylor Dance Company) and Jessica Lang (choreographer of more than 100 original works globally and former Artistic Director of Jessica Lang Dance). Then, she hosted Q&A sessions with each artist for the students. Emily shared that the students were “not timid with their questions.” One question prompted a great answer from Lauren about what to do when feeling “stuck”: “Take a deep breath and step back. Remember that it’s your room. [The dancers] are there to move how you tell them. Take back your power.” 

Reflecting on her first year as a mentor, Emily shared how much she enjoyed being back at SAB in a new capacity. Passionately, she recalled:

“I so vividly remember being their age and all that’s happening then. I’m happy to be one of the many people to help them in this part of their journey, and to be there for questions. I understand the unique pressures they are under and how much they want to seize all the opportunities during this time.”

Looking to next year, she’s excited to build a strong relationship with the dancers to help with the progression of the first to second iteration of their ballets and to hear more about the students’ curiosities in order to influence discussion topics and what shows they see. A special kinship from one SAB generation to the next can only strengthen and elevate SAB’s ballet legacy.