Oakwood Dance

Welcome!

Welcome Dance Lovers! This is going to be a fabulous Web Blog created by the high school dance students at Oakwood School in North Hollywood, CA. We hope you enjoy reading our stories and getting a peek into our world!

What are we about?

The primary goal of Oakwood School's Dance Department is to introduce dance as an artistic discipline that strengthens the mind and body while simultaneously offering means of personal expression. All dance classes have both a technique and composition component, so that students learn how to dance and how to make dances. Students are taught to understand the structures inherent in dances as well as to critically examine dance as an art form. The Dance Dept. emphasizes historical significance as well as practical applications of dance-making styles and dance techniques. Our hope is that students walk away from dance classes with an appreciation of dance and their own power of personal expression through movement.

What classes do we offer?

- Introduction to Modern Dance (grades 7 & 8) – with live accompaniment-        

- Middle School Boys Break Dancing (grades 7 & 8

- Modern Dance I (grades 9 & 10) – with live accompaniment

 

- Beginning/Intermediate Ballet (grades 9 – 12) – with live accompaniment

     

- Dance Worlds (grades 9 – 12)

    

- Dance History & Appreciation (grades 9 -12)

 

- ChoreoLAB (grades 9 – 12)

 

- Dance Production (grades 11 & 12)

 

A Video Look at the Dance Department

Click Here to See Some Video of Our Classes in Action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOc6dN-QBiQ

Captured Dance by Sam

 

Jazzy & Tanya at the park doing part of Vivaldi dance.

 

jazzy doing a jump in the park

 

Jazzy, Tanya, and Sam doing part of Vivaldi in the park

 

Tanya and Sam

 

Jazzy, Carrie, and Sam doing a part of Monica's Combo.

 

Sam, Tanya, and Brett in the park

 

Jazzy doing a leap.

 

Tanya, Brett, and Jazzy making shapes in the park.

 

Liz doing a jump in the dance studio

Yea!!! Enjoy! =^-^=

Interview with Arianne MacBean by Jasmine

Black= Question

Green= Arianne MacBean's response

A few Moments with Arianne MacBean

When did you first start dancing and who introduced to the dancing world? My Dad took me to  my first dance performance when I was about 3 years old. Supposedly I danced through the hallways at intermission. At one point I fell to the floor but then got up gracefully. The people around me applauded and I think I was hooked!

Did you always know that you wanted to pursue dancing as a career?  Yes. Dancing has always been a part of who I am and how I communicate and make meaning out of my life.

Were you ever inspired by a person to begin dancing?  There are two experiences I have had in my life that have changed how I think about dance. The first was when I was about 16 years old and I took a summer workshop at Harvard University with David Dorfman. He taught my choreography class. On the first day he asked us to create a solo. I began to put together a series of turns and arabesques, using the steps I had learned in dance class. David came up to me very sweetly and said quietly, "Arianne, why don't you try using movements you have never seen before." It was what they call an, "Aha!" moment. I looked around the room and noticed, for what seemed the the first, time, that everyone was creating dances with their own signature style. I thought for a moment about what my style was... "I can do whatever I want!!!" I thought. And then I completely abandoned my previous movement material - started fresh - and began my real journey as a dance-maker. 

The second experience was years later, when I was probably 22. I went to see Bill T. Jones' performance at UCLA of "Last Supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin." It was like nothing I had ever seen before. It held so much humanity in it - it was full of life - the sad and sorrowful and the joyful grace of life. I sat in my seat after the show was over and didn't want to leave the theater. From then on, I knew I wanted to make dances that communicated about our world - our exepriences as humans.

Did you ever have those times where you just wanted to give up dancing? If so, why?  When I had my first child I wondered if I would be able to keep creating dances on top of my full time teaching job and family obligations. I knew I wanted to keep choreographing but I didn't know how to integrate everything. So, my first show after having Lily Grace was all about that issue. In fact, I ended up doing a show that included my dance company, my students, colleagues from Oakwood and even moms from my Moms Support Group performed! It was probably one of the most meaningful shows I have ever done. To see all the people in my life on stage together was a surreal and poignant moment for me. I feel very lucky to have been supported by everyone during that time in my life.

