"And in this moment I knew.. We were infinite."

I think this project has gotten me addicted to blogging.. and YouTube videos.. and dance magazines ( I blame you Mr. Reiff!) I just watched Perks of Being a Wallflower and if you haven't seen it you need to stop everything you are doing and go watch it. It is one of those movies that has the ending I expected but at the same time a completely different ending. I cried like 10 times during the movie but have come out of it feeling like I can do anything. The acting is phenomenal and the stories message unforgettable.

I want to use this blog post to share the interview I had (over email) with Mia Wise. Her story and her answers were really powerful to me. Mia is also one of my mom's best friends so I have known her since I was little. She is so confident in herself and with her own knowledge about dancing and the world that I am always drawn to her and this interview only added to that.   ( I know this is not the most convenient way for me to show this interview.. but I am technologically challenged and this is the best I could do!)

1.            How do you approach choreographing a dance?

2.            How do you decide on a single song to choreograph to? Do you go looking for a song or wait until you stumble across one that you want to use?

3.            Do you start at the beginning of the song and choreograph straight through, or do you choreograph bits and pieces as they come to you and then work on connecting the different parts later?

4.            What role does the costume play in the message and image of a dance?

5.            Do you have any tips on how to portray a story through dance or how to make the emotion the dancer is feeling reach the audience?

6.            What is your favorite genre of dance to choreograph? Do you prefer choreographing solo or group dances?

7.            How has your own experiences as a dancer influenced your style of choreography?

8.            Do you have a dance that you have choreographed that you consider to be your favorite? If so, what was it about that dance that made it so memorable?

9.            Have you ever had injuries that prevented you from dancing? How did you handle not being able to perform?

10.        Why do you love dance?

11.        If you could give one piece of advice to young dancers, what would it be?

1.  I approach choreographing a dance like having a child.  I conceive the idea of the piece, I spend countless hours thinking about and creating the movements and the message and then I teach it to my students.  Then we spend countless hours polishing and perfecting it until I have a finished product that I am happy with!

2.  Sometimes I have a group of students that I know what I want to do with, so I must look for a song to fit the concept, other times I fall in love with a song and find students who it can work with.

3. Choreographing a dance is like putting a puzzle together.  Much like writing an essay, you brainstorm movement ideas and write them down in parts of the music that seem to fit.  You then start assigning movement and steps to specific points in the music.  Therefore, you have bits and pieces right where you want them and can work on transitioning them later.

4.  A costume can make or break a dance piece! The costume should, of course, enhance the idea of the dance piece making the message more obvious to the audience.  Costuming can really contribute to the image that the routine is conveying, likewise, a costume that misses the mark can ruin an audience's image of the entire piece! I like to use headpieces, accessories and gloves to give a very completed look to the costume.

5.  Every dance needs to have a story with a clear beginning, middle and end.  As long as the dance has meaning to you, the audience will receive a message. It may not be the same exact message, but if it means something to you, a message will get conveyed.  The dance should really grow, starting out small and subtle progressing to big and strong with movement and meaning.  Just like any good story, it should build to a climax and resolution.  Dancers can enhance this meaning by using energy and facial expressions to pass the mood along.  Dancers can use reflection on their own personal experiences to portray certain feelings and emotions.   

6.  I like all genres of dance for different reasons.  I like the strict, specific mechanical movements of tap, yet the free, liberating movements of modern/lyrical/contemporary.  I like the rules and regiment of classical ballet, yet the power and excitement of jazz/hip hop.  I must say I enjoy choreographing a group piece over a solo in that several people make for more interesting possibilities.  I like changing formations and featuring dancers in different parts revealing each one's forte whether it be turns, leaps, or extensions.

7.  I was always trained by male teachers as I progressed through dance, so I think that made me a very aggressive dancer as a result.  I take a very athletic approach to dance which inspires me to incorporate a lot of tumbling and tricks within my choreography.  I always liked to take a chance as a dancer, so I choreograph in a way that gives my dancers that"let's go for it" approach.

8.  My favorite dance piece I ever choreographed was "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day.

I choreographed it in memory of my Dad who had passed away 7 long years from then.  The movements just seemed to flow out of me and almost choreograph themselves, it was eerie! It was a modern/contemporary large group piece and I was very proud of it each time I cried through it!

9.  I had scoliosis and needed corrective surgery at age twelve, so I had to quit gymnastics, my first love, as well as dance.  I had a wonderful friend who got me through that period of my life, of course we had a few slip ups along the way, like accidentally doing a side aerial in a body cast in the front yard!   I also suffered with various injuries which would really frustrate me.  Usually the injuries were my own fault for not warming up so I had to learn the hard way.  My knees have always been a source of aggravation, but I found that physical therapy helped a lot along the way.

10.  I love dance because it is so freeing.  They say it is "the hidden language of the soul".  It doesn't matter how lousy a day I am having, I can escape into the dance studio and within minutes forget all of my troubles and be happy and exhilarated! It allows you to enjoy yourself with your passion which is so easy to do, since your body is your instrument! I can fill my head with steps and be distracted for hours.  It is challenging and exciting!

11.  I would encourage dancers to keep a positive attitude and to not be too hard on themselves! I think a lot of times dancers will compare themselves to other dancers and become discouraged.  We are all different sizes, have different looks and different abilities, that's what makes us all so wonderful! Always just try to achieve and surpass your own personal goals whether it be to get lower on your split, or higher on your leaps! Don't compare the height of your kicks to someone else's, we are all unique in our own ways.  Some of us have natural talent and some of us have to work harder at it, like anything else...just be happy you are you!