NOVEMBER 2021
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NOVEMBER Student Advisory Board for Dance's Monthly Newsletter
HAPPY NOVEMBER UofSC students and faculty! This semester is truly flying by! Here are a few highlights to look forward to this November.
IN THIS ISSUE
A NEW MONTH + UPCOMING SAB EVENTS STUDENT CLUBS AND
Happy November, everyone! With our fall concert on the horizon, and seeing how committed and resilient our dance department has been, there is a ton to be inspired by in this newsletter, and in each and every one of you.
ACTIVITIES FOR NOVEMBER ASK ANDRÉ: HANDLING COMPARISON AND
This month, we're feeling extra grateful, and are excited to see all of your amazing dancing grace the Koger Center stage!
A CHANGE ANDRÉ WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE DANCE WORLD
PR SPOTLIGHT: GILLIAN
As always, please reach out with comments or concerns - we are here for you!
BERRY & MADDIE SELLERS
All the best, Student Advisory Board
JULIANA JORDAN
ALUMNI FEATURE:
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: HEATHER ROSS-BOYD
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Student Advisory Board for Dance Hey Everyone! We have a few exciting updates from Student Advisory Board this month!
ICYMI: Petite Grande:
UnderArmour: UnderAmour sales are officially OVER! Thank you to all who purchased merch this year; we raised over $400 to go to future projects. The order will be mailed to the dance building and is slated to arrive sometime in December.
Fall Variations Showcase: SAB is excited to announce that we will be holding an in-studio variations showcase on November 19th at 7 p.m. There will be more information to come in the next few weeks if you are interested in watching your colleagues. If you have any questions you want to see André answer in the Ask André column fill out this google form with your suggestion: https://forms.gle/n4sAY4SWSgQtwji38
CONTACT SAB! Click this link below or scan the QR code to join our SAB GroupMe! As a student body, this is our main line of communication: https://groupme.com/join_group/61786966/llzQKtWi You can also express your concerns via our concerns Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekKjQgbMQMD6BgHoS7ytcs5vX bletCV6LjlFDo1rqUtHEDjw/viewform?usp=sf_link Our Email Address: usc.studentadvisoryboard@gmail.com
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Carolina Dance Science Next meeting: IADMS Conference Watch Party! 11/17 @6:30-8:00pm via ZOOM (link sent via email and GroupMe) all are welcome to come for however long desired
Key Points from our last meeting: How to Make the Most out of Online IADMS! Step outside your theme, mix it up! Watch the Q&As Poster sessions are great for those interested in research Take key word notes / draw pictures Read feedback and comments Reach out if interested in helping with the Bulletin Board :)
Healthy Snack of the Month Peanut Butter Coffee Smoothie Ingredients:
PHOTO BY MARTIN R. SMITH
Exercise of the Month: “Pirouette Perfecter Exercise” What it works: This full-body strengthener targets the deep hip rotators, psoas, obliques, hamstrings, glutes and scapular stabilizers to promote stability while you’re spinning. What you need: Foam roller, or another item that is approximately 6 inches tall Starting position: Lie on your back and put your ankles on top of the foam roller, positioned horizontally. Legs should be straight and gently turned out, while your hands rest on your shoulders with your elbows near your waist. 1. Bridge your hips up so that your pelvis is lifted off the ground and your body is in a straight line, taut like an arrow. 2. Lift your right leg up 90 degrees towards the ceiling, maintaining the lift of the hips. 3. Keeping the right leg pointing to the ceiling and your hips lifted, rotate the body in one piece to the left so that you are facing the side wall and your leg is now in an à la seconde position. With the hips and core lifted off the ground to maintain the straight line of the body and leg on the roller, your left shoulder will be taking weight while the left hand stays tucked into the body out of the way. The right palm can come across the body to the floor to help stabilize. (While changing facings, imagine that a string from the ceiling holds your raised foot in one place while you rotate it within your hip socket to face the wall.) 4. From that position, complete the next series of slow, controlled movements: Enveloppé the right leg into a turned-out passé, then turn the passé in, turn it out again, and développé back out so the right leg is in à la seconde once more. 5. Keeping your hips lifted, return in one piece to your back so that the leg is devant again and both arms are tucked into the starting position. Lower the right leg back to the foam roller, then lower the hips. 6. Repeat on the left side. Do 2 sets on each side. Source: Pointe Magazine, Read the full article for additional exercises: https://pointemagazine.com/exercises-for-better-pirouettes/
cup brewed coffee 1 banana 1/3 cup greek yogurt (I used vanilla) 1/4 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk) 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 tbsp peanut butter powder 1-2 tsp cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups ice cubes 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 cup oats
Instructions: 1. Make your coffee and let it cool overnight or to room temperature. 2. Put all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth Notes: Topping ideas: chia seeds, hemp seeds, granola, fruit, peanut butter. For a stronger chocolate coffee smoothie taste, add chocolate protein powder in place of the peanut protein powder.
