New Territory
The onset of Covid19 in our world limited a lot of the things I was used to doing. Being an active dance teacher, while running a non-profit dance company, being a very social being with a very full calendar, mid-March of 2020 my life shifted quite a bit, as did many of our lives. I found myself delving into things I had put on a back burner. I had time to think about, “what can I do to keep learning and feeling excited about my art form while dealing with this new environment and limited social contact?” An opportunity had arisen to create.
DanceTalk101.com was something I had been thinking about for a couple of years. It started when I was helping with a summer Biology course – I saw students watching “Crash Course Biology” at the beginning of a class, then taking the ideas into more expanded capacity throughout the class session.
At first, I found the episodes of Crash Course a little annoying, the fast-paced talk, the barrage of images – then it started to grow on me – a fun, humorous, relatable educational video series! I saw students responding, I saw lessons being built on it. I saw it as a spring board for teachers – to take lessons into various directions after a creative, attention getting introduction to various topics. I thought, we need one of these for dance! I thought of dance teachers who might need a new spin on ideas they have been working with, dance educators who are wondering where to start on certain topics, teachers who are doing so much but need a quick sub lesson that can be used virtually or live in the classroom, or a new voice to speak to their students, to reiterate things they have said, but maybe in a new way … DanceTalk101.com was born. After many conversations with fellow dancers and educators, and finally with my long-time friend, and dance professional, Jordan Kriston, things started to happen. The brainstorming soon became a reality. When building a team – I thought of who would be a fit for my vision? Jordan came to mind as she was just leaving a touring professional setting and carving out her own personal dance career. Her philosophy, sincerity, work ethic, passion for dance as a human, expressive art form for everyone, matched mine. Her rich experience of dancing and teaching with Pilobolus along with her personal work she has been developing, drew me to her. My other long-time friend and colleague, who I have collaborated with on several dance film and animation projects, art installations and educational endeavors, Frances McMahon Ward came to mind. Her humor and creative edge have always appealed to me. Her amazing knowledge of her craft and open mind and heart are very welcoming. We found ourselves in three different cities across America – Phoenix, Portland and Chicago. Thankful for the technology that brings us together with ease, we continued conversations and blended our passion for dance, education and the arts to create DanceTalk101. It is the beginning. I know it will ebb and flow and change as it grows. Some of that will be based on input we receive from our valued friends, colleagues and teachers, students and all who visit our site. We are excited about what it is, where it is going and all the conversations, activities and lessons that will be shared. Thinking of students and teachers using it and making their extensions of it, from it and with it, is exciting.
I am nervous and excited, like a mom sending a child off to a first day of school or a playdate away from home as we start this site, this project, this adventure. Thank you for sharing in it. There is naturally a feeling of vulnerability, risk, and joy that comes with doing something new. Our hearts are in it. Welcome to Dancetalk101.com.