Catalyst Internship

Assessment

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:50:29 -0400

The experience of working with Britt Allen and the Catalyst members was definitely a positive one. Without Ms. Allen’s kindness and generosity, I would not have been given this gift of creating a piece with people that I care very much about nor the opportunity to perform and record it. The dancers for the duet were punctual, enthusiastic, and had the amazing ability of understanding when we could be silly and when we should be serious. The only negative aspect of this internship was seeing the types of conflicts that Britt Allen has to struggle with when running a company consisting of high school students. Though it was negative, it was also educational in that I saw the professional way that she, as a teacher and state employee, would handle the situation. The students of the company are not usually the source of the problems, as they are committed and passionate about dance, but rather the source is usually the parents of the students. One of the dancers of my original four had to drop out of the piece because her mother had grounded her and the punishment was not being able to attend dance rehearsals. While one cannot blame the parent because he or she is doing what is believed to be best for their child, I felt like this was not teaching any beneficial lesson as the student is breaking a commitment. With all of the company members being students and legally children, there is a constant balancing act that Ms. Allen must play with the parents and school officials that borders being political. I learned that one must not become discouraged though because there are other students who are going to be there, on-time and dependent on you and your abilities.

Photo

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:40:43 -0400

male dancers

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:50:43 -0400

Should male students be encouraged to perform heightened masculinity so as not to be read as gay? What message is that giving the students?

Friday, April 20th

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

5-9pm: I went to Eastern Randolph High School to review the duet, help with last minute preparations, and watch the concert. The two dancers had rehearsed together earlier and so felt comfortable with the movement and were able to then focus on performance. I had to prep the audience with an introduction before “Betrayal” so that they would know the intentions behind the piece.

Saturday, April 14th

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

1-3pm: I went to Eastern Randolph High School to finish the “Betrayal” duet. Starting from the beginning, we went through the phrases, specifying the movement to the music and changing parts that had not felt right. We finished the ending of the piece, talked about the emotional aspect of performing the work, and did the lighting design.

Monday, April 9th

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

2-7pm: I went to Eastern Randolph High School for a Catalyst rehearsal that focused on one of their pieces to be performed in the upcoming concert and then to hold rehearsal for the new piece that I was creating with only two students. As rehearsal assistant at the Catalyst rehearsal, I tried to help with problem areas, noticing some common technique mistakes among the dancers. The new duet “Betrayal” started to take shape, as the theme, vulnerability of friendship, was something with which I knew both of the dancers have struggled. We were able to finish the piece up until the last two sets of 16, though there were a couple areas that needed to be revisited. During breaks, the two male dancers talked with me about their experiences being in the school company and things that they would change if they could.

Monday, March 26th

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

4-7pm: I went to Eastern Randolph High School to work on “Big Jet Plane”, a piece that I intended to create with four of the Catalyst members. It was going to be about the wish I have for them to escape their current circumstances and start pursuing what each one is passionate about. Four individual phrases had been created prior to this rehearsal, one for each of their personalities, which were manipulated into larger phrases for group moments. One dancer was unable to attend and so I worked with the three who were present.

Photo

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:20:00 -0400

Goals

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:15:00 -0400

Choreograph independently of Winterguard
Create something to which the students can relate
Enjoy working with my kids one more time
Film the concert performance to keep on electronic file

Internship Requirements

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:38:00 -0400

Choreographer (prior County permission was beneficial)
Rehearsal Assistant
Production Assistant

Catalyst Dance Company

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 09:15:00 -0400

Britt Allen founded the company 7 years ago (2nd year teaching dance)
Composed of ERHS students who have taken class and auditioned
Created to give the students a performance outlet
Rehearsals after school and on weekends, budgeting, concert preparations, etc.
Auditions: Contemporary, HipHop, Jazz combinations; improvisation; prepared 2 minute solo
Importance of “creative voice”; guided improvisation used in pieces
12 current members; past members sometimes return
If not artists, at least arts supporters

“A Lean and Hungry Look” How it all started.

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

“A Lean and Hungry Look”

How it all started.