Well as we wrap up this 17th season, we look back on our successes, and
assess ourselves for next year. The field of modern dance is definitely changing across the
board, and if youʼve noticed, TDC isnʼt the only company following suit. The most
prominent change, or rather adaptation we have been exploring is the world of social
media. The entire reason I am speaking to you now is a part of our Social Media Diva efforts to
keep you interested, and access people we might not be able to through program
surveys, public performances and press releases. Something that most companies in the Chicago dance
community have been wrestling with these past few years.
Besides Blogs, Facebook updates, and Instagram photos, there are a dozen free
applications to which we are allowed to share our upcoming events, exciting news,
personal stories, and even fundraise. There have been companies across the US video
blogging their rehearsals to generate interest in their communities, others have “meet
the dancers” video interviews to bring these communities closer to the dancers
themselves. These companies are taking the typical separation of stage and audience
and eliminating it with these innovations. And people like it. Small towns have even
adopted their dancers with “specialty drinks” in the local bars! The best part about all of these highways for marketing transportation is that itʼs free, for the most part.
Because of our economical situation, dance companies have found that they do
not have the budget to perform the same way they used to. They are cutting their
performance series, they are reworking old repertory, and even eliminating the need for
a proscenium stage space. We are being innovative, creative, and resourceful...because we have to. We are dancing in places unlike the usual stage vs.audience situation because it makes people watch us in hopes of following the company and itʼs future endeavors. The most important outcome of this whole media effort are the eyes, not the bodies in the seats. The eyes are the things that get the people to start a conversation about the art, and then, presence in the performance space will follow.
This is what The Dance COLEctive is working towards, and doing a pretty damn good
job of it if you ask me. We want to start the conversation, and keep it rolling for as long as we can. We have taken the current times and used them to plan something exciting
and creative; we have brought the audience into our rehearsals, performances, and
experiences and eliminated the barrier between us. We want your opinions, your
thoughts, and comments on the instagrams/facebook uploads! The one thing that I have
appreciated the most about being a member of The Dance COLEctive is the opportunity
to share my thoughts, comments, and experiences with the company because it always
had an impact on our choices together. With that said, you are now being given this
opportunity, and I suggest you take it.
So as we break for the summer, keep in mind our plans to keep you a part of our
efforts to become a well seen, technological, social media conquering throne of Divas!
We appreciate you as a follower, and know that you will not fail to help us include all of
those who might consider keeping track of TDC and itʼs upcoming events! I am passing the Social Media Diva position over to Margi for the summer! Stay tuned for reposts, musings about teaching and plans for next season!
Thank you!
Submitted by TDC dancer Madelyn Doyle, Wednesday, May 29, 2013.
Nearing the end of my second season as a part of TDC, I’d like to talk a little about my experience with the Company.
I began abruptly as an apprentice to the company in the Fall of ’11, and was thrown into the fast-paced process of recreating, actually exactly reproducing the piece, Pull Taut, which I had seen the year before and particularly enjoyed. You could imagine my excitement when I learned of the Company’s plan. I had learned movement from video before, but this was unusual because I was trying to find my niche within the Company as a new member, while at the same time discovering material that was counter-intuitive to my body (since it was someone else’s). It was uncomfortable and difficult for me to handle both, but I was glad that I was put into something like that. It was a learning experience and something that I will always remember when approaching new things. After the dance was reproduced (it seemed like it was done in minutes), we moved on to our new material that would form into Moving Stories, a piece that we also recreated for the Pritzker Stage this past April. It was my chance to bring forth my own material, and show the Company what I could contribute. I was overwhelmed in a good way and couldn’t wait for more.
I re-auditioned as a company member, and started my second season the Fall of ’12. It was interesting because the newest additions of the company, Molly Kirkpatrick and Julie Boruff began their time with TDC learning 13 from video, an experience I was all too familiar with. I understood how intimidating their position might be but they were so laid back with their ability to adapt and go with the challenges with which they were presented. We then got started on some new material which developed into in orderly fashion. This piece gave the Company the chance to work in a completely different way from what we were used to. I loved the intimacy and awkwardness of the material. It made for an interesting piece. We performed this on Stage 773, another experience that was new for the Company. The venue was incredibly intimate, which benefited the piece, I think. From that performance, we went on to the recent FlySpace collaboration which I’m sure you have been savvy to. If not, you definitely need to check out what’s been happening.
