SECOND STORY REHEARSAL #70

April 11, 2018

FINAL PREP FOR “WATCH, DO AND MAKE DANCE!” WORKSHOP

​Our session begins today with Lorena consulting with Mandy and Jonathan to finalize the music that will accompany the different segments of our upcoming choreographic workshop at the Westchester Children’s Museum on Sunday, April 18th.  Lorena is using her computer to create a CD with the music the dancers select.

At the last rehearsal, the dancers decided to wear teaching clothes for the workshop.  Today, they get more specific, agreeing to wear all black.

As this is the final rehearsal before the choreographic workshop on Sunday, Jonathan talks through the progression of the program with Mandy and Lorena:

1. Jonathan will introduce the Second Story dancers to the participants and outline the components of the workshop.
2. Jonathan will lead the first part of the warm-up with the kids.
3. Mandy will lead the rest of the warm-up, utilizing improvisation and choreographic games.  The moves the children create in this section will be used in an original phrase they create later with Mandy.
4. Lorena will perform a section of her piece (focused on floor patterns and moving to the music), teach a small portion of this segment to the kids, then help the children create a few new moves to add on to the phrases they just learned. 
5. Mandy will do the same with a section of her piece (focused on creating shapes with the body).
6. Jonathan will do the same with a section of his piece (focused on gestures and emotional expression).
7. At this point, the dancers will review with the children the phrases they created with each dancer --  then put them together to make an original dance.

Jonathan takes some time now to flesh out, then write, his verbal introduction while Lorena alternates between constructing the CD and running back and forth across the studio with Sebastian and his stroller.

Lorena decides to put on a video for Sebastian so the dancers can focus on a trial run of the program.  Sherri is playing the role of an elementary school participant, trying to imagine how she would respond to the dancers’ instructions if she were seven years old!

Jonathan, Mandy, and Lorena go through the entire program, one element at a time.  Together, the dancers help one another determine the most effective descriptions, verbal cues, explanations, and approaches, given the young age of the workshop participants.  The dancers offer ideas and feedback, testing them out in real time.  Adjustments are made on the spot.  Transitions between elements are worked out. 

Although the dancers try to anticipate the needs and competencies of the children, they acknowledge the possibility that they may need to adjust the pace and content of the program to respond to the actual levels of energy, interest, and ability the participants present.

​Everyone is excited to test out our latest choreographic initiative on Sunday!