Broadway Teacher's Workshop #2- Reflection

I have earned an A in my course as of yesterday, so I am going to continue to share with you the work I did for that class.  It was such a great experience, and I want everyone to know about it! I hope you enjoy these reflections and critiques of Broadway Teacher's Workshop!

Broadway Teacher’s Workshop- Day #1

Second workshop- “On Your Feet”

Susan Frank

Maria Torres is the associate choreographer for the show, “On Your Feet” about Gloria and Emilio Estefan.  This workshop took us through learning a combination for the show.  She then had us experience an audition process the way it happens on Broadway.  Maria has had a wealth of experience dancing and choreographing on Broadway.  She is articulate, quick-witted, she is honest about the world of Broadway dancing.  She had us moving, jumping, feeling, and letting go of our inhibitions right away in this class.  

Maria gave us the historical background for the show.  This was extremely helpful, to know why we were dancing in this part of the show, and what we needed to know to get us right into the flow of the piece.  She created rows for us to dance in, which she had us move through and switch each time, so we would all experience the front row.  She talked to us about the Afro-Cuban style of dancing, which is very different from any other style.  Even before we learned the choreography and dance steps, she had us get a feeling for the style.  She had us feel our lower center of gravity, she had us feel the music, and especially the rhythms, which are the most important part of the music in this case.  

She got us to feel very comfortable in our bodies, and not be embarrassed about our shapes, or our possible limitations.  She spoke about famous choreographers, like Bob Fosse, who would create choreography based upon his limitations as he got older, that is where his inimitable style emerged from!  She smiled at us warmly, and encouraged us to enjoy the movement, more than anything else, which helped us open up and get the most out of the experience.  She shared her own limitations, and her own struggles over the years with her non-traditional dancer’s body.  This also made me feel a sense of acceptance for my own contributions to the class.  

Maria then shared with us the choreography for the audition.  Her technique of teaching the choreography was classic, teaching eight counts at a time.  However, since we had learned  and worked with the style first, before learning the actual steps, this part was easy.  She gave us ample time to practice the steps as groups, and to play with individualizing the choreography.  She wanted us to put our own personal stamp on the steps.  She first taught the steps going straight up and down and back and forth in the room.  This helped us get our bearings, another really good technique.  After that, she had us experience the dance the actual way it would work, on the diagonal.  This is more difficult for finding and maintaining your personal space, but because we first learned the choreography straight back and forth, it was not as difficult as it could have been.  I would use this technique from now on when I teach dances for my middle school musicals.  

Finally, Maria began the cuts the way she would if she were auditioning us for the show.  This might have been incredibly nerve-wracking and anxiety-provoking.  However, Maria gave us so much encouragement, through her smiles, and specific, helpful feedback, that it made the experience very positive and a great learning experience.  She got us to rise up out of ourselves, and truly put every inch of our energy, personality, and emotion into this short piece.  She is not only a great choreographer, but a great teacher.  She noticed what we did well, and reminded us of that, and then helped us to go further with our movements and steps.  

I would use all these techniques in my teaching.  It is so important for students in middle school to feel accepted, and to feel comfortable and supported in their bodies, in their thoughts and feelings.  It is essential that we share with them what they do well, and capitalize on those positive things, to help our students stretch themselves further.  It is essential that we help our students see the challenges that might face them in the real world, as Maria did for us with this audition, but also encourage them at every step, no matter what the level.

I noticed so many very introverted people in this class really open up and throw themselves into the dance by the end of the short class.  This is a tribute to Maria’s teaching: her joy in all shapes and sizes and ages of bodies, her expressive qualities and modeling of the work, her intense encouragement of all our contributions to the class.  Teachers in all disciplines could improve their skills by observing her techniques: Immediate involvement, background information, use of space, encouragement, scrutiny with thoughtful feedback.