For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to Paris, France with the OSU Department of Dance Company to perform two notable dance works, take classes at prestigious dance institutions, and visit numerous museums and tourist sights of the city. To connect with different dance institutions in Paris, we shared our dance reconstruction and dance notation research projects through numerous lecture demonstrations and performances of Martha Graham’s Steps in the Street and Anna Sokolow’s Rooms. In addition to these collaborations, we spent whatever free time we had exploring the city and immersing ourselves in the culture through art museums, a show at the Paris Opera Ballet, and trying new food.
This experience was extremely eye-opening and transforming, especially as I navigate career options after graduation. When we were in Paris, we visited the Centre National de la Danse, which is one of the top collaborative dance centers in France. CND hosts different dance projects for the community, guest artist classes, and is home of a large collection of dance archives. Visiting CND was very inspiring because the center is unlike any art and dance center I have seen in the United States. I was most inspired by the community and education outreach and research opportunities offered at CND. Since I have completed a couple large research projects pertaining to dance reconstruction and archives, I loved to learn about different career opportunities that work with dance archives and research. It was inspiring to see how much the center values the archiving of dance notation and other materials. I was able to connect with different professionals, researchers and notators to discuss their role within CND and it was eye-opening to learn about all the opportunities that exist within the professional dance world.
Another place we visited while in Paris was the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. The conservatoire offers some of the top dance training in France and almost all of the students hope to dance and choreograph professionally as a career. The environment of the conservatoire is very professional, but also prioritizes the artistic community of the school. During the trip, we were able to visit the conservatoire numerous times to take various classes with the students. The class that inspired me the most was a Martha Graham modern dance technique class with Iris Florentiny. Iris grew up in France and was drawn to the passion and rigor of the Martha Graham technique, so she auditioned for the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York City and performed professionally with them for years. Since the Martha Graham technique is one of my favorite techniques and repertory to perform, Iris’ story was relatable and inspiring to me. What stood out to me the most was how she taught the Martha Graham technique class. Unlike other teachers I have had, Iris prioritized the individuality and personality that comes out of authentic artistry, with technique and skill being a secondary goal. Iris was really interested in artistic exploration and teaching the students ways to explore their own artistry and passion within the technique. The class with Iris was really fun and inspiring, but also challenging in all the good ways. In class, I was able to work on the physical embodiment of the movement while also exploring my personal artistry within the choreography. The class also taught me a lot about what teaching principles I value and would apply to my own teaching agenda. I felt that Iris’ class was the perfect balance between professionally rigorous and artistically constructive. I hope to create a similar class environment when I teach dance in the future.
Visiting both the Centre National de la Danse and Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris helped me to realize what role I would like to fill within the dance world. Both centers inspired me to work in dance education community outreach, especially in the ways CND offers. I think it is important for dance companies and centers to be involved in the community and local schools. Since dance training and performance can be an opportunity that is hard to come by in some communities, I hope to work in expanding dance community outreach wherever I work. Something I thought would be beneficial to be offered at more dance centers in the United States is a space for artists of the community to collaborate and create together. The Centre National de la Danse offers studios and creative spaces for artists of the community to come together and create. Not only does this space encourage people of the community to create art, but centers like this also prove the continued importance and value of supporting the arts.
Taking class at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris inspired me to challenge myself as a dancer and artist but also to teach dance in ways that prioritize and encourage artistic exploration. Whether the student is training in dance recreationally or to be a professional, a learning environment that promotes creative engagement and artistic growth is one I hope to create. The classes I took at the conservatoire reached both ends spectrum between professionally rigorous and artistically constructive, so I hope to apply a balance to my teaching agenda. Overall, visiting a foreign country and experiencing the dance community in different ways inspired me significantly and transformed the way I considered dance education and community outreach. I plan to carry this experience with me forever and especially as I navigate a career in the dance world.