thePULSEExploring the World, One Dance Step at a Time
By Rachel Shuster
Many hobbies or activities can turn into a career, but thirty year old Worcester native Jesse Zaritt not only found a career, he found a way of life.
Not beginning dance lessons until the age of 17 (although he had been heavily involved in music at the former Performing Arts School of Worcester), Zaritt found his passion for dance in PE class at the Walnut Hill School for Arts and Academics in Natick, MA. “I had to take a phys ed. class and the only time I could take it was when they offered dance, but I loved it,” Zaritt says.
After high school, Zaritt continued his studies at Pomona College in Claremont, CA, where he again explored dance for his PE requirement. “Professors really began to take notice of me and started putting me in extra classes, and before I knew it, I had a second major.” From that point on, Zaritt began to experience the art of dance and how far it can take someone with talent, passion and heart. “I understood I could do it if I wanted, so I did. I pursued it fully,” he says.
During his time in college, Zaritt was fortunate enough to study abroad in Israel, where he danced and experienced innovative choreography of the culture and choreographed for two years in the city of Tel Aviv. He also spent two summers with the American Dance Festival in North Carolina and time with Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires. “Traveling gets you acquainted with the field and gives you a sense of what professional life is like,” Zaritt adds.
Despite his training in ballet, jazz and other areas of dance, Zaritt’s main focus and passion is for contemporary/modern dance. “I love concert dance. It’s not commercial; it’s a very small but active field.”
Through time learning about the field, Zaritt was fortunate enough to have a mentor guiding him. “Donna Faye Burchfield of Hollins University really guided me in regards to making dance into a career. She helped me a lot.”
Zaritt has done just that, made a career out of being a contemporary/modern dancer in New York, where he currently resides and works as a freelance dancer and choreographer. He also recently spent a little over 5 years dancing with the Shen Wei Dance Arts. “This has been the centerpiece of my career,” Zaritt adds. During this time, Zaritt traveled the world ~ Europe, Asia and the Middle East ~ and performed in various opera houses and venues. Zaritt adds that the choreographer, Shen Wei, choreographed a portion of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.
Humbled by his numerous, fortunate experiences, Zaritt is grateful for every busy and jam packed day. “A typical day for a dancer ~ whatever you do, it’s extreme. Long days ~ it takes over your life.” But for him, someone who loves what he does, it’s worth it.
Regarding taking care of his body, Zaritt says, “As a dancer, I have a daily practice for my body. I’m careful about what I eat, aware of what I need to have enough energy for my bones and muscles…basically you can’t let your body go,” Zaritt chuckles.
Besides traveling and once in a lifetime experiences that dancing provides him, Zaritt’s passion for dance goes beyond that. “Dance is how we experience the world and communicate expression. I believe that people should have access to the expressive power of their body. That is how we experience conflict, trauma, joy ~ it all lands in the body. It is important to use the body expressively, not just functionally.
As for advice for aspiring dancers, Zaritt says, “You need to have passion, tenacity, clarity and enough confidence to express what you have to say. A great dancer may not be the most technical, a great dancer makes art out of their own presence. Some really great technical dancers never find an artistic voice, you need that.” Zaritt also adds, “It’s really important to be exposed to the expansive nature of the field ~ all aspects of dance. You have to find where you belong best, what you desire and go for it.”
