Dance instructor Telly Fowler rolled across the floor, leapt back suddenly and spun on the spot. The modern dance class followed his lead and, after a bit of practice, eventually learned the combination.
As a dancer
you have to be so aggressive about your training and your art form to make things happen Fowler said.
Fowler is a guest artist working with Ohio University's School of Dance this quarter. Fowler began his dance training at 16 and has been a member or choreographer of numerous dance companies, from the Evidence Dance Company to Philadanco.
After teaching hip hop abroad and making his musical theater debut in Disney's The Lion King, Fowler is ready to give back to the dance students.
Now I want to focus on teaching Fowler said. It's so fulfilling to be in a studio and see a student get it and be hungry for it.
During his three-week stay, both dance majors and non-majors have had the opportunity to take modern, ballet, hip hop and black dance forms from Fowler.
(The OU dance program) is a modern-based program
so we try to find artists who can teach modern ... but also have another area of expertise
said Travis Gatling, associate director and associate professor of the School of Dance.
At least twice a year, the School of Dance brings a guest artist to work with the students to give them a more diverse experience and to give them networking relations, Gatling said.
His classes are energetic and hard. ... His dance style is a fusion of a lot of different techniques
said Stephanie Johnson, a senior studying dance.
Johnson met Fowler three years ago at a summer intensive workshop and recently auditioned for Philadanco, the same company with which Fowler used to work.
He gives a lot of great feedback and gave me advice for the audition
she said.
Gatling has also known Fowler for some time. They both studied dance at Ohio State University. Gatling was in the graduate program when Fowler was an undergraduate, Gatling said.
There is a strong music and dance relationship embedded in his technique
Gatling said. Students have to listen to the music and find the dynamics. ... They can't just dance by default.
Fowler has been a guest artist at OU before, and he hopes to return to campus.
They have a wonderful program here
Fowler said. I feel at home when I come here
and you don't get that a lot of places.
@ThePostCulture