So now we have returned to our regularly scheduled programming, which is the Company member produced COLEctive Notions. This production consists of 3-6 brand new works presented by TDC Company members, on TDC Company members. It is a smaller production, usually performed at Links Hall, but recently, we have been presenting in the Fasseas Studio of the Drucker Center which is much more ideal. You definitely need to stay up to date on that performance, as it will not be taking place until the beginning of November. We are also in the middle of auditions and callbacks. It was so exciting to see all of the supporters of TDC and the people who are interested in the Company! So that’s my story with TDC. As of now, I’m looking forward to new experiences, both for the Company, and as a member. As we all know, the times are changing for dance companies and The Dance COLEctive has been admirably on top of some pretty innovative ways to stay in the business, so stay tuned!
Submitted by TDC Dancer Madelyn Doyle, on May 20, 2013.
Well here we are, nearing the end of The Dance COLEctiveʼs 17th season and Iʼm looking back
at the past two years thinking “..how the hell did this happen?” I remember showing up to my
first Modern 1 class at Columbia College Chicago oh so many years ago, a bit apprehensive
about this new teacher talking about the wonder twins, little green men, and corn. But, I stuck
with it. After semesters of thinking that I would never make it to a professional dance company,
especially Margi Coleʼs (or really wondering if I even wanted to perform), I found myself unable to stay away
from her, her classes, the companyʼs performances, and its dancers. There was something
about it that I respected so much.
I knew from the minute I left high school that I wanted to pursue my teaching certificate in Dance
and that it would require time and effort. So, during the frequent 3 hour commute to and from
Milwaukee, I realized that teaching wasnʼt the only part of dance that I wanted for myself. I
needed something in my life that I didnʼt have to control all the time, something that
fulfilled the creative side of me but something that also allowed me the chance to
share my life with others (a collective perhaps (I know, super cheesetastic)) closer
to my age. At the time, the only people I had the opportunity to share with were the
ones who wanted to know my favorite color, if I had a mom and lived in a house, and that they
just got a brand new outfit and hairdo that I NEEDED to know about. After attending my
umpteenth Dance COLEctive performance, I checked the program and committed myself to the
audition 7 months away. I attended the summer workshop and was surprised with how many of
the dancers I knew, or who actually remembered me from coming to company class. Being
there, dancing with these girls was just so comfortable. I appreciated that and understood
that this wasnʼt just a dance company, it was a family that had been thoughtfully formed
through the direction of a woman who took the time to research her dancerʼs values and goals. I
wanted it. I respected it, and knew that this was the “something else.”
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| Photo by Mike Doyle |
And now here I sit, explaining all of this to you but reflecting to myself about how it all came to be.
Something I didnʼt fully understand until now. I am nearing the end of my second year with the
company after starting as an apprentice and couldnʼt be more grateful for the opportunities provided to me. Itʼs been made clear that nothing is accomplished without full commitment,
and that if you want something enough you must work your way towards it through as many
paths as you can find. The Dance COLEctive, in my eyes, is an established, respected, and
carefully constructed crew of beautiful dancers I can proudly say I am a part of, and if you have
the chance or interest, I highly recommend inquiring about it.
Submitted by TDC Dancer Madelyn Doyle on Tuesday, May 9, 2013.
Receiving the opportunity to apprentice with The Dance COLEctive this season has provided me an environment of artistic and personal growth. Almost every rehearsal begins with a company class that focuses on technique, strength, and movement pick up, ext. I look forward to this every week and have learned that it is a gift to be able to have class before every rehearsal.
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| Photo by Eric Olson |
I have always enjoyed creating movement and learning different techniques on how to approach the creation process of dance. As an apprentice this year I have learned that collaboration is a key to success and growth. I have learned my habits as a mover, meaning the type of “moves” I rely on. This year I have been challenged to abandon these signature moves to create characters, relationships in space and to experience a new vocabulary of movement in my body. For example I have learned that as a mover I tend to create quick, sharp and whirly phrases but this year I have tried to break out from my norm. I am learning that taking the time to experience the movement can then in return tell what is important, what the viewer needs to see.
This year I have enjoyed collaborating with the other company members. Before joining The Dance COLEctive I had only a little experience in partnering. I was always hesitant to giving or receiving weight and simply not knowing how to create a duet. This year I have had to be challenged to create many duets and how to trust in partnering. Now something that was outside of my comfort zone is becoming an aspect of dance that I look forward to pursuing.
This season has challenged me as a performer to really see the audience. In my past experience as a performer there has always been a separation between the viewed and the viewer. I have found it difficult yet intriguing as a dancer/artist to look at the people watching, to talk to them, to engage with them while moving. This season is teaching me to more than a dancer on the stage but to just be myself while performing. I am looking forward to what the next season/year will bring. There are always new things to learn, more movement to discover and opportunities for growth.
Submitted by TDC Apprentice Julie Boruff on Sunday, May 5, 2013.
