Company member Lena Oren sat down with fellow company member CJ Burroughs to ask her some questions about her experience with FTC.
Q: How are you liking FTC?
A: FTC is quite a commitment, but it is a rite of passage that all freshman must go through. The amount of time and effort that is required of us is demanding, but the real-life company simulation is priceless. Learning full pieces in less than a week, learning how to handle the logistics of a tour, and bonding with your classmates are integral to working in a professional company one day.
Q: What have you learned from this experience?
A: I've learned a cornucopia of specific skills that will undoubtedly be called upon me as a professional dancer. Specially, each guest choreographer that has come brings their own lessons to teach us. Wanjiru Kamuyu taught us how to gain a choreographer's attention and trust, how to breathe to your advantage, and how to pick up on details quickly. Jillian Hooper taught us how to translate a broad idea or vision into choreography and how to manipulate choreography individually. Alexandra Bellar taught us how to generate choreography quickly and how to develop relationships with people on stage. In addition, I'm sure that we will all learn a lot about the inner workings of a company when we go on tour next month.
A: I've learned a cornucopia of specific skills that will undoubtedly be called upon me as a professional dancer. Specially, each guest choreographer that has come brings their own lessons to teach us. Wanjiru Kamuyu taught us how to gain a choreographer's attention and trust, how to breathe to your advantage, and how to pick up on details quickly. Jillian Hooper taught us how to translate a broad idea or vision into choreography and how to manipulate choreography individually. Alexandra Bellar taught us how to generate choreography quickly and how to develop relationships with people on stage. In addition, I'm sure that we will all learn a lot about the inner workings of a company when we go on tour next month.
Q: What are some of your fondest memories at The University of Michigan so far?
A: Some of my fondest memories at University of Michigan include being introduced to the small freshman class of dancers in the first weeks of school, taking master class with Crystal Pite, going to the Lodge, visiting the Movement Science research labs, and eating at Zingerman's.
Q: What has been your favorite part of FTC?
A: My favorite part about FTC is having guest choreographers come all the way to Michigan to choreograph on the youngest students here. I love how we take this class and gain these experiences as a freshman, as opposed to being a junior or senior.
Q: What are some of your duties as a company member?
A: All of the company members are dancers and collaborators, but we also have designated roles. I am the Historian who takes informal and formal pictures as well as video taping all of our repertory for reference. My NIKON Coolpix camera is well-used. I also work on publicity. I've written press releases and in the future I will design the layout for our performances, create and distribue programs, and help design a poster.
Q: Are you excited for the performance tour to start? What are you expectations and hopes for the tour?
A: My favorite part about FTC is having guest choreographers come all the way to Michigan to choreograph on the youngest students here. I love how we take this class and gain these experiences as a freshman, as opposed to being a junior or senior.
Q: What are some of your duties as a company member?
A: All of the company members are dancers and collaborators, but we also have designated roles. I am the Historian who takes informal and formal pictures as well as video taping all of our repertory for reference. My NIKON Coolpix camera is well-used. I also work on publicity. I've written press releases and in the future I will design the layout for our performances, create and distribue programs, and help design a poster.
Q: Are you excited for the performance tour to start? What are you expectations and hopes for the tour?
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| CJ Burroughs |
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say?
A: Come to our performances! They will change your life!
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