Dance duo Value n’ Mayor (Austin and Marideth Telenko) are identified for his or her scroll-stopping, energetic model and picture-perfect synchronization. Their previous dance and choreography credit embody gigs with main manufacturers like Disney, Panera, and Kate Spade, in addition to international artists like Chelsea Cutler and J Balvin. Now, the pair has undertaken a brand new mission: creating and choreographing an off-Broadway present, 11 to Midnight, which follows a younger couple and their 5 mates by means of the ultimate hour of a New 12 months’s Eve get together.
“It occurs kind of in actual time,” says Marideth. “You get to observe this group of mates expertise the very magical and electrical hour earlier than their new yr.” The primary couple, performed by the Telenkos, are at a crossroads of their relationship. All through the present, they reconnect with one another, drawing help from their mates. “It’s about going by means of completely different seasons of life with the individual you’re keen on,” says Austin.
Each Telenkos have backgrounds in street-style dancing with a robust theatrical affect. The showis a free mix of those types, layered with performing. “It’s a really magical world we’ve created. It’s unpredictable,” says Marideth. She and Austin have woven collectively a various mixture of types and tones to create each bit of the manufacturing. “There are super-high-energy numbers, very emotional numbers, even acting-heavy numbers,” she provides.
Followers is likely to be shocked to study that clowning knowledgeable a number of the motion in 11 to Midnight;the present is produced by circus, dance, and multimedia firm Hideaway Circus, based by Josh and Lyndsay Aviner. Upon seeing the Telenkos’ comedic, storytelling choreography, the Aviners acknowledged its similarities to clown and mime methods. The group determined to attempt mixing the kinds of motion as soon as everybody was on board for the mission. “I believe we discovered this actually cool intersection between the dance we do and circus,” says Marideth. “It units this present aside.” She and Austin labored with award-winning clown and affiliate director Spencer Novich to make soundscapes for his or her storytelling acts and to weave comedy into their motion model.
The Telenkos had by no means hosted an open name earlier than 11 to Midnight. “We didn’t know if we’d get 30 individuals or 300 individuals,” says Marideth. They ended up receiving over 500 video auditions. Initially, the duo had deliberate to slim this group right down to 50 dancers, however the pool of expertise was so spectacular that they introduced 80 to New York Metropolis for in-person evaluations.
Reaching the best group chemistry was essential, says Austin, as a result of every character has a definite persona. Every spherical of the audition corresponded to at least one character, with some dancers attending a number of rounds. Then, the Telenkos selected and rearranged pattern casts earlier than they made their last choices. Marideth says that deciding on the present’s 5 predominant solid members and two swings was “doubtlessly the toughest factor we’ve ever accomplished.”
For the reason that starting of the rehearsal course of, Austin says the characters have advanced. He and Marideth have been excited to discover their solid’s artistic decisions in making the roles their very own. The end result, they are saying, is even higher than the unique materials.
Collaboration has been baked into the manufacturing from the start. In contrast to with most exhibits, the creation of 11 to Midnight has been shared with Value n’ Mayor followers because the begin. Followers have been capable of watch footage of casting, choreography, and extra. The Telenkos say that this makes the top end result extra significant for individuals who have been following alongside. “I hope that there’s an possession that each fan feels towards the present,” says Marideth, “as a result of they actually did assist make it.”
