Choreography Class

Each year now, Katelyn's ballet studio has been offering a chance to learn some techniques in choreographing ballet pieces to music. Katelyn took this class last year and again this year. After the 2-hour class, they are given two weeks to choreograph and practice a piece to perform. Each student was given the same piece of music to choreograph for their "Out of the Box" dance; their assignment was to "tell a story" with their dance. For any other dances, they were able to choose their own music and choreograph a dance to it. Katelyn was in two other pieces with friends, so she has been quite busy with ballet the past few weeks. In addition to the two normal ballet classes per week, she practices at the studio every week for an upcoming performace with the Asaph Ensemble, and now had several practices with her choreography partners. It's been quite a challenge to get them together with everyone's busy schedules.
The performance was last Friday, and we all went to see what they have been doing. It was amazing how all ten of the Out of the Box dance "stories" were completely different, even though it was the same piece of music. The music had a slower, peaceful part in the beginning and end, and was more discordant and loud in the middle. Katelyn interpreted it as a girl picking apples and getting lost in the woods. Another girl interpreted it as someone reading a book and then playing a damsel in distress and a prince in other parts of the story. Another girl told the "story" of a young girl who was walking with her mother, started misbehaving, and saw a doll in the window and broke the window to get the doll. All of them were very creative.
Then came the time when the dancers performed to their own choice of music. These were so creative and beautifully danced! Micah was able to videotape Katelyn's dances, so I might be able to have them available here later. They all did an amazing job, especially considering they only had a total of about three rehearsals.
In fact, I think it took longer for the them to decide on which matching leotards to buy, than it did for them to come up with the choreography for the dance! LOL
Katelyn, Lauren & Leah


Katelyn & Beth