So much has happened these past few months, like a present that's continuously unfurling, the spectacular finish still approaching from under endless amounts of other beautiful gifts.
In an effort to literally eat/sleep/breathe my passion for dance and my love of spearheading grand schemes, I left my position at the university to become a full time studio owner, in addition to my role as Pulse's artistic director. This is a massive leap of faith, but it's because I so firmly believe in the need for an adult dance studio in town that I trust it will be successful.
On top of a performing company bursting at the seams with talent and a studio in the works, I just learned that I've been accepted as an intern at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival's dance intensive. I'll be taking rigorous classes from morning till night for two weeks, and working alongside Krenly Guzman to create a new modern dance work for the intensive's final concert.
It's all quite thrilling and daunting and exhilarating and demanding, but I know it's going to make me stronger, and that is exactly what I'm looking for. Push me. Make me uncomfortable. Force me to grow. I will become a better dancer, leader, instructor and choreographer by taking advantage of these opportunities.
I attended FSAF many years ago, for only one week, with some of my high school dance team. It was there I had the delightful chance to first meet Striding Lion's Annie Arnoult-Bessera, but mostly I remember the soreness and my very, very red face. I return now with a sense of purpose, a new and important role, and a fiery desire to squeeze every drop of sweaty leotard knowledge out of it.
Working as a dance company director is more mentally stimulating than physically demanding. While I work hard in developing choreography, leading rehearsals and warm ups, and occasionally perform alongside the company, I have taken a more artistically satisfying back seat in the performative aspect of things. This provides me with the distance I need to see and assess my work from the best perspective, but it has also allowed my own firecracker-on-the-dance-floor, learn-and-execute capabilities to stagnate.
I am ready to move. I am ready to be given movement, to learn it, and to own it. I am ready to take it all, turn it around, and continue charging forward in new and exciting ways.
Ever wonder what a dance intensive is like, or just want to know exactly how many cups of Bengay I'm using? I'll be blogging my experience from here. Feel free to ask questions or even leave advice!
Here's to doing what you love, darlings.
Stephanie
PDC Director
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