If you hadn't become a dancer, what else would you have liked to do as a career?  Maybe a designer, or a decorator, or a writer????

Do you feel accomplished about having your own dance company?  YES!

How does it feel to have your own company instead of just dancing in one?  I much prefer to make dances than to be in dances. I have learned a lot from being in other peoples' dance companies. Things like: team work, knowing when to be quiet and when to express ideas, how to listen to my body. But, I think my greater skill lies in conceptualizing dances.

Would you like your daugthers to follow in your footsteps? If so, why?  So far, Lily Grce has shown a natural love of movement but who knows if this will maintain throughout her years. I will support her in whatever she decides to do, and of course, be thrilled if she chooses to dance. As fro the one still inside my belly - she sure loves to kick!

Have you ever had any disadvantages/set backs(injuries,etc.) that didn't allow you to dance?  I have had small injuries throughout my carreer that have set me back for short periods of time but I have never had any chronic physical issues. I've been very lucky that way!

If you could change one thing about your dancing life, what would it? Why?  This is a great question. I guess I would like to have more time (and patience) to spend on the details of understanding movement, physically. I would like to be able to slow down enough to regularly pay attention to the fine motor skills of my body and to know my body more intimately.

If you could tell one thing to any aspiring dancers out there, what would it be?  WORK WORK WORK 

Lastly, why did you decide to pursue the life of a dancer, and if anything, what convinced you that this was the life for you?  It was never really a choice I made. Dancing is a part of my DNA, my make-up. Every day I feel more and more connected to dancing and to my creative self. I love learning along with my students and watching them discover new parts of themselves through movement. I feel very lucky to be present at times of creative inspiration and collaboration. Every dance class is a gift and that keeps me coming back to the dance studio day after day, year after year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Courtesy of: http://www.dancemovingforward.com/html/tbs_bean.html

 

Taking Two Arts at Oakwood - by Lyla

Ever since I started at Oakwood in the 7th grade I’ve bopped around between theatre and dance electives. Sometimes I thought that I had to give one up in order to take the other, but then I found out that in high-school there’s a way to do both!
    Because dance is a physical activity, high-school students have the option to take a dance class to fill their Physical Education requirement. This means that you can take that drawing class you always wanted to try and still take a dance elective as well. I could take Play Production and Dance if I wanted. Or you could take Chorus and dance.
    Now, there are both good and bad aspects of this deal depending on how you look at it, but if you’re interested you should be well informed. Here are all the facts you will need to know:
•    P.E. classes work on a credit or no-credit scale and do not factor into your GPA (grade point average). While taking a dance class can fulfill your P.E. requirement, it is a class and you will receive a letter grade that will factor into your GPA.
•    You can take dance as your only elective, but then you must also take P.E. There is no option for taking a dance class to fulfill your P.E. requirement and then having free periods during the elective times.
•    Taking two electives is possible, but some arts electives are scheduled at the same time as your dance class of choice. If you want to be in Choreolab (Oakwood’s advanced dance company) you must take whichever dance elective fits into your schedule.
•    The Dance Worlds class can be taken as a one-semester P.E. class or as an arts elective, but because it has no performance element it will not fulfill your requirements for Choreolab eligibility. It is a great way to dance if you just want a creative P.E. class or a dance elective with no performance requirement though.
•    If you take theatre arts classes like Play Production and any dance class besides Dance Worlds, you will need to fulfill the performance requirements for both classes. This will most likely involve after school and/or weekend rehearsals in both classes at some point during the year.
•    You may not take a dance elective for only one quarter or one semester and will not be exempt from class during your sports season.
Okay, now some of those things may sound kind of daunting, but I don’t want to discourage you! For me, taking two electives this year worked out wonderfully. I didn’t get my first choice dance class, but instead I got to learn something new and just as valuable. Yes, I still have free periods and I’ve learned a lot! Being well rounded is important as a performer. It’s always beneficial to have multiple skills and interests, and sometimes they can mix into wonderful hybrid projects! The more you know, the more you have to offer.
-L

