CLASS WATCH:Elisabetta Spuria @ STEPS ON BROADWAY

When dancer Elisabetta Spuria bought a one-way ticket from Italy to New York City 10 years ago, she had big ambitions, just like the thousands of dancers who flock here dreaming of bright lights and high kicks. However, only a tiny percentage of those dancers move on to teach and choreograph at one of the most prestigious dance schools in the entire city – which is exactly what she has recently achieved. After a windy road of class-taking, performing, teaching, and choreographing, this budding talent can be now be found subbing regularly at STEPS ON BROADWAY, teaching “advanced contemporary jazz.”

Just 5” tall, this spunky little ball of energy may be small, but Spuria’s talent and passion for dance is massive.  Don’t let her fun-loving personality deceive you, because although she can make you laugh, she will also make you sweat while critically correcting each dancer in class.

In Spuria’s class, you can expect a fast-paced warm-up that is clean and concise, well-thought out, and feels good on the body. Complete with plies, tendus, releves, ronde de jambes, and extensions- technique is not left behind. She adds in fitness value with a hard-core abs section, and tons of stretching.

Spuria doesn’t waste any time after the warm-up and always includes a few across the floor patterns to get the dancers moving and comfortable. Finally, in the nurturing environment that she has created, we are ready to dance her fun and fresh choreography!

Spuria’s choreography is sultry jazz with a contemporary kick, laced together by impressive technical elements. She has  recently used dynamic music “Feelin’ Good” by Adam Lambert, and a sexy cover of “Seven Nation Army”. A dancer’s difficulty level is challenged no matter his or her level of ability. Do a single or five pirouettes, kick your face or keep it low, and always work towards developing style. By the end of class Elisabetta is constantly urging people to push themselves farther, and to throw fear and pride to the wind. “It’s class!!! Mess up! Fall down! Who cares!”, she yells with a smile. When a student apologizes for asking a question, she exclaims, “Are you kidding me? Don’t apologize! I’m here to TEACH you, not show off my choreography.”

It is highly recommended that any advanced dancer challenge her/himself to this fantastic new gem of a class. Check out the guest teaching artists schedule as she teaches different time-slots each week thus far. Recent slots have been in place of Jason Parsons, Suzi Taylor, and Wes Veldink. Hopefully, with enough buzz she can lock down her own well-deserved schedule at this monarch of studios, STEPS ON BROADWAY.

Click here for Elisabetta's bio, reel, galleries, and more!