CONTACT CDS!
Email: soCDS@mailbox.sc.edu Instagram: @carolinadancescience Facebook: @carolinadancescience Join our GroupMe: https://groupme.com/join_group/618 62932/6i5FsVFD or scan the QR code
Source:https://www.bucketlisttummy.com/peanutbutter-coffee-smoothie/
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National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
PHOTO BY MARTIN R. SMITH
MEETING INFORMATION:
We will not meet the first week of November because of the USC Dance Company Fall Concert! Our next meeting will be Wednesday, November 10th at 7:15 P.M. in the dance building. We will be discussing arts advocacy! As always, please let Claire Wunderlich know if you cannot attend.
Check out NDEO’s “Behind the Curtain Blog” https://ndeo.org/content.aspx? page_id=2507&club_id=893257&item_id=567
Want to post something on the blog? Check it out and make sure you let Dr. Milling know if you’re interested! https://fs16.formsite.com/ndeoforms/rcvrifpt3y/index.html
Contact Suzanne with any questions: sem22@email.sc.edu
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram: @uofsc_ndeo
Check out the new bulletin board in the dance building!
RECENT NEWS: “S.C. Department of Education and S.C. Arts Commission Announce $20 Million Partnership to Expand Arts Learning Initiatives” https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/news-releases/s-c-department-of-education-and-s-c-arts-commissionannounce-20-million-partnership-to-expand-arts-learning-initiatives/ “Latest News from NDEO” https://www.ndeo.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=893257&module_id=461299
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EVENTS AROUND COLA A place for a collection of arts events around town with you that are on our radar (besides our very own dance fall concert, of course!). Consider supporting local fellow arts organizations to recharge from our dance-filled weeks!
11/20: Improv Jam @ Curiosity Coffee Bar, 5-8 PM. Come hang out and dance with Moving Body Dance Company, Johnson Company, and Blueprint X! (Find Ellery Jernigan if you have any questions.)
→
Weekly Events: Tuesday's: WUSC Open Mic Nights at New Brooklyn Tavern.
→ Doors open at 7 pm for sign up and the show starts between 7:45 and 8 pm → Free entry & food and drink specials Friday's: Overreactor's Improv Comedy Club Show in Booker T. Washington Auditorium, 10:30 p.m.
→ they do 3 shows a semester so look out for specifics on their Instagram or Facebook
Have an event you'd like our department to know about? Drop it in our SAB GroupMe, or submit events to us at usc.studentadvisoryboard@gmail.com!
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ASK ANDRÉ!
answering your questions on dance, strength training, and life!
What advice would you give to someone struggling with comparison? Ah, comparison, the ever-losing struggle that leaves us feeling superior or inferior, neither being an act of generosity that uplifts the spirit or actually helps our dancing. The act of comparing, in and of itself, is not necessarily bad. It’s how humans, mammals, have survived for eons, deciding what’s safe or dangerous. So the real question is, why is an intrinsic survival mechanism detrimental to us now? When we decide whether a piece of fruit is fresh or not, we don’t then place a value on ourselves that’s dependent on the final verdict of said fruit. We don’t say, “that piece of fruit is better than me, I’m never going to make it as a dancer.” Yes, I know that silly, but let’s examine how the two processes are similar. What we’re P H Odoing T O B Ywhen M A R Twe I N compare R . S M I T Hourselves, is measuring, gauging our chance of survival based on what we perceive an outside arbiter will choose. Essentially, we transform ourselves into objects. One, we are NOT objects, and two, even though we are being selected at auditions, one cannot truly know what another person is responding to. Even if we were fruits, how does a fruit know if I want an apple or an orange? Consider this, how often have you gone to the grocery store or restaurant thinking you were going to get a specific thing then seen something unexpected and got that instead? There are two parts here. Firstly, be what you are. Being a dancer requires a strong capacity for honesty and your best chances of success, by any measure, is to figure out what you are and be that, fully. A dancer is an optimistic realist. The adage, we’ve all seen in some form, really sums it up – “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This is a lifelong pursuit, and the parameters will shift as you learn and grow, realizing all the great things you didn’t know you were capable of, while