Dance/NOW: ECU Dance Blog #27

Hello Dancers!

This is our last full week. The end is near! Finish strong!

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

ECDA MEETING THIS FRIDAY!

There will be a VERY important and mandatory meeting for all ECDA members! That's YOU! There will be some NEW IMPORTANT information regarding a shift in department responsibilities and some special opportunities next year so be sure to be there!

                     *The meeting will be Friday directly following the comp class (2:50pm) and will go no later than the start of Senior Choreography tech (3:30pm).

SENIOR CHOREOGRAPHY SHOW
Senior Choreography is THIS WEEKEND!!
Tech and RUN schedules are listed below and the shows will be Saturday April 23rd at 12pm and 4pm, and Sunday April 24th at 5pm and 8pm.

THURSDAY

6:15-7:00 Lauren 

7:00-7:45 Kanon

7:45-8:30 Jazlyn

8:30-8:45 BREAK

8:45-9:30 Meghann

9:30-10:15 Katy

 

FRIDAY

3:30-4:15 Maggie

4:15-5:00 Nicole

5:00-5:45 Erica

5:45-6:30 Alissa

6:30-7:30 BREAK

7:30-9:00 RUN 1

9:15-10:30 RUN 2

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Keep an eye out each week for changes and/or additions to the master rehearsal schedule. This schedule gets sent out on Callboard 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 daily! :)

DANCE SCIENCE NEWS
Dancers- If you are not already, go on Facebook and request to be a part of the ECU Dance Science group! This is a great way to hear about upcoming workouts and learn more about how to keep your bodies healthy, strong, and SAFE! (we also have an INSTA! @ecudancescience)
 

CONGRATULATIONS! 
Congratulations to Kanon Sapp and her BEAUTIFUL dancers for a STUNNING performance of Kanon's URCA project, sk(IN/OUT), this weekend!!


INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK:

"Your mind believes what you tell it. What you think is what you will become."

"Don't make a habit of choosing what feels good over what is actually good for you"

"Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, an hour, a day, or even a year. But eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If you quit, however, the pain will last forever."

With Love,

       Nicole Gemmell

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

East Carolina Dance Association, Secretary
ECU Dance Science Club, founding Senior Representative

AND

      John Dixon

Dance Area Coordinator

Dance/NOW: ECU Dance Blog #26

Hello Dancers!

I am sitting on the stairs outside of Messick absolutely LOVING this weather! Make sure to take some time to enjoy the outdoors today! (And get some of that Vitamin D) 
Spring is here! :)

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

BODYTRAFFIC DANCE COMPANY 

We have the amazing BODYTRAFFIC dance company here to perform at ECU this week! They will have a show this Thursday April 7th at 8pm in Wright auditorium. All dance majors will receive a complimentary ticket and are required to attend (even though we know you don't want to miss this opportunity to see a professional company for free!)  Please make sure you arrive by 7:55pm so that you have enough time to sign in and find your seat before the show.

We will also have two master classes from the company on Wednesday, 4/6, during adv ballet/int jazz (12:30-1:50)  and advanced modern (2-3:20). The advanced modern class will be open to additional students via a sign-up sheet posted the morning of the class.  Freshmen, that is your one opportunity to take class with the company so I highly recommend signing up if at all possible.  

SENIOR CHOREOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
The Second Senior Choreography showing will take place this Thursday April 7th in Studio Theatre from 5:30-6:30pm! Please contact the choreographers or John Dixon if you have any questions about the showing :)

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Keep an eye out each week for changes and/or additions to the master rehearsal schedule. This schedule gets sent out on Callboard 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 daily! :)

DANCE SCIENCE NEWS
April 7th is National Biomechanics Day!  Biomechanics is the study of biological systems in terms of the analysis of the action of mechanical forces.  Simply put, the human body is an AMAZING miracle so take a little time on Thursday to put some attention on how your body functions in all the miraculous ways that it does.  

CONGRATULATIONS! 
Huge congrats to Danie Johnson for receiving a performing apprenticeship for the Inaside Chicago Dance Company! And also to Nicole Gemmell for receiving an apprenticeship with Inaside Chicago Dance Company! They will both be moving to Chicago after graduation and start their contracts August 1st!  Way to go, graduating seniors!!!!

And major congrats to all who participated in Random Acts this weekend!!! It was truly a FABULOUS and diverse show! This program has so much talent!!!!


INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK:

Just keep swimmin' just keep swimmin' ❤️

"You hold yourself back when you begin to compare yourself to others.. Only compare your current self to your past self and keep moving forward"

With Love,

       Nicole Gemmell

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

East Carolina Dance Association, Secretary
ECU Dance Science Club, founding Senior Representative

AND

      John Dixon

Dance Area Coordinator

Dance/NOW: ECU Dance Blog #25

Hello Dancers!

We are coming close to the end of this semester, and I know it is hard to stay on top of things with summer so close- but keep on working hard and Finish Strong!! 

(only 30 more school days....but who's counting?)

