Concepts in Choreography is a youth dance company located in Orange, New Jersey.  In order to become a member of Concepts in Choreography, dancers must attend an open audition, which leads to an invitation to join the company, or an invitation to re-audition at a future time. The dance company consists of three separate components. First Company is comprised of the most experienced, often pre-professional dancers. C2 and C3 are for younger, less experienced performers who go through a type of apprenticeship in which they prepare to eventually audition to become members of First Company. Concepts in Choreography was founded by, and is under the direction of, Mrs. Deborah Rembert, a dance educator with the Orange Public Schools and the Maria Priadka School of Dance. This year, Mr. Jeroboam Bozeman, a member of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, has joined Concepts in Choreography as an Artistic Advisor. 

Unlike the usual youth dance organization, Concepts in Choreography goes well beyond the focus of preparing only for competitions. While the company does compete in local, regional and national competitions, Concepts in Choreography has a strong focus on training young dancers through rigorous technique classes, with a heavy emphasis on ballet, modern and jazz, recognizing that technical training is the most important factor in preparing dancers who may choose to pursue a professional career in the field of dance or dance education. This training comes in classes taught by Ms. Rembert several times a week, along with workshops, dance intensives, and master classes which are offered on a consistent basis. Along with a strong technical base, the dance students focus on additional training in hip hop, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and ethnic styles of dance, creating well-rounded and diverse performers. Ms. Rembert also focuses on more than just dance technique and diversity. She makes it a priority to nurture a sense of teamwork and belonging in her dancers, both within the individual company levels and within the entire program. The older, more experienced dancers are expected to be examples to the younger dancers, often accompanying them to events and competitions, assisting them with choreography and costuming, and working on combined pieces for performances. Ms. Rembert also seeks to develop a sense of community outreach in her dancers by setting performance opportunities within the schools, at local community events, for charitable organizations, and at local festivals. Additionally, the students willingly assist with set up, clean up, and logistics for hosted dance festivals and intensives that are open to all young people throughout the community.  “It is my goal to not only develop strong dancers, but to mentor my students to become individuals of strong character. We are a family,” says Ms. Rembert, “and it is my privilege to work with such dedicated and hard-working youth. I learn as much from them as I hope they are learning from me.”

For additional information on becoming a member of Concepts in Choreography, performance opportunities, or to make a donation to this non-profit organization, please email Deborah Rembert at drembert34@gmail.com