A website for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance
As a dance professional, managing your online presence is part of the overall picture when it comes to marketing yourself. There are many ways to do this–you can have your own website, or you can develop a presence on sites that focus on dance. Today we asked a representative from Betterfly to talk with 4dancers readers about their site and how it can serve those who work in the dance community… [Read more…]
Today on 4dancers we have Brittany Delany with us…
1. How did you become involved in dance?
I became involved in dance at an early age. I loved music and dancing to radio and records. I enrolled in a local studio to learn ballet, tap and jazz but gave it up shortly after for town sports. Then in high school and college, I became more involved with choreography, improvisational dance forms, world dance forms, dance history, and performing/training in multiple dance styles. My parents understand my passion for dance, and I am ever grateful for their support and love.
2. What are you currently doing in the field?
I write as the Dance Editor at Hot Stepz Magazine and I train in hip hop dance with De La Femme, the all-female hip hop company of Funkanometry SF. I collaborate with modern dancers and support the performing arts as much as possible. I am wrapping up an internship in January with CounterPULSE, a radical, supportive, dynamic, flexible performing arts space in San Francisco.
3. Can you share a special moment from your career?
A special moment would be dancing outside with my mentor Pedro Alejandro in New Haven, CT at the Festival for Art & Ideas. I felt so blessed.
4. What advice would you offer other dancers?
Keep pushing the form of dance and support fellow dancers.
Today on “10 Questions With…” we have a fellow Chicago dance professional who I met online and have gotten to know and like very much. Her name is Lauren…
1. How did you become involved in dance?
When I was 6 years old, my parents took me to see a podiatrist because I was experiencing a lot of ankle pain during the night. I pronate and have a very high arch, and the doctor recommended ballet as a way to strengthen my feet and ankles. I had always wanted to do gymnastics, but once I started ballet the love affair did not stop.
2. What are you currently doing in the field?
I wear a lot of hats. The non-traditional trajectory of my career has lead me to pick up skill sets in production, sound design, teaching, writing and non-profit management. Currently I am the Performing Arts Coordinator at a non-profit organization, where I run dance, music, and theatre programs in addition to managing a black box venue that we rent to small performance groups. I also teach, and am training in the Cecchetti Method. I’ll take my grade II teachers’ exam this January! I serve on the board of directors and write grants for a small dance company, freelance as a modern dancer/choreographer, stage manager and sound designer, and write a dance science column for Dance Advantage. It’s a busy life!
3. Can you share a special moment from your career? [Read more…]
Perhaps it’s part of my internal makeup.
After all, if you take a peek in my baby book, you’ll see that the first word I ever uttered was not the typical, “dog” or “hi” that most children start out with.
It was pretty.
When it comes to dance these days, pretty seems to take a back seat to “interesting” or “thought-provoking”. It’s as if somehow pretty isn’t as valid or as desirable. While I can appreciate the need for dance to grow and evolve–I have to stop and ask–what’s wrong with pretty? Can’t something be visually pleasing while making one think or feel? Surely these two things can’t be mutually exclusive.
For me, there’s enough in this world that is ugly, disturbing or jolting (although I do admit to having a secret fascination with butoh, but perhaps that is because I lived in Japan?). The holiday season seemed to bring this issue to a head for me.
With people going to see The Nutcracker for the 50th time, I take a little bit of comfort in the idea that tradition and beauty are not yet completely dead and gone. Give me the magic of the snow scene and Sugar Plum fairy every time. I’ll take it.
Maybe I don’t like reality. Perhaps I prefer daydreaming, and I want to see a perfect world where everything has order and form.
But I don’t think so.
I just don’t necessarily think that different means good. (And, for the record, I don’t believe that “pretty” has to be in the form of a tutu and pink tights.)
What do you think?
Today’s “10 Questions With…” features a woman that I have a great deal of respect for. Claire Bataille was someone that I looked up to in my days at Hubbard Street Dance Company’s school, the Lou Conte Dance Studio. She was a powerful dancer with amazing technique and I loved taking her class. I’m thrilled to have her on the site with us today…
1. How did you become involved with dance?
I started taking ballet lessons when I was 3 years old and never stopped.
