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(Photo courtesy of The Juilliard School)
New World School of the Arts (NWSA) college dance alumna (BFA 2004), Melissa Toogood, has been appointed dean and director of New York City’s The Juilliard School, Dance Division, effective July 1.
“I feel humbled and inspired by the opportunity to join the remarkable Juilliard community in uplifting the next generation of artists,” Toogood said in a New York Times interview.
“Together with the incredible faculty and staff, I am committed to continuing the development of a program that honors our lineage while embracing curiosity and innovation.”
The selection of the Bessie Award–winning dancer, choreographer, and educator came after a comprehensive search, explained New World School of the Arts dance alumnus (1990), according to Robert Battle, dance world luminary and Search Committee member. Battle, past artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, shared this about his NWSA dance peer: “I have witnessed Melissa grow since she was a student at New World and watched her develop and her star rise. She is a unique voice in the dance world, and I know that she will bring her quiet strength and artistic integrity to the students at Juilliard.”
Damian Woetzel, president of the Juilliard School, called her “one of the extraordinary artists of our time” and said, in a New York Times interview, “I’ve watched her stage; I’ve watched her teach; I’ve watched her develop dancers at all levels, but really focusing on the younger dancers. And I have seen her develop her own leadership in that way that is inspiring.”
Mary Lisa Burns, dean of dance at New World School of the Arts, remembered Toogood’s visit to her alma mater in Downtown Miami as a guest artist, where she staged repertory by Merce Cunningham on NWSA’s college dancers.
“She was remarkable in her ability to convey that challenging material with warmth, care, and creativity. Our students had the privilege of sharing the stage with her at the 92nd Street Y’s Harkness Dance Festival performances during the centennial of Mr. Cunningham birth, as well, and her dancing was an inspiration to all,” Burns said.
“Melissa has reserves of skill and curiosity about dance, as well as a broad perspective of the art of dance, based on the variety of professional work she has done with such distinction, and will bring this depth of expertise to her work at Juilliard,” dean Burns continued. “She has enormous dedication to the field of dance and to her peers and colleagues, and I’m excited for all that she will contribute to this new role.”
Recruited from Australia by Daniel Lewis, New World School of the Arts founding dean of dance, to attend the college dance division, Toogood’s professional trajectory as an educator was sparked during her early days as an NWSA dance student when dean Lewis floated the deanship idea by her.
“Dean Lewis said to me that I’d make a good dean one day,” Toogood recalled. “He was referring to the fact that in addition to my deep commitment to artistry, I also had a good sense of practicality and ability to see the big picture. If he hadn’t planted that seed in the back of my mind all those years ago, I may not have had the confidence to apply for this position.
“Part of what made him a great dean was his ability to make us believe in ourselves. As an educator and rehearsal director, that is a characteristic I’ve worked hard to emulate,” she said.
“The program I started at NWSA is first preparing a dancer to be in a dance company,” Lewis said. “Some dancers become teachers after a long career as a performer and choreographer. These make the best teachers. Only a few have the creativity and ability to see beyond themselves and the intellectual ability to see what is best for others in the art of dance. These become leaders. Melissa was one of these dancers.
“When I picked up Melissa from the airport straight from Australia, I already knew she was a beautiful dancer from the video audition she did. I knew she had what it would take to be a major voice in the dance world. She was not only a dancer but an intellectual thinker,” he said.
Toogood first learned about New World School of the Arts upon her visit to the school during the National High School Dance Festival before she was even old enough to audition.
“I loved the atmosphere; it oozed creative energy. I wanted to be a modern dancer but was always committed to my ballet training. Like Juilliard, New World emphasized both, so it felt like a perfect fit,” she said, drawing parallels between NWSA and Juilliard.
“I also knew there were some full scholarships available without which I would not have been able to pursue a degree in dance. That is why I am committed in my new role to work with president Woetzel to secure support for Juilliard’s initiative to go tuition free,” she said.
Reminiscing about her time at NWSA, Toogood recalled the time spent with her peers as one the most cherished memories of her college career.
“It (NWSA) was a rigorous program that allowed me valuable time to explore, experiment and develop a sense of who I was. And ultimately the kind of artist I wanted to become. I not only learned a lot from the faculty and guest artists, but also from my peers. There was a genuine desire to lift each other up and celebrate each other’s growth.
“It wasn’t limited to the (NWSA) Dance Department. There were a lot of student-led collaborations and sharing sessions across disciplines that dean Lewis supported. That sense of community, collaboration and inclusivity has supported me throughout my career and is a core value shared by the Juilliard School.”
Melissa Toogood will relocate to New York City with her husband and 7-year-old son to assume her new role as Juilliard’s director and dean of dance.
Juilliard also announced that New World School of the Arts dance alumnus (2000), Jamar Roberts, celebrated choreographer and former Alvin Ailey dancer, will join the Dance Division as the Distinguished Visiting Faculty and serve as an Arnhold Creative Associate at Large.
For more about Melissa Toogood visit www.melissatoogood.com/. For information about the NWSA dance division, call 305-237-3684.
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