The Coalescent Teacher

Opening up the conversation about fusing the gap between classic and contemporary pedagogy. Why 2020 has taught us the value of teaching for the camera, which appears to be the best thing we can give our dancers in preparation for this brave new world.

Written by contributing Dance Educator and Blogger, Meghan Daly

Listen, I am a firm believer in NOT lifting the leg to the point of no return. If the standing leg is bent and the hip of the extended leg is lifted and tilted to portray the legendary ‘hoo-ha shot’ I’m just as upset as you are!

To be perfectly honest, I can’t say that I’ve reached this perfect level of pure classical ballet aptitude and superior performance quality, nor would I dare say I know every step and nuance of Giselle (or any ballet for that matter). I do say, SHAME ON ME. I couldn’t even write this blog post without keeping in mind that my opinion is mediocre at best. I want your feedback, healthy debates, criticisms, and thumbs down (considering a gowling hollar is not as satisfactory when it is done in the comment section at the end of this page).

While I wait for this heated commentary, what I do want to write about is, what the hell are we going to do with our students. I mean, those who actually stuck with us through this mess, (bless their hearts) now that the only era we ever knew is officially over? That’s right, extinct.

Can we all agree on the fact that nothing will warm our stern Wannabe-XYZ-Times-Dance-Critic heart, than a healthy dose of ABT’s season at the Met? Picture this: You, dressed in your little black dress. ​Classic.​ Statement heels that lift your perky little wannabe-tutu-wearing calves. Bougie.​ Your grand-ma-ma’s diamond studs (well, actually, you got them out of the bottom of the studio’s dusty lost and found tupperware container, but nobody needs to know details).Ratchet.Y​ ou’resittinginthe3rdrow(stageleftblindspotseat;justdetails).​Yeah,you’rea savage. ​Orchestra begins with a stretch and then onto your 3rd chakra’s love song, the overture to Swan Lake. Velveteen seat at your back. Long luxurious curtains still closed, but you, yes YOU, with your charming little ‘diamond’ studded earlobes, can hear the warm pattering of rosin-ridden pointe shoes taking the stage. Heart flutters. Curtains open. Breath is held until the final Bravo. Yes, this is the ballet!!! The one and only true art.

Now, let’s face what we have today. You, 5 days no shower. Grey sweats with a chocolate ice cream stain on your thigh. You didn’t need to eat the whole tub. YOU NEEDED TO EAT THE GOSH DARN ENTIRE TUB AND YES LICKED THE EDGES WITH YOUR TOUNGE LIKE THE ANIMAL YOU REALLY ARE. Hair is greasy. The landlord aka Mr. Left-30-Voicemails-On-My-Work-Cell because the rent is due for your studio space. We’ll get back to him later. Right now, you going to clear a spot in your pit, I mean apartment, and watch ballet clips from around the world on YouTube. You start; hear the music you onced loved; see a world famous dancer you once paid $300 for basically standing room only; you sigh; within 15 minutes you’re binge watching romantic comedies on Netflix.

What’s the problem? Same music. Incredible world famous dancers. Comfort of your own home. Closer view of the stage, I mean, they are practically performing Act III on top of your potato-chip-crumb-ridden sweatshirt. So, what’s YOUR PROBLEM?!

It’s just not the same on video, and this my friends, is our new reality.

“I always find it most helpful to be proactive about the road bumps that life gives us.”

*says Peggy Patterson’s mom who is 5 months late on tuition payments, but somehow just put a downpayment on her sapphire colored Porsche, in a snarky tone with a bit of disdainful pity.

Well, ROAD BUMP THIS, MRS. PATTERSON!

*cue inappropriate wannabe knowing, but don’t know anything about hip hop gesture.

And now that this is out of your system, we need to make changes. When you chose to become an instructor/studio owner of the arts, you put your personal dance goals on the backburner for the sake of something far grander than yourself. You did it for the next generation. You wanted them to push and prosper further than you. You wanted them to achieve their goals. You wanted the future of the arts to continue and to evolve. And now look at you…

You’re pouting. You’re talking about what once was. You’re living in the past. We have a new era before us! What have you done to continue to achieve YOUR ORIGINAL INTENTION? To create a roadmap for your students. Even if they do not pursue dance professionally, whatever they choose, you want them to be capable of transforming into the best.

