The pleasant smell of chalk and mumbled chitter of elder woman filled my senses as I pulled on my jazz shoes. I’m only 16 but I’ve filled out all my papers and I have every right to be here. The auditions for the Maricopa Community Theatre’s Rendition of The Cell Block Tango. I practically begged my mom to let me audition, the number was from the Broadway production Chicago and I was practically on cloud 9 just from the idea that they may be doing the number. I worked my mother for a good week, my name already on the list of auditioners as it was. When she finally allowed me to audition for the number I was thrilled, and my stomach was getting butterflies already. When the audition finally came I was all nerves. The dance studio was painted
Thursdays at Cal State L.A. seemed like any other typical day- warm, busy, and tiring. However, on December 2, 2015, something was particularly different; not only was it the last day of class before finals, but there was also a Mariachi concert directed by Cynthia Reifler Flores. As I was walking towards the State Playhouse, I thought about how the music would be composed. The first thing that I expected was the music to have a quick, upbeat tempo, something that would be played at a festival or a party. I walked through the screen door and was given a pamphlet. In it contained detailed information about their programs, musicians, Flores’ biography, and the prodigious mariachi group. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the doors
I was very reluctant about dancing because I was unfamiliar with Latin dance, but they insist that I participate. The music and dance was not just Latin and Mariachi music. Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop was mainly played. Hours went by and the DJ announced that everyone should return to their seats, the father and daughter dance was about to begin. The pillows of shoes from earlier and a doll was now in the father hands.
Throughout the years, America has pursued the performing arts in a large variety of ways. Theatre plays a dramatic and major role in the arts of our society today, and it takes great effort in all aspects. Musical Theatre, specifically, involves a concentration and strength in dance, acting, and singing. This is the base that Musical Theatre is built upon. For my Senior Project, I helped choreograph multiple scenes in a community musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. Choreography is a way of expressing oneself, but it has not always been thought of for that purpose. Agnes de Mille’s expressive talent has drastically affected how people see choreography today. Agnes de Mille’s influence in the world of dance has left a lasting impact in the Performing Arts Department, and her revolutionary works are still known today for their wit, lyricism, emotion, and charm.
Angels in America is a play by Tony Kushner exploring themes of identity, power and stasis versus change in the setting of McCarthy era San Francisco. The play looks at homosexuality and homophobia, race, ethnicity and the AIDs crisis through exploring motifs of religion (especially Judaism and Mormonism), politics and law. This essay will explore how these themes could be examined and expressed through stage magic and circus arts in the context of a production inspired by Part One: Millennium Approaches of the two part play. A circus interpretation of Angels in America raises issues of casting skills and practical stunts performed live, demands consideration for set requirements and digital effects, music, and for style of process devising work. Kushner’s playwright’s notes for Angels in America describe “moments of magic”, referring to the appearance and disappearance of characters on stage, hallucination sequences and the dramatic conclusion of the play featuring an angel crashing through the ceiling of a small New York apartment. He states that “the moments of magic are to be fully realized, as bits of wonderful theatrical illusion – which means it’s okay if the wires show, and maybe it’s good that they do, but the magic should at the same time be thoroughly amazing” (Kushner, 1992, p11). It was this statement of aesthetic that inspired me to apply the themes of the play to creating circus and classic stage magic.
For my first concert report, I have decided to attend the Applied Music Student Recital. The musical performance was at Palomar College on February 27, 2015 from 1:00P.M.--2:00P.M. at the performance lab room D-10. The type of music that was presented at the concert was a brass ensemble, chamber music, classical, contemporary, jazz, opera, percussion, and many vocal arrangements. There was a total of eight musical Palomar College student performers who are majoring in music theory. I am only going to focus on a few of the musical pieces that I enjoyed most. The majority of the performers were dressed in formal attire. As the men were dressed in a dress shirt, a tie or bow tie of their choice, black slacks, and dress shoes. As for the women, they wore dresses, skirts and dress shoes. Also there was a pianist, accompanist who is a Palomar College music teacher named Ruth Weber. The performance was in a music concert hall with roughly fifty audience members.
