Dance/NOW: ECU Dance Blog #18

Hello Dancers!!

HAPPY FALL!! The leaves are falling and the weather is getting a crisp chill so bundle up when going outside after sweating in class! We all want you all to stay happy and healthy dancers :)

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
is this weekend! Please stay safe!
Also thursday is our "dance-friday" before halloween so ECDA invites all dancers to dress up in your favorite halloween costumes for class! Make sure you are able to dance full-out in your costume though because we will still be having regular class!


CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HALLOWEEN BOOTH
Some of the ECDA members will be traveling to the children's hospital Friday of this week to set up a halloween booth with a pirate dancer theme. The children in the hospital do not get the opportunity to go out and participate in trick-or-treating, so the halloween booth's are their only chance to dress up and celebrate this holiday.  Thank you to everyone who is involved in this incredibly important community activity!

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Keep an eye out each week for changes and/or additions to the main-stage and senior choreography rehearsal schedule. This schedule gets sent out on call-board and it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stay up to date with changes.  You don't want to miss a rehearsal that is on the schedule, so stay vigilant and check every day! :)

 CONGRATS!!! 

WHEW - so many fabulous events in the last week alone!  Way to go everyone!!!

DANCE @ GOLDSBORO
Congrats to all of those students and faculty involved in the Goldsboro show!  Word has it that it was our largest audience yet at that theater and that the audience truly loved it.  It's a long, hard day so way to go everyone for being professional and putting on a great show!

SOTD OPEN HOUSE
Thanks to all those students who volunteered their time to represent our school at the Open House last weekend.  It always makes a huge difference for prospective students to have our majors there to answer questions and show people around.  I am sure you all did our program justice - thank you! :)

NC MUSEUM OF ART 
A huge congrats to those dancers who performed at the NC Museum of Art last friday night! That is such a cool experience and a great opportunity to get the ECU SoTD name out there! The piece "Monochrome" was choreographed by Tommi Galaska and Dirk Lumbard and was a huge success!

COLLEGE DAY OF DANCE
Thank you to all those dance majors and the NHSDA for volunteering your time to help for College Day of Dance. There were many students from highschool who came to check out our program and they were given a great representation of the ECU SoTD. Thanks! 

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK

"Merake" (v) to do something with soul, creativity, or love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work. 

"Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt."

"Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn't give you credit."

With Love,

       Nicole Gemmell

ECU chapter of the National Honor Society for dance Arts, President

East Carolina Dance Association, Secretary

AND

      John Dixon

Dance Area Coordinator

Dance/NOW: ECU Dance Blog #17

Hello Dancers!!

I deeply apologize for the hiatus in blog posts last week. 
BUT you all were ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE at auditions. 
Wow. I feel so blessed to be able to dance alongside all of you. And to watch you in auditions too! 

and now.... the blog ;)

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

GUEST ARTIST ZALMAN GRINBERG'S BALLET AUDITION
We're very excited to have our next guest artist coming up soon!  Details are:
5:30-7pm on Monday, 10/19.
Check-in will begin at 5pm in the 115 hallway.
All dancers on pointe and all male dancers are called.
The audition will take place in 114.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Keep an eye out each week for changes and/or additions to the main-stage, Goldsboro, and senior choreography rehearsal schedule. This schedule gets sent out on call-board and it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stay up to date with changes.  You don't want to miss a rehearsal that is on the schedule, so stay vigilant and check every day! :)


FALL BREAK
....is this coming weekend though next Monday and Tuesday.  Stay safe and keep stretching and active! We will be jumping right into rehearsals as soon as we return. Yay Dance! :)

GOLDSBORO TOURING SHOW
The "Dance @ Wright" show will be touring in Goldsboro at the Paramount Theatre on October 24th.  Please post this on your Facebook pages and let your friends and family know so that we have a fabulous audience to support our hardworking dancers in this performance!

COLLEGE DANCE DAY
On Friday October 23rd, we will be hosting College Dance Day for regional high school students to introduce them to life as a dance major here at East Carolina. The day will include performances, class, and a tour for the students.

If you would like to volunteer to help the NHSDA officers with check-in and other things that need to be done throughout the day, please contact me at: gemmelln12@students.ecu.edu   This will count as community service hours for your induction in National Honor Society for Dance Arts. :)

 CONGRATS!!! 

To Kanon Sapp and her gorgeous dancers MeganAnna Griffin, Kristalyn Gill, Jazlyn Moore, Ashley Hill, and Kayleigh Allen for their performances in NYC! Way to represent our program and the Pirate Nation!

To Arelia Hoy, Shannon Carter, Alissa Heroux, Nicole Gemmell, Kayleigh Jewell, and Katie Gannon!  These students will be traveling this week to Phoenix, Arizona to represent East Carolina University and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts at the National Dance Education Organization's 2015 annual conference. Nicole Gemmell will also be presenting a poster of her research on teaching/learning the kinesiological terms of movement with Arelia Hoy as demonstrator.

To the winners of REBEL 58 Choreography Competition!! 
1st place: Kanon Sapp "dadt"
2nd place: Stephanie Watterson "Trapped in my Chrysalis"
3rd place: MeganAnna Griffin "I hope some day you find a Picture of me and wonder if I still love Coke iceys"


Not only will these entries be included in the REBEL issue coming out this spring, but they are also currently on display at Emerge Gallery & Art Center (October 2-30)- So Go Check It Out!!!

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK

Just wanted to give a little encouragement to all of those who may feel a little down after the cast lists came out. YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY WHETHER OR NOT YOU WERE CAST.  There are so many different variables that go into the casting process and if you were not cast that does not mean that you are a bad dancer or that the choreographers did not like you. You are all individually beautiful and you are in this program because of all of your talent, skill and potential.  Keep your head up and use this opportunity to focus on perfecting your craft!  You are not in competition with others, only with yourself.  So do what it takes to make yourself better every day and don't let this round of auditions get you down! :) You are LOVED.

Note from John - please also come to us, the faculty, for feedback or simply to talk through any feelings or questions that you have about the casting process.  We're here for you!!!  

With Love,

       Nicole Gemmell

ECU chapter of the National Honor Society for dance Arts, President

East Carolina Dance Association, Secretary

AND

      John Dixon

Dance Area Coordinator