Postgrad life in New York City can present a number of uncertainties. As a 2024 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, Juliette Rafael has used her connections and education to build towards a life of choreographing professionally.
Q: Was seeking a higher education in dance always a part of your plan?
A: I went to Kansas City Ballet School full time through their daytime program. I actually did not believe I was going to college because you’re expected to join a company right out of school there. So that was what my plan was and I joined Sacramento Ballet for their second company for one season. Then COVID happened and I had to have surgery and went back home to Kansas City, not knowing what I was going to do with my life. I said, “You know what I think I’ll go back to school” and I always knew I wanted to live in New York. Marymount Manhattan offered the most scholarship, which is how I ended up there. I had a communications minor and graduated within 3 years. I think Marymount just being in New York itself was huge and the connections that they had from the school whether it was professors that I want to keep working with or other dancers that I now work with.
Q: How did your choreographic journey begin?
A: The first time I ever choreographed was my senior year of high school where we had a senior showcase. I always loved improv but we did really have other opportunities to choreograph, so I choreographed my senior solo and that was my first taste of it. I really loved it. Then I didn’t do much while I was in Sacramento it was kind of just something on the backburner. It wasn’t really until Marymount that I really got to dive into choreography, especially on other people, which I enjoy so much more than choreographing on myself.
Q: How would you describe your choreography?
A: Super ballet heavy. It’s funny because when I was in those ballet settings I was always seen as the contemporary dancer and not the ballerina of the group, so I always thought that I would be choreographing more contemporary stuff. Then I went to MMC where everyone was contemporary dancers and I was the ballet person. So I ended up leaning into ballet work much more. I love choreographing for pointe shoes. The work can be goofy sometimes. I gravitate towards storytelling, although I like doing abstract stuff too.
Q: In what ways did going to college in NYC change how you approach ballet and dance pieces?
A: I’ve see a lot of ballet in New York and that’s definitely influenced my work. I like to go watch it when I can and every time I go see New York City Ballet or American Ballet Theatre I go and make mental notes of what I liked and what I didn’t like. I think that it comes into what I make.
Q: What motivates you to use live accompaniment and how does this inform your repertoire?
A: I’ve been spoiled my whole life with always having a pianist in ballet class. I’ve always found it much more special to watch performances with live music. I like to say that having the live music gives something for someone who might not be ready to just experience dance. It’s like another entry point into it. I think it elevates it.
Q: How do you see your choreographic work evolving?
A: Partnering work is one thing that I want to keep expanding in my choreography. It’s definitely harder for women in ballet if you haven’t been the partner. Sometimes it’s hard for me to ask for what I want because I have a picture in my head but I don’t know how to tell someone who’s lifting other dancers how to do it. I hope that I can develop my vocabulary as I work with dancers who are lifting and get more innovative in making new stuff.
Q: What are some goals you have for the future?
A: Near future would be making The New Standard NYC, my project that highlights collaboration between dance makers and composers, something that happens annually. That depends on how successful this year goes and funding. Goal for the long term is choreographing on ballet companies around the world.
Q: When and where is your next preview or showing of what’s to come for you?
A: Well I just got offered to show work at a festival but I actually don’t know if I’m going to accept because it’s not a paid thing. I believe that The New Standard NYC premiere on June 12th and 13th will be the next event I do.
Q: What is your advice for college dance students who will be graduating soon?
A: Finding community outside of Marymount can be hard at first. The way I did that was by finding a certain class that I really like at Steps and taking it consistently. Opportunities arise from that. It also gives you consistency. For choreography stuff specifically, just submit everywhere. Be really annoying. Be on Dance.NYC all the time. Submit to the stuff that’s paid and not paid. My first year out of school I was lucky enough to show work 6 times just because I was always submitting stuff. Also find the people who are presenting work, become friends with them, and see if you can join them in something. Arts on Site is a good entry point, there’s also Dixon Place. There are always places showing new choreographer’s works. Find those places and find those people.
