Nipomo High School

Last week I was a guest at Nipomo High School thanks to a friend from Variable Velocity who is the dance teacher at the high school. A little over a month ago she approached me about judging and possibly creating a routine for the auditions of Nipomo High School's Dance Company. I was available and jumped at the chance. I love to teach and choreograph bit I rarely ever get a chance to actually do it.

I had instructions that went like this:

Jazz style with a little ballet, hip hop, and modern

4 to 5 8 couts

improv at one point

easy to count music

technique and performance

an extension, pirouette, and leap

I then gave myself the task of adding and isolation, hand leg opposition, gesture phrase, weight change and weight shift, plus play with dynamics and speed changes.

I love to push the body to stretch and move not just go through the motions.

I picked the song "Daylight" by Matt and Kim which is very cheery and fun and would lighten their mood.

I had so much fun working with the girls and w boys. There was 2 days of auditions the first day was mostly girls that were in the company this year and there was only 25 of them. Wednesday was mostly intro students and there was 31 of them. Which is a big difference to teach. The teaching process is longer and more complicated and requires constant movement. By the end my voice and body were gone! but I had so much fun the dance was super fun to do and the kids were great. I was so happy to be there and to take part. I have to admit I'm a tough judge because I'm a stickler for technique and clarity.

The process was fun and rewarding for me and it lead to greater opportunity. Chrissy asked me to choreograph a a piece for their big show next year and said I could guest teach a couple of times as well. I'm super excited and I can't wait, it will be great for my resume and for grad school. She also said the students liked me and said I was a god teacher! I LOVE hearing that!

Side note I was at the MGMT concert this weekend and I turn 21 in 8 hours, crazy. Also Variable Velocity's show is this week in Spanos at Cal Poly and I am getting really excited! It looks great. Tomorrow is the first day in the theater and we start blocking and setting lighting and such. If you're in the area stop by The Treasure of Presence.