“Hamilton,” with its fast raps and moving ballads, is a theatrical masterpiece. But the choreography is just as impactful. Drama Desk Award-winning Broadway performer and director/choreographer Stephanie Klemons came to FWCD on September 4, as part of the universal book presentation, and she also gave a dance workshop to the FWCD ballet and cheer students. Klemons was part of the original companies of “Hamilton,” “In The Heights,” “If/Then” and “Bring It On.”
“So I started dancing when I was two, and my first choreographic job, I went to summer camp and I was supposed to be a dance counselor,” Klemons said “…and that’s when I was…18 or 19 years old, and they said we brought on too many dance counselors, but we think you would be great at choreographing a musical. I was a resident choreographer so I choreographed like four musicals that summer.”
FWCD’s very own theater manager, Eric Tysinger, and fourth-grade teacher and cheer director, Courtney Krauss ’06 had worked with Klemons before coming to FWCD. According to Tysinger, Klemons was very high-energy and engaged when she came to work. They worked together on “Hamilton” from late 2011 through early 2012.
“She is always ready to either teach and learn, and in many cases both,” Tysinger said.
Krauss and Klemons met on “Bring It On the Musical” in 2010 and worked together until 2013. When they first met, Klemons came from “In The Heights” and was working with Lin Manuel Miranda. Krauss says she was slightly intimidated but Klemons was so kind and patient.
“My favorite story about Stephanie is…we had someone break their ankle just a few days before we opened,” Krauss said. “So she actually had to go on in the show and she was in her late 20s… it just kinda funny going from associate choreographer to suddenly in costume.”
Klemons started her day at FWCD by giving a talk to the Upper School. She and Tysinger talked about her time working on “Hamilton.” She even performed a part of “Room Where It Happens,” one of the choreographed numbers from “Hamilton.”
“When she did the dance (during the talk) it was really awesome. I also liked learning the “Bring It On” choreography(during the workshop),” Morgan Jones ’28 said.
Later she gave a workshop to the cheer and ballet students. Klemons began by teaching the choreography to “My Shot” from “Hamilton”. Students then went in groups and danced combinations. After that, Klemons taught “It Ain’t No Thing” from “Bring It On The Musical”
Now Klemons is traveling around the world with different “Hamilton” companies to help with choreography. Most recently, Klemons went to Australia to help the Australian cast. They are now on stage at The Sydney Lyric Theater.
