Student Blog: Welcome to Summer --- Performer Turned Choreographer

10 days of rehearsal. Two shows. 18 kids ages 9-12. One 18 year old choreographer. Let the summer begin! 

I've been in musicals since I was in elementary school and have always loved dance, but I never thought about choreographing until my senior year. The first time I had the opportunity to choreograph was during my final high school dance company production. It was a fun musical theatre tap dance to "Too Darn Hot" from Kiss Me Kate. I adored the process of coming up with choreography and even had the rare opportunity to perform in my own dance onstage!

This summer, I decided to take on the task of choreographing the entirety of Seussical KIDS for a middle school summer program. I have never done anything harder, and I have never loved anything more.

In the weeks leading up to rehearsals I tackled about one number each day, writing down and videoing choreography as I went. My biggest struggle in the process was creating numbers that were engaging while also being at a level achievable for all students. Some students were experiencing dance for the first time ever, and for others, it was second nature. Finding choreography that worked for the cast as a whole was a difficult task, but I slowly developed a method to keep myself in line. The key to my success with this production was to focus on story telling above anything else. I didn't want underwhelming numbers onstage, but I also had to come to terms with the fact that pirouettes and triple time steps weren't exactly realistic to teach to middle schoolers in 10 days. In the end, I found a way to equally tell the story while also giving more experienced dancers an opportunity to shine.

I am proud of myself for putting in the work and bringing the visions in my head to life on stage. I am most proud, however, of the group of 18 elementary and middle school girls for their tireless hard work and for trusting me, a recent high school graduate, with their summer show.

Not only was I able to teach the girls the dance numbers and skills they needed for their show, but more importantly I was able to teach them what makes theatre so magical. They all grew to support each other, respect one another, and work hard for a common goal. By the end of the 10 days, I think it's safe to say that everyone had caught the "theatre bug".

These magical 10 days spent with 18 new members of the theatre community are exactly why I am choosing to major in musical theatre. Taking a break from performing this summer and spending my time trying something new reminded me of exactly why I do this.

I'm proud to be a performer. I'm proud to be a choreographer. And I'm proud to be a part of the theatre community!