Latest / The BSB Podcast / Exclusive Interview: Deanna Doyle of 'Gotta Dance!'

Transcript

Exclusive Interview: Deanna Doyle of 'Gotta Dance!' · The BSB Podcast

• 0:00
  Gotta Dance is bringing the heat with a showcase of the best of dance from Broadway and Hollywood.
• 0:05
  And today we're talking to Deanna DeWille about this production.
• 0:08
  Thank you so much for joining me today and talking with us.
• 0:10
  Thank you for having me, Brian.
• 0:12
  It's good to be here.
• 0:13
  We are so excited and you just recently had like the opening weekend just a few weeks ago, two weeks ago, correct?
• 0:20
  Yeah, my gosh.
• 0:21
  You know, I've totally lost track of time.
• 0:23
  We're open.
• 0:24
  Let's say that.
• 0:25
  We're open.
• 0:25
  I have no idea what day of the week it is ever.
• 0:29
  You're like, time is irrelevant now.
• 0:30
  It's irrelevant.
• 0:33
  As long as I know the choreography, I'm good.
• 0:35
  uh
• 0:37
  to finally open the show and kind of bring it to audiences?
• 0:41
  Well, so we actually, a big portion of us in the cast did this production at the York at a different off Broadway theater back in December, last December.
• 0:54
  And so it's been really exciting to take it to another theater.
• 1:01
  This theater is bigger, I think, I guess it's like twice as many seats, maybe more, I guess more.
• 1:08
  um And the cast is slightly different.
• 1:10
  This cast is amazing.
• 1:12
  We get along really, really well.
• 1:14
  We have a lot of fun on and off stage.
• 1:16
  um So yeah, it's been a lot of work and it's still a lot of work, but we all enjoy the work.
• 1:27
  That's really cool though, you were able to take it from one venue to another and now getting to kind of feel how that is.
• 1:34
  Like you said, it's slightly bigger, so that has to change the show just a little bit,
• 1:37
  Yeah, changes, sort of the atmosphere feels different, of course.
• 1:45
  But for the most part, mean, pieces themselves are obviously, mean, that's the game of the show is maintaining the pieces uh authenticity from history.
• 2:02
  So that has remained the same.
• 2:04
  Absolutely.
• 2:05
  So for those who maybe aren't familiar with the show, what is, like in your own words, what is Gotta Dance?
• 2:11
  gosh, okay, so Gotta Dance is a, it's a revue show, so there's no plot, there's no story.
• 2:19
  It is several pieces put together and these pieces are historical pieces from musical theater and from um TV films, or film I should say, Hollywood.
• 2:33
  So there's a piece from Singing in the Rain.
• 2:36
  uh Many people are familiar with Gene Kelly.
• 2:40
  So there's a little singing in the rain bit.
• 2:44
  And we have, all of us are triple threat.
• 2:49
  So we don't just dance, even though it's called gotta dance.
• 2:52
  We also gotta sing and gotta act.
• 2:55
  So yeah, we gotta do it all.
• 2:57
  We gotta do it all.
• 2:58
  So it's singing, dancing, acting.
• 3:00
  And it's really shining a light on these historical pieces.
• 3:04
  So a lot of the pieces many people have not seen because this was.
• 3:07
  maybe before they were born or maybe they missed it.
• 3:11
  So now is their chance.
• 3:13
  I gonna say I grew up on old classic musicals with my grandma and so like Singing in the Rain was one of my favorites, you West Side Story, so all of these really classic, the
• 3:23
  dancing is so iconic that it's cool to be able to bring this to a show and show it to new generations but also just people who grew up, like me, that grew up on these films and
• 3:32
  these shows.
• 3:33
  Yes.
• 3:34
  I love to hear that you grew up on those films.
• 3:36
  I did too.
• 3:37
  uh And there are, believe it or not, there are a lot of people that did not grow up on these films.
• 3:44
  they've never seen, like, I, this is kind of getting off topic, um but I was teaching a class, a dance class, many years ago, and these students were very, very talented.
