Phillip Spaeth

Phillip Spaeth is just eighteen years old. Born August 18, 1986, he is on the brink of stardom. Phillip is featured as Capezio and Dance Magazine's Jazz Poster Pin Up for August along with Melissa Hough. He is also Capezio's Python model for upcoming ads in 2003.

As of early August, Phillip is auditioning for shows in New York and really moving his career along the fast track. It all began for him this year with winning his first ever dance competition: New York City Dance Alliance even when his studio didn't take part in the event. In June he became the NYCDA 2003 Senior Male Outstanding Dancer following in the footsteps of great dancers like Danny Tidwell of ABT.

Phillip lives in Mt. Laurel, NJ, a half hour east of Philadelphia and an hour and a half south of New York. He grew up dancing at a local studio, and spent some time at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet. Currently, he is on a schedule with Lenape High School in Medford, NJ that allows him to leave school at 1:00 with just enough time to catch a 1:30 Greyhound bus to New York. He takes classes from a variety of teachers at STEPS and Broadway Dance Center. "I love being in New York because I'm surrounded by so many talented people. My teachers are AMAZING!!"

During the school year, he is usually up in the city 4 or 5 days a week, and he usually takes 1-2 classes per day. "I will admit...I take A LOT of jazz, but it's only because I love it. Nowadays, jazz has no definition. It can be anything you want: contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, funk. As far as ballet goes, I grew up, probably like every other male dancer, wanting to be the next Baryshnikov. I don't know how or when that all changed, but it did...

I take ballet because it's necessary to keep your foundation--turnout, strength, flexibility, lines, musicality."

"I love dancing because there is so much room to be creative. I like EVERYTHING...and I want to do EVERYTHING! :) Broadway shows, concerts, companies..." It's a good thing Phillip has a long career ahead of him.

His love for musical theatre inspired him to perform a solo from Thoroughly Modern Millie choreographed AC Ciulla for NYCDA. "We had a blast working on it, and I had a blast performing it. There are stories involved with musical theater, and your job as a dancer is to either tell the story or help move it along."

He says he would also welcome the opportunity to perform on the road in shows for musical artists like Celine Dion and Britney Spears, and he even aspires to work for Cirque du Soleil some day. "I like that kind of stuff because there is so much creativity involved in putting it together." He doesn't rule out the possibility of joining a company in the near future, and he's open to all types of dance. "Those dancers work so hard, and it is so amazing to watch them perform."

Even as his star is rising he calls himself a pretty normal kid. "I like hanging out with friends, going to the movies, and spending time in the city. I like to travel too."

Phillip's keeping his options open for the future. He's not ruling out college. "I would love to do all this for the rest of my life. I am really interested learning in about the body and how it works....probably something along the lines of physical therapy, so college is definitely in the picture. But, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens with my dancing in New York or LA"

His interests aren't limited to the art of dance though. All aspects of a production interest him. He could go for choreography, directing, lighting design, and even costuming.

"Honestly, I want to do it all...It sounds so cliche, but it's so true. I want to dance and perform, but eventually I would love to get more involved in the production end--like Jamie King, Wade Robson, or Bob Fosse. I like being creative and experimenting with new ideas."

Best of luck to you, Phillip.