Opportunities in Costume Design - by Caroline

For most dancers I know, there isn’t anything better than performing. The warmth of the spotlight in your eyes, the adrenaline the audience gives you when they clap, and the amazing feeling of wearing the costume. I’ve always felt the costume to be the icing on the cake. After creating each dance, we always get the chance to discuss costumes. The class being made up of all hysterical girls, the possibilities were endless. No one could decide on just one outfit, it was simply impossible. Earlier in the school year, I took an immersion class on fashion and sewing, and had some experience on the art of clothing, so when I could see we just couldn’t decide on one idea; I took a chance and offered to create a mock up. The words had popped out of my mouth without my brain getting a quick chance to check on their stupidity. Yes, I did know how to sew, and yes I did have a sewing machine, but that didn’t mean I was any good. I did have an idea in mind, so I immediately got to work.The dance was slightly “ future robot meets ballerina,” so I wanted the look to feel fun futuristic and modern. I took out an old leotard I had from years ago, and began to mock up the costume. I used the materials I had. I sewed grey tool to the leotard’s spaghetti straps, and sewed a mini black fabric belt to the waist. I found the piece to be hideous. The belt looked cheap and awkward, and the tool was boring and made one feel tired. But, it was only a rough draft. I brought it in the next day and showed it to the class. “Its only for now, I didn’t know what to do exactly. I’ll take suggestions!” I anxiously told the class. What was I doing? I’m no costume designer. I had the image of the beautiful costume in my head, but the work my fingers were doing looked nothing like my imaginary costume. After some critiques and suggestions, I began draft number two. Realizing I would have to make seven copies of the same leotard, I didn’t want to make it too extravagant (not that I actually could). It was almost perfected after draft two. It was cute with its pastel colored tool and black bow in the back, but it didn’t get the correct message across, and I was not looking for cute. It screamed something more like “fairy” than “robo-ballerina.” We then realized the key was color. It needed bright colors. Something like neon pinks blues purples and greens, which is what I did. I sewed on the funkiest colors Joanne’s Fabrics offered. The colors against the pitch-black leotard were really great and eye-popping, especially when worn with our funky colored tights. We looked slightly like 1980’s dance aerobics instructors. But, when on stage with our hair pulled back and our ballet shoes on, we looked like hyped up dancers. The process of making the costume was much like writing a paper. It consists of many drafts that are full of grammar mistakes, but when read by peers and teachers, it can turn into a total A+. And even though the tool was extremely painful and itchy, it was worth everything. I’ve learned you don’t need to be a professional costume designer, or professional dancer to do something great. It just takes a little push from yourself, as cheesy as it does 

An Interview with Dance Faculty, Angelina Schneider - by Casey

Interview with Angelina Schneider

The New Dance Teacher!

When did you start dancing?

My mom would say I've been dancing since I was in her tummy :).  Technically, when I was four my mom took me to a ballet class.  I had a hard time staying still!  My mom enrolled me in gymnastics which I loved and stayed with for ten years.  Dancing was a large component of my acrobatic training.  When my competitive gymnastics career ended, I began taking dance classes, mostly Jazz and a little Ballet. I auditioned for a local youth dance company and got in!  It was through this company that I first performed in a theater and was hooked for life.  There's something indescribably delicious about those few moments before the curtain comes up, hundreds of people in the audience, the stage manager calls "Places!", everything goes dark, the excitement creeps from your stomach to your throat, the curtain comes up, the dance begins and an inner calm takes over.  It's never stopped being a magical and transformational experience for me.

Where have you worked before?

I've had many jobs, when I was a teen my first job was working at a local burger spot that my friend's dad owned followed by a very brief stint at Baskin n' Robbins which I was fired from for eating the gummi bear toppings! (I don't know if I ever admitted that to anyone before!)      

