Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2014-15 Experiential
Dominique Neff
Learning Proposal
Performing at The
Fringe
[Street Address] [City], [State] [Postal Code]
Phone: [Your Phone] Fax: [Your Fax] E-Mail: [Your E-Mail]
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
Abstract:
Each August, the largest arts festival in the world takes place in
Edinburgh, Scotland. This festival caters to a diverse groupfrom experts in
their field, to beginners seeking insight and experience, from dance to
acrobatics, music to visual artsthis festival is culturally and artistically diverse.
Over one hundred theaters, spread across the city, act as performance venues.
Performers, including Burklyn Ballet Theatre from Vermont, attend from all over
the world.
This
summer, my goal is to both attend the summer intensive for four weeks, and to
travel with them in order to perform at The Fringe Festival. In total, this will be a
six-week time commitment. During my four weeks at Burklyn Ballet Theater in
Vermont, I will have class for at least 5 hours daily (consisting of ballet,
partnering, pointe, variations, modern, jazz, or improvisation classes). After
Performing at the
Fringe
Dominique Neff
2014-2015
class, I will have rehearsal for 1-4 hours to prepare for Burklyns weekly
performances. Furthermore, I will have rehearsal daily for the ballet that will be
performed in Scotland.
have duties daily that pertain to this responsibility. They could be locking up
studios, mentoring younger dancers, assisting with registration and orientation,
making programs, or maintaining the bulletin board.
I am truly honored to be considered a counselor at Burklyn Ballet Theater.
I love being able to share my passion with younger students and the teaching
experience is incomparable. See figure 1 for a sample schedule. Once we arrive
in Scotland, we will be performing daily. When not performing or taking class,
we will have the opportunity to watch others perform and to explore the area.
See figure 2 for an approximate itinerary. Through this experience, I both hope
to advance my technical and artistic abilities and expand my cultural horizons.
As a performer, it is a dream-come-true to share my work at the largest festival
in the world.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Ballet (2 hr)
Ballet (2 hr)
Ballet (2 hr)
Ballet (2 hr)
Ballet (2 hr)
SHOW
Counseling
(varies)
Pointe (1 hr)
Partnering (1
Pointe (1 hr)
hr)
Modern (1.5
hr)
Rehearsal (2
Rehearsal (2 hr)
Rehearsal (2 hr)
hr)
Partnering (1
Interviews
Counseling
Counseling
hr)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
Modern (1.5
Modern (1.5
Counseling
Counseling
hr)
hr)
(varies)
(varies)
Rehearsal (2
Rehearsal (2
Counseling
Counseling
hr)
hr)
(varies)
(varies)
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
2014-2015
Performing at the
Fringe
Dominique Neff
Figure 2:
Sample Itinerary (Scotland)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Warm Up
Warm Up
Warm Up Class
Warm Up
Warm Up
Counseling
Counseling
(1.5 hr)
(varies)
(varies)
Performance (1
Performance (1
Performance (1
Performance
Performance
Counseling
Counseling
hr)
hr)
hr)
(1 hr)
(1 hr)
(varies)
(varies)
View Other
View Other
View Other
View Other
View Other
Class at
Class at
Performances
Performances
Performances (2
Performances
Performances
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
(2 hr)
(2 hr)
hr)
(2 hr)
(2 hr)
DanceBase (2
DanceBase (2
hr)
hr)
Sight Seeing
Sight Seeing
Sight Seeing
Sight Seeing
Sight Seeing
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
such as
such as Calton
such as Royal
such as The
such as
Exploring
Exploring the
Edinburgh
Hill (3 hr)
Botanical
National
Scottish
Daily Life.
City.
Gardens (3 hr)
Museum (3 hr)
Gallery of
Castle (3 hr)
Modern Art (3
hr)
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
Counseling
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
(varies)
Learning Outcomes:
Acquires or further develops competencies within a particular creative
domain:
This summer, I intend to work specifically on the eye-catching side of
ballet technique. I am drawing near job auditions and it is crucial that I
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
stand out in a crowd. By the end of the summer, my goal is to have higher
extensions (lifting the leg to the front, side, and back). Extension, it is
theorized, comes from three different factors: alignment, strength, and
flexibility. I will be getting corrections daily, and will also ask my teachers to
watch specifically for my alignment in extension and for other tips and
techniques for achieving the high legs for which every dancer strives.
Standing out in a crowd is not all about tricks, however. In fact, much
of what makes people stand out is their performance ability. This summer, I
will also be working towards being a better performer at all times. I would
be able to learn, not just from my own performing experience which I would
have weekly at Burklyn Ballet Theater and daily at The Fringe, but also from
that of performers from all over the world. I would learn from their
successes and mistakes technically and artistically, and, from their dancing,
will find out more about their culture and experiences.
Dance is not an isolated art form; it was created and evolves in a
societal context. At Burklyn Ballet, we have the opportunity to perform
under the coaching of teachers from all over the country and the world.
They are able to bring new perspectives in their coaching and teaching and
new artistic challenges to the dancers. I will be taking class from these
professionals for upwards of 5 hours daily. I look forward to exploring the
way that ballet technique is employed cross-culturally. What themes are
similar? What sets each diverse group apart? What can I recognize culturally
and socially in their dance?
Through these classes, I will receive coaching in my technique.
Furthermore, I will have rehearsals for pieces that they set each evening for
2-4 hours. This will not only challenge me technically, but also artistically to
meet the demands of world-renowned professionals. As the saying goes,
practice makes perfect. This is a phenomenal opportunity to hone my craft
and perfect my technique both physically and artistically. The sheer amount
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
of hours spent being surrounded by dance will allow me the time and focus
that I need to increase my competencies within my domainthat is, dance.
