Colby Theater & Dance

Friday, March 15: The Business of Acting:  How to Have a Career on Stage and/or Screen with Peter Zazzali

2 to 4 p.m. in Smith Acting and Directing Studio

The workshop will address some fundamentals of “show business,” such as joining actor unions, showcasing one’s work, seeking representation from agents and managers, and learning how to network/market oneself.  Professional acting in the US is a business.  While it is true that talent, training, and yes, luck are important components of the success and longevity of an actress’s career, the fact remains that she must treat her profession as a privately owned business, in which she markets her work to access and execute auditions, and ultimately, to become gainfully employed.  The primary learning outcome of this workshop is to demystify the student actor’s understanding of what it takes to have a professional acting career while providing him/her with a few basic strategies for getting started. 

MEET MAGGIE KATE COLEMAN
from the
National Theatre Institute
NTI Visit
OCT.  2nd, 2012 at 4pm
Strider Lobby Runnals
Sign up today on the Workshop Board in Runnals
Refreshments will be served.

Do you love Hip Hop?

Come take class with master teacher, Robin Sanders!
Sept. 21 at 12:30 in Runnals on Strider Theater Stage

Sanders’ love for freestyle and African dance and drum has lead her to a style that fuses hip hop dance & African inspired movement with a touch of Cali swag & Memphis ‘jookin’.  Her teaching philosophy is based on the idea that hip hop dance is a street born art form that stems from a mirage of movement and experiences. She is a seasoned instructor with the ability to connect with dancers of all genres, levels, and ages. Sanders is one of Mid-South’s paramount instructors and provides dancers with a street savvy  rhythmic experience.

Open to all levels of experience.

March 26: Andrew Cao: Broadway Dance Master Class

Strider Stage or Dance Studio

4 to 5:30 p.m.: Master Class in Strider

Come learn a section of the Tony Award Winning choreography from Broadway’s current hit, ANYTHING GOES, with Broadway triple threat Andew Cao. All levels of dance encouraged to participate. Tap shoes are welcome, but not required. Tap experience not necessary. Come and enjoy this tremendous opportunity.

 Andrew Cao is currently appearing on Broadway in the acclaimed revival of Anything Goes. Other New York credits include West Side Story, Bells are Ringing and Frog Kiss. Regional credits: Robin and the 7 Hoods at the Old Globe in San Diego; Annie Get Your Gun at the Goodspeed Opera House and the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; West Side Story at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and Atlanta Theater of the Stars.

 Space is limited: sign up sheet is posted on the call board in Runnals

Have you always wondered what life is like for a Broadway triple threat? Now’s your chance to find out! Sign up for lunch with Andrew Cao, currently appearing in the Broadway hit revival of Anything Goes. A sign up sheet is posted on the Workshops bulletin board outside Runnals office 104a.

March 26 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bullock Dining room in Dana.

Diversity in Rhythm and Motion Workshop with David Pleasant

Friday, March 2: 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Runnals Dance Studio

Space is limited: sign up sheet is posted outside Runnals 104A

If you missed working with David Pleasant last spring when he was the Visiting Artist in the Music Department (and even if you didn’t!), you’ll want to attend this amazing rhythm and motion workshop designed for dancers, actors and musicians. The workshop highlights the unique percussion approaches of Gullah-Geechee (ring play, Juba, hand jive, tambourine, hambone, etc) and stresses the benefits of collaboration, participation and co-operation in the creative process. It is a hands-on, intensive movement and rhythm class that is accessible to all skill levels. Participants experience a model for a broad interpretation of creative expression stressing co-operation; practice; individuality; patience; focus; acceptance; risk taking; growth and cultivation as primary issues.

David Pleasant is a multi-faceted percussion virtuoso, rhythm effects vocalist, avant-garde performance artist, Storyteller and lecturer who specializes in African-American traditions. Born in Savannah, GA and raised in McIntosh County, Pleasant grew up immersed in the rich Gullah/Geechee (Georgia and South Carolina Sea Island) culture, which thrives in that area.

