Originally from Mililani, Hawaii, Colorado State,  University grad Christina Black has joined up with the national touring production of In The Heights, bound for Denver.  This innovative new musical that has met with endless critical and audience acclaim on Broadway and across the country, presents a unique opportunity for a modern dance pro like Black.  We caught up with Christina while she was in Boston recently, before the cast continued on to a stint in Florida.

Chrstine Black, Sandy Alvarez and company (In the Heights)

Tell us a bit about your dance and theatre training.

I found dance at the age of 12 and after that I couldn’t stop. I trained with 24-VII Danceforce under Marcelo Pacleb for about 5 years. I learned everything from ballet to contemporary to hip-hop. I continued my training in contemporary with The Schiff Dance Collective in Boulder, CO and I also joined a hip-hop company, True II Form (Kevin O’Keefe, Boulder, CO), which taught me the fundamentals of breaking, popping and locking.  Upon my arrival to New York I soaked up as much as I could. I took classes at Steps on Broadway, DNA, Peridance, Studio MMAC and I joined the Broadway Dance Center work-study program to earn discounted classes. I was taught to go to every audition and every class possible; you never know who will be there and it may open up opportunities for other jobs. I embraced that idea and was invited to join dre.dance (New York based contemporary company) after I took a class from the artistic director, Andrew Palermo.

I have no formal theatre training, but I took acting classes from Deborah Carlson (Word of Mouth Studios) where I learned the basics of acting. I loved her classes because they were small and personalized. Prior to the In The Heights final audition, I began taking voice lessons to prepare myself. Depending on which direction you want to take your career, being a versatile dancer is important, but being a versatile performer is equal if not more valuable.

How did you get cast in In The Heights?

The first time I auditioned was October 2008.  I have to admit that the only thing I knew about In The Heights was that it won 8 Tony Awards…I recommend doing a bit more homework before auditions. After learning the first piece of choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (which was to the number “Benny’s Dispatch”), I knew that I wanted to be in this show. I went home and prepared myself for the callbacks. I looked at the website, found video clips on YouTube and desperately tried to prepare a song.

Unfortunately, I didn’t book anything from that open call, nor the next one in January 2009.  However, I made an impression on Andy, because he contacted me directly to do prep work for another project he was working on. Two months later my agent called me for a closed two-day In The Heights audition in May 2009. That audition ended up being one of the most intense auditions I’ve been on. The first day we learned all the big ensemble numbers of the show and danced full out from 10am to 6pm.

The second day we learned even more choreography, sang and read sides [scenes from the show]. I was so fried from the audition process that I could barely concentrate on prep work with Andy later that afternoon. Little did I know that he was hiding the big news from me…my agent called me that evening to tell me I booked the job!

What makes In The Heights so special and why people should see it?

In The Heights is a story about love, loss, hope, community, pride and most importantly, family. There is at least one situation or character that mirrors something or someone in your life. Audiences easily identify with the show because the lead character, Usnavi, who was raised by his grandmother, is your best friend. Nina, the girl who finally broke the mold and went off to college is your sister. And Daniela, the salon shop owner who loves to gossip, is your Aunt. Not only are the heartfelt music, the seamless choreography, and the intertwined storylines of the neighborhood amazing, but you can’t see this show without having the urge to dance and sing and call your mother all at the same time.

How would you describe the style of choreography in In The Heights?  Did your hip hop background prepare you for Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography?

The show is infused with hip-hop, salsa, a bit of contemporary, plus a tap step thrown into the mix. The great thing about Andy is that he himself has a versatile background in dance and theatre so his choreography embodies all of it. He is very specific about what he wants and he can give you a detailed story to embrace the feeling behind the movement. My dance background prepared me for Andy’s choreography, as well as helping me understand body placement and the meaning of the moment.

How is life on the road?

Life on the road is what the cast likes to call “not real life.” Moving from city to city – especially if we’re there only a week – makes it extremely difficult to get settled. I absolutely have to unpack the first day because I want to feel like I’m living out of my room not my suitcase. On the complete flip side, traveling can be absolutely amazing. We’re currently in Boston and although it’s cold, it’s gorgeous! I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago and Boston and now I’m getting paid to do so! I’m drawn to the bigger cities, cities that have a history to them and also cities with unique architecture. Also, some of my extended family members who have never seen me dance before will get a chance to see the show because I’m coming to their hometown, and that’s something that is priceless in itself.

What is your average schedule in a given week?

My schedule is not nearly as bad as those who are understudies; actually it’s pretty great. It’s a normal Broadway schedule (one show a day Tuesday-Friday and two shows on Saturday and Sunday), but it gives me the chance to explore every city during the day. It’s cold now but once we get to Florida, you will find me on the beach every single day!

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