• 3:57
  I was subbing a class.
• 3:59
  And they were tap dancers, they were ballet dancers, they could do it all.
• 4:04
  And I was teaching them a tap class.
• 4:06
  And at one point they were doing a step and they did it a certain way.
• 4:10
  And I was like, no, think more like Fred and Ginger.
• 4:13
  And they looked at me like I was an alien.
• 4:17
  And I realized, yes, they had never heard of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
• 4:23
  I, oh, I went home and I cried.
• 4:27
  I legitimately cried.
• 4:29
  Sure.
• 4:30
  it just hurt my soul so much.
• 4:32
  um So to say that I feel passionately about this show, Gotta Dance, is an understatement for that reason.
• 4:43
  Go ahead.
• 4:43
  that makes total sense just because like, for somebody who as a performer and stuff like that, these are people who like, know, Fred Astaire, you know, that is somebody who you
• 4:54
  talk about.
• 4:55
  Like I remember talking about, I'm not an actor, I'm not a dancer at all, but like that was somebody who you knew his name and you knew his style.
• 5:01
  So like to have people that you're like, who are you talking about?
• 5:03
  Like.
• 5:04
  yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 5:07
  um So you mentioned quite a few different pieces that you're kind of pulling from.
• 5:12
  What is kind of your favorite piece that you're going to do in Gotta Dance?
• 5:18
  Okay, I have two.
• 5:20
  Can I give you two?
• 5:21
  Okay, because it's a tie.
• 5:24
  um Okay, so my two favorite pieces that I personally do in the show.
• 5:30
  um One of them is from Gypsy.
• 5:33
  Are you familiar with Gypsy?
• 5:35
  Okay, so there's a scene in Gypsy where Tulsa sings to Louise and he's singing All I Need is the Girl.
• 5:44
  And like you, I grew up on these
• 5:47
  movie musicals.
• 5:50
  And since I was young, had that I've always had this like strong desire for someone to sing All I Need is a Girl to me until I actually get to play Louise in the show and I'm
• 6:03
  sitting there on stage and someone's singing All I Need is a Girl.
• 6:07
  And it's just like my lifetime dream.
• 6:10
  So that's one of my favorite things.
• 6:13
  And then the other one, I do a piece
• 6:17
  from White Christmas.
• 6:19
  It's choreographed by Randy Skinner, who is a big favorite of mine.
• 6:24
  And um the piece is, Love a Piano.
• 6:27
  It's a song and dance tap number.
• 6:30
  And we have so much fun doing it.
• 6:36
  I know that that sounds cliched, but the other day we came back from being on stage during the number.
• 6:45
  We came off.
• 6:45
  into the dressing room and I said to the other girls that are in the number with me, said, is this just me or is that number like so much fun?
• 6:53
  And they're like, yes, we have so much fun in that number.
• 6:58
  Because we're all just, we're interacting with each other and it's really genuine.
• 7:04
  Like the love that we have for the piece is really, really genuine.
• 7:09
  I love the energy that you have, like the passion that you have for these these numbers, but also this whole program because you can just tell how much you love that dance and
• 7:19
  then that translates to the stage obviously and then people get to enjoy that as well.
• 7:25
  What has proven to be the most challenging number though?
• 7:27
  Mmm.
• 7:29
  Oh, that's an interesting question.
• 7:31
  The most challenging number.
• 7:33
  Well, okay.
• 7:37
  A couple numbers come to mind.
• 7:39
  I'm gonna choose.
• 7:42
  I'm gonna choose our finale.
• 7:45
  It's one from a chorus line.
• 7:48
  For me, it is the most challenging because everything is very specific.
• 7:55
  like where you put literally your pinky finger.
• 8:00
  And um I consider myself a detail oriented person.
• 8:05
  However, when I dance, I don't tend to really focus on that specific of details.
• 8:14
  So a number like that, it's an ensemble number.
• 8:17
  So we all have to look exactly alike.
• 8:20
  It's very like, it's almost like uh being a Rockette So.
• 8:25
  that's really, it's hard.