Now, let’s talk about what we can do, considering what we can do is limited to state regulated social distancing health protocols and the virtual realm. While we can’t change state regulations, the capabilities of the internet are endless. I even firmly believe that everything we were capable of doing in person, we are even more so capable and limitless when done virtually. We just have to let ourselves be vulnerable again, try new things, and fail until one thing is successful. Rinse and Repeat.

This might hurt a bit and for that, I am sorry. Take a deep breath before proceeding. ***

We need to incorporate dancing for video into the classroom. Not just hip hop, jazz, and contemporary. I’ve always been a go big or go home girl, so brace yourself…we need to incorporate video performance into our ballet classes.

You’re telling me, Little Miss Hotshot, the winner of 15 choreographer awards and 8 studio awards at YAGP, can’t figure out how to make their magnificent ballet choreography shine on camera? I don’t mean a flat, one shot, video of your ballet at the GOSH DARN RECITAL. For the love of all things great and small, LET GO OF THE RECITAL. Rose did it to Jack, you’ll move on.

MAKE A CREATIVE TREATMENT. We all know you went to wine and paint, mostly for the wine, but no judgement. That was a good start! Now it’s time to dig deeper, but that’s what are BIG PERSON PANTIES ARE FOR! (Yay! Look at you now you SHINE NOW, you little rhinestone, you!) Outline what you want your concept video to look like. Use pictures. Simple words and phrases. Hell, pop a QUOTE in that bad boy. But, above all else, do your RESEARCH! This will be the blueprint for your next work of cyber-art and you will be able to share it with your videographer, dancers, and parents!

DEDICATE A SMALL PORTION OF YOUR CLASS TO PERFORMING FOR VIDEO. Calm the PANCAKE TUTU DOWN, I’m talking 15-20 minutes and please do not compensate the barre and technique. Obviously, a proper barre and technique is critical to training your dancers. However, in our NEW ERA, you must teach your dancers what looks good on camera. This may take some studying on your end, but we all know you bought about 15 ballet class outlines on Amazon, so figure it out, HUNNY! Seriously, you can do this! Teach your dancers that not all angles, expressions, distances, etc. look good on camera. Ask them to use their phones, film themselves, and reflect on what looked good and what could have looked better. Perhaps if they placed their phone in the right instead of the left corner. The lighting. The clothing. The interaction between other dancers (based on state regulations) and their distance from the camera. The possibilities on camera are endless. Keep trying new things until it fits YOUR VISION.

HIRE A DANG LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHER. Tell them you trust them. Ask them for help! Create a connection that could possibly turn into regular work for them. Share your creative treatment. Budget might be tight at the beginning, but set small goals. ONE VIDEO every 3 months and take it from there! Artists, by nature, love to collaborate with one another. Most true artists are open to sharing information with fellow artists. Ask them their opinion, based on the work they have done up until this point, what makes someone look better on video.

GET A RING LIGHT. Just shut up and get it. Heck, invest in in-studio lighting.

PLAY AROUND WITH YOUR INNER VIDEOGRAPHER. That’s right, you! I’m not talking about even buying an expensive camera, although you eventually could. Use your cell phone. As you are setting your piece, use your cell to video. Walk through dancers as they are dancing. Follow dancers. Ask dancers to follow the camera. Get on a ladder film from above. Lay on your back and film from the floor. Get a selfie stick. Levels, angles, props…hey, it’s almost like you’re… OH BOY, I’m gonna say it…DANCING!

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS. Amidst all of this filming you may start to feel through all of this stimulation and creativity that you, yourself, are actually a videographer. Sorry, buddy, leave that to the professionals. You using your cell phone is to help assist you when working with your incredible local videographer. The more STAGE DIRECTIONS you can give them, the more they can collaborate, expand, and take the creativity to the next level. Now, after all that if you still feel the need to enter your CELLPHONE-OGRAPHY into a downtown film fest, go for it sweetheart, I believe in you!

YOUR FIRST VIDEO MIGHT BE S*&T! Yes, this is true. Get over it. No matter what you do, don’t give up. Keep at it. Change one thing. Ask more questions. Do more research. Team up with other teachers, choreographers, studio owners, your own dancers, but DO NOT GIVE UP!

With all of this said, I want to know your thoughts? What have you done in regards to preparing your pre-professional classical and contemporary dancers for CYBER-ARTISTRY? How can we fuse the gap between classic and contemporary pedagogy to incorporate an artistic approach to online learning and performing? What did you hate, love, meh, about this article? I want to know it all.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!! *cue dance competition MC music.