The Call Board - Tennessee Association of Dance

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A Rockin’ Summer for Ara Vito, Kitty Sharp Scholarship Winner by Ara Vito 8:45 a.m. in New York City is a beautiful sight to behold. The city’s traffic and noise are in full swing as tourists pound the sidewalk, businessmen and women plough forward with a purpose, and the commonplace pedestrians step lightly around each other in a seemingly choreographed street ballet. The smell of exhaust, smoke, and shish- kebabs from the ever-present street vendors instantly jolts me awake as I feel the rumble of the subway far below my feet. I am in the very center of it all, in downtown Manhattan, on my way to Radio City Music Hall. The Radio City Rockette Summer Intensive is a dance education program taking place in Radio City Music Hall that teaches students all about the Rockette precision dance technique and how to perfect it. Going into the experience, I knew that I loved and admired the Rockette style, but it Ara at the Stage Door of Radio City was a style that I had not had much experience with. I also knew, however, that being a Rockette would be a dream job for me in the future and that this intensive could help me become more familiar with the Rockette technique. By the end of the very first day of the program, I had learned so much, including the fact that I had so much yet to learn. The strenuous, highly precise style was something I had never tried before. Having had solid training in ballet, tap, and jazz, I knew I was not incapable, but the Rockette repertoire and fast-paced learning was a challenge. This made me even more determined to improve my technique and hopefully become one step closer to achieving my goal. My teachers, Rockettes Kristin Altfather and Melinda Farrell, had been with the dance troupe for many seasons and continue to perform with the troupe. Eileen Grace, the program director and an instructor for the Rockette Summer Intensive, had been a Rockette for eight years. She has countless television and Broadway credits, including appearances on Ara and the Rockettes television shows such as the Late Show with David Letterman, the Today Show, and Oprah. She has also choreographed for the Rockettes and Broadway, and teaches in several prestigious dance schools in Manhattan. I was excited to learn as much as I could from these talented women who had instantly become my role models. We spent most of the week learning and rehearsing three pieces of Rockette choreography that would be performed at the end of the week in the theater at Madison Square Garden. In addition to learning Rockette tap, jazz, and choreography during the intensive, we were given the opportunity to have a Q and A with the Rockettes, discuss the audition process and receive audition tips, rehearse on the Radio City stage, have a mock Rockettes audition, receive individual feedback and constructive criticism about our dance technique, and tour Radio City Music Hall. We were also given a look inside the dazzling costume and dressing rooms and told all about life as a Rockette. As the final day of the intensive approached, I felt so grateful for the experience. I loved dancing from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, learning firsthand from the Rockettes everything I could about the job that I hope to have in the future. Even though my time in New York was short, I feel more prepared and more capable to take on any dance challenges to come. I learned to think on my feet, work harder, push myself more than ever before, and smile brightly while doing it. Because I have danced on the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City, performing timeless choreography and beaming into the darkness of the audience while beginning a set of eye-high kicks, I now know what heaven feels like. Buy a specialty license plate and invest in Tennessee’s arts community.. These plates help fund the arts throughout Tennessee. The Call Board August 2010
Two area colleges close dance departments TAD is sad to report the closure of two Departments of Dance at two of the region’s colleges. Both University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Virginia Intermont College are no longer offering students the opportunity to major in dance. Both of these programs have a long history in the Tennessee arts community and were under the direction of notable dance educators. Dr. Gene McCutchon of UTK, and Constance Hardinge and Dr. Harolyn Gaudette of VIC, guided their programs for many years and were instrumental in the growth of dance in higher education in Tennessee. For a look at the curcumstances and timeline of the closure of the UTK dance program follow the link to a story in the university paper: http://tnjn.com/2010/feb/18/ut-dance-program-approaches-it/ The following article is written by Bonny Copenhaver who credits the VIC program with cultivating her love of dance. Bonny is a past president of TAD and curently Provost & Vice President for Student Affairs for Motlow State Community College. She is an arts advocate who firmly believes in the value of a dance education in training students for the 21st century. A look back at VIC Dance by Bonny Copenaver The dance department at Virginia Intermont College, located in Bristol, Virginia, was founded by Constance Hardinge in 1972. Hardinge had been teaching dance in Bristol since 1942 when she started teaching at Sullins College. When she was asked to create the department at VIC, Hardinge was given the freedom to create an exemplary program. The college administration allowed her flexibility with class meeting times, and she developed a nationally recognized teacher-training and performing program which was designed to take the college-age dancer and prepare him or her for a future dance career. In addition to technique classes in ballet and later in modern and jazz, students took four semesters of dance history, two semesters of practice teaching, plus courses in dance notation, kinesiology, choreography, costume construction, and music for ballet. The program supported several branch studios throughout rural southwest Virginia that served not only as a teach preparatory schools but also brought dance to many areas that would have otherwise not been exposed to the art form. The dancers also performed with Bristol Ballet Company, a thriving regional company that Hardinge founded in 1959. Hardinge brought in guest choreographers and instructors from nationally recognized programs to supplement the student’s educational experience. Hardinge retired from VIC in 1985, and the Bristol Ballet Company left the auspices of the VIC in 1986 to return to its original home at the school of dance that Hardinge founded. The department was briefly headed by Sidney Warren before Harolyn Gaudette assumed the director’s position in 1987. Under her leadership, the program continued to bring in guest choreographers and teachers and focused on performing classical, contemporary, modern, and theatre dance pieces as well as training dance educators. Gaudette held the position until the department closed at the end of the 2009 school year. Since its creation, the dance department at Virginia Intermont College produced hundreds of performers, teachers, and choreographers. To operate a department like this is truly a labor of love, and while the legacy of the program will live on in the lives of those who were a part of the program, the dance community has lost something precious. TAD applauds the vision of the women who created and sustained this program, and we regret deeply the closing of this program. Be an arts advocate! This article highlights the importance of active arts advocacy. During this time of economic issues and budget crisis, it is even more important to voice your support of the arts, and dance in particular. Develop a habit of contacting your local, state and national officials to let them know how important the art of dance is to a civilized society. Your voice matters. Let them know why Dance is important and what it does. Dance develops the following: • self-discipline • focus • concentration • creativity • problem-solving skills • self-assessment skills • the desire to do well • physical fitness Why are these things important? These are all skills that transfer into other areas of learning and achievement. Students who study dance score an average 36 and 15 points higher on verbal and math SATS (Source: College Entrance Examination Board, Student Descriptive Questionnaire). Employers are increasingly looking for employees who are creative and adaptable. Be an active member of TAD and Tennesseans for the Arts. Help to spread the message about dance and the arts. The Call Board August 2010
Page 1 and 2: The Call Board Vol. 22, No. 1 • T
Page 3 and 4: Conference ‘10 at Austin Peay Sta
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