• 8:27
  And I think it's hard for most of us in this show because it's a cast full of principal dancers who are kind of used to using their artistry rather than being like so precise um
• 8:44
  and um controlled.
• 8:48
  which I can imagine would be very difficult if you're used to like feeling the music instead of having to like enact a specific move at the same with everybody.
• 8:58
  yes, yes.
• 9:00
  Yeah, like just like the tilt of your head has to be just so.
• 9:07
  I actually read Kelly Bush's uh biography and she talks about how that was one of the hardest shows she's ever done in her life because it is so specific in what they wanted
• 9:17
  and...
• 9:18
  to have to read this.
• 9:20
  that's, it makes me feel better to hear because I feel a little guilty saying this.
• 9:26
  But that makes me feel much better.
• 9:28
  If she felt the same way.
• 9:29
  Yeah, okay.
• 9:31
  Okay, I'll take it out.
• 9:33
  So you also have had quite the journey into dancing and acting and performing.
• 9:38
  ah Where did your passion for the arts begin?
• 9:43
  so my family is, I come from a dancing family.
• 9:47
  My, um, so from birth, or I should say from before birth, my great, great aunt had a sister act in vaudeville.
• 9:57
  they were called the Wilson sisters and, um, yeah, we have all these like, um, newspaper articles about them and we have a big trunk full of their costumes.
• 10:09
  Um, so.
• 10:11
  That's so cool.
• 10:12
  My family has a legacy of being professional performers, mainly dancers.
• 10:18
  So they have an act and then my great aunt was a professional dancer.
• 10:22
  My mom was a professional dancer and then there's me.
• 10:27
  So a long line of just like incredibly talented women from generation to generation.
• 10:33
  Yeah, it's funny because a lot of my dancing peers, they grew up being the only dancer in their family.
• 10:40
  And so they've spent a big portion of their life teaching their family what it is to be a dancer.
• 10:50
  And I've obviously never had to do that.
• 10:52
  My family has always understood the conflicts about it and the struggles.
• 11:00
  And so in many ways, I've had it.
• 11:03
  a bit easier coming up, being brought up in a family that already knows what this whole industry is like.
• 11:11
  Sure, absolutely.
• 11:12
  Was there a specific moment for you where you just, you felt like you had made it?
• 11:16
  Like this was the moment you were kind of waiting for as you were going through your own journey?
• 11:21
  What a good question.
• 11:22
  No.
• 11:23
  Isn't that interesting?
• 11:25
  um I think um part of the reason I say no is because in many ways I feel like I still haven't reached wherever I want.
• 11:41
  I guess um it feels like I'm always trying to not get to the next place, but I'm always trying to grow.
• 11:47
  I'm always trying to build on what I've already done.
• 11:50
  em Not to sound like I am never satisfied or grateful.
• 11:55
  am, my gosh, I feel like I've had so many careers rolled up into one life.
• 11:59
  em But yeah, guess I think that there's still so much more that I want to do.
• 12:08
  Sure.
• 12:10
  And at the same time, yeah, looking back at what I have done, I'm really grateful for the opportunities that I've already had.
• 12:21
  You've done so many incredible things when I was looking at your resume and like checking like looking things out.
• 12:25
  was like, wow, you have accomplished so much.
• 12:27
  And so to be able to still say like, there's still room that I think there's still more story here left to tell.
• 12:33
  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 12:37
  I have so many things that I want to do in life, I guess.
• 12:41
  You know, an interesting fact.
• 12:43
  I feel like I heard that you're a psychologist.
• 12:47
  Is that right?
• 12:49
  So I have a degree in psychology as well.
• 12:54
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 12:55
  I just wanted to mention that because I thought, this is a fun thing to talk about.
• 12:58
  uh So yeah, in a separate life, my other half
• 13:02
  um My more academic side, was going to pursue, I guess I really wanted to work in a school setting.
• 13:09
  um so yeah, I got uh a degree in psychology and I was going, I was really starting to apply to graduate schools.
• 13:20
  And then I was like, uh wait, I'm a dancer.