It started on one brisk morning that I had been waiting for throughout the entire summer. The day I will receive my first pair of pointe shoes. Today is the day I will dance en pointe for the first time. After what seemed like an eternity when we finally arrived at Patterson’s, the place where I will become a true ballerina.
On a Wednesday night I saw Texas State Theatre and Dance Department's performance of A Chorus Line. The main plot of the musical entails the audition of 17 dancers for several Broadway roles on the chorus line. However, during their auditions the director Zach asks for personal stories of each dancer's life. Though the plot of this musical is seemingly simple in its twist on the traditional audition, it explores themes that reveal the human experience, the search for individuality, and the sense of self.
In the world of theatre, auditions are critical in order to have an exquisite show. However, auditions can be tricky and demanding, especially if it is for a musical. A regular theatrical audition is different in comparison to a musical audition; the steps may look more complicated, and it can seem convoluted for a first time auditionee. For this reason, it is difficult to get into a show without prior experience. So, this guide can benefit a majority of people who wants to undergo an audition, especially if it is their first time auditioning. Furthermore, the age can range from 13 to 30 years-old. This guide may benefit the first
On Wednesday, May 23rd, I attended the College Choir concert in the Reamer Campus Center. The choir performed a variety of songs, ranging from pieces in Latin to traditional American folksongs. Two of the pieces featured solos, and one even featured percussion instruments. Mrs. Elinore Farnum provided piano accompaniment for each of the songs, and performed beautifully. I was extremely impressed by the talented choir members and their ability to sing such a varied range of songs.
A sufficient reason for attending many NYCB performances, even of the same program when possible, is that one can never tell beforehand when the constituent elements of the ballet-going experience will jell effectively for them. For a non-musician like myself, it is difficult to “see" the music, but on Sunday afternoon it felt as if I did. Mozart’s and Tschaikovsky’s composition never sounded so sublime. Alexander Glazounov’s music was imbued with an irresistible beauty of its own. And the company was firing on all cylinders for this matinee! Maria Kowroski and Tyler Angle were deeply moving in Mozartiana; Teresa Reichlen and Russell Janzen, spectacular in Cortège Hongrois. All the subordinate parts, by Daniel Ulbricht in one work and Lauren King, Emilie Gerrity, Savannah Lowery and Ask la Cour in the other, were performed admirably. The work of the corps members shone throughout. This was easily the most satisfying of the five
, when people ask me where I’m from, I cringe and lower my head in admitted shame. Dayton, Ohio is a dying city. However, after just being home for Thanksgiving break, the first time I’ve been home since recently turning twenty one, I’ve discovered that there is an artistic awakening happening in my home city; that is, the Gem City has a few hidden gems. I am referring to the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC). Founded in 1968, DCDC is Rooted in the African-American experience and is a culturally diverse contemporary dance company committed to reaching the broadest audience through exceptional performance and arts-integrated education. My best friend decided to take me to see their restaging of the family-friendly holiday presentation of Charles Tazewell’s endearing 1946 children’s story “The Littlest Angel” in the Kennedy Union Boll Theatre of the University of Dayton. I was moved.
In this paper, I will be focusing briefly on my knowledge and understanding of the concept of Applied theatre and one of its theatre form, which is Theatre in Education. The term Applied Theatre is a broad range of dramatic activity carried out by a crowd of diverse bodies and groups.
I had my first dance recital on the day I turned four. Now I don’t remember anything from that day, but I believe that that day is when I learned I loved to perform. I’ve been taking dance lessons since then, and many things that I do now involve performing in some type of way.
Inlet Dance Theatre is more than your average modern dance company. They are a family that always includes and never disincludes. Just watching them dance, you can tell that they truly love each other.
Finally, the day of the form evening arrived. The parents in the audience were in for an impressive display. Ours was the third item. The girls trooped in eager to give their best and to make the class look good. We all danced to the music, perfect and well co-ordinated in our steps. I was right in the centre and was one of the two dancers in the front.