Each week following an artist's post, reflection questions and research ideas will get posted. These are aimed towards college level courses (senior seminar, composition, dance education, and more), but of course anyone can read the postscript and find thought-provoking questions and activities.

Brainstorm: Arts Administration Jobs

Rebecca is the Managing Director of a non-profit dance center in Berkeley, CA. Within a college course (Freshman Seminar, Senior Seminar, etc), brainstorm together a comprehensive list of arts administration jobs. Think about specific job titles and skills. Consider positions at arts councils, foundations, dance companies, and dance centers. Which ones pique your interest? If you are interested in arts administration work, how can you learn more both formally and informally?

Discuss: Wearing Multiple Hats

As Rebecca clearly discussed within her artist profile, she has worn many "hats" over the years, all under the broad umbrella of "modern dancer." Discuss the positives and negatives – pluses and minuses – of wearing multiple hats at any given time (such as performer, choreographer, teacher, administrator). How can the different tasks/skills support each other? 

Reflect and Discuss: Strengths as a Performer

Reflect on your own strengths as a performer