GUILLERMO ASCA (Rego Park, NY) or “Moe,” as he is affectionately known, graduated from LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts. He was a fellowship

student at The Ailey School and danced with Ailey II, Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas, Ballet Hispanico, Dance Compass, Shapiro & Smith and Footprints Dance Project. Centered Living had the opportunity to chat with Moe before his upcoming performance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, happening April 5th and 6th at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis.

CL: Tell us your name, age and how long you’ve been a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance TheaterMoe: My name is Guillermo Alvin Asca. I also respond to Moe, my nickname. I was born and raised in Queens NY, and my parents are from Lima, Peru. I’ve been involved with the Ailey organization since 1988. First as a student, then as a member of Ailey II (The Ailey Repertory Ensemble). I joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1994, and have been here since. I started dancing at the age of 18 and I’ll be 41 in May.

CL: How did you come to find yourself with the dance theater – has dancing always been your passion?Moe: My original goal in life was to be a pilot. I was supposed to go to Queens College and join the Air force R.O.T.C., but after doing the musical West Side Story in high school (La Guardia H.S. of the Arts) I somehow found myself in dance classes. Although my major was in music (trombone, baritone and horn), I found myself as a senior in a freshman class of ballet and Graham dancers. I danced for two months, and graduation was on the horizon when I was asked if was interested in auditioning for the Ailey school. By this time I had realized that I had some talent. I loved the physicality of dancing because I was an athlete (soccer, gymnastics, karate), and the musicality from being a musician. It was a perfect blend of the two. I decided to give it a go. After the audition I somehow received a work scholarship for the summer intensive. It changed my life.

CL: Give us a glimpse into a typical rehearsal dayMoe: A typical rehearsal day starts with an hour and a half dance class to get ready for the days rehearsals. We generally spend three hours with one choreographer in the afternoon , one hour lunch break , and three more hours in the evening with another choreographer, unless we split the hours up rehearsing current repertory. When we are on the road performing, which is more than half the year, We can have up to three hours of rehearsal as well as the one hour dance class, and let’s not forget the performance which lasts about two and a half hours.

CL: When the curtains rise before a performance what is it that you desire the audience to take home from what you bring to the stage?Moe: When the curtain goes up, I want the audience to feel enriched , entertained and enlightened . It’s a journey we take together through the dance .

CL: With everything you have going on in your life, what keeps you centered?Moe: My friends and family keep me grounded and centered. I aspire to be a great person because of them, not just a great dancer.

Author: Larishia S. Johnson, Editor in Chief, Centered Living Magazine™