Archive for school
March 29, 2008 at 4:20 am · Filed under studio, media, video, teaching, TONY, dance and technology, science, space, physics, apples, computer graphics, opengl, education, performance, school, pedagogy, astronomy, learning, hermes, arts, double feature, animation
Last month I wrote a guest post on Matt Gough’s blog quodlibet titled math skills. It addressed the question of what fundamentals of physics and mathematics should be included in the dance technology curriculum.
Since dance-tech is in its infancy and still forming as a field this is an open question. This issue is not simply about inserting math and science into an arts curriculum but more so about how these two worlds partner. The action is reciprocal, math and science inform the dance and dance-tech provides new ways of knowing math and physics.
Force is one of the central landmarks of physics pedagogy. Gravity is Newton’s force.
And to use the force you must learn the force.
Simulation is a great way to learn about forces.
So is dancing.
Recent Posts by tony schultz
February 11, 2008 at 3:59 am · Filed under dance, new york city ballet, writing, school, JUSTIN, susan stroman, tess reichlen, double feature
~Hi again~
It seems that things have severely shifted gears between Nutcracker Season and Winter Repertoire Season here at City Ballet. It has gone from the pace of a tortoise to the pace of a hare Balanchine ballerina executing a speed-of-lightning petit allegro combination. Nutcracker was a nice slow period for me because it consisted of virtually no dancing with performance, just pantomiming and exercising the muscles of the face. Now, I’ve entered the realm of relatively concentrated dancing every night, dealing with the snowball effect of having little time to learn the numerous ballets in a fastidious manner, and never seeing the light of day due to the constant rehearsing in the (windowless) theatre until dark. And although all of this may sound very draining, it is actually quite the opposite for most of us dancers. We thrive when we are most involved and consumed by our work, the unique lifestyle that goes along with that work, and the unmatched comradery of dancing with & working with professionals whom we are in close contact with from day to day.
At this point, we have just finished a thorough week-long run of Double Feature, Susan Stroman’s ballet homage to the silent film era. It is choreographed in a typical musical theatre fashion (Stroman’s specialty) and is saturated with classic entertainment. From a dancer’s perspective, it is a different approach to the dancing that we are used to. I feel as though it acted as a refreshing change of pace, and compliments our repertoire nicely. It provides contrast to the pure ballet we dance and helps to accentuate its substance.
photos by the talented Gwyneth Muller:
The muscle suit that I have wear for when I perform the role of Flossy’s husband
Flossy and her burly partner
I’ve also begun my Spring semester at Columbia. I was planning on taking 2 courses this semester, but my busy dance schedule has resulted in me having to drop one of the courses (maybe Fall semester will allow for more leeway, while I am waving my fan, powdering my nose, and suddenly sprouting double-Ds as Mother Ginger). With that said, I am working on a writing course this semester. So far it has been a lot of critical reading and writing, as well as approaching new ways to analyze & interpret art. So between juggling ballet, school, and some sort of personal life in between those two, I feel pretty consumed at the moment. I am, however, very much looking forward to NYCB’s tour to London in March, as I have never been over seas yet. So I am eager to experience the culture of England soon. That’s all for now, hopefully more thoughts to come in the near future
Recent Posts by justin
February 9, 2008 at 11:53 pm · Filed under dance, studio, student, CATHY, brazil, life, school
This year is, without a doubt, a transition of all sorts in my life. Many changes have already happened - big changes, in reality - and there are even more to come.
I had already mentioned the fact that school has ended (and I still didn’t make it to university) and that this year will be mostly devoted to study in order to sit for the university’s exams.
As of dance life, I have left my studio in which I had spent most of my life training. I’d go there every single day, rehearse and take classes for endless hours. We were definitely a family (still are) and I have learned so much from these years. So, I have only to thank all my teachers there because they offered me such amazing opportunities - that I’m sure that if I’d be somewhere else, none of them would have happened! - and for supporting me so much. In fact, I have been approved in my last Royal Academy of Dance examination!
I decided to leave because I realized I couldn’t grow there anymore. I wanted to change, meet new teachers, a new vision of ballet, and find better quality training also. Here in Brazil things are difficult and I’ve been looking for a good school for a while.
Until this amazing place opened a few blocks from my home, a few months ago. I have mentioned it here a few times already - and now it’s concrete: my dream studio is where now I dance!
It’s amazing. I’m completely in love! The rooms are spacious, everything is new and beautiful. (picture above)
Besides, there’s something else that caught my attention and also made me fall in love: the view!! As it’s in a quite high place, there’s this privileged view from the city. And every room has huge windows so that you can appreciate it during your class.
In terms of ballet itself - it’s Vaganova method, to which I’m trying to adapt. I must confess it has been a challenge. It’s considerably different from RAD. And I have already improved so much! The teacher is a Russian, who barely speaks any Portuguese (that definitely makes the classes even more interesting!)
Another big big change is that I have been hired in my former language school (where I learned English). They called me and offered a position as a sub teacher, twice a week. It was very unexpected, I never ever saw it coming (especially considering the fact that I completed my language studies there two years ago). I have accepted and I’m hoping this is going to be a good experience!
And what’s curious is that I was almost 100% decided that I was going to spend the next couple months in Canada, but that has been postponed for now!
I’ve also taken a nice trip to the south of Brazil - a city called Florianopolis. It’s a paradise: beaches surrounded by nature, excellent parties, nice people.. If you ever have the opportunity to go there, don’t miss it!! Unfortunately I caught bad weather there (that explains the lack of pictures.) - it rained most of the time, but still I managed to enjoy the time!
see you all!
