Someone You Should Know

Meet Tevin. He has been interning with Joffrey’s Community Engagement team since the beginning of November will be here through the summer! 

How did you get involved with The Joffrey’s Community Engagement Programs? 

I recently reconnected with The Joffrey Ballet through a program called Urban Alliance, an organization that places high school seniors in year-long internships with different companies. 

When did you first become interest in dance?

When I was 8 years old.

Who or what inspired you to dance?

A group of older kids were dancing in my neighborhood.  I saw them from a distance and I was very interested in what they were doing, so I began to imitate them until I learned a full dance. 

How has dancing helped you develop into the person you are today? What are some life lessons you have learned since you started dancing?

Dance has taught me that I must work hard in order to get to where I want to be professionally and that I have to work even harder because it is not promised. There are a lot of great dancers and I need to set myself apart from others and show that I am the right one for any college or dance company. 

How do you feel about the Middle School Dance Clubs? (What did you think then? What do you think now?

I feel that the Middle School Dance Club is an outstanding program which allows students to get the training and skill for dance and have fun while doing it. The Middle School Dance Club helped me develop a good work ethic and gave me an opportunity to experience something out of my comfort zone, a different dance style I had never experienced and explore different environments.

What is your favorite memory from dancing with Middle School Dance Clubs?

I loved being able to dance at different middle schools throughout the city and to show the other schools the dances that the students at DuBois created.  I also really enjoyed seeing the other schools perform.

Tell us how you got started with Urban Alliance?

Urban Alliance representatives came to Dunbar Vocational Career Academy when I was a junior and talked about an incredible job opportunity for graduating seniors. It sounded awesome so I filled out an application, they called me in the summer to inform me that I was accepted into the program and I would have a 5-week training session when school started which would prep me for my internship. At the end of the 5-week session I was very excited to learn that I would be assigned to work at The Joffrey Ballet. I had not connected with the Joffrey Ballet since eighth grade.

What have you learned so far from being a part of Urban Alliance?

I have learned a lot of skills that are useful for a high school student who is interested in learning about a professional environment. Things like how to make a good first impression, working in the business environment and the importance of being punctual. We also learned about clear and effective communication on the jobsite. I also learned several administrative skills such as sending professional emails and using fax and copy machines. Urban Alliance also helped me understand the importance of appropriate professional attire that should be worn at the jobsite and how to address a variety of situations. They gave me the confidence to ask for help if I needed it and I realized that they were always there to help me throughout my internship.

What is your favorite thing about interning with The Joffrey Ballet?

Being able to take dance classes at the Joffrey, which are helping me with my ballet technique for college. Also being able to get help on my computer skills as an administrator and being able to have work experience with an amazing organization as a high school senior.

What are your plans for the future/ what are you most excited about?

I plan to attend college as a dance major, with my degree in teaching and choreography so that I can share my love for dance with others that are interested.

What has been the most difficult part about being an intern at The Joffrey Ballet?

I found it challenging remembering all of the assigned tasks and being responsible for completing them in a timely manner; but by going through the process over and over again, I have begun to feel more confident with everything and I feel that it has become easier to meet the demands of the job.

Do you have any advice to young dancers just starting out?

Never give up on something that you can call your own and work hard. Work even harder if it is something that is truly passionate about it.