PMT Dance Studio is a New York City based company founded by dancer and choreographer Pavan Thimmaiah in 2001. It currently comprises a dance school, repertory company and the PMT Seasonal Showcase Company.
Contents
History
Founded by Pavan M. Thimmaiah, PMT Dance Company is a New York City based company that has performed both locally and internationally. PMT Dance Company incorporates original music, a storyline and a method of ‘creating music to the movement’ with elements of Hip Hop, Funk, Contemporary and Jazz dance to create a unique performance experience. Working together, dancers learn from one another, pushing their limits and expanding their vocabulary to create a unique range in their performances.
They have performed at various venues, including the International Bollywood Movie Awards (2003) at the Trump Taj Mahal, the International Dance Festival – “Men at Work” (2006) in NYC, and at the Canadian National Exhibition (2006) in Toronto, Canada and as half-time acts at Madison Square Garden (2014-2016). PMT Dance Company was featured on the Today Show on 2 occasions on 2015 – the latter resulting in them achieving the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Street Dance (in conjunction with PMT Dance Studio). In 2008, PMT Dance Company put on their first full length stage production entitled “Struck”. The production run was well received and was eventually featured on the Sundance Channel’s “Young Revolutionaries” TV Special (2009). With its own original music written by Pavan Thimmaiah and Alex Feder, “Struck” went on an East Coast tour performing to positive reviews from 2015-2016 highlighted by performances at the Alvin Ailey (Citigroup Theater) and Johns Hopkins University.
PMT Dance Company strives to bring theater into their performances while properly representing a range of dance styles, many steeped in street dance. This is achieved through performances, classes and exchanges with our professional dancers and accredited teachers.
Performances and Repertory
PMT Dance Studio consists of two sub-companies: PMT Seasonal Showcase Company and PMT Dance Company. The PMT Seasonal Showcase Company – is a non-profit company that is responsible for the production of various showcases, including showcases by PMT’s repertory company. It produces dozens of showcases annually, usually in the Spring and Fall seasons. These productions showcase various dance companies, many of which are up and coming. The showcase company also provides rehearsal space and other means of assistance to its presenters. 1-2 companies a year are selected to be an artist in residence, which involves the production of showcases highlighting the work of the artist in residence. The PMT Seasonal Showcase company has been in existence since the Fall of 2001, assisting with the development of hundreds of dance companies and choreographers since that time.
PMT Dance Company is the repertory company for the studio. It is under the direction of Pavan Thimmaiah and its Assistant Director is Alan Watson. PMT Dance Company incorporates original music and a storyline into elements of Hip Hop, Funk, and Jazz dance. Its credits include the International Bollywood Movie Awards and Sensing Peace Documentary Gala and the International Dance Festival where Pavan Thimmaiah was a featured choreographer in a night honoring male choreographers entitled "Men at Work." In addition, PMT Dance Company was chosen to perform in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition in July 2006. In 2008, PMT Dance Company completed a run of their first feature length production called "Struck..." "Struck..." was a collaborative effort which featured a culmination of work by Pavan Thimmaiah as well as the choreography of Jed Forman, Yesid Lopez and Alan Watson. The show was eventually featured on the Sundance Channel. "Struck..." is scheduled for a 2011 production.
About the founder
After graduating NYU Pre-Med/Psychology, Pavan Thimmaiah decided to pursue his dream of becoming a dancer instead of following his lifelong goal of becoming a physician. Pavan has gone on to create a successful dance career highlighted by him founding PMT Dance Studio and the PMT Dance Company. Not only is Pavan the first Indian-American to have choreographed for a major US recording artist, but he and his work has been featured in numerous publications, including Dance Teacher, Dance Europe, Dance Mogul Magazine, The Dance Gazette, Attitude Dancer’s Magazine, Staten Island Advance, Huffington Post, Gothamist, Washington Square News and more. He is also the choreographer and organizer for the Guinness Book 'World's Largest Street Dance' - set on 9/9/2015 on the Today Show.
Pavan has trained, performed with and choreographed for many popular artists such as Vanilla Ice, Famke Jansen, Stefani Vara, Alex Feder, the XYZ Affair, Matt Palmer, Apache Indian and Sean Paul. He has also appeared on TV programs such as the Conan O’Brien Show, Breaking Amish (2014) and on CNN and MTV. He's perhaps best known as the resident choreographer and performer for NBC’s The Today Show, which he has enjoyed since 2010. In 2016, he was a 2x's featured guest & performer on NBC Louisiana's 'Studio 6'. He was a recipient of the prestigious Clio Award for The MCA Day Beastie Boys Tribute video that he choreographed, "Union Square Bboy Monks". This video went viral, garnering attention & acclaim from various media outlets with millions of viewers worldwide. It became a top trender for 2014. Additionally, Pavan has found success working with companies and individuals, large and small, with flash mobs and marketing campaigns that utilize dance as evidenced by his work with Gendex & Transfast.
Pavan's success ranges past the commercial world. Through PMT Dance Company, he has found success by incorporating musical theater, various dance styles, elaborate storylines and original music into his dance productions. PMT Dance Company has been the featured act at many prestigious venues including the Toronto National Exhibition, The International Dance Festival (NYC–Duke Theater), the Ailey Citigroup Theater and as the opening number in the Bollywood International Movie Awards (2003 – Trump Taj Mahal – Atlantic City). In 2008, PMT Dance Company performed its first independent production, which was featured on the Sundance Channel’s “Young Revolutionaries.” In 2014, PMT Dance Company opened their full production of their critically acclaimed show “Struck” to a sold out show in NYC, which was followed up with half-time show performances at Madison Square Garden for the NY Liberty (2014-2016) and two features on the Today Show and performances at various venues in and outside of NYC including at Glens Falls and Johns Hopkins.
Pavan’s proudest accomplishments are his students and an educator. This is seen through PMT Dance Studio where he implemented Performance Program and Open Sessions that have since been widely duplicated. Although he has been referred to as a ‘celebrity choreographer’, Pavan has established a successful practice giving teaching students of all backgrounds. Some of his success stories as a teacher and mentor include dancers like Alan Watson, Lara Duncan, Dev & Mo, Mattison King and the 2012 'Stars of Tomorrow' Apollo Theater Champion 8-year old Kai Rivera. He strives to find the right way to get the most out of every student’s potential. His past teaching credits include the Alvin Ailey School (Extension Program), UC Irvine, Peridance, Ballet Arts, New York University, Long Island University, Wadleigh School for the Performing Arts as well as the School of American Ballet as a guest teacher. Pavan continues to be a guest speaker and teacher across the US & Canada.
Press and Media
September 2016 – Dance Teacher Magazine
August 2016 – Anna Magazine
September 2015 - Danceplug
July & September 2015 – Dance Teacher Magazine
April 2015 – Bleep Magazine
August 2014 - Glens Falls Post-Star
May 2014 - Huffington Post, Spin & Gothamist
December 2013 - Explore Dance
August 2013 - Soul Train
May 2013 - Explore Dance
September 2012 - Dance Mogul Magazine
May 2012 - Explore Dance
December 2011 - Dance Enthusiast
December 2011 - Dance Intuit
November 2011 - Dance Examiner
May 2009 - Exploredance.com
January 2009 - Dance Gazette
January 2007 - Attitude "The Dancer's Magazine"
October 2004 - Indian Lifestyles Magazine