About Gayl
Dance Background
Photograph clip of Gayl Forman in "Preachers" by Diane Jacobowitz;. See "Gallery" section under "More" to see the image in its entirety
- Substitute teacher, Simonson Jazz Technique, Dance New Amsterdam
- Certified to teach Simonson Jazz Dance Technique
- Dance teacher of three and four year olds, Columbus Park West Nursery
- Assistant choreography teacher, Ellen Robbins' class for nine year olds
- Studied Lynn Simonson jazz dance technique with Lynn Simonson, Katiti King, Laurie DeVito, and Diane McCarthy
- Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, Apprentice
- Subsequent to college, studied Limon with Ruth Currier, Jim May and other Modern techniques with Mary Anthony, Marcus Schulkind, and Kei Takei, Ballet with Finis Jhung and Chris Wright
- Dance major, SUNY, Purchase. Studied techniques: Cunningham with Mel Wong; Graham with Carol Fried and Kazuko Hirabashi; Limon with Jim May and Aaron Osborne; Ballet with Bill Glassman, Anne Parsons and Rosanna Seravalli
- As a child, studied at The Philadelphia Dance Academy which included much performance experience, outdoor and indoor stages and television. Dance study: Ballet: Juri Gottchalk and Elaine Wilson (ballet mistress to Anthony Tudor & understudy to Nora Kaye;) Modern, Nadia Chilkovsky; Duncan: Hortense Kooluris; Folk, Alice Lattimore
Alexander Technique Education
- I am certified to teach by the American Society for The Alexander Technique (AmSAT)
- I trained at and graduated from the Riverside Initiative for the Alexander Technique (RIAT) which has a comprehensive program, 1600 hours to complete
- RIAT 's cadre of teachers included, but were not limited to, Nanette Walsh, Director, Ariel Carson and Lori Schiff, Associate Directors, Peggy Florin, Allison Foley, Eleanor Taylor, Rebecca Tuffey and Anne Waxman
- Post graduate teachers includes, but is not limited to: Bill Connington, Brooke Lieb, Lori Schiff, Eleanor Taylor, Rebecca Tuffey and Anne Waxman
- Early study began with Missy Vineyard, Kitty Wielopolska née Catherine Merrick, a first generation teacher, and Lydia Yohay, the latter with whom I both studied and trained over many decades
Member of Diane Jacobowitz Dance Theatre "Preachers"
"Preachers" rehearsal, 1986
Clearly depicted left to right: Anna Sokolow, Felice Dalgin, Noel Cruz, Diane Jacobowitz, Gayl Forman
Member, Diane Jacobowitz Dance Theatre company, 1986-1988
Anna Sokolow experience
"Steps of Silence" rehearsal, 1988, Anna Sokolow, Guest Artist, Diane Jacobowitz Dance Theatre
Clearly depicted left to right: Anna Sokolow, Felice Dalgin, Noel Cruz, Diane Jacobowitz, Gayl Forman
- Danced under the direction of Anna Sokolow in "Steps of Silence" (as seen above newsletter) and "Central Park in the Dark"
- Choreography student, Anna Sokolow, 2 years
- Dance major, SUNY, Purchase. Studied with Anna Sokolow. Performed "The Unanswered Question" and ""Halloween."
Links to biographical information on life and work of Anna Sokolow below
Sokolow Theatre Dance Ensemble
https://sokolowtheatredance.org/anna-sokolow-2/
The Jewish Women's Archive has extensive presentations
Inclusivity Statement
My practice embraces all in our human family, regardless of their circumstances, conditions or belief systems.
Joyfully, I respect each individual, no matter their race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, gender expression, sexual orientation, sex, physical or mental ability, age, height, weight, marriage, family/parental or military status, religious or political affiliation, or otherwise.
Should I inadvertently offend, I invite conversation and welcome the opportunity to change and grow.