Andrew Nemr

Artist // Speaker

Archives for June 2016

Preparing a New TED Talk

By Andrew

TED-Fellow 01

In 2012 I was awarded a TED Fellowship. I traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland to give my first TED Talk on the Fellows stage of the TED Global conference. Over the past four years I’ve giving numerous talks at TEDx events all over the world and have met some of the most thoughtful and inspirational people I now call friends.

Talks aren’t easy. The unique combination of personal narrative, simple explanation, persuasion, and the unveiling of “Aha!” moments, as outlined in Chris Anderson’s most recent book, is potent, but difficult to unearth.

TEDTalkBook

Some talks take a few chances to get right. Others take a lot of rehearsal time and land beautifully the first time out. Many never have the impact the speaker hoped for. I say all that to say that I’m embarking on the process yet again. Unlike my previous talks, this one is tied to something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and is very personal.

Since April of this year, I’ve been working from the offices at TED HQ in New York City as part of the TED Residency. My work at the residency has centered around the Tap Legacy™ Foundation and its Digital Archive.

As part of the residency I am tasked with preparing a TED Talk – personal, understandable, persuasive, and revelatory. In my preparation, I’ve had to confront myself with questions about what I really care about, why I care, why I dance, and why I think the work I’m currently engaged in is so important (hint: it’s not just about tap dance). The journey has been at times emotional, frustrating, and eye-opening. As the day for presenting the talk draws near, I’m excited about what I’m discovering and look forward to sharing it with you.

I will be giving that talk on July 12th. Sorry the event isn’t open to the public nor live-streamed, but I will announce it here when the talk goes live.

Thanks for your continued support of the work I do. It means the world.

July 15th – Last Class at Steps Announced

By Andrew

steps-on-broadway-logo copy

Friends, another time of transition is upon us. Back in 2001 I was asked to begin teaching regularly at Broadway Dance Center, and for nearly 5 years I called BDC (when it was on 57th Street) home. I developed my warm up (a derivative of Steve Condos’ work) there. I found weird analogies to tap dance there. It was a fruitful time. Then in 2005 just after the successful debut of Cats Paying Dues in the first New York Season, a major shift occurred. Broadway Dance Center announced they were moving. I needed a new home.

I ventured uptown and found a new home at Steps on Broadway. For the past 11 years I’ve enjoyed the culture that is cultivated at Steps. There I found enthusiastic and thoughtful students eager to learn, on amazing floors, in a building reminiscent of old New York. All those things mattered to me – the people, the instrument, and the environment.

Alas another shift is occurring. Over the past season I’ve been traveling more than I ever have in the past. All good things, but if I’m not in New York, it’s hard to keep a regular class going. With that knowledge and a desire to provide deep learning for the tap dancers I work with I’ve had to make a tough decision. After an amazing and thoughtful conversation with Diane Grumet, Co-Artistic Director and Managing Director, the decision was made for me to end my regular classes at Steps.

My last class will by July 15th.

My relationship with Steps will continue. Some possibilities include my substituting for fellow tap dancers like Barbara Duffy or Derick Grant, or hosting a series of workshops at the studio.

In the meantime I’m focusing on the upcoming Tap Into Freedom Summer Intensive (with some special announcements coming very very soon), and finishing out my time at Steps strong. My last day is only three weeks away, so come by on Thursdays at 4:30pm or Fridays at 6:15pm and dance with me.

I want to hear from you

It would help me a great deal to learn from you what I can offer that would be of greatest value. If I propose a workshop series, what would you want to be covered? When should it happen? How frequent? Share your ideas in the comments below or here. I’ll read all the feedback, I promise.