Hamptons Dance Project Returns for Its Sixth Season in Springs

In the summer of 2019, Jose Sebastian, a young dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), brought a vision to life with the Hampton Dance Project (HDP), which pairs dancers from ballet and modern dance with master choreographers to present the classical repertoire reimagined alongside innovative new works. Every year since, Sebastian and his team have produced a weekend of dance performances in partnership with Guild Hall. His connection to the East End began at age 2 when his mother, Pat Sebastian, adopted him out of New York City’s foster care system. Though a single mother, she felt it was important that her son, and later, his sister, experience the joys of summer on the East End and somehow, she made it happen.

Today, HDP is in its sixth year — Jose Sebastian is the organization’s artistic director and Pat Sebastian is the producer — and from August 9 through 11, again in partnership with Guild Hall, HDP presents three dance performances outdoors at Fireplace Lodge, a 20-acre farm in Springs overlooking Gardiner’s Bay. Recently, Jose Sebastian shared some details about this year’s programming and the important role his mother plays in making it all happen.

Q: Tell me about the dancers and choreographers who perform with HDP. How do you know them all?

Initially, most HDP dancers were fellow company members and friends from ABT. Since then, we have extended the company to include artists from outside ABT and other dance genres. Many of these people I connect with through mutual friends in the dance community or they are performers I have seen and admired in performances. The dance community in New York City is small and you can usually find a connection.

As for choreographers, I have been blessed. I danced in the first piece Chris Whelen choreographed for New York City Ballet. I was about 9 years old. Justin Peck and I were students at SAB [School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center] together — he always knew he wanted to choreograph. Both Chris and Justin gave me an immediate “yes” when I asked if I could use their work.

I worked with Gemma Bond at ABT. Gemma is an amazing talent and an HDP regular. Greg Dolbashian and Houstin Thomas jumped on board with great enthusiasm. Jorma Elo was a long shot. He responded, listened to my vision, and traveled from Vienna for two consecutive years to work with us. These are amazing, talented artists with a work ethic and style that honors my commitment. I am forever grateful that they took the risk. We get turned down by some, but we keep trying.

Q: How does the type of dancing HDP presents here differ from what you might be expected to do on the ABT stage?

The most significant difference between what you see done at HDP versus a performance from ABT is the curation. The level of excellence and talent are the same, but the performance is more intimate and diverse in genre. The goal is to curate a program that will give everyone in the audience something to enjoy. Our performances offer you a journey through different styles of music and dance with classical ballet, tap and contemporary dance and music from Tchaikovsky to the Rolling Stones. At HDP, you can witness the greatness of not just ABT dancers but also other fabulous artists in a program that showcases so many genres and facets of these artists.

Q: Let’s talk about that fabulous venue up in Springs on the bay. This will be the fourth year HDP has been there. How has that worked out for you?

Our venue in the Springs is so special. It came about serendipitously after the dancers and I stayed on the property for the first season of HDP. I saw this large platform overlooking the bay and thought it would be a perfect stage.

Oliver and Max Ryan, the owners, are amazing and play a large part in making that dream and vision a reality. I am forever grateful to them. This dream did come with its challenges. It requires expensive flooring for the stage, generators, sound systems, seating and the list goes on and on. Throughout it all, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

But once all is in place and the sun is just about to set, a breeze comes from the bay, the dancers are lit with the golden hour and the show begins, the magic starts. There is nothing quite like that venue, and it adds to the unique East Hampton experience of the performance. One isn’t just coming to see a dance performance but to be transported to a place that allows one to soak up the beauty and synergy of nature, music and dance all mixed together.

Q: How do the dancers like coming to the East End to perform each summer? I’m guessing it’s a nice change of pace.

