The Day I forgot My Notes

Performances/Screenings

It was yesterday, and we had just finished the half of rehearsal where we work on the trio/slow section of the Reich piece we’re preparing for the Liminal Space show on December 11.  Laura had arrived, and I knew it was time to move into the section that gives me a panic attack/ulcer/wide eyes/jumpy feet/and a desire to run around the room.

 

Thank you Steve Reich.

 

You see…I had carefully orchestrated steps, gestures, freezing to VERY specific parts of the music.  I have my own notation language.

reich reherasal 2Pretty obvious what I’m doing, right?  I mean, it’s like you don’t even have to see the piece anymore. (wink.)

 

And I must say, the dancers were thrilled.  THRILLED. with the demanding nature of the music and the tasks I had given to them.  See below:

reich rehearsal 1You know it’s a Frame Dance piece when the notebooks are out and the brows are furrowed.

So…back to yesterday.  I forgot my notes.  Kind of crucial as I don’t even try to keep all of the individual dancers’ parts in my own brain.  Gotta free that bad boy up for more ideas.  I send out movement and counts and then trust the dancers to remember them from there on.  It’s a tall order.  So…I forgot my notes.  And I KNEW that I couldn’t remember it all.  So what did I do?  I threw it out and started over.  I have to say, the dancers were relieved.  Less counting this time and more instinct.  More listening, I think.  And I like this direction we’re headed much better.

Funny how things work out, eh?  Sometimes you just have to forget your notes.

To Art,

L

MFA Monday: Stephanie Todd Wong

MFA Mondays

MFA rightGood Monday to you Framers!  Here is the second installment from the fabulous Stephanie Todd Wong, Executive Director of Dance Source Houston.  Here she goes…

Reality Checks

 

The first question I ask someone who has expressed an interest in grad school, is “Why?”  And I ask it not to be flippant or to discourage, but with genuine curiosity.  Why? What is the goal?  What is motivating you?  What do you hope to accomplish?  The administrator in me these days, wants to ask what is the ROI? I think these questions are super important, because let’s face it, higher education isn’t cheap.   We’re talking about a serious investment here, in terms of both time and money.  And as dancers, we can’t afford to waste either!

When I entered grad school, I did it wanting several different things.  I wanted to be a better dancer and choreographer. I wanted to be able to teach at a university level.  I longed for the structure school provides and the resources of space and bodies to work with.  And if I’m totally honest, I wanted something I could hold up that might make others outside our field take my profession more seriously.  (“I have a terminal degree now, this isn’t just a hobby!”)

Back to the ROI or return on investment….  Since I will probably be paying off my school loans up until the moment I start paying for my daughters’ college expenses, I have to bring this up.  School is expensive and when you finish you’re not entering a professional world known for high compensation.  Will an MFA advance your career enough to justify the expense and/or debt?  Is the degree truly worth the price tag?

Take time to sit with the “why.”  Having honest answers to that question will guide you more surely than any advice you could get from me.

Stephanie Wong - 20130303-1-2 webStephanie Todd Wong moved to Houston in 2008 after spending ten years in Washington DC as a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher and dance administrator.  Stephanie holds a BA in Dance from Mercyhurst College and received her MFA in Dance from George Mason University in 2004.  While living in Washington she was a dancer in the Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, which performed in various locations in DC and New York City.  She also had the privilege of working with Lorry May, founding director of Sokolow Dance Foundation to learn and perform Anna Sokolow’s The Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter.  As a choreographer, Stephanie’s work was presented at both Joy of Motion and Dance Place.  Stephanie also spent time teaching dance and worked to create a high school dance program for The Flint Hill School in Vienna Virginia.  Beginning in 2007, Stephanie began working for Dance/MetroDC, the local branch office of Dance/USA, serving as its Programs Associate and ultimately its Interim Director.  In this role she was responsible for creating and executing all the organizations programming, including the Metro DC Dance Awards, a region wide awards program that took place at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  Stephanie became Executive Director of Dance Source Houston in 2011 and currently sits on the Advisory Board for Arts + Culture Magazine and an Affiliate Working Group of Dance/USA.

Gibney Dance Community Action

Uncategorized

Hi Framers,

I wanted to give you something to sink your teeth into today, and also something that will inspire you.  Last Sunday I wrote about how this is the day that I really try to prepare myself for the week ahead, to refresh my vision.

A little over a year ago, I was accepted into Dance/USA’s Institute of Leadership Training for Emerging Leaders in the dance world.  I was incredibly fortunate to be matched with mentor Gina Gibney.  Please take some time to watch this video about some of the work that she is doing with her company in her community and across the world.  She is such an inspiration.

 

To Art,
Lydia

QUITE the week!

Performances/Screenings

Frame Dance is burning it up like crazy this week.  Check out our week(end) schedule:

 

Tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm, we will screen Framing Bodies: LOVE ME in the Fringe Festival at  The Barn.

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Tomorrow (Thursday) from 7-9pm we will be dancing Under the Blue Trees with the Houston Arts Alliance.

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Friday at 6:30pm, we will screen Framing Bodies: LOVE ME in the Fringe Festival at  The Barn.

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Saturday at 5pm, we will screen Framing Bodies: LOVE ME in the Fringe Festival at  The Barn.

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