• 13:27
  But then but the nice thing is that I'm sure That was perfect the she totally meant it everybody oh But I mean I'm sure there's ways that you could you can apply the psychology
• 13:43
  to like both like the world that you're living in and also just dancing as well, you know
• 13:48
  Absolutely, absolutely.
• 13:49
  Yeah, I feel like um I still have that brain that naturally analyzes myself and my reactions and maybe other people's reactions.
• 14:01
  Yeah, yeah.
• 14:04
  I will say that uh getting into this later in life, the writing and the critiquing, it's always interesting because as a psychologist, I'm picking up on things.
• 14:13
  The way the dancers slightly changing their foot could totally mean something different to everybody else, but to me, maybe it's like, this is representing sadness.
• 14:22
  So being able to have that lens a little bit has definitely led to an interesting perspective as your critiquing shows.
• 14:28
  Oh, totally.
• 14:29
  mean, I'm sure you're so much more in tune to the storytelling, right?
• 14:34
  Because of your background, yeah.
• 14:38
  absolutely.
• 14:38
  ah But that's really cool.
• 14:40
  That's cool that you have that background and that you can bring that.
• 14:43
  also, as a dance instructor, because you're also a dance instructor, that also would be very beneficial as well, too, because you have to learn how to read people and understand
• 14:51
  where people are coming from.
• 14:53
  Yes, yes, I love to teach.
• 14:56
  So when I'm not performing, I am teaching pretty much full time.
• 14:59
  And yeah, one of my uh main goals when I teach is I want to address everyone as the individual that they are.
• 15:10
  So everyone learns differently.
• 15:12
  And in my opinion, they learn differently because of their personality and their needs.
• 15:18
  So like some, I was just talking about this the other day with someone, some people are really good under pressure.
• 15:23
  I am not.
• 15:25
  So that's just an example, you know, like you, you can, I can tell when someone is like me and they, they need a much calmer, warmer environment to thrive.
• 15:37
  So um yeah, I think my psychology degree really comes in handy dealing with people and teaching.
• 15:45
  Yeah.
• 15:46
  So what is it like then for you to pass on your knowledge and skills to the younger dancers?
• 15:50
  Mm.
• 15:52
  You know, I love teaching.
• 15:55
  I grew up, I started teaching when I was like 14 years old, which is insane.
• 16:02
  And I started teaching adults, I guess this was once I moved to the city.
• 16:09
  So this was more recently.
• 16:11
  And my biggest passion in teaching has become
• 16:17
  teaching adults who have never danced before how to dance.
• 16:22
  That is, oh my gosh, it's, I feel like, sometimes I feel like I've been placed on earth just to do that.
• 16:31
  Like it just speaks so much to my heart because I know that as an adult, I don't like trying new things.
• 16:46
  It's really hard for me, right?
• 16:48
  It's really hard, especially in front of other people.
• 16:52
  And um when you are, you know, when you sign up to take a ballet class as an adult and you've never taken a ballet class, how terrifying must that feel?
• 17:03
  And yeah, my favorite thing about teaching is that it's teaching adults specifically.
• 17:12
  who have lived a life, they come from all different backgrounds, and they're just showing up with all this courage.
• 17:22
  And I'm in awe, yeah.
• 17:24
  And like also what a way to because you know, I'm not saying that's easier to learn as a child but like when you're kind of growing up in it you're more in tune with your body but
• 17:33
  to grow and be an adult and not like being tuned with your body in that way and having to learn that as well and learn your push past the limitations that you've grown accustomed
• 17:42
  to that's as a teacher I can imagine that's also rewarding to watch as well.
• 17:46
  It is so rewarding.
• 17:48
  It's funny because, yeah, adults, it's like they have to unlearn more, you know, obviously than children.
• 17:55
  Children have not learned too much about their bodies yet, but adults have to like unlearn.
• 17:59
  uh But the thing that they always bring to the studio that children just, you know, have not had the opportunity to bring is artistry.
• 18:10
  And so that already puts them a level above the children.