The dancers enjoy coming out here each summer. It is a respite from city life and the opportunity to perform in a gorgeous setting. Performing on our stage while looking out at nature is a different experience than performing in an indoor venue. I also offer the dancers opportunities to perform pieces they might not typically do. After dancing beside them for years, I know some of these dancers so well. HDP offers opportunities to grow as artists and showcase them as the brilliant dancers I know them to be.

The key for me is opportunity. I am very conscious of opportunities life presented me and those it did not. I want to create opportunity by allowing dancers to dance in roles they don’t typically get to do, giving choreographers an opportunity to show their work on these amazing dancers, and giving audiences an opportunity to experience the magic of it all.

It is easy to get overlooked in a large company. The wonderful thing about HDP is that I can feature everyone, giving them a minute to shine. Connecting with a different audience is also a benefit. I’m proud to say that over the past six years, we have developed an audience and community that loves and supports us and often returns year after year. There is no better praise for a dancer than to know your art has touched someone.

Q: Can you share a bit about the pieces that will be performed at this year’s HDP and the choreographers who have created them?

As always, we have prepared a multifaceted program for this season. We will have classical, contemporary and tap works, and I always try to include live music, so we will also have that.

This year, our music director, David Evans, collaborated with Gemma Bond to create an original piece. Marty Cohen, Guild Hall Board President, inspired us to bring back Chris Wheeldon’s “Bitter Earth,” which I will dance with Devon Teuscher, accompanied by some incredible, accomplished musicians and a singer.

James Whiteside will dance in his creation, “On The Water,” performed in our first season in 2019. Greg Dolbashian’s “Bro Code” was performed on the Guild Hall outdoor stage to an audience of 40 during COVID restrictions. We are excited to present it to a larger audience.

Justin Peck has given me a piece he created at Vail last summer. Lloyd Knight from Martha Graham will perform a solo choreographed by Stephen Petronio, and Jared Alexander will present a tap piece he has choreographed himself. Our program will also again include a work by Houston Thomas, an HDP regular.

Q: Who are some of the people in your life on the professional level who were instrumental in helping you get HDP off the ground?

Production stage manager Jeremiah Bischoff is a God-send from above who is the foundation of HDP and made it possible from year one. He goes way beyond his job description. Olga Kostritzky was my first ballet teacher and is now my second mother, coach and the artistic advisor for HDP. She’s also been on board from day one and is invaluable. Sean Stewart and Craig Salstein, both former dancers from ABT, keep HDP ticking. As advisors they set and stage the pieces. David Evans is our much-needed musical director who came on board in season one.
And then there’s Elaine Dia, who’s over-qualified for any title, but truly works tirelessly behind the scenes to get things done.

Q: So now let’s talk about Pat — your mother and producer extraordinaire. How do the two of you work together as a team and what has surprised you about her abilities since HDP’s inception?

Mom is a phenomenon. To this day, I don’t know how she does some of the things she does or how she makes the impossible possible. She is the definition of magic.

Pat never says, “no” — or almost never — and she is magically able to draw in amazing people to help her make it happen. I had what I thought was a good idea, but going from that “good idea” to season six only happened because of my dedicated, talented, hardworking team assembled mainly by Pat.

It bothers me that many assume because I talk about “my magical Hampton summers,” I come from a place of financial privilege. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mom operated on a shoestring. My sister and I were never aware that these precious summer memories we hold so dear were somehow managed on a budget, hardly enough to support one person. She somehow made it happen. Mom believes strongly that children need exposure not just to fresh air but to opportunities — the opportunities mantra I carry forward to HDP.

My mother is usually the first person I turn to for nearly everything because she possesses a unique wealth of knowledge and perspective. I believe we’ve grown from working together — more me than her — and developed a dynamic work style. It took a little time, but this year, I’ve noticed how well we work together. She is irreplaceable!

The Hamptons Dance Project VI will be performed at Fireplace Lodge in the East Hampton hamlet of Springs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 9, 10, and 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $130 to $200 at hamptonsdanceproject.org or guildhall.org. The venue address will be provided with ticket confirmation.