Artists Don’t Actually Have to Starve – Do you want to be an artist? Do you have questions about how to make a living as an artist? Come to The Life of the Artist workshop led by Amy Smith of Headlong Dance Theater of Philadelphia. The LIfe of the Artist workshop is for student artists of any genre who feel overwhelmed by the thought of entering the professional world. We will talk about the artist’s role in our culture, and share some tips and thoughts about to build a balanced and sustainable career in the arts. We also talk more specifically about balancing day jobs and artistic work, how to put a dollar value on your own time, budgeting, when to say “no” to opportunities, goal setting, and even “to MFA, or not to MFA”. There is no single model for an artist’s career, but we at Headlong care about helping you create your own model, and giving you some tips and tools to do so.

Please sign-up on the bulletin board in Runnals. Space is limited. Contact Todd Coulter (tcoulter@colby.edu) with any questions.

Friday February 17th 12:30pm in the Fairchild Room in Dana. Grab your food and join us!

Paul Taylor Mini-Intensive Workshop!

The Department of Theater and Dance welcomes Lisa Viola to campus on February 25th and 26th. A former principal dancer and Bessie Award winner, Lisa will teach a technique and rep class each day followed by a discussion of Paul Taylor’s work. Paul Taylor is the last living member of the pantheon of American Modern Dance. Having danced for Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, Taylor began choreographing well over 50 years ago creating pieces that range from the comedic to the dark side of humanity. We invite you to come work with Lisa and experience Taylor’s style of movement and to learn excerpts from some of his work. The Department will also be screening the Academy Award nominated Dance Maker on Thursday February 23rd at 7:30pm in Smith Lounge in Runnals. The film prominently features Lisa and gives an excellent overview of Taylor’s work.

The classes are open to all level of experience. Technique classes are from 11am-12:30pm on Saturday and Sunday followed by Rep Classes from 2-4pm each day. To participate in the rep class, you must take the technique class. Sign-up sheets for the master classes are on the Runnals bulletin board. Space is limited so be sure to sign-up soon. Contact Todd Coulter (tcoulter@colby.edu) with any questions.

Colby at ACDFA
March 9-12, 2011
Keene, NH

For the first time in many years, Colby students attended the American College Dance Festival Association Annual regional conference participating in a series of master classes, discussions, and performances representing New England’s best in college dance. Attendees this year included Assistant Professor Annie Kloppenberg, and T&D Dance focus minors Mika Mintz (‘14), Ellie McGuire (’13) and Delaney McDonough (’13). We were all especially excited to connect with Colby Alumna Heidi Henderson, who is artistic director of Elephant JANE Dance and on faculty at Connecticut College.

Here’s what the students had to say:

“ACDFA was one of the most academically influential experiences of my life. I have never been exposed to so many wonderful, passionate, and impressive people in any field. The few days were challenging, exhausting, thrilling, and most remarkably inspiring. I’m still exhausted but still processing all of this fresh knowledge. “

-Delaney McDonough (’13)

“ACDFA was a truly enlightening experience. Learning from other teachers and choreographers, as well as interacting with undergraduate students with the same passion for dance and artistic creation was inspirational, motivating, and eye-opening. I believe that this experience will benefit student work at Colby and cross collegiate collaboration in the future.”

- Ellie McGuire (’13)

Click HERE to read Ellie’s dance blog with independent study partner Logan Hunter (‘11).

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the American College Dance Festival. Never, in my fourteen years as both a dancer and a student, have I experienced something so enriching and rewarding. The feeling of being completely immersed in a world of dance left me wanting more. After viewing performances choreographed by students like myself and taking classes by a number of inspiring dancers and choreographers, I couldn’t stop creating my own movement. Whether it was in the elevator of the hotel or waiting in line for lunch, I couldn’t stop dancing.”

– Mika Mintz (’14)

Dance Master Classes 2010-2011

Beginning in September, dance faculty at Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin initiated a practice of inviting a small group of students from each institution to attend master classes with visiting artists, a practice that we look forward to continuing. This year, Colby students had the opportunity to take class with the following visiting artists:

Kyle Abraham (@ Colby)
Monica Bill Barnes (@ Bowdoin)
Kendra Portier (@ Colby)
Alli Ruszkowski (@ Colby)
Larry Keigwin (@ Bowdoin)