SECOND STORY REHEARSAL #45

August 30, 2017

GETTING CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE

Leading into today’s rehearsal

​Following their rehearsal last week, Jonathan and Lorena discuss the importance of reviewing each week’s material between rehearsals.  Both acknowledge the difficulty of finding time to do this, given their roles as primary caregivers.  Nevertheless, they recognize that keeping the work fresh in their minds (and bodies) will facilitate their productivity in the studio.  They will likely spend less time refreshing their memories about choreography and possibly generate new ideas to bring to rehearsal.  Consequently, Jonathan will ensure that each dancer receives the videos from each session.  He notes that the time spent reviewing the material -- no matter how short – enables him to remain connected to his creative process when he’s not in the studio.

​Second Story will not be able to participate in the Steffi Nossen showcase in December.  However, we are considering showing our completed works in January. 

Today’s rehearsal

​Edgar is between camp and school, so he attends rehearsal today with Eliza.  The two run happily all around the studio.  They are joined by Sebastian, who divides his time between playing with his toddler buddies and seeking attention from his mom.

Mandy arrives last with her 2 sons, Nate and Max -- also between camp and school.  Lots of swordplay and high-energy hijinks ensue.

As usual, Lorena must jump in and out of the warm up period to attend to Sebastian’s needs.  Jonathan   alternates with Mandy in leading the warm up exercises.  The dancers shorten this segment so they can devote more time to their respective works.

During a break, the team discusses the possibility of doing a January showing, now that we cannot participate in the Steffi Nossen showcase.

The 3 dancers are outnumbered by the 5 children.  It soon becomes clear that the kids’ running, tumbling, and throwing plastic circles into their parents’ work space -- not to mention arguing – is rather disruptive.  Time to implement a new plan:  section off the kids in their own space and set them up with a movie and snacks.

Mandy catches up on the original choreography of the big phrase.  Jonathan shows her the changes to this section that he and Lorena made during last week’s rehearsal.

​Jonathan and Lorena then teach Mandy the material they created last week. 

Jonathan is now able to work on the staging of his piece – defining where the choreography will happen in space on stage and each dancer’s relationship to one another.  So, Mandy and Lorena begin the phrase facing each other, then eventually move to a point where they are far apart in space, but parallel to one another, then end up side by side.  In this way, Jonathan keeps shifting the audience’s attention.

As the process unfolds, Jonathan becomes increasingly excited.  He loves the choreography, he feels the material works well with the music, the piece builds in excitement and intensity, and the dancers look great together.

He is now at the 5-minute mark in the music – over the hump, so to speak, of the 7-minute, 50-second piece.

Despite the disruptions from the kids, the dancers manage to be very productive.

Next week, Jonathan intends to go back to the beginning of the dance, attach the big phrase, then make sure it all works together.

​With just a few minutes of the session remaining, Lorena decides to wait until next week to work on her dance.  Instead, Mandy teaches Jonathan the phrase she created with Lorena several weeks ago, and all 3 dancers perform it together.  Excited by this experience, Mandy decides she would like to create her own piece for Second Story’s next showing.