When I sat at my desk this morning, I intended to make some notes for the improvisation workshops I’m teaching this summer. As I typed though, I found myself contemplating improv’s multiple roles or functionalities in my dance experience over the course of nearly twenty-seven years. Instead of the notes I’d intended to write then, […]
There has always been an important distinction between major ballet companies and major modern dance companies in America. The ballet companies that have survived for decades have done so as repertory companies. Even Balanchine—who was likely the most prolific choreographer in history—brought in other choreographers to create work or stage historical pieces on his dancers. […]
Had a great time at Washington & Lee University yesterday, thanks to the dance and anthropology programs. I taught a master class, and gave a lecture on Katherine Dunham’s interdisciplinary work as a choreographer and anthropologist. What a beautiful campus!
If I had to pick a theme for February here at JL/DP, it would have to be Interdisciplinarity. This month, I’ll participate in two separate events talking about that place where concert dance and the humanities intersect, and how the arts and humanities have both benefited from that convergence. Central to both events is Katherine […]
How often over the last few years have students asked about what it takes to build a successful dance career? I’ve honestly lost track of that question. Students want the clear answer of course. They want a simple road map. In dance, like most any career worth building though, there isn’t a singular, straightforward answer. […]
I am enjoying the search for teaching materials for an experiential anatomy workshop that I’ll teach later this year. The process of examining various texts itself is proving a great refresher for me, and it is leading me to consider adaptations I may want to make to my technique courses, incorporating even more anatomical perspective […]
In undergrad, I taught a few guest classes for high school students, but for most of my teaching years, I’ve worked almost exclusively with older dancers—college age and above. Since 2012 though, that age range has expanded dramatically and I’ve now worked with students from 4 years old to nearly 70. As I’ve been working with younger […]