Possess a well-developed awareness of theories and methods in the
field:
Through this experience, I will be able to reignite an inspiration for
dance. Furthermore, I will be taking class from famous former professional
dancerspeople that danced in New York City Ballet with Baryshnikov or in
The Royal Ballet along side Margot Fonteyn. Needless to say, they have
astronomical amounts of wisdom to share, both in terms of the history of
dance and relevant corrections.
Simply having new teachers perspectives can result in finding a new
correction that your every-day teachers might have missed. In dance, a
quarter inch correction of alignment can change your entire technique.
Placing your weight slightly farther in one direction can make the difference
between a double and quadruple pirouette. One finger can distort a whole
line. Hence, gaining insight from an outsiders perspective is incredibly
necessary to take your technique to the next level of professionalism. Dance
teachers, furthermore, do not just teach the same theories that theyve been
teaching for fifty years; rather, they are constantly exposed to new theories
and methods from all over the country and world that improve dance
technique. Gaining access to these cutting edge ideas is crucial to having
competitive technique. By taking class from such astounding professionals
for upwards of 5 hours daily, I will be exposed to their theories on dance as
a technique. They will give me corrections daily and I will be able to apply
those corrections with their guidance. For example, I have had trouble
spotting in the past (that is, a whipping head motion utilized in turns). I
was able to improve my spot after getting a correction last year to lower my
chin until it was parallel with the ground. This was instrumental in my
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
growth as a dancer because, though I had probably had the same issue for
five years, I had never received that correction before. Through exposure to
one teachers theory on the technique of spotting, I was able to change the
way that I pirouette and now am able to attain three instead of two turns.
Demonstrates/takes appropriate risk in successfully completing
project (going beyond original parameters of assignment, introducing
new materials and forms, tackling controversial topics, advocating
unpopular ideas or solutions, etc.)
While in Scotland, I not only plan on performing at The Fringe, but
also exploring more local dance. Edinburg DanceBase, a hub for dance
teachers in Edinburgh, offers classes from famous European instructors. I
will be taking master-classes from Edinburg DanceBase on the weekends
while in Scotland. By taking classes from European teachers, I will have a
better idea of where I will study abroad. Furthermore, it will expose me to
company dancers, repertoire, and instructors from significant companies
abroad. It will open my mind to the new experience of dancing in Europe
and allow me to further understand the ways that European dance differs
from American dance. Traveling to Edinburgh will allow me the opportunity
to explore European dance first hand. It will expose me to new theories and
styles and hopefully will allow me to make an educated decision as to where
I will study abroad next year.
Taking class outside of the Fringe is not a requirement or even a
suggestion put out by Burklyn Ballet Theater. Although I know that they will
support and assist me in this venture, they assume that the hours each day
that we already dance will be enough. Although I will be nervous to take
class in a new country, from a completely strange teacher, I hope that it will
make me more comfortable in this new territory so that by the time I study
abroad, I will be more confident in my choices and more aware of the culture
of dance in Europe. Not only will I understand what techniques I can relate
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
to and enjoy learning, but I can also have a greater understanding of which
techniques I disagree with. Both will allow me valuable insight into which
companies, and countries, I would want to study with.
class, it really is not the same. Through the four weeks in Vermont and two
in Edinburgh, I will have added fourteen performances! Professional dancers
take class as maintenance, but their true job is to perform.
I intend to
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
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Counselors
I truly
believe that the program is important. While I am in Vermont for four weeks
before Scotland, I will be making a promotional video for Burklyn Ballet
Theater. I have been exploring the realm of inspirational dance video in the
past year and also have been working with stop-motion production. I hope
to use these multimedia outlets to meld two art forms together.
With an
effective video, the public will see that Burklyn Ballet Theater not only
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
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Reflection:
As I previously stated, I will be continuing a blog that I began last year to
document my experience as a dancer who didnt have the proper start.
Through this blog, I will be able to share the promotional video I make for
Burklyn Ballet Theater, as well as other pictures, videos, and writings from
my experience at the Fringe. I am excited to explore how dance around the
world differs and correlates, but also to explore how my dancing and
academic life has evolved, grown, and changed over the summer. I will have
a hybrid dance/travel blog to document both my discoveries as a dancer and a
person. Below is a list of questions that will help me in my reflection:
1. What makes that performer stand out? How can I implement that in my
own dancing?
2. What alignment changes are they employing that makes their extension
higher?
3. What themes are similar in the dance from different countries? What
sets each diverse group apart? What can I recognize culturally and
socially in their dance?
4. What new theories and corrections have I been exposed to?
5. How are different teachers techniques effective?
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Performing at the
Fringe
Dominique Neff
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6. How did the style of dance change with teachers from different countries?
7. How did pushing myself beyond my comfort zone enhance my dancing?
How did it enhance my cultural perspective?
8. Why was performing abroad at The Fringe crucial to my development as a
person and a dancer?
9. How will I apply these new global perspectives on dance to my life at
home?
10. What countries style stood out to me?
Dissemination:
My blog is in the public domain, and the link is shared, via newsletter,
with everyone who attends Burklyn Ballet Theater.
Furthermore, if they
Project Advisor:
Andre Megerdichian
Title: Assistant Professor of Dance
Office: 3723 Corbett Center Perform Arts
Tel: 513-556-2700
Email: andre.megerdichian@uc.edu
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
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Budget:
Flight (Huntington, WV to Johnson, VT average of three major airlines:
$465.20
Tuition (4 weeks at Burklyn Ballet Theater): $0, work-study.
Flight (Burlington, VT to Edinburgh, Scotland), housing, and board during
The Fringe Festival (Estimated from Burklyn Ballet 2013): $4,950
Total: $ 5,415.20
2014-2015
Dominique Neff
Performing at the
Fringe
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