Kieran Macdonald, NUVO Dance Conference’s “Secret Weapon”

For the final two years, dancer Kieran Macdonald has had the chance to do what most younger, gifted dancers solely dream about — collaborate with lots of the world’s prime choreographers in the US. On the NUVO Dance Conference tour, Macdonald is the one principal dancer and main assistant to work with the entire star school. 

“I’ve to consistently pinch myself that I get to work alongside such an unbelievably gifted and galvanizing group of individuals,” says Macdonald, who was born and raised in Paisley, Scotland, and later moved to Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada.

Launched in 2007, NUVO Dance Conference attracts modern dance professionals and artists-in-training alike and invitations a lot of at this time’s prime working choreographers within the business dance and leisure industries as school. 

Macdonald’s function as a part of the NUVO household is a important one. He collaborates with the choreographers to craft motion, educate choreography to dancers, is incessantly referred to as on to carry out for college kids and school, and gives suggestions as a choose when wanted. Such a job requires greater than being an unbelievable and versatile dancer. A nice assistant is a “secret weapon,” a task mannequin, and a further pair of eyes, ears, arms, and legs for the instructor or choreographer.

Macdonald skilled underneath the path of Shelley Tookey at Shelley’s Dance Firm in Edmonton, Alberta. He’s additionally a graduate of the Victoria Faculty of the Arts Worldwide Baccalaureate Dance Programme, receiving prime scholarships from the Victoria Faculty Basis for the Arts, and incomes distinction in Superior I Ballet from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Nonetheless a teen when he entered the skilled world of dance, Macdonald has accrued a powerful record of high-profile credit. He carried out the main function of Mr. Mistoffelees in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS at Alberta’s Competition Place and was invited to be a part of Sean Cheesman’s skeleton crew, a small group of dancers who work with a choreographer to create and excellent choreography, for an upcoming West Finish manufacturing of The Prince of Egypt. On the well-known Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Macdonald carried out for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Dwell at PaleyFest, and he may be seen within the Gucci Showtime: Spring & Summer season 2019 Marketing campaign. Throughout The Juno Awards, his efficiency in a lead function dancing alongside musical artist Alessia Cara was broadcast stay on Canadian tv in 2016 and once more with singer Shawn Hook the next 12 months. Macdonald additionally starred within the award-winning movie, The Politically Incorrect Reality which received the award for greatest choreography at The Mosquers Movie Competition, and danced main roles in O2 The Dance Firm’s Items and Thoughts Video games by inventive director Sarah Dolan. 

“Kieran [Macdonald] is likely one of the most gifted storytellers I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” says Dolan. “He genuinely dives into every character and motion with full dedication.”

Whereas Macdonald stays humble about his skills, achievements, and the alternatives he’s had as an rising dancer, it’s notable how typically choreographers on the prime of their discipline acknowledge Macdonald as a rising expertise to observe and clamor to work with him.

A choreographer for tv and movie, and a co-choreographer with Mia Michaels on the long-running FOX TV actuality present, So You Suppose You Can Dance, Mark Meismer discovered Macdonald’s dancing laborious to overlook throughout the 2015 Dance Excellence Competition in Los Angeles, the place dancers from all of over the world convene by invitation solely.

“There was a loud ring of applause earlier than and after once I referred to as on [Macdonald] to provide an impromptu demonstration for the category,” recollects Meismer. “It was one of many highlights of the session and I keep in mind telling him that he modified my life.”

Macdonald now works with Meismer each weekend at NUVO Dance Conference. The choreographer considers the younger skilled a gifted asset to the corporate and to the leisure business, gushing about his consideration to craft, work ethic, and self-discipline.

“He elevates every class he assists me in and dancers everywhere in the United States look as much as him and his expertise.”

Emmy-nominated director, choreographer and dancer Stacey Tookey met Macdonald whereas he was nonetheless a scholar at Shelley’s Dance Firm.

“He struck me as a type of uncommon artists who’ve the charisma to effortlessly draw the eye of individuals and maintain them riveted,” she recollects of their first assembly. “I knew proper then that I’d like to work with him professionally sometime.”

Fortuitously, Tookey obtained her want, creating and demonstrating motion concepts with Macdonald throughout workshop courses, improvisation, freestyle and efficiency showcase alternatives which can be a part of every intense weekend at NUVO occasions provided in main cities throughout the U.S. She additionally labored with him on The Dance Awards, a culminating nationwide finals competitors introduced yearly in Las Vegas and Orlando by Break the Ground Productions.

Lukas MacFarlane, founder and artistic director of London-based firm, UnTitled Dance Firm, labored with Macdonald on the choreographer’s 2017 Capezio A.C.E. Awards submission Falling, which received 1st Runner-Up within the contest for rising and influential dancemakers. MacFarlane described Macdonald because the epitome of an expert dancer.

“He goes above and past, is pushed, and very hardworking. A particularly reliable dancer and performer, if I might rent him on each single job I’ve, I’d.”

Working at NUVO with prime lecturers and choreographers has allowed Macdonald to reinforce and work on his craft. He’s all the time perfecting new abilities.

“I’m consistently being pushed to discover new avenues of my motion,” he displays. “I do know that I’m meant to be dancing and I can’t image doing something aside from transferring and creating.”

A 30-year contributor to the dance business, grasp instructor, and director of NUVO Dance Conference, Ray Leeper considers Macdonald to be one of the crucial gifted, well-rounded, devoted, and accountable younger dancers with whom he’s had the pleasure to work.

“Kieran [Macdonald], with kindness and dedication, is the definition of somebody who has the drive, ardour, and perseverance to make the most important of marks on the dance neighborhood, now and sooner or later.”

All who work with Macdonald and witness his exceptional expertise would agree. 

“When Kieran dances the viewers audibly gasps,” says fellow dancer Jenn Stafford. “His approach and high quality of motion make him one of the crucial charming dancers of his era.”

Nichelle Suzanne is a author specializing in dance and on-line content material. She can also be a dance teacher with over 20 years expertise instructing in dance studios, neighborhood applications, and faculties. She started Dance Benefit in 2008, geared up with a ardour for motion schooling and an intuitive sense {that a} weblog might convey dancers collectively. As a Houston-based dance author, Nichelle covers dance efficiency for Dance Supply Houston, Arts+Tradition Texas, and different publications. She is a pacesetter in social media throughout the dance neighborhood and has introduced on running a blog for dance organizations, together with Dance/USA. Nichelle gives net consulting and writing providers for dancers, dance faculties and studios, and people past the dance world. Learn Nichelle’s posts.