2. What are you currently doing in the field?
I am director of the Lou Conte Dance Studio and teach ballet and Pilates.
3. Would you share a special moment or two from your career?
HSDC’s first public performance in the tiny theater at the Cultural Center. We felt like we were at the Met.
Our first day in the studio with Twyla Tharp. I was in awe and it was so much fun!
The feeling I had being on stage again after my son was born. Performing was the only time I felt like I had time to myself and my only job was to focus on what I had to do. It was ironic. And at the same time becoming a mom put it all in perspective.
4. What is the best advice you have ever received regarding dance?
Lou Conte taught me how to really work. We had to give 100% every day. His rules were pretty simple: be on time, take the full ballet class everyday, take corrections, pay attention to details, be responsible.
As a choreographer and director he always made you look into the heart of the movement, no matter how simple. When he was disappointed in you he let you know and when he was moved you felt great, like you could do anything. I would not have had a career without Lou in my life. Definitely not like the one I had.
5. Do you have any advice for those who would like to dance professionally?
You have to physically and mentally strong, be prepared to stand tough against rejection, study ballet, jazz, modern, tap and any other discipline that’s interesting, take class every day, audition for everything and maintain a life away from dance. Read the newspaper, go to the movies, keep good friends close.
6. What advice can you offer for dance teachers?
Besides teaching a clean, strong technique combined with musicality and fluid movement quality, good teachers are much like good parents. You have to be willing to tell young dancers the truth and be ready to listen with compassion and heart.
7. What is it that you love so much about dance?
I love the dancer mentality. There is a dedication and emotional connection to the business that makes dancers good people no matter where their careers and life take them. A good dancer is a well balanced person.
8. What was it like to dance with Hubbard Street Dance Company?
9. You have also choreographed. Can you talk a bit about that process?
I choreographed a few pieces, had some good ideas but it’s not where my strength is. I much prefer being a guide.
10. What is next for you?
I’m 58. At this point I just hope to be able to continue to help young dancers navigate their way into and through this difficult and glorious business.
BIO: CLAIRE BATAILLE was a leading dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) from 1977-1992 performing works created by Lou Conte, Twyla Tharp, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Daniel Ezralow, John McFall and Margo Sappington. She received the Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Dancer in 1992. Between the years of 1977 and 2001 Claire also served the company as assistant artistic director, ballet mistress and rehearsal director. As a resident choreographer she created 5 works for HSDC between 1978 and 1985. Claire toured internationally with HSDC and has performed and taught throughout the US, Canada, South America and Europe.
As a choreographer, Claire has created works for HSDC, Spectrum Dance Theater in Seattle, Akasha Dance Company in Chicago, Dancers in Company in Iowa, Point Park Dance Ensemble in Pittsburgh and the Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble. In 1993 Claire conceived, choreographed and directed “Lifetimes” for the WTTW (Chicago’s Public Television) production of “Love in 4 Acts” featuring 4 Chicago choreographers. She has restaged Lou Conte’s works for many companies including HSDC, Dublin City Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theater, Point Park, Western Michigan University, Civic Ballet of Chicago and the University of Georgia.
Claire began teaching at the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 1975 and has been teaching dance in Chicago ever since. She has been on the faculty of The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Gus Giordano Dance Center, Columbia College, Melissa Thodos and Dancers, Cirqua/Rivera Dance Theatre, The Ruth Page Foundation and HSDC. Currently she is on the faculty of the Lou Conte Dance Studio and River North Chicago Dance Co. and is a guest teacher for several Chicago companies. In 2003 she earned her certification in the Pilates Method in New York with Romana’s Pilates. In Sept. 2005, she was appointed associate director of the Lou Conte Dance Studio at the Hubbard St. Dance Center. In Sept. 2008 she was promoted to director.
The best job of all is being mom to her 2 sons, Isaac and Jack.