Cathy
Recent Posts by cathy godeghesi
January 28, 2008 at 2:18 am · Filed under dance, writing, school, TAYLOR, communications
As of this week, I officially graduated from college! I have my BA in Communication Arts from Marymount Manhattan College…and since I’m only 19 it’s a little scary to be facing this major turning point in my life!
It’s been a LOT of work trying to continue a dance career while finishing school in 2 ½ years, but I have to say that I’m really glad I stuck it out, because now I have two career paths to follow, both of which I love!
Before I write about some highlights of the last two years, here’s a quick update of what’s been going on lately and what’s coming up soon:
-I did a workshop with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, a contemporary company here in the city. One weekend I got to understudy the company for a small showcase they were doing, which was really great but hard! Learning choreography in the back of a studio while trying to stay out of the way of the company dancers flying by is really the art of the apprentice…haha.
The next week she taught a whole series of work from her repertoire. It was lots of quick learning and contemporary movements, some of which were rather foreign at first to my ballet based body. They have an interesting approach where feeling and expressing the movement is emphasized. She spoke a lot about getting rid of the “student” image and dancing more like a “professional,” which is definitely what I’m working on at this point in my dancing. It was such a great experience!
-In terms of my writing, a lot is going on. I started my internship at The New Yorker, which is great. You can read more about that on my other blog. And I was asked to take over the studio newsletter at my former studio, Ballet Academy East. On top of working on that, I got a new article assignment from Dancer Magazine, and my piece in movmnt magazine comes out in the next few weeks! Keep a look out for both of those articles, and see some recent reviews I wrote on ExploreDance.com
Moving on…
TOP 10 MOMENTS FROM MY 2 ½ YEARS IN COLLEGE AND DANCING
(in chronological order)
1. Moving to my dream city
2. Getting an internship at Pointe Magazine & seeing my first real (short) article printed
3. Dancing a soloist role in Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations with BAE
4. Working with big names in dance at BAE
5. Meeting the best teacher in the world
6. Finding the guts and opportunity to interview important people
7. Cashing my first major paycheck for performing with a ballet company
8. Having my website take off and getting writing opportunities from it
9. Starting my internship at The New Yorker
10. Realizing that all the hard work paid off as I graduate and move forward with both careers
To anyone who is torn between pursuing dance or falling back on college - I say YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL 
Last but not least, today we had another blogger meetup like the one at Cedar Lake a few weeks ago…this time it was at NYCB’s matinee performance, which was amazing by the way! I’m reviewing it for ExploreDance. It was nice to see all the other bloggers again!
Recent Posts by taylor gordon
December 21, 2007 at 5:08 am · Filed under dance, Nutcracker, writing, critics, school, interview, TAYLOR
Two big things ended this week - Nutcracker, and my last full semester of college!
Nutcracker went really well. It felt great to be onstage after going a few months without performing and it reminded me how much I love it - the whole process, from the makeup to the rosin to the applause to the bows. Nutcracker has been a constant in my (and many other dancers’) life over the years and it truly symbolizes the Christmas spirit. And this was my first run of it as a “professional” so to speak, so it was extra special.
Speaking of Nutcracker, I did an article for ExploreDance.com on my ballet teacher retiring from her role as The Sugar Plum Fairy, one she has danced for over 30 years! Read it here.
And also, the fall semester is finally over! I’m officially one month away from graduating college - and am both extremely excited and somewhat nervous for the future. To this point I have always squirmed away from making the terrifying choice between continuing ballet or reverting to ‘real life.’ Luckily, at this turning point I’m still not giving up one passion for another.
The end of the school semester has been intense with work and finals and finishing up my work as Features Editor at our school paper. I completed my senior thesis on dance journalism after tons of work (I even got to speak with New York Times dance critic and fellow Winger Gia Kourlas!) and it seems to have paid off. I had submitted my abstract a while ago to Dance Research Forum Ireland, a conference for dance scholars and historians, and I recently got an email saying they accepted my project! It’s not until June and I’m not positive I’ll be able to attend yet, but it would be nice to have an outlet to share all that work…
On another note, this great new ballet site called Ballet Connections has started interviewing some dancers so that readers can hear their insights to the dance world, and they interviewed me. Read it here, and be sure to check out the other features on the site.
After a tough semester I’m glad it’s time for the holidays and the new year. My plans for 2008 include starting a new internship at The New Yorker magazine (SO excited for that), working a little bit with this contemporary company, doing lots of auditions, and continuing with grad school (among other things…). Busy as always.
Hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and restful holiday!
Recent Posts by taylor gordon
December 7, 2007 at 5:38 pm · Filed under dance, rehearsal, student, CATHY, brazil, university, school, sao paolo, wings
Here in Brazil, we are watching the very beginning of summer - which means heat + rain almost every day.
My life is a little bit less chaotic now as I’m fully on vacation. Right now the only excitement is that I am anxiously waiting for the results from the universities.
I haven’t had enough time to update you all about my recent performances, rehearsals and all that complex preparation that, deep inside, we all love so much.
The performance actually already happened - nevertheless, I barely saw time passing. All of sudden, I was on stage again.
For a month I was able to rehearse only once a week, which is completely absurd to me. As a matter of fact, this semester as a whole was kind of confusing to me due to injuries also.
So, I took the week before the actual performance to rehearse intesively.
But anyway, here are some pictures from the dress rehearsal: (that out of three, I managed to attend only one)
Kids in tutus
Joana, Carol, Yolanda, amazing dancers!
Carol stretching before her entrance
The classical view from the wings!
I am very soon to be back with pictures from the performance itself!
Abraços!
Cathy
Recent Posts by cathy godeghesi
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