Hello
My name is Declan O'Connell
Declan O’Connell is a recent graduate of Wayne State University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography. Prior to college, Declan trained at The Foundation House under the direction of Jason and Bianca Janas, and Dance Avenue under the direction of Sarah Sieloff, where he was also a member of their elite competition companies. Declan’s extensive studio training has included Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz Funk, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Tap. He has also had the opportunity to train with and perform in pieces choreographed by such artists as Dee Caspary, Tessandra Chavez, Gregg Russell, Ryan Lohoff, Angela Carter, Jason Janas, Dejan Tubic, Zachary Venegas, Kathryn McCormick, Kelsey Rose Young, Terrill Mitchell, Meghan Way Stinson and Valerie Rockey. During his time at Wayne State University, Declan has performed in works by choreographers such as Hannah Bricston, Marc Spaulding, Madi Hicks and Bryan and Shaina Baira, and has trained under such faculty as Dr. RAS Mikey Courtney, Meg Paul, Karen Prall, Lisa Lamarre Wilmot, Hannah Andersen, Kristi Faulkner, Jessica Rajko and Jessica Thomas. In addition, Declan’s training has taken him all over the country including to Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Orlando and Los Angeles, where he trained at Millennium Dance, Imma Space and Evolution Studios. Declan is currently a member of the select Tap Into The Network Apprentice Program under the direction of Angela Carter and Ryan Lohoff and was a former member of the Detroit Tap Repertory under the direction of Denise Caston-Clark and Kelsey Rose Young. During his tenure at Wayne State University, he was a member of several of the performance companies, including Company One, Virtual Dance Collaboratory and To Sangana. As a member of the Titans of Dance Titan Force, he was selected to work with and assist the likes of Fik-Shun Stegall, Lane Napper, Hannahlei Cabanilla and Gaby Diaz, and has also had the opportunity to work as an assistant teacher with Energy the Convention. Declan is currently on faculty at The Turning Pointe School for Performing Arts and continues to be invited to teach at various studios throughout Michigan.
Declan believes that the best teachers inspire their dancers to work hard and have fun.
IG: @jjo_photography
Artist Statement
As a choreographer, I would say that it is hard to pinpoint exactly what my creative output is considering that it is in constant flux with each day. I prefer to create pieces that play to the dancers’ strengths whilst still challenging them at the same time with some of my aesthetic choices. One of these aesthetic choices is high levels of musicality and rhythm which is attributed to my long history of training in Tap dance. This has translated into my other styles of dance and as a result has a unique movement quality due to this factor. In addition, my choreography enjoys having audience interaction because I am of the belief that a fully engaged audience is the best kind for a dance work and it will leave a longer lasting impression on those who view said work.
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As a dancer, I am versatile and always willing to face any challenge that I am given. I live for performing on the stage in front of a crowd. I strive to make the audience feel something with my time on the stage and it gives me a rush to do so.
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As an educator, I bring out the best in my students. I challenge them in nurturing environments, and I utilize improvisational techniques to get my students used to new movement styles so that they can form a more fluid understanding of said movement as opposed being stuck in a box.
Projects
The following videos include pieces that I have either performed in or choreographed.
Performance Reel
IG: @ladyredphotos
IG: @ladyredphotos
IG: @jjo_photography
