Jazz Alumnus Shawn Lesniak '18 is a Company Dancer for Famed Paul Taylor Dance Company Alumni Profile
Meet Shawn Lesniak
- Job Title & Employer
- Company Dancer, The Paul Taylor Dance Company
- Major/Program
- Dance (jazz)
- Graduation
- 2018
- Scholarships
- Artistic Achievement Scholarship
- Hometown
- New Haven, Conn.
- High School
- Lyman Hall High School
- Now Living In
- New York, N.Y.
- Hobbies & Interests
- Minimalist fashion, music/music production, art, fine dining, traveling
"Company directors are always looking to hire dancers who are prepared to immerse themselves in a style or technique and find a seamless way to transfer that knowledge to the stage. Because of my training at Point Park, I felt more than confident in my ability to do exactly this. I was able to watch, learn and perform various styles of dance. The faculty did an amazing job at creating a space for aspiring artists like myself to hone their skills and explore, in depth, what it even means to be an artist."
Why did you choose Point Park University’s dance program?
I spent a lot of time touring different colleges and universities with my parents in order to find the right dance program. After touring Point Park University's campus and learning about the dance program's diversity, I had a strong gut feeling that Point Park was going to be the best choice for me. The university offered exactly what I needed, which was an urban campus, a fresh start and an environment where I could harness my craft.
In what ways did your college experience prepare you for your career in dance?
Company directors are always looking to hire dancers who are prepared to immerse themselves in a style or technique and find a seamless way to transfer that knowledge to the stage. Because of my training at Point Park, I felt more than confident in my ability to do exactly this. I was able to watch, learn and perform various styles of dance. The faculty did an amazing job at creating a space for aspiring artists like myself to hone their skills and explore, in depth, what it even means to be an artist.
I also want to acknowledge how important it was for me to train with faculty members who had so much experience in the dance field. I learned something from every class that I took and a lot of that information is still applicable to my career today.
Tell us about your career path since graduating from Point Park.
After my time at Point Park I was fortunate enough to join Parsons Dance, a company that I was first introduced to by Jason McDole, assistant professor of dance at Point Park. I spent more than two years traveling the world and performing with Parsons until I decided to pursue another dream company of mine — The Paul Taylor Dance Company. I was hired in December of 2019 and I am absolutely honored to be a part of Paul Taylor's modern dance legacy.
How have you grown as an artist since joining The Paul Taylor Dance Company?
In a way, joining The Paul Taylor Dance Company has allowed me to become more confident as an artist. I am being trusted to continue the legacy of Mr. Taylor and that knowledge has provided me with a sense of reassurance I didn't know I needed. I wake up for work with a strong purpose and that feeling motivates me to trust in my decisions as an artist and a dancer.
What advice do you have for prospective dance majors?
My biggest piece of advice is to remember that college is a stepping stone. Cultivate your skills as best as you can and see where that takes you. It's also important to welcome new opportunities and be open to change. When you limit yourself you end up limiting your growth as well.
Final thoughts?
The second I started trusting in my journey, I was able to let go of so much doubt and worry. Being a dancer can be physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging but when you muster the strength to keep pushing you end up exactly where you need to be.