But now what? The dancing sure hasn’t stopped, but there is a more relaxed feeling among the dancers, even though we will perform Panorama two more times in our final Student Showing. In conversation, Linda Huang explained to me that our SPAC performance “broke the ice”. Julie Weiss furthered Linda’s thought, noting that we’ll be dancing for a smaller more intimate audience, consisting of mostly family and friends, which puts less pressure on us dancers.
This week we’ll be focusing on soaking up as much technique and tips from Graham technique classes, while also hurrying to finish up our media and Clytemnestra influenced pieces for the final showing.
Upon speaking with many students about their Panorama experience, I realized that each dancer has their own personal ideals for and unique connection with the piece. For that reason, I’m inviting my fellow Panoramians to participate and share some of their feelings about Life after SPAC.
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Comment to Brigette’s post …..
I am starting to love the Maple Leaf Rag as much as Panorama, and I am glad that we started it this week. I am enjoying the contrast between them. The challenge for me for the Maple Leaf Rag is the musicality (to be on the piano beat), and the sharpness. I also have to work on the tone of it that it is a happy dance but with Graham techniques. I hope we will finish it and clean it up on time so we can perform well on the showcase.
I have mixed feelings about the workshop coming to a close. The Panorama experience was such a highlight of this intensive. Therefore I have found myself adjusting to the fact that other things are happening now between the hours of 7:30 and 9 every night. For eleven days Panorama was on all of our minds. The few days before the performance the counts, corrections, and character that had to be maintained in the piece, consumed a lot of our time. The night of the show I realized that after eleven minutes it was over. As dancers we build ourselves up, putting so much time into each performance. It’s hard to put Panorama aside, but learning Maple Leaf Rag, and working on the student showing is another beginning. Thats how I am trying to think of it. On Friday afternoon that will all be over as well. I guess I am already preparing for that. I just keep telling myself whatever I do from here will also be the start of something new and exciting as well because of all that I have gained here.
Performing Panorama was a great way to put together all we have learned in the past couple of weeks and to enter into our last week here at Skidmore. Panorama captured not only the Graham technique, but a sense of community and support that has been so important in this three week intensive. It was incredible to be dancing alongside all of the other students and sharing in each person’s commitment to the powerful movement of the piece. Also, to be a part of the Martha Graham Dance Company’s performance was such an amazing opportunity! We were able to see the rehearsals and backstage preparation of a professional dance company and take part in their performance as well!!
I am looking forward to our final performances this week that have added a contemporary edge to Martha Graham’s work. With our “New Groove” name calling sections, we were able to offer our own modern interpretations of the Clytemnestra characters. Also, in the performances, we will be able to share our own unique solos that have been choreographed into small groups. These show that we all have our own voices in the art of dance that can and should be shared with one another.
Life after SPAC has been an extreme change for me, as I am back in the summer dance office, making sure that everything runs smoothly for the end of the program. Sitting in this office, I have come to realize how lucky I was to have tasted the daily life of a Martha Graham dancer. Sitting in this chair all day, my body is aching to move again. I almost have to restrain myself from jumping out from infront of the computer, and joining my friends in learning the Maple Leaf Rag. Maybe if they aren’t too sleepy later, I can con some of them into teaching me the dance in the dorm!
(Denise Vale enters the office and sits at the computer next to me)
“Offices make people tired, don’t they girl?” she jokes.
Well, they sure do make people tired, but in a different way than dance rehearsals. Whereas constant dance rehearsal leads to simultaneous mental and physical exhaustion, constant office work leads only to mental exhaustion… my body is yearning to MOVE!
With the end of the program nearing, I take this time to step back and take a look at the work that I and all the students have accomplished and I say that I agree I will miss this place a great deal but also I try not to dwell to much on the matter for I have such a great excitement about carrying the tools and information I’ve grained here into my year round dancing. I hope I share the feeling unanimously of saying that even the worst days with the worst pain here have been some of the best because of the learning experience. I’m so very grateful for this entire program!
I will also miss this place. Being here inspires me a lot: the great teachers and the beautiful company members in class to ’steal movements’ from…
Also the nice space will be defenitely something I’ll miss. On the other hand: I can go back to school with tons of new information to apply to my dancing.
And since I study at The Martha Graham School, I’m pretty sure I will see some of my fellow students there again in NYC!
It’s crazy how fast the time has passed. Performing Panorama, alongside other renowned pieces performed by the Martha Graham company was an inspiring and enlightening experience. Growing up and going to SPAC to see famous artists/bands/and the New York City Ballet, it’s almost unreal to believe we got the privilege to be on such an amazing stage. This experience has made me hungry for more leaving me sad that this program is coming to an end. I am so grateful to have had such a wonderful and invigorating experience.
I also can’t believe that in two days from now the program will be over! It seems as if we just arrived yesterday…
Ok, So perhaps it hasn’t gone as fast as that, however it really is amazing how much we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. Performing at SPAC with the company was a truly wonderful experience and I agree with what Linda said about how it “broke the ice”. Everyones nerves are a little less on edge now that the performance at SPAC has come and gone ( 
) and performing in the student show tomorrow night and Friday afternoon for our friends and family will be a fun, commencing experience, and perhaps not as nerve-racking as dancing on the SPAC stage. I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s ” new groove” videos as well as the audience reactions to the menagerie of material we have to present for the show. We really have quite a show lined -up! Good luck or “Merde” to everyone in advance! 
Oh my GOD!! I feel like I have climbed a mountain and I wish we could do it again. I am so glad that we are repeating “Panorama” for the Student showing. Performing in that piece has just changed me in so many ways - I feel like I am stronger. I love, Love, LOVE to perform so it was so exciting to be on stage at SPAC. It was a great experience and I will treasure it forever. It was great to feel like a character - a determined political activist who stood for something. “We demand it!”. I am so glad that my family came to see me and I felt like a star. Truly, I was living out my dream to dance with the Martha Graham company. I cannot wait for our own student showing! ^_^
It saddens me to think that i soon may never perform with some of you again. The SPAC performance went flawlessly (no matter what people think) and so did this evenings performance. ONE MORE TO GO! best of luck to you all, and may you all keep dancing.
Wow, this has been an amazing three weeks!! I feel like I’ve learned so much in such a short time, and I think we’ve all learned a lot about technique, and about what it means to be a dancer. The company members are so inspiring, as are all of you! I’m sorry that I haven’t really found the beauty of Graham technique until now, but I know that the experiences I’ve had over the last three weeks will stay with me for a lifetime. Congratulations to all the dancers on such amazing work, performances, and growth, I wish you all the best in the future, and I wish you a lifetime of dancing!!
Dancers, it has been a joy to watch you all immerse yourselves so fully into the intensity of life as a Graham dancer. You have seen and felt first hand the discipline and resiliency which are so vital to the dancers’ life. Congratulations on all of your creative accomplishments - keep sharing yourselves with the world - it needs you.