New Victory Dance Spotlight: Get to Know Former New 42 Apprentice Jerron Herman!

July at the New Victory means it’s time for New Victory Dance! Experience a guided tour of New York City dance this summer right on the New Victory stage, with everything from hip-hop and contemporary to the movement traditions of Mexico and Côte d’Ivoire. The production showcases a mixed bill of acclaimed NYC-based dance companies—three per program, nine in total—and features an interactive Talk-Back with the dancers and choreographers.

Today we’re shining a spotlight on Jerron Herman, a former New 42 Apprentice and an inspiring artist bringing his unique piece, Vitruvian, to this summer’s New Victory Dance. He combines his life experiences and physicality into his art, centers the theme of reconciliation and encourages everyone to find joy in creation and assert their individuality. Read on to learn more about Vitruvian and how his apprenticeship helped shape his artistry.

Why are you presenting this piece at this moment in time, and what are the driving themes and parallels that you want young audiences to recognize or think about?

I’m focusing on reconciliation, specifically between the global perception of the world and our internal understanding of it. Humans often struggle to be understood by the world. This piece invites audiences to consider living in a reality where they are central, even if unacknowledged. Your value is intrinsic and doesn’t need external validation. I created this work to explore my body’s place in history, using the Vitruvian Man as a reference. Despite its asymmetry, it offers 360 degrees of play, depth and contour. The piece mirrors Da Vinci’s process, from sketch to creation, reflecting how an image is understood and contributes to history. Crafting an image is an artful process. I encourage young people to envision themselves in unfamiliar places and expand their experiences. Regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation, you carry a legacy and must assert your individuality at this moment in time.

Tell us about yourself and the development of the piece you’re bringing to New Victory Dance.

I’m an independent artist who works in collaboration with various artists. I think it’s crucial for artists to individuate—to have their own focus and desires. I’m always curious about reconciliation—how we can reconcile different things together, such as “antiquity and modernity.” For me, creating art involves the past and the present. I can’t consider the future without acknowledging both the past and present. I use my body as a strong source of generative media, incorporating my diagnosis as a vital part of my creation. I cross a Rubicon physically every day, and I explore how I can explode that experience open in a full-length piece. Some questions I’m thinking about are: How can we find joy in creation and creativity? How can we provide joy? What is your epic?  This piece is my story ballet—approaching a really big story that I didn’t initially identify with. It was empowering and emotional to engage with this image. Find the thing that is big for you.

What does it mean to you to be returning to the New Victory after, at one time, being an apprentice here?

As an New Victory Education Apprentice, I initially thought my role in the arts would be supportive. I didn’t take myself or my artistry seriously back then. New Victory allowed me to find my voice and guided me towards dance. My introduction to dance was through play, without the pressure of immediate expertise. Being in a sharing environment that alleviated pressure allowed me to embrace this career. I remember being in spaces where people always talked about the future of the arts, which helped me see art and the business of art as elastic. New Victory is a beacon with really soft corners.

What are some things about the piece that would be important context to have before seeing it?

The piece, Vitruvian, is an excerpt of a full-length work. It’s structured to collapse our relationship with an image, giving the audience a sense of an aesthetic arc. It goes from the formation of a body, to the reprisal of a phrase, to a celebration in dance, providing a complete story. Vitruvian is rooted in disability dance, with a disabled artist creating work for the disability community. The content can be both concrete and abstract, using accessibility aesthetics like ASL through dance and captioning. Disability can be apparent or non-apparent. Audiences might see an innovative approach to choreography, with seizure and sensory-friendly rotations through imagery.

For more behind the scenes content from New Victory Dance, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.