     In terms of dance though, my first professional job was as a member of the Elements Dance Company (EDC) based out of Santa Fe,NM.  It was a modern dance company which performed throughout NM and the southwest.  A large part of our funding came through our outreach programs which brought dance to underserved youth and families.  We decided to open our own community center which we called "Harambe - Performing Arts and Cultural Education Center ".  Harambe is Swahili for "We shall pull together" and that's exactly what we did.  Kids from all over the area would come to the center everyday to take classes, work on homework and be part of the Harambe experience.  It was during this time that I found a great and passionate love for using dance as tool to teach and mentor young people.  One of the interesting tangents that Harambe brought into my life was breakdancing. The kids were really into it and wanted to learn all the fantastic tricks.  So, we invited some local breakers to come down to the center to practice.  They would teach me and I would teach the kids.  I discovered that the movement style came naturally to me and started entering local competitions. 

     Eventually, I moved to New York City and spent two years immersed in hip hop culture and break dance.  There I joined an all-girl dance company called The Syrenz which toured the east coast participating in performances and competitions.  In NYC I was exposed to so much art; street performers, museums, poetry cafes, music, theater, architecture.  It was a time of personal growth and real-time life education. 

     After New York, I decided that I wanted dance to play a major role in my life.  I moved toLos Angeles and went to college.  I started out at Los Angeles Valley College taking classes from an amazing faculty of teachers.  It was there that I met Arianne MacBean through her Dance Moving Forward Festival.  I went on to graduate Cum Laude from California State University Long Beach with a BA in Dance.  Since being in Los Angeles I've danced with many choreographers; Holly Johnston (Ledges and Bones), Keith Johnson (Keith Johnson and Dancers), Dorcas Roman (DRDT), Arianne MacBean (The Big Show Company), Domino Affect Dance Company.

     Pursuing dance in college taught me much more than just how to be a technically trained dancer.  It taught me about the history of dance, the architecture of space, time and energy, showed me that I have a voice that can be expressed through choreography and composition and most importantly exponentially increased my passion and commitment to lead a life guided by this ethereal, impermanent and transformational art that we call DANCE!

What is your favorite style of dance?

This is a tougher question than it seems.  I am a lover of movement, every style has it's own beauty, advantages and challenges- they're all magnificent.  But, if I had to choose I'd say my favorite style is Modern dance.  I love the name because it's so broad and allows for much personal interpretation.  My personal movement style is motivated by a desire to explore the potential of momentum, combined with floor work/inversions while seeking to find beautiful lines and moments of technical virtuosity.  My movement background is uniquely diverse; gymnastics, modern, ballet, jazz, afro-brazilian, martial arts, breakdancing and I seek to bring the subtleties of these movement forms together in a hybrid dance that falls perfectly into the category of  Contemporary Modern Dance.

An Interview with Dance Faculty, Monica Campagna - by Casey

Interview with Monica Campagna

When did you start dancing? I started dancing first in my living room, choreographing dances on my sister and putting together shows for my parents and neighbors when I was about in elementary school...really as long as I can re-call I wanted to make things - dance, art, music. When I was in 7th grade, I began taking after-school ballet classes at the Baltimore School for the Arts, where I continued on as a full-time dance major in high school.

What made you want to start? I loved to express myself...a natural performer I guess. I would make all my relatives watch my performances at our family gatherings. Like I said before, I loved creating in many mediums - but dance is definitely the way I feel I can most fully express my emotions. It is an amazing feeling of wholeness and a kind of euphoria when I move (well, most of the time!)

Where have you worked before? In Baltimore I began presenting my own choreography, but I really got going after college in Philadelphia.There I worked with Group Motion Company and toured South America and Europe. I presented my work all over Philadelphia and on PBS Television also. I moved to Los Angeles in 1995 - and after working with Loretta Livingstone for one year, I started my own company, TRIP Dance Theatre. TRIP has performed all over Los Angelesand in New York. We've also been on PBS many times (seven I think) for the annual Holiday Celebration event that takes place at the Dorothy Chandler Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. The company has performed at big venues like the Ford Amphitheater and smaller venues like Highways Performance Space and Unknown Theater.

