Deborah Wingert @ Lydia Johnson Dance

Above: dancers Sarah Pon and Anthony Bocconi of Lydia Johnson Dance being coached by Deborah Wingert; photo by Melissa Bartucci

Deborah Wingert, one of New York City’s foremost ballet teachers, has been working in the studio with the dancers of Lydia Johnson Dance, coaching them particularly in the nuances of partnering in the works that Lydia is preparing to show in her June 2013 performances.

Deborah Wingert, a former New York City Ballet dancer and presently one of an elite group of stagers of Balanchine repertoire for the Balanchine Trust, is deeply involved as an instructor, choreographer and mentor for the young dancers of Manhattan Youth Ballet. Her depth of knowledge and her understanding of dance from both a technical and an emotional point of view make her a priceless treasure. 

I asked photographer Melissa Bartucci to document Deborah’s first day in the studio with Lydia Johnson Dance; then, a week later, I was able to get to the studio myself and observe the process first- hand. It didn’t surprise me to find that Lydia and Deborah were very much on the same wave-length, since for both of them their work in dance stems from a spiritual connection with music and movement.

It was hard to imagine that someone could make Lydia’s beautiful troupe of dancers look even better, but in the most subtle ways – and often in an expressive rather than a technical context – that is what Deborah was able to accomplish.

Here are some of Melissa Bartucci’s images:

Lydia Johnson, Deborah Wingert

Dancers Kerry Shea and Eric Williams

Anthony Bocconi and Sarah Pon

Lydia observing Sarah and Anthony

Anthony Bocconi

The dance is in the details

Lydia, Kerry, Eric and Deborah

Eric and Kerry watched by Deborah and Lydia

Lydia Johnson Dance will have their New York season on June 6th, 7th and 8th, 2013 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. Works set to music of Gorecki, Golijov, Schubert and Bach will be performed. Details will be forthcoming.