The International Dance Organization (IDO) is the largest dance organization in the world, with a membership of over 60 nations. Local Dance Teacher Amber Perkins will be helping to train a team at this year's competition. (Submitted photo)

by Sophia Root,

Commerce Chenango

CHENANGO COUNTY - Earlier this year, local dance teacher Amber Perkins was selected to choreograph and instruct modern and contemporary dance teams that will represent the United States on the world stage later this month.

The International Dance Organization (IDO) is the largest dance organization in the world, with a membership of over 60 nations. Each year the IDO hosts a competition in one of their member countries. Described as the Olympics of Dance, members of IDO send dancers from their country to compete to become the champion of the world.

The dance genres of Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acrobatic, Modern and Contemporary are represented at the competition. However, this is the first year in the IDO’s 40-year history that the United States has sent a Modern and Contemporary team.

Amber Perkins was chosen to choreograph and coach these teams. She has met with the dancers, who hail from many different states and backgrounds, three weekends since July.

“Just like the Olympics, there are prelims, semi-finals and finals,” said Perkins. The dancers auditioned in July, and Perkins had only worked with a few of them before through her work throughout New York and various dance conventions. She states, “While preparing the choreography, I had to get to know the dancers so I could hone in on their strengths. Each characterization changes based on the dancer’s movements and their strengths.”

To prepare for this competition, Perkins and her dancers met at Icon Dance Complex in New Jersey to practice. The studio is owned and operated by one of Perkins’ old friends. She met her fellow Team USA coaches, who come from Baltimore, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

The United States Tap team has brought home several gold medals over their 20 years competing within the IDO.

The teams and coaches got the opportunity to work together, and Perkins learned a lot from the seasoned Tap team, stating, “They really helped teach me the rules of this competition, so much about it is different than what we’re used to. The conference takes pride in the educational value of dance and is concerned about making sure the dances are age appropriate. The Children’s group can’t do any flips or weight sharing, those skills are reserved for older teams.”

This year’s competition will be held in Kielce, Poland, and Perkins flew out over the weekend. Perkins’ team will participate in the Parade of Nations, a ceremony like the Olympic opening ceremony, where they march in uniform and carry the American flag.

Perkins states, “I have no idea what to expect from the competition, but I am excited to see what the rest of the world is doing and their dancers and their creativity.” Each of her pieces this year represent peace and love: the children’s team will perform a piece about Abraham Lincoln, representing American Culture. The Junior team will perform a piece about veiled emotions called Vanishing Act, and the adult team will perform a piece called Love Letters, centered on love letters from famous figures. There is also an Adult Trio that will perform a piece about the struggle of managing falling in love and friendship, and a few solo pieces that Perkins did not choreograph.

Each of these performances will be livestreamed for the public. The links to watch them can be found on the Perkins School of the Arts (PSA) Facebook or Instagram. The competition is from November 26th to November 30th, stay tuned to the PSA social media pages. Visit https://www.worlddanceweek.com/kielce24/ for more information.

Above all, Perkins states, “I have toured all over the United States and Canada, and this will just be so different. I am looking forward to everything I will learn and bringing back the experience I will have there.”

Good luck to Amber Perkins and Team USA, Chenango County will be cheering on you stateside.