JOBS

Joffrey Ballet Chicago: Choreographers Of Color Award

September 24, 2011 by 4dancers

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, recently announced a national call for artists to submit applications for the Joffrey’s Second Annual Choreographers of Color Award.

This Award is to recognize promising young choreographers of color whose diverse perspective will ignite creativity in the form of original works of dance. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2011 and the winners will be sent notification by November 1, 2011.

The selected choreographers (3) will be given at least 30 rehearsal hours to set their pieces on the Joffrey Academy Trainees. They will each also receive a $2,500 stipend and an opportunity to work directly with Artistic Director, Ashley C. Wheater, and Academy Artistic Directors, Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik. The new works will be performed at various venues throughout the year.

To apply, interested choreographers must submit the following by mail: a DVD with a five-minute or less excerpt of their choreography with a brief written description; a letter of intent describing their interest in the competition and the kind of work they will create; a headshot and curriculum vitae with three references; and, a general application, which can be found online at joffrey.org/choreographersofcolor. Materials can be mailed to: The Joffrey Ballet, Attn: Choreographers of Color Competition Selection Committee, 10 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL, 60601.

Good luck, and be sure and let us know if you will be entering the competition!

MSG Varsity’s “The Rockette Summer Intensive”

June 12, 2011 by 4dancers

MSG Varsity's Rockette Summer Intensive (image 1) — Radio City Music Hall

I thought this might be something fun for 4dancers readers to check out. I’ve always been a fan of the Rockettes, so taking a peek into their world is something I found especially fascinating. In the dance world, they hold a very unique place.

Plus, it’s always intriguing to experience the audition process…even as an observer.

“The Rockette Summer Intensive” is a three-part television series — part two will be airing on June 14th at 7:30 pm on MSG Varsity. This means that you can still tune in to get an insider look at the final stage of the audition process that these young high-school dancers go through for a coveted spot training with the world-famous Rockettes.

This is the first time ever that cameras have captured the behind-the-scenes moments as over 600 girls audition for a place in the Rockette Summer Intensive program. You will get to see exclusive footage and one-on-one interviews with the dancers as well as the creative visionaries behind the Rockettes, including Eileen Grace, Rockettes Director and Choreographer.

Since the program’s inception, 42 Summer Intensive alumni have become world-famous Rockettes. “The opportunity for young dancers to study with the iconic Radio City Rockettes is invaluable, and the second episode of the series captures the intensity and emotions of these young hopefuls as they strive to train with the legendary kick line,” said Michael Lardner, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, MSG Varsity.

What an audition that would have been to go on as a teenager! I think back to my high school days and believe that it would have intimidated me–but it would have been exciting as well. I’m sure these girls all bring their “A-Game” in terms of preparation, but I can bet there are some pretty big time nerves going on–both on the set and off.

I’m sure there will be a wide range of hopefuls there, and it should be interesting to see what the audition itself looks like–as well as who makes the cut. “Dancers that are accepted into the Rockette Summer Intensive all share a common thread in not only their love of dance, but also exude such passion and drive during this intense training program,” said Eileen Grace, Rockettes Director and Choreographer.

The episode will air on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. on MSG Varsity, channel 14 on Cablevision’s iO TV.

4dancers will feature an interview with one of the young ladies that is involved in the audition, so be sure and check back on the 14th to hear her thoughts on the process!

Chicago Fringe Artists Networking Night

February 3, 2011 by 4dancers

Chicago Fringe Artists Networking Night (CFANN) is looking for dance artists to showcase their work for the annual event to be held April 9, 2011 at The Red Tape Theatre.

The event is an evening of performances, installations, and tasty treats from neighborhood eateries. Red Tape is known for its transformative space, and CFANN is no exception. Guests will find themselves in a cool, lounge-style venue surrounded by provocative intersections of visual, interactive and performance art.

CFANN 2011 will be all this and more. This years’ performance showcase is driven by dance and movement, immersed in fun, diverse and arresting visual, video and audio art, guaranteed to create an exhilarating and inspiring experience.

If you or someone you know is interested, drop by CFANN’s site to fill out an application–but hurry–they need to be in by February 11th.

University Dance Programs: Evaluating Students

August 3, 2010 by 4dancers

If you are new to the college or university environment, it can be difficult to know how to evaluate the students in your classroom. When I first started teaching at the university level, I had to put in a lot of extra time making sure that I was able to do this within the requirements of academia.

It was a little intimidating.

I wrote an article for Dance Teacher that passed on some great advice from people such as Mary Fitzgerald, assistant professor at Arizona State University’s Herberger College of Fine Arts and Larry Lavender, head of the dance department at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

If you are going to be working in this type of environment anytime soon, it can really pay off to listen to some tips from those who have gone before you. And if you have anything to share with 4dancers readers, feel free to chime in here…

Use Social Media To Your Advantage

July 27, 2010 by 4dancers

There are many ways to use social media. You can connect with other dancers in the field, keep up on the latest happenings in terms of a company you like–or get the word out about your latest performances.

But don’t overlook sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn for things such as research.

If you are going to be interviewing for a job somewhere, check out the LinkedIn profile of the organization, or peek at their Facebook page for the latest info. Many employers are doing just that these days when it comes to screening potential applicants–why shouldn’t you use it to your advantage as well?

You just might pick up on a detail that will help you get the gig.

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