letting go of things that no longer serve you. Secondly, when you feel that impulse to compare, and the negative emotions that follow, then redirect. The new habit will be analyzing what you’re seeing – if you see something good, redirect the “I’m not worthy” (or whatever), to “what was good about that?” Then clearly identify what you saw and see if you can apply that to yourself. If it’s a technical thing, see if you can figure it out. If it’s something like “they’re tall and I’m not” (as an example), well there’s not much you can do about that, but you can dance bigger, travel farther, and train to jump higher. So now you are problem solving. It’s proactive and empowering, and if you can, try to enjoy what you’re seeing. Positive support lifts everyone up, and that cultivated generosity of spirit will open many doors. On the flip side, if your judgment is critical of another, that can also bring you down because, at least on a subconscious level, that’s how we’ll feel others are seeing us. To judge another, is to judge ourselves. So instead, when you have that impulse, redirect, and analyze. What’s not working? What are they not getting? Then, see how that applies to you and what you might need to correct. If the correction doesn’t apply to you, try to figure out how you would help the person you’re observing. Now you’re learning how to teach, and to give. Side note – do not give unsolicited advice in class! What we’re doing in both cases is sublimating the emotional response to an analytical enquiry. Curiosity over judgment. This might take a while to put into regular practice so in the meantime remember that you can’t really stop an impulse, but you can redirect it once it appears. It’s a choice. That’s how we get better, by making choices every moment of everyday. Technique class for the soul. Eventually your new habit will supersede the initial impulse and you can get back to what you love – dancing.
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ASK ANDRÉ!
answering your questions on dance, strength training, and life!
What is something in the dance world you would like to see changed? I think one of the biggest ideas in the dance world I would like to see change is, body image. The belief that a dancer must look a certain way carries no performative benefits and limits the capacity of the art form. Human’s dance, we always have. Before we spoke, as a species, we danced. We see babies, as soon as they can stand, dance. It’s what we do, it’s part of how we communicate, tell our stories, wear our emotions, give thanks, express grief, and show love. So how is it, that now this enate gift of the gods has been relegated to a singular body type of structure and P H O T O B Y M A R TIt’s I N Ran . SM ITH composition? absurd premise and the fact that so many buy into it is tragic. This most human of art forms reduced to an elitist discrimination of body, and ultimately of race, culture, and spirit. I say, NO! I have seen beautiful dancers strive to be what they are not, losing themselves in external propaganda. I have heartbrokenly watched dancers sacrifice their health over aesthetics, and I’ve even seen some lose their jobs because they were no longer strong enough to do the work, and plenty of others who quit because they were miserable. Well, any life lived on someone else’s terms will be a life of subjugation. In so many ways, this relates to the previous article on comparison. Dancers, if you want to do this, and be happy, then being honest with yourself and embracing what you are is your best recipe for success. We can endlessly obsess over body parts, but to what end? When do we stop? What could we possibly accomplish if all that wasted energy were channeled in another direction? Who would we be? How would we dance? When we are comfortable in our own skin, dance on our own terms, and revel in our individual capacities, then others are comfortable too. We lead, by being. Ultimately, the deeper, intrinsic value, the spirit within the house of flesh, is what is seen, what is truly desired. A dancer’s body is an amalgamated result of training, athleticism, emotional experiences, physical happenings, soulful introspection, and artistry - a vessel shaped through heat and determination to channel the entirety of the human experience through a fragile vehicle made of flesh and bone. The end results a byproduct with as many permutations as there are people. Again, I say, how dare this dynamic vehicle of creative expression, life’s cry to the heavens, be codified, institutionalized, and marginalized. As if any one type can claim ownership and stake a flag in the deep, endlessly vast mysteries of the universe.