What is your favorite style of dance? I love modern (contemporary) the most - but I also really love African dance, Indonesian dance and Hip Hop to name a few.  I like to blend ways of moving from other styles of dance into my own style.

What is the best thing from dance you have applied to your outside life? Perseverance and discipline.

Unexpected Shine Time - an interview with Hassan - by TQ

The Epic word of dance

through a male dancer.

Interview: Hassan

 

 

 

 

Before entering the performing art: Dance, Hassan had aspirations for a career in the medical field. Never the less, his passions for dance lead him to stage life. His doubts were vanquished by the comforting thought of the necessity of male dancers.

At one point in the interview, I asked Hassan what pushed him through the struggles of having “Dance” is his future. He responded, “My Passion, my passion, and oh yes, my Passion.”  

♥ ♥ ♥

Q: The bass, the beat, the melody. Can you feel it as you dance? How does it cause your body to react?

A: Oh of course. I predominantly listen and respond to the percussion but if it's great melody it can affect the quality of my movements. Whether on not I am more aggressive or easy going, heavy or light etc. in my approach. 

Hassan says he enjoys dancing to everything, except for heavy metal and country.

Q: Were there ever points in your life when other dancers suppressed your movement style?

A: Yes, definitely this is part of being a dancer I think. When there are certain styles that are popular people will criticize anything that's not "cool" or part of the established cultural movement vocabulary.

Q: What unexpected perspective have you gained being a dancer?

A: How diverse my experience has been in life. Most people don't guess that I've seen and done as much as I have so far in life. 

Definition of - Dance: “To move rhythmically usually to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures.”

♥♥♥♥

Dancing Off Campus - by Hallie

     Oakwood School has been an excellent vessel for dancing off campus.  Each year, the dance department is involved with performances that occur in new and exciting venues, off the normal Oakwood campus, and extending into the Los Angeles community.  Dancing without school constraints is a completely different experience than dancing on campus.  When dancing on campus, rehearsal times and performance spaces are limited, while dancing off campus can offer more unique spaces and each event can evolve in its own way.  Oakwood’s Dance Department has been involved in the Headmaster’s Dinner, and "The Black Dress Movement" at the Eagle Rock Rec Center in 2007, "220 Glimpses of Utopia and More" on Skid Row with the Los Angeles Poverty Department in 2008, and "We Can’t Get There From Here" at Diavolo Dance Space at the Brewery Arts Complex in downtown LA in 2009.
    Each event gave a unique opportunity to the dancers involved.  At the Headmaster’s Dinner, dancers performed pieces choreographed for Oakwood’s dance show and collaborated with music students in front of an audience filled with Oakwood faculty, parents, Board members and alumni.  "The Black Dress Movement" allowed dancers to perform with local professionals and collaborate with music students, as well in an unusual but artsy photo studio located in a historic Eagle Rock Building.  "220 Glimpses of Utopia and More" was an outdoor utopian movement-chain from Skid Row to City Hall in downtown LA.  Dancers generated a movement sequence and performed it on the sidewalk, extending into a complete chain to represent that any true utopian ideal includes everyone and excludes no one.  The Skid Row experience was a powerful one for everyone involved. In fact, at the end of our performance a young homeless woman - maybe even our age - joined in our movement chain and in our concluding group hug that was filled with emotion at the end of the performance. "We Can’t Get There From Here" gave dancers the chance to perform in a new space and collaborate on the spot with music students in a sort of Cunningham/Cage-inspired Chance Dance procedure where the dancers and music students created pieces around the same length, and then we met on the night of the show and performed them together for the first time. All of these off campus experiences have enriched my experience of dancing here at Oakwood and helped me see how dance fits into the greater world.