The trail to an expert dance profession was something however linear for Caroline T. Dartey. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Dartey was initially an achieved rhythmic gymnast, competing each nationally (she was the Swiss champion in her class from 2009–11) and internationally earlier than leaving the game behind for dance. An opportunity encounter with an observant instructor at Conservatoire Populaire de Musique, Danse et Théâtre of Geneva shifted Dartey’s consideration to live performance dance and New York Metropolis: She joined The Ailey Faculty as a scholarship scholar in 2016, danced with Ailey II from 2018–20, and joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2021.
Whether or not onstage, at rehearsal, and even within the improvisational movies she posts on Instagram, Dartey dances with aplomb, treating every motion with care and precision. Her elegant extensions and magnetism look proper at house in Ailey’s repertory, and can be showcased in Paris this month when the corporate goes on tour.
A Transcendent Expertise
“I used to get actually nervous once I competed in rhythmic gymnastics. However once I dance, I’m at all times excited. It’s like one other universe on the stage. The lights are so brilliant you possibly can’t see the viewers, so it’s actually such as you’re in your personal world, absolutely immersed within the function you’re enjoying.”
Tour de Pressure
“I like touring with Ailey, and recollections from our worldwide travels actually keep in my thoughts. So many individuals the world over don’t have common entry to bounce, so it’s superb to present that to them. I’d particularly love to return to Switzerland in the future—perhaps I can encourage youthful dancers there.”
Increasing Her Resumé
“I do loads of dance trade gigs exterior of the corporate, from industrial work and modeling to performing with Pheelz on ‘Late Evening with Seth Meyers,’ as a result of if I keep inside a bubble, I gained’t progress. It helps me keep energetic in my thoughts and helps me deliver inspiration again into the studio once I’m getting ready for brand spanking new roles—I carry all the pieces in my backpack of experiences to make use of at any time when I can.”
