Original post date: May 22, 2015
While driving a student home from rehearsal the other day, our conversation turned to our journey through Genesis and Exodus in ballet class. She commented that it is fun to learn the ‘backstory’ (we’re currently in Genesis, therefore not even to our actual story yet) and I agreed. I feel strongly that learning any ‘backstory’ gives us insight to any current story. I also commented that this background reading is helping me choose verses to include in the recital program to help promote the meaning of each dance.
In speaking of the recital program, I admit that this is one aspect of the recital over which I obsess each year. As much as I work on the recital, envision it from the audience’s perspective, the program is an added detail, another chance to present the meaning of each piece. It is so important to me to share as much as I can of the inspiration I feel when choreographing a piece, choosing the music, creating the final product. Yet I know that not everybody is ‘spoken to’ through dance. (I have an uncle who specifically informed me of this;-) Some are touched through spoken word, others through reading, still others through music. So to me, words in the program, written promptings, are one more opportunity to share these inspirations with our audience. Sometimes it’s a line from the song lyrics, sometimes an Bible verse, a piece of background information, or related inspirational quote.
At this comment, my student responded “oh yeah! I like how you include those notes in the program- I remember the one from our jazz dance last year (a piece of lyrics), I didn’t even know those lyrics were in the song!”
Inner victory! This is exactly why I do this- to point out a meaning that may have been missed before. In fact, this particular song to which she referred, I had specifically and lovingly picked out for this group of girls. (“Gold” by Brit Nicole- “from the inside out it shows- you’re worth more than gold”)
So I encourage you to read these notes at our recital this spring- each is chosen with intention, with hopes and prayers that it will share with you the vision we had in creating the piece. Read these inspirations, look for them in the dances, and I pray that this recital will not only be fun to watch, but meaningful to experience.