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PR SPOTLIGHT: Gillian Berry and Maddie Sellers With our upcoming fall concert this week, read about two of our dance performance majors who were able to play an active role in promoting it. Gillian: We have been meeting with Kevin twice a week to discuss what needs to be done for the show PR-wise. We interviewed Olivia and transcribed that interview to draft a press release to be put out on the website. We then asked all the choreographers basic questions about their pieces to get a sense of what the different works were about and give people a better understanding of what they'd be seeing by coming to the show. We also organized a photoshoot to get photos representing Olivia’s piece to be used on the poster as well as promotional posts on social media. We basically created a plan on getting the word out about the show and how we wanted to promote it both visually on the posters and the brochure, as well as online on our website and social media accounts. Maddie: This semester, I am working with Kevin on the design and layouts of promotional posters for the performances put on by the Theater and Dance Department. We discuss the font, mood, pictures, background and layout features of these show posters. More news from our PR Committee: Since it is show week, please add photos to the Photo Circle (app) to get some behind-the-scenes pictures/videos!! & to keep tagging us in posts so we can repost everyone!
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ALUMNI FEATURE: Juliana Jordan What in your dance journey led you to the UofSC Dance program? "I started ballet very young and just never wanted to stop. When I was 13 I met my most influential ballet teachers, a professional couple from Ukraine who had moved to the US one year prior, and as I continued to train in the school they founded, I got to connect my personal interest in Russian language and culture with my love of dance. Through them, I had the opportunity to take part in a short exchange program with a ballet school in Kiev for a few summers, and decided that I wanted to study both Russian language and keep dancing at a high level through college. The University of South Carolina had "WOODWORK" BY CAITLIN MCCORMACK an established Russian program and a growing dance program, and I wanted to have the experience Where are you now? And what aspect of UofSC of a large university, so it was a great fit for me." Dance prepared you for your professional career?
BACKSTAGE AFTER MY FIRST RUN OF BOSTON BALLET'S "THE NUTCRACKER" AT THE CITIZENS BANK OPERA HOUSE IN 2019
"It's a bit surreal to say that I've recently completed my second year as the Company Manager for Boston Ballet, and I've been in Boston now for almost four years. I'm always amazed at just how small the dance world is, but it's incredible how many connections to my time at UofSC Dance actually exist in my current position - some of my closest colleagues used to dance alongside my professors during their professional careers, for example. More than that, however - UofSC Dance provided a context and foundation for a broad knowledge of dance history, choreographic process, professional-level staging, and the daily rigor of the art form that informs my work as a Company Manager every day. The position requires strong administrative skills, but also a keen understanding of the various people and aspects that make a production - and an entire season of productions - run smoothly. As a double major at UofSC, I had a packed schedule and learned the rhythm of balancing what mattered most to me in my four years as a student. It took a decent amount of sacrifice, all-nighters, and support from my peers and professors to make it all work, but looking back now, it was the best combination of preparation for where my career has taken me."
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ALUMNI FEATURE: Juliana Jordan What is your favorite memory from your time here in the UofSC Dance department? "Tough choice! My freshman year, I had the incredible privilege not only to perform in Balanchine's Western Symphony on my birthday, but that gala performance also took place in Charleston, and featured Wendy Whelan and WITH ALBERT EVANS, CHARLESTON GALA 2008 Albert Evans. To have gotten the opportunity to be in a performance with such legendary artists right from the start was something really special. As my time continued, however, I really look back on my last few years and the opportunity I had to discover the choreographic process for myself and alongside my peers. Another really special memory was the chance I had to come WITH WENDY WHELAN, CHARLESTON GALA 2008 back a few years after graduating for an Alumni Choreographic Concert. I was able to bring a WITH FORMER STUDENTS OF MINE AND UOFSC DANCE ALUMNI, group of students to perform a work I'd LYDIA SANDERS AND DAVIA BUNCH choreographed, and it was really neat to see things come full circle. (Bonus that some of those students are now current UofSC dance majors!"
WITH FORMER STUDENTS AT A CHILDREN'S LIBRARY SERIES IN GREENVILLE, SC, CURRENT UOFSC DANCE STUDENTS, LYDIA ACKER AND LOGAN ACKER
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ALUMNI FEATURE: Juliana Jordan What do you miss the most from UofSC Dance that you are excited for new and current students to experience? "Some of my favorite moments were the classes right after a production when Thaddeus Davis would sit us down and ask us: "what did you see?". He always waited (or pushed) for the real, below the surface level answers, and challenged us to stretch ourselves as thinking artists instead of just "BACK DOOR PAROLE" BY TANYA WIDEMAN-DAVIS physical movers. It was a game-changer for me, and something that really helped me see how dance could go beyond my limited expectations at the time. Learning the answer to "why does it matter?" was something I walked away from those years with, and it influenced how I later taught, choreographed, and experienced dance. And of course, one of the best parts was discovering those moments alongside my fellow dance majors, many of whom I'm still connected with a decade later." As a graduate from UofSC Dance, do you have any advice for incoming freshmen and current students?
