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Extraordinary Reflections

  A Strikingly Different Tenor Nicholas Fenley  In general, there is very little discussion of performative action as it pertains to Watson’s “Eastern and Western Influences on Performer Training at Eugenio Barba’s Odin Teatret” in the world of the working orchestral musician. I’ve theorized from my experience in this field that there are two main approaches to preparing a performance which I call positive and normative, respectively. Positive music-making engages the imagination and the inner ear; it is when we ask ourselves “what COULD this music be?” Normative music-making involves pragmatic problem-solving, and attending to flaws in the music; it is when we ask ourselves “what is wrong or lacking here?” Large-ensemble work is largely normative: correcting mistakes, making minor adjustments here and there informed by the score, and minimizing the chance of things falling apart come performance time. It is worth noting that neither of these approaches are...
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Final Reflections

   1 A New Daily Routine   Yihan Liu In this  semester’s learning , I have gained profound insights into both my physical and mental aspects. From a physical perspective, I have learned how to consciously perceive my body. Even in everyday activities such as breathing, walking, and standing, I have become aware of how to utilize the consciousness of my mind to control muscle contraction and exertion. Additionally, I have come to understand the importance of focus and balance. These two concepts have significantly influenced both my dance performance and mental state. During classroom exercises, I have recognized the significance of concentration, namely, the ability to disregard external distractions and focus entirely on the dance movements and emotional expression at hand. Meanwhile, maintaining a sense of balance requires a foc...
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Program / Final Graduate Performance

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  Embodied Movement Practices in the Performing Arts - Spring 2024   SOLO WORK   1   Breaking Free    Iliana Barcenas Based on the text "Confinement", my solo includes a person who is inspired to break free out of their box, but like life, it is not a straight path. Some days she feels free and others it is like she is back to the start. I plan to portray being confined and what the beauty of breaking free can look like.     2   It's Too Late Isabel Breakey This work tells the story of a young woman coming to terms with the end of a relationship. It shows her processing the finality of it all, looking for closure, and eventually settling into a feeling of acceptance and peace with the situation, knowing that what is meant to be will be. 3 "Synecdoche" Choreographed and performed by Nicholas Finley Text by Nicholas Finley Synecdoche is a literary device in which a...
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Dress Rehearsal: Ensembles & Solos

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    I   Unit: Performance Theme: Ensemble and Solo Work   Introduction Today, we will combine in one class the dress rehearsal and the performance of the ensemble works. A dress rehearsal is the final rehearsal of a live show, in which everything is done as it would be in a real performance. The performance requires a special kind of energy that makes it an special instance of what has been rehearsed repeatedly. II Learning Objectives     Understand the demands of a performance piece Explain why rehearsing is a necessary part of the process  Gain an awareness of the importance of embodying movement and voice while performing full-out Experience what is like to tell a story using dancing images, movement metaphors and vocal abstractions.   III Warm Up   IV Dress Rehearsal   TIPS Performers often rely on classroom mirrors to help them with formations and spacing. Having a chance to dance without the security of the mirror before the...
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