When I was asked to return to Buffalo to set a piece on the Zodiaque Dance Company, I could barely contain my excitement, ideas, and visions. What an honor to be able to return to my undergrad, SUNY Buffalo, and have an opportunity to teach master classes and set a vision on an extremely talented group of dancers.
The biggest question was where to begin. In such a short amount of time; arriving on Thursday, setting choreography on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, how does this happen? Yes, I have set choreography in a small window before...but a concert such as this was a different experience with larger expectations. As I had found a piece of music that I had been listening to over and over again, I realized where I should begin.
Resetting and expanding on the Inside These Walls solo was a vision that I was excited about. I truly enjoyed creating and performing that solo. The short story of The Yellow Wallpaper continued to be intriguing and stirred up emotions and visions. Having the material established from the solo let me expand on the movement vocabulary for group work and the ability to transition into resetting the solo. I listened to the music, watched the video, and furiously scribbled in my notebook with all of the ideas that were coming together in my head.
Reflecting upon my weekend with my cast, I cannot believe was an amazing whirlwind it was. With plenty of room for adjustment and creating transitions, they absorbed the movement, the concept, and the passion that I had imagined for the work. They were ready to experiment, discover, and create right along with me. The piece that I had mapped out in my notebook fully came to life and exceeded any expectations that I had. Getting back on that plane was a bittersweet day; leaving a group of dancers and a new project that I had become so attached to. As I sat in my seat ready to fly away, I couldn't stop smiling, knowing that my ideas had come to life and the piece was in the amazing hands of the dancers that were as passionate as I was. New experiences and new creations....this is why I love what I do.
The biggest question was where to begin. In such a short amount of time; arriving on Thursday, setting choreography on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, how does this happen? Yes, I have set choreography in a small window before...but a concert such as this was a different experience with larger expectations. As I had found a piece of music that I had been listening to over and over again, I realized where I should begin.
Resetting and expanding on the Inside These Walls solo was a vision that I was excited about. I truly enjoyed creating and performing that solo. The short story of The Yellow Wallpaper continued to be intriguing and stirred up emotions and visions. Having the material established from the solo let me expand on the movement vocabulary for group work and the ability to transition into resetting the solo. I listened to the music, watched the video, and furiously scribbled in my notebook with all of the ideas that were coming together in my head.
Reflecting upon my weekend with my cast, I cannot believe was an amazing whirlwind it was. With plenty of room for adjustment and creating transitions, they absorbed the movement, the concept, and the passion that I had imagined for the work. They were ready to experiment, discover, and create right along with me. The piece that I had mapped out in my notebook fully came to life and exceeded any expectations that I had. Getting back on that plane was a bittersweet day; leaving a group of dancers and a new project that I had become so attached to. As I sat in my seat ready to fly away, I couldn't stop smiling, knowing that my ideas had come to life and the piece was in the amazing hands of the dancers that were as passionate as I was. New experiences and new creations....this is why I love what I do.