Two of a Kind: More Dance Friends
Xander Weinman and Adam Metzger
NYC tap instructors, performers and co-founders of MOVE: A New York City Dance Project
Friends since: 2009
How they met:
Taking class at Steps on Broadway in NYC
“When we dance together, we improvise a lot and it’s easy for us to communicate musically. We work well together—we complement each other, and we see things very similarly.” —Xander Weinman
Samuel Black and Dallas McMurray
Members of Mark Morris Dance Group
Friends since:
1993
How they met:
Dancing at Katie’s Dance Studio in El Cerrito, CA. They were two of just a few boys at the studio at the time.
“When I joined MMDG, I didn’t know anyone in the company besides Sam—it was intimidating for me. I was thankful to have him there with me, though. There was something comforting about having Sam there from day one.” —Dallas McMurray
April Daly, dancer with Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and Kathleen Breen Combes, principal dancer with Boston Ballet
Friends since:
2001
How they met:
Through a mutual friend
“We call each other every single day. We’re always sending each other flowers for opening nights and things like that. Last year I flew out to see Kathleen dance ‘Diamonds’ in George Balanchine’s Jewels on opening night and she came to see me when the Joffrey performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC. Kathleen is like my sanity. She gives the best advice.” —April Daly
Deena “SnapShot” Clemente and Wanda “WandeePop” Candelario
NYC hip-hop instructors and co-founders of TruEssencia Dance and Wellness
Friends since:
1980
How they met:
In a courtyard of the building where SnapShot lived in the Bronx. Soon thereafter they started a local dance crew with six other friends from the neighborhood.
“Our dreams have always been the same. No matter which paths we took—graduating from school, working corporate jobs, moving to other states—we would always end up back on the same road together.” —SnapShot
Jeanine Mason, “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 5 winner, and Jakob Karr, “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 6 runner-up
Friends since:
2006
How they met:
At a dance competition in Fort Lauderdale, FL, when they were 14.
“Jeanine is one of the clumsiest people I’ve ever met. As graceful as she is onstage, she’s equally as uncoordinated in her daily life.” —Jakob Karr
“When Jakob made it to the ‘SYTYCD’ finale during Season 6, I was home in Florida for my brother’s birthday. My family and I sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to my brother while voting for Jakob on at least two phones each!” —Jeanine Mason