Before the pandemic, Tiler Peck was already well known in the dance world as a principal at New York City Ballet. As soon as the COVID-19 quarantine halted live performance indefinitely, she adapted and made headlines for sharing her art. She began teaching a daily ballet class on Instagram Live for all levels of dancers (and non-dancers), and it caught on quickly, featuring musical, dance, and other artistic guests for her international viewership. Months later, she had the idea to level up her virtual dance offering—a digital dance program that provides an evening’s worth of original works in different dance styles. She recruited collaborators like choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, tap company Syncopated Ladies, Broadway actor Sierra Boggess, Memphis Jookin dancer Lil Buck, and more. The result is “A New Stage.” Filmed with CLI Studios in a currently dark theater and assembled from a combination of Zoom and in-person sessions, Peck is bringing what she loves to dance fans around the world on Friday, Oct. 16.
How did you come up with the idea to stream a digital dance program with new works?
I think initially it came from Turn it Out with Tiler, just in the responses and bonds that I grew through those classes with dance lovers and the art community and hearing how much people are really missing live performance and going to the theater. When I was doing my classes and bringing guests on from different walks of the arts community, I thought, Why aren’t we taking advantage of all of these theaters being empty and our stages being dark? Why can’t we put on a performance and do it safely? I really do feel like there’s something I can create that can let us artists perform and also be something new, creating new art during the pandemic. There have been so many beautiful digital seasons that I think people have really enjoyed, but I really wanted to put on a show now and make it more relevant.
How did the event come together?
I came up with the idea in July and then we filmed it at the end of September. There is something so beautiful about dance and ballet being more accessible and reaching a wider audience; a lot of people can’t come to Lincoln Center so to be able to see a show like this that could be on a stage like that from your home for $19.99 I think is extraordinary. That’s kind of what I’ve tried to do this whole pandemic—make my art form and make it more accessible for people.
How to Become a Dancer How did you make sure the production was done safely?
“I wanted this evening to be something that broke down the boundaries and make people say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that ballet could be any of these things’ or that there was something in the program for everyone. I want to get ballet out of this little box that I think people put it in.”
How did you choose your collaborators?
It honestly came to me pretty quickly. Sierra takes my class and she popped on during my class as one of my first guests. She was always somebody I really respected and wanted to work with. And I thought, What better time than now? The Broadway community is hit just as hard as the ballet and everything is shut down. And Chris, I love dancing his work. He always creates pieces that are really moving, both for the dancer and the audience. I just felt like it was really fitting for this moment in time. Then I had the Syncopated Ladies, which is a tap dance company that was founded by Chloe Arnold. She started this like 10 years ago because the female voices in tap are not really evident, and as black women, even more so. I really respect how they use their voices and how powerful and immensely talented they are. I wanted to share this platform with them so as many people as possible could see them. I also put together a piece with Lil Buck, who does Memphis Jookin. I thought it was really cool to see a collaboration showing how ballet is not just in a tutu done to classical music. I wanted this evening to be something that broke down the boundaries to make people say, “Wow, I didn’t know that ballet could be any of these things.” I wanted there to be something in the program for everyone. I want to get ballet out of this little box that I think people put it in.
What have you learned about dance and yourself as a dancer from having to adapt the way you perform this year?
Dance is what drives me. I came off of a very serious injury about a year ago where I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to dance again. I’m grateful every day that I’m healthy and dancing and I wasn’t going to let a pandemic stop me from making new things and continuing on. Dancers’ careers are so short and these are really pivotal years. I learned a lot about myself; I’m not going to let anyone stop me from doing what I love. In order for me to be happy and especially right now, when people are needing to escape more than ever, dancing is where I find it, that’s my outlet. Even Turn it Out With Tiler are my hours during the day where I felt the most like myself. I think that’s just a testament to the fact that art is healing and we need to keep pushing more out there right now.
How To Adjust To Dance Training at Home “You never know when an opportunity is going to arise, so just make sure that you’re ready because the person that is ready is going to get the part.”
How are you staying positive and motivated right now?
It’s having something to look forward to during the day. We all got out of our routines and were stuck in one place. For me, what helped me was having the class for that hour where I was like, Okay, I’m going to be focused. I’m going to do something. And then I felt good about myself afterward because I felt like I had completed something. I think everybody is in a little bit of a free for all. For me, it was nice to have a sort of structure for that hour. And I think that that’s what people found as well. It’s like, Okay, for this hour, it’s going to be fun but we’re also going to take it seriously. I want you to feel like you’ve learned something. It was finding a purpose each day, and that really helped me. There were some days where I was so down, like the day I found out “The Nutcracker” was canceled. But I’m not the type of person to sit around and just sulk. I’m like, Let’s move on. What’s the next thing we can do? How can I put together a performance like this for people? They’re asking, so let’s see if I can do it.
What advice do you have for dancers and other artists who feel discouraged right now?
I know so many people who have taken time off and I didn’t want that to be me. I want to be in shape, ready to go so when I do get the call to do a performance, I am ready. And that’s, what’s happened. I’m in New York now getting ready for City Center’s Fall for Dance festival. They asked me to do it and I was like, yeah, I’m in shape. I’m ready. I think dancers and artists are some of the most resilient people. We’re just innately determined and disciplined. I think we might be doing better in the pandemic than most because we have that kind of ingrained in us to not stop. I understand for the younger dancers who are just starting out, that’s a really hard time to be trying to find your footing right now. But you never know when an opportunity is going to arise, so just make sure that you’re ready because the person that is ready is going to get the part.
Purchase tickets to see “A New Stage” on CLI Studios for $19.99 and find more information, including about the artists involved here. The program will stream on Oct. 16 from wherever you want to watch.
Check out Backstage’s dance audition listings!