Lindsay Shearer-Nelko
Lindsay Shearer-Nelko (born April 10, 1986 in Winnipeg) is a Canadian-born choreographer of such television shows as FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance' (Season 10) and 'The X Factor' (associate choreographer).[1][2]
Early life
Shearer-Nelko, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, went to high school in that city while training at her mother’s dance studio, Shelley Shearer School of Dance. She achieved her ISTD advanced ballet certification from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and then completed the CAP 21 - Drama Department Musical Theater Program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She then completed Performance for Camera and Dance programs at the University of California, Los Angeles.[3]
Career
Shearer-Nelko developed a style that Dance Informa digital magazine has said to be "a unique fusion of ballet, modern and jazz techniques that is diverse and theatrical."[4] She began bringing her students to the PULSE on Tour Dance Convention and eventually was asked to choreograph opening and closing numbers for the company's shows. At this time she met her mentors, Brian Friedman, Desmond Richardson and Cris Judd.[5]
Choreography
She was selected to be a choreographer on Season 10 of FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance"; executive producer Nigel Lythgoe called her "a true asset to this program".[6] Additionally, she was an associate choreographer on FOX's "The X Factor"[1] and of the NBCUniversal feature film An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky. In January 2014, Shearer-Nelko choreographed "Royal Wedding" in Dubai, a Design Lab & Zixi Inc. live event directed by Amy Tinkham. She has workshopped her new pieces with dancers from Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She has also choreographed and co-creatively conceptualized the 2014 music video "Get Out Alive" for Canadian artist Sheena Grobb of Red Shoe Music Inc. Shearer-Nelko was the second runner-up in the Capezio Dance Awards in 2013, and as a result she choreographed, directed and co-produced her own show at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2014.[1] She choreographed the opening ceremonies for the Canadian Human Museum of Human Rights in September 2014,[7] and she won second place at the Annual McCallum Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, California, where her pieces were performed by dancers from the Smuin Ballet of San Francisco.[8]
Awards
Shearer-Nelko won the 17th Annual McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival Award as the Top Choreographer Finalist 2014 for Division 1, and from there, she was awarded Second Place Grand Prize.[8] She was second runner-up in the Capezio A.C.E Awards 2013 in New York City for the Top Choreographer Finalist /Awards of Choreographic Excellence.[9]
References
- "Choreographer Lindsay Nelko Talks Awakening". Dance Spirit Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- Oswald, Brad (2013-08-24). "Winnipeg-born choreographer dancing with success". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- "Lindsay Nelko's Career as World-Class Choreographer Taking Off". Jewish Post and News. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- "Lindsay Nelko Presents "Awakening"". Dance Informa. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- "Lindsay Nelko Is Living the Dream". Dance Informa. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- "SYTYCD the Top 18 Becomes the Top 17". Dance Informa. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- "Canadian Museum for Human Rights announces opening ceremony lineup". CBCnews.com. CBC news. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- "Winners of the 17th Annual Choreography Festival" (PDF). McCallumTheatre.com. McCallum Theatre Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- "Congrats to the 2013 Capezio A.C.E Award Winners!". www.dancespirit.com. DanceSpirit Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2015.