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

GUEST ARTIST THIS WEEK! :)

We have our last major guest artist of the year this week. Tiffany Rea-Fisher and Thomas Vavaro from the Elisa Monte Dance Company in NY are here for three days of classes this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tiffany is the Artistic Director of the Elisa Monte Dance Company and they are just coming off a very successful run of their 35th anniversary season. We're excited to have them back and hope you will enjoy their classes this week. Please also keep an eye out for an announcement regarding a special Q&A session with Tiffany and Thomas on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. I'll put their teaching schedule below.

 

Tiffany Rea-Fisher ECU Residency Schedule:

Tuesday, 3/29

12:30-1:50 Intermediate Modern, Studio Theatre

2-3:20 Advanced Modern, Studio Theatre

 

Wednesday, 3/30

11-12:20 Beginning Modern, Studio Theatre

2-3:20 Advanced Modern, Studio Theatre

 

Thursday, 3/31

12:30-1:50 Intermediate Modern, Studio Theatre

2-3:20 Advanced Modern, Studio Theatre

RANDOM ACTS!
The Random Acts show will be this weekend! This show is an exciting mix of jazz, tap, and musical theatre- Get your tickets at the Messick box office!
Show times are listed below:
Saturday April 2nd, 4pm and 8pm
Sunday April 3rd, 1pm

UPCOMING SPRING OPEN HOUSE EVENT 
We will be hosting a spring open house for some of our incoming freshman dancers as well as others interested in  our program. The event will take place April 2nd and we need 4-5 student volunteers to help out. These volunteers will meet with prospective students to talk about the program and answer any questions they have. The incoming students will also be taken on a brief tour of the facilities and will attend a short "mixer" event. The rough time commitment is from 12:30–2:30pm, though we may finish by 1:45 or so. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact John Dixon or any of the ECDA officers.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Keep an eye out each week for changes and/or additions to the main-stage 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 daily! :)

DANCE SCIENCE NEWS
April 7th is National Biomechanics Day!
Teal Darkenwald will be taking dancers up to the biomechanics lab on monday March 28th at 5pm to learn more about how biomechanics can relate to dance -- you don't wanna miss this!

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR DANCE ARTS

Final submission of packets for the Spring induction into this prestigious society will be due by THIS WEDNESDAY. Seniors in the society that wish to graduate with honors will have to re-submit a packet including the 15 points gathered after their initial induction. If you are having trouble or need materials, please contact Nicole Gemmell or Maggie Bode. (We are glad to help!)

 CONGRATS!!! 

Congratulations to all those who performed at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for the American College Dance Association. Our dancers showed professionalism and outstanding technique and love of dance and we are VERY proud!!!
And a huge congrats to Kanon Sapp and her dancers in "The House" for being chosen to perform in the gala as well as the first alternate for Nationals!

From John D. -

I have already heard from a few faculty members that I know at other programs in our region commenting on the quality of our students and program.  Adrienne Fang, who danced for years with the internationally acclaimed Doug Varone & Dancers company and is now at the University of Maryland, sent me a message asking "How do you guys do it?  You produce such kickass dancers and brilliant choreographers that are all so incredibly open and creative.  What's your secret?" No secret, just a great faculty and some of the most talented young dance artists around!  Congratulations to all!!!  

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK 

"Every time you stay out late, sleep in, miss a workout, don't give 100%, you make it that much easier for someone else to get that job."

SACRIFICE=SUCCESS

"Life has two rules:
#1: Never Quit.
#2: Always remember #1"
-Dewayne Washington

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 #24

WELCOME BACK DANCERS!!

We hope you all have had a restful winter break and are excited for a whole new semester of dance!

 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

DANCE 2016 IS ALMOST HERE!!
Our mainstage dance show is coming up with faculty and guest artist works moving to stage on monday the 18th!
(please note the 18th is MLK jr day so there will be no university classes)
Our faculty, lighting designers, costume crew, stage managers, and dancers have worked very hard to make this show look incredible- and it does! The show will open on Thursday the 28th and tickets will be sold online and at the box office in Messick.
You don't want to miss this!!

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES
Keep an eye out each week for changes and/or additions to the main-stage 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 daily! :)


DANCE SCIENCE NEWS
We are submitting our proposal to become an established club within the university! If you would like to be involved in this exciting beginning (no experience in dance science needed), please shoot a quick email to our grad student Caitlin Melton with your name and email saying you are interested.

meltonc11@students.ecu.edu

*Please do this asap as time is an important factor in developing this club! We need as many people interested as possible and we would LOVE to have you! :)

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR DANCE ARTS

Initial submission of packets for the Spring induction into this prestigious society will be due by the end of the week. This means by the end of the week, you should be able to show that you have some if not most of your materials gathered. Seniors in the society that wish to graduate with honors will have to re-submit a packet including the 15 points gathered after induction. If you are having trouble or need materials, please contact Nicole Gemmell or Maggie Bode. (We are glad to help!)

 CONGRATS!!! 

Congratulations to those students with works accepted into the Spring Contemporary Concert!!
Ele Alvarez
Kristalyn Gill
Jazlyn Moore
Kanon Sapp
Emily Tinsley

And more congrats to Kanon Sapp for receiving the URCA grant!

INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK 

FINISH STRONG!!! <3 class of 2016

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