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Bill Hastings

Bill Hastings has performed in over forty musicals and plays including the Broadway and National Tour productions of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, A CHRORUS LINE, CABARET, RAGS, BOB FOSSE’S DANCIN’, and SWEET CHARITY. He also performed at RADIO CITY in both the CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR and the EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA; and for T.V. on the MISS AMERICA PAGEANT and several commercials. BILL has CHOREOGRAPHED OVER FORTY PRODUCTIONS for U.S., European, and Japanese theater, television, video, industrial, and concert dance companies including PETER PAN, THE KING AND I, DAMES AT SEA, THE PAJAMA GAME, MY FAIR LADY, WHERE’S CHARLEY?, THE BOYFRIEND, THE WIZ, and GREASE among others; plus THE FOUR MINUTE EGG and CONGA for DANCE KALEIDOSCOPE and PINK TOFU for ARTS IN MOTION.

His piece, Nabta Playa, created for the stellar modern dance company, RhythMEK, and with an original score by well-known composer, MARTY BELLER, premiered at the 2000 GALA OPENING OF JACOB’S PILLOW and was also introduced by DAVID PARSONS for New York City’s Metro Arts 13 for their series on modern dance. In 2001, The CUYAHOGA YOUTH BALLET commissioned Mr. Hastings to create a full-length work. The Ballet, based upon DAVID MCPHAIL’S children’s story, Mole Music, with an original score by renowned composer, WILLIAM WADE, had its world premiere in the spring of 2002, and the ballet received unanimous critical acclaim. More recently, Mr. Hastings, through a grant received by THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, prepared a piece based upon MAYA ANGELOU’S “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS.” This year saw Mr. Hastings perform, in New York City, in a comedic duet, “OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY,” which he created for performance with the acclaimed modern dance company, NOTARIO. Currently, he is teaching at PERIDANCE and BROADWAY DANCE CENTER in New York City and at various private schools in the metropolitan area. Most recently he choreographed the well received “I’ll be Bach, Shortly” and “It’s Greek to Me” for the Rockland County Dance Ensemble in New York and “Now or Never” for the Progressive Dance Theatre in New Jersey.

Previously, BILL was the Artistic Co-Director and Co-Founder of THE DANCE CONNECTION, a studio dedicated to pedagogic and theatrical excellence. There, he created ORANGE CRUSH and LOCAL MOTION, two award winning performance groups for youngsters and teens. He also was president of SOUTH COAST BALLET in southern California and he was a member of the Board of Directors of the COSTA MESA ARTS COUNCIL. Bill was also RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER for both THEATER UNDER THE STARS and HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF MUSICAL THEATER in Houston, Texas. He also served as dance critic for THE ARTS IN ORANGE COUNTY magazine in southern California during the INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL associated with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. BILL has taught in many universities, colleges, and privately owned schools worldwide.

In the last two years, BILL has taught or choreographed in OSLO, NORWAY, the BOSTON SUMMER DANCE FESTIVAL, the AMERICAN THEATER DANCE WORKSHOP at HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY and the SUMMER DANCE WORKSHOPS held at VASSAR and OBERLIN Colleges, by the American Academy of Ballet and the Ohio Dance Theatre respectively. In New York City, he was also privileged to be guest teacher for AMERICAN BALLET THEATER’S STUDIO COMPANY under the direction of John Meehan, and he held a series of MASTER CLASSES in Rome and Naples, Italy in December of 2001.

During his professional career, he has had the privilege to work with such dance luminaries as BOB FOSSE, MICHAEL BENNETT, GRACIELA DANIELE, RON FIELD, SCOTT SALMON, CHET WALKER (whom he assisted during the creation of the TONY AWARD WINNING musical FOSSE), TONY STEVENS, PHIL BLACK, HARVEY HYSELL, and LUIGI. As well as currently producing music CD’s for modern dance class and educational videos for both modern and theater dance, two of his more unusual endeavors were serving as PRESIDENT OF THE JURY for the BRAZILIAN NATIONAL JAZZ DANCE CONTEST and as PRODUCER of BAL MYSTIQUE, a fund raiser for the PERFORMING ARTS CENTER in ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. Teaching dancers from twenty-four ballet and modern companies, Bill in 2002 was a guest faculty member along with SUKI SCHORER, CHRISTINE SPIZZO, JOHN MAGNUS, BRUCE STEGMAN, and RUSSEL SVETZBACH at the Southwest Regional Dance America Festival; he also had the privilege to follow that event as a guest faculty member for the Share the Legacy Conference; an event held at Hunter College in Manhattan and co-sponsored by the Harkness Foundation. He participated with faculty and speakers CAROLYN ADAMS, KATHERINE DUNHAM, NORTON OWEN, MURRAY LOUIS, LOURDES LOPEZ, MILTON MEYERS, and CARLA MAXWELL among others. He was also honored to teach at THE DAVID HOWARD’S SERIES directed toward helping teachers of dance improve their skills.

The Canadian Dance Magazine, VANDANCE, said of his classes: “…the term Modern Dance does not begin to do justice to the scope and depth of this area of dancing nor the span of it’s technique…you name it, BILL HASTINGS has it all.”

Class Description

Adv Beg THEATER DANCE: This class offers a fun and eye-opening challenge to the person who wants to explore the vast realm of dance for the theatre. Working through the techniques of jazz, ballet, modern, tap and swing that are used on the stage today and honoring the choreographers who have changed our theatrical history with their greatness. We explore the unique and rich styles of theatre dance and the secrets to honest and confident performance. All you have to do is be present and have the desire to learn. This class is geared to the performer in all of us, but it does require that you have a solid understanding of beginner to intermediate dance skills.

Warning: This class is not for basic dance skills instruction. It leads you on various journeys to becoming a better performer. It's a great class for actors, singers and dancers who want to discover the wealth of joy in the whole mind/body experience. A class which will help you to feel and be more confident and assured in auditions as well as performance situations.

Of course, the class is great for anyone wanting to have a great time or just looking for a great workout dancing to great music. The warm-up portion of the class is often with the exciting live accompaniment of the brilliant percussionists, Rod Jackson and Marty Beller. Please, no baggy clothes or street shoes/tennis shoes. Appropriate dance attire and jazz shoes are appreciated; character shoes for the ladies when they like, and bare feet or socks for the warm-up for all. See You There!