Entry #7

Theater Diagram- Proscenium Stage

1. Proscenium
2. Built Piece
3. Off Stage
4. Curtain
5. Setting Line/Apron
6.Auditorium
7.Border

Entry #6

Why do people dance? Oh geez. Asking me this question is like asking me "why do people breathe?" and expecting an answer other than "because they just do." When people ask me why I dance I have no other answer other than- I have to. It is as much a part of me as breathing. I couldn't not dance if I wanted to.
When I look back on my life, I remember being two years old and trying to follow my older sister into her dance class. Because I was so young, my teacher would take me into the back hallway before I was able to sign up for classes, and she would ask me to do simple things. I still remember to this day her asking me to do grands battements. And I would do them, in my little shiny white Keds. To me dance is something I do when I'm deliriously happy, devastatingly sad, or feeling like I need something to pick me up. I cry when I dance, I laugh, I get frustrated and I feel invigorated. Dance is so much a part of me that I couldn't imagine not being a dancer. I always knew that I wanted to be a dancer. In my first ballet class (I was three when I started taking) my teacher would give us time at the end of the class to dance out whatever we wanted to be. Most little girls wanted to be butterflies or princesses. And my answer every single time was that I wanted to be a ballet dancer.
Last year I took an improvisation class and in a discussion that we had during this class, my teacher asked us why people dance, and why do we identify ourselves as dancers before humans when we were humans first. And as I thought about it I realized that I was only a human for two years longer than I've been a dancer.
I have to dance.

Entry #5

Every time I go through the Horseshoe (I run through there a lot) I always look for Rutledge College. It is beautiful, and it is the oldest building on campus (...when I was a freshman I had to ask the then student body president what the oldest building on campus was...believe me I never got over that...) It is such a beautiful building. There are columns supporting the entrance to the building, which give the building a strong look. There is molding at the top of the building, which is white and gives the building a polished finished look. The color of the facade of the building is a gentle peachy-pink color, which is warm and inviting. I'm from Columbia, and the Horseshoe has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but knowing that when I stand in front of Rutledge that I'm standing in front of some history.

Entry #4

I went to see Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky. It was an incredible story for me, because as a dancer and all around girly-girl I knew the stories of both Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky very well. But I never knew that these two people's lives were intertwined. Both of these people had incredible talent, and both were condemned as being too modern.

The story was a little slow at times. I was fascinated because I love Stravinsky and know his work very well, and of course who doesn't love Chanel? I am also very familiar with Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes. I don't know very much about movies but I really did enjoy this movie. I hope at some point I'll be able to sit down and watch this movie again when I get the chance.

Entry #3

During class today we were given time to go downstairs and peruse the gallery. The artworks that were on display in this particular exhibition were truly amazing. Each one was different but at the same time they seemed connected, they seemed to be cohesive to each other.

As I was walking, many of the paintings caught my eye, but there was one in particular that I found very fascinating. I realized that it must be because, as a dancer, I have a built in fascination with the human body. This painting looked like a body in movement, and I thought that it was really beautiful. It reminded me of some of the exercises that we do in some of our movement or improvisation classes, because it looks like a spiral. The painting is very primal, the colors almost make the painting look as though it was created from clay. It was a very beautiful painting.

This painting is by Laura Ferguson. It's called Twisting Figure. It was created by mixing oil paint with bronze powders, giving it a very textured look (which is what reminded me of clay). The painting focuses closely on the flesh and muscle of the subject. The colors are muted, and natural, giving the painting an earthy look.

Overall I liked this piece because it seems so natural. The twist of the body and the colors bring the whole painting to life in a way that really captures the onlooker.