• 18:16
  Sure.
• 18:17
  that's awesome.
• 18:18
  You had mentioned about continuing to grow and continuing to learn yourself.
• 18:22
  How do you feel like Gotta Dance has helped you grow as a performer?
• 18:25
  Hmm.
• 18:26
  Gotta Dance is a really interesting show because these shows, these types of shows don't come along very often, meaning a dance show, a show that is really dance.
• 18:41
  So it feels good on my body to work this hard.
• 18:49
  I guess what I'm consistently learning
• 18:57
  in my career is that my body is pretty cool.
• 19:05
  That's so weird.
• 19:07
  You know, like it's pretty crazy that our bodies can do this and can do this eight times a week and can do all of these pieces in a row.
• 19:21
  It's just...
• 19:23
  It is, it's wild, isn't it?
• 19:25
  wild, it's really wild.
• 19:27
  um Yeah, so um I guess that would be my answer that I'm learning that I can, I say this because as dancers, we're told early on that our careers are only so long, right?
• 19:48
  And we have this fear growing up that
• 19:52
  gosh, I got to pack it all in before I turn 25.
• 19:55
  And that's just not true.
• 20:00
  It's not true.
• 20:02
  Our bodies are sustainable.
• 20:03
  We have to take care of our bodies.
• 20:06
  That's important.
• 20:09
  yeah, I guess, and whenever I'm asked if I do like a Q and A or something like that with other dancers, particularly young dancers, the thing that I always tell them is,
• 20:20
  Don't feel like you got to pack it in all at once.
• 20:23
  It's not going to happen all at once.
• 20:25
  Your career is longer than you think it is.
• 20:30
  And to just have patience.
• 20:32
  But as I'm saying this in a Q &A, I'm also thinking, oh god, I got to pack it in.
• 20:37
  Like, oh, I'm about to.
• 20:40
  Right, I'm running out of time.
• 20:41
  So ah yeah, so this show in particular has shown me we can still do it.
• 20:50
  You know, a while back I knew somebody who was in tap and they gave it up, you know, in their 30s or like, I should say like late 20s, early 30s, cause they're just like, and you
• 20:59
  know, my body just can't do it anymore.
• 21:00
  And then they discovered a few years later that they still could do it and that they still wanted to do it because, but like they had a bit learned that like, okay, almost like burn
• 21:09
  yourself out very early on and get it all, fit it all in.
• 21:12
  that by like 25, 26, 27, you're like, you're packing it up and you're retired.
• 21:17
  And so it kind of goes along with what you're saying there.
• 21:19
  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 21:21
  If you take care of your body, it's amazing how much it will give you.
• 21:24
  And that's something that I learned during COVID when I was kind of like, hmm, twiddling my thumbs like we all were.
• 21:33
  I was not one of the ones baking bread, because I already baked bread, like did that, done that.
• 21:39
  So what I focused on during COVID was like taking care of my body.
• 21:44
  And that's really when I learned, wow, I feel
• 21:49
  so much better when I do that.
• 21:53
  Yeah.
• 21:54
  Yeah.
• 21:54
  I let you go is just what are you hoping audiences take away from this production of Gotta Dance?
• 21:59
  Okay, this is kind of circling back to a previous question when you asked me about my favorite piece and I gave you two and I told you about I Love a Piano and How Much I Love
• 22:09
  It.
• 22:10
  So I hope that they feel the joy that I feel when we're on stage.
• 22:20
  I hope that they feel it themselves.
• 22:23
  I hope that they walk away with a little extra pep in their step.
• 22:28
  Um, because that's, that's, mean, that's what dance is, right?
• 22:34
  It's like a, it's a pep in your step.
• 22:37
  Yeah.
• 22:38
  answer.
• 22:39
  Thank you so much for your time, Deanna.
• 22:40
  It's been such a pleasure talking with you and we are so excited for the show.
• 22:43
  Thank you so much, Brian.
• 22:46
  So, Gotta Dance is currently running at Stage 42 in NYC, so get your tickets now and we'll see you at the show.