TAYLOR GORDON Dancer, Student and Journalist New York, NY UYSA BIO | POSTS

I don’t know how things can get increasingly busy week to week. When I think I can’t possible add something else to my schedule I end up squeezing in a ton more things! Ahh. Anyways…

As a follow-up to my last post I should mention that my performance at New Dance Group went well and received a nice audience response, and my dropping the position as trainee with Ajkun Ballet Theater hasn’t caused any significant consequences to date.

Nutcracker rehearsals are going quite well. The way we work in these rehearsals is very different from any way I’ve worked in the past. The director goes through steps extremely meticulously, explaining each detail thoroughly where many people would simply ignore or overlook. It takes a long time to finally get through a sequence, but once we do it’s all “cleaned up” right away. It’s an interesting method that I’m not used to but that I’m starting to really appreciate. It’s equally as challenging mentally as it is physically, which adds an interesting layer that, being an avid student, I like. It’s a very different frame of mind I have to get in.
It’s been a lot of work, and the long commute is rough, but overall I’m really looking forward to performing. Nutcracker is such a staple in my life…the one real tradition that remains constant each year. So many dancers can’t stand the sound of Nutcracker music, but for me it brings back sooo many memories and childhood dreams. Ah how I love to reminisce…

Besides that I’ve been doing a lot of work for school since midterms are fast approaching. Because it’s my last semester (!) I have to write a long senior thesis. As a Communications major, our basic assignment for the thesis is to discuss some aspect of new media and communication and the future. Being an aspiring dance critic, I am focusing on how dance journalism/criticism/writing is largely making a shift from print to online media. I’m specifically discussing how blogs are now becoming an integral part of the discourse on dance and the benefits of that. If anyone has any thoughts on that I’d love to hear them so I can consider them in my paper!

Anyway, the other half of my life has been busy as well. I’ve now been at my internship in the Home Editorial department of Quick and Simple Magazine for a little over a week and I’m really enjoying it. My 2 bosses are super nice, and I get my own little desk in the intern cubicle. Similar to when I interned at Pointe Magazine, I get to work pretty much independently and at my own pace, which I love love love. At another previous internship it was more of a collaborative environment, which definitely had its plusses, but I had to wait to find out my next task minute to minute. The way I work now, I can get much more done and have more creative freedom.

To that effect, the other day I got to start researching for the first story I’ll be helping with. Though it’s a weekly magazine, they work really far ahead in order to get issues out on time, so we’re working on the Jan. 1 issue right now. Because it’s the home and crafts section I really get to think outside the box. Good stuff.
Getting to know the magazine is a really interesting process and it’s kind of fun to be in an office environment (how much of a dork am I?). 180 degrees the opposite of a ballet studio environment, I like that it totally takes my mind off class and technique for a bit.

Ballet used to be my mental escape from homework, but now work seems to be my mental escape from ballet!