Chicago!!

My trip to Chicago was absolutely phenomenal! I did not have any time for sight-seeing due to my intensive daily schedule (dance classes from 10 am - 5 pm), but that was completely fine with me due the excitement of the classes and my exhaustion at the end of the day. This year's River North intensive was smaller than last year (we only had twenty girls in my class), but I enjoyed it so much more since there was more space to move and we all got more individual corrections.

Every day we took a ballet technique class, a jazz technique class, and a River North Repertoire class. We learned one of their hardest pieces "Temporal Trance." After doing that piece, you feel like you just ran a marathon, but wonderful at the same time. One day, some of the company members came into the theater to watch us and stood up and clapped for us when we finished. That was an exhilarating feeling. We also had a time block for "Artistic Style and Expression Class". In this class we learned Fosse combinations, Hip Hop combinations, and musical theater combinations. In addition, we also took pilates and yoga classes. The intensive was an unbelievable experience; truly inspiring and re-awakened my passion for dancing.

Here is the link so that you can watch some River North Repertoire clips:
http://www.rivernorthchicago.com/dancers.asp

Until next time,

*Nell*

Welcome!

Welcome to the Dance Department Blog! After reading this, you should get a better understanding of the daily life of a Dance Major/Minor. My name is Nell and I am a rising senior double major in Dance and Business Administration. I have absolutely loved my three years in the Dance Department at BSC; the dance classes, my fellow dancers, and my dance teachers have made Birmingham-Southern a choice I would make over and over again if given the opportunity. I remember looking for schools that offered both the dance training and the academic rigor that I needed; I found this perfect balance at BSC. It is not always easy meeting all your obligations, keeping your G.P.A. up, and dancing for five to six hours a day, but it is definitely possible! Hopefully by reading my entries you can get a sense of how the members of the Dance Department manage their time and manage to keep smiling despite the stress.

So, here it goes...my first Blog entry….

As I type this, I am in the midst of packing…I am not quite sure if I will be able to fit into my small suitcase…leotards take up more room than you would ever imagine! I am leaving for Chicago tomorrow to attend the River North Dance Company’s Summer Intensive. I went last year and absolutely loved it, so I decided to send in an audition tape and attend the Intensive once again. I fell in love with River North in grade school when a company member came to my studio to choreograph a piece for our performance and my love for their movement and choreography was rekindled my Sophomore year when a group of Dance Majors and I attended the Alabama Dance Festival. River North was the main attraction that year, so they held a performance and master classes at the Dance Festival. After the class, I asked the company member who had taught how I could continue working with their company (since it is very small with six boys and six girls). She told me about their Summer Intensive and suggested that I send in an audition tape. So I did, and here I am attending it for the second year in a row. I will keep you all updated on my experiences and adventures in Chicago!

*Nell*