Rare dance lesson teaches Milford students life lessons

Hamilton touring dance captain shows students life as a Broadway talent

Posted

A major piece of modern pop culture was at the center of a special lesson for Milford students.

Junior high and high school choir and fine arts students participated in an hour-long Zoom session led by Lisa Finegold, current touring dance captain for the hit musical Hamilton on Oct. 28. The session was made possible through the school's participation in the Nebraska High School Theater Academy, which connects Nebraska students with fine arts professionals.

Sean Nutzman, vocal music instructor at Milford, said the session included a warm-up and question and answer section. At the heart was a 40 minute crash course to teach the students the final minute and a half of the musical's smash hit “My Shot.”

Nutzman said the drill was an eye-opening experience for the students because of the complexity of the moves and precision of the choreography. Nutzman said, however, the students embraced the difficulty of the lesson and seemed eager to learn from it.

“I reminded the students many times the goal wasn't to get the dance down perfectly, it was to get the experience of what a professional dance team member does in a professional show on Broadway,” he said. “At some point, some of the students would be overwhelmed but whether it was from the first minute of stretching or learning the choreography, they were encouraged to be good listeners, not be afraid to make mistakes and have fun.

“I like doing these activities and it's fun to see the kids' eyes grow wide and enjoy it.”

Nutzman said the Q&A allowed students to learn even more about the life of a professional dancer and the dedication it takes to succeed in the industry. Whether or not a student is pursuing a career as a dancer, he said Finegold's lesson showed the importance of perseverance in a career.

“They saw just how much dedication and focus it took,” she said. “She really encouraged them if they don't make it to Broadway, no matter where they're at they need to give it something extra because that's where the magic happens.”

No matter the lesson a student gained, he said all who participated had fun.

“Everyone enjoyed it,” he said. “It was a fun day.”

Nutzman said the lesson won't end there for some of the participating students. On Nov. 10, he and 20 students traveled to Omaha to see the show at the Orpheum Theater. He said they had the chance to speak with cast members and learn more about life as a music and dancing professional.