AT BOSTON BALLET ON OUR FIRST DAY OF RETURN TO THE STUDIOS IN SEPTEMBER 2020
"Learn to reframe what your idea of "success" looks like, and why you pursue the things that you do - whether that's a profession, the people you surround yourself with, or the investment you're placing in your goals and dreams. I didn't enroll or complete my degree as a dance major because I was the best or the most likely to be traditionally "successful", but my time spent as a dance major, getting the most out of the experience that I could, was an important journey that shaped who I am today. I'd also say to break down the walls between dance and the other parts of who you are - bringing your whole self to the studio, and the chance to incorporate what you're learning about yourself and the world in that space can be a really beautiful part of the process."
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NOVEMBER FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Let's get to know our dance program administrative assistant, Heather Ross-Boyd!
Get to know...
Heather is our beloved Administrative Assistant to the Dance Program, in the Department of Theatre and Dance. She began her career with the University as a float (Temp) in the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center (KPIC). Since she had always worked in “Corporate America”, it was a great way to evaluate if the university was the right fit for her. She then realized that she truly enjoyed working in an academic setting. Her responsibilities currently are: 1. Serving as the Administrative Assistant to the Dance Program Coordinator and Head of Dance Education. 2. Assisting the dance faculty, adjunct, accompanists, students, Board-of-Dance, and SC Summer Dance Conservatory. 3. Since the position of Administrative Assistant to the Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department has been vacant, she has also had the opportunity to assist Jim Hunter as Chair and the Theatre Program. Other responsibilities include: Keeping the scheduling calendar for the dance studios and classroom. Maintaining departmental student files. Maintaining records of course enrollment numbers for dance majors, and non-major students. Communicating and providing tours with families considering the UofSC Dance Program and answering their questions. Ticket coordination with venues hosting our dance performance concerts. Providing travel assistance to faculty, students, and guests attending conferences and other engagements off-campus.
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Now that we have a little background on Heather, let's get into the fun questions! What is your favorite part of your job? "My favorite part of the job is seeing the growth of our students during their while they study at UofSC as their passion and dedication to their art grows and blossoms. I don’t come from a dance background, so I was overwhelmed in the beginning and found my lack of dance terminology quite challenging. As I learn more about the dance program and what brought each faculty and student here, I soon learned how dance, music, and performance could ignite this expressive medium in each of you."
How has this position changed your perception of the dance world? "I did not gravitate to the world of dance growing up. I did take ballet lessons in the 4th-6th grades, but my dance teacher suggested that perhaps gymnastics would suit me better (LOL). I can, however, live vicariously through you and “dance like no one is watching” as you flawlessly execute your routines in the studios and on the performance stage."
If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be? "I think the person(s) I would have most loved meeting are Mother Teresa and Princess Diana. They both had a vision of a world where strangers were just friends they’d not yet met. I try to look at everyone in the same light and to see the best in them. We all are given talents in our creation. Our job is to explore life until we find what we are given and to do that every day we can until we can no longer. As they say, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”."
What is your favorite spot in Columbia? "My favorite spot in Columbia is anywhere my grandchildren are. I have a total of (7) grandchildren (3) in CT (where I was born and raised), (2) in AZ, and (2) are in SC. They play sports, (hockey, baseball, lacrosse), dance, and figure skate. I never have time to be bored. I have served on my church Board and did work with youth at Epworth Children’s Home and Christmas in Lexington County (helping elderly with minor repairs to their homes – making them safer for them)."
What do you like to do on weekends? "On weekends, my husband Don and I like to spend time gardening, watching Gamecock football, and spending time with grandchildren and our (3) dachshunds. They love going for walks in Seven Oaks Park and watching all the kids there. Of course, they sometimes think squirrels are great to play with but we’re not sure the squirrels feel the same way."
Below (L-R): Bruno (12 years old), Rusty (7), & Daisy Mae (2)
"My husband and I have banned each other from PetSmart! Every time we go there, we tend to adopt a pet from the visiting rescue mission. We started in Shelton, CT, and have continued it after our move to SC 18 years ago. If you’ve never owned a pet, be prepared to have them take over your life. They become an integral part of your fitness and vacation plans. As my children will say, “The grandchildren and the pets, take over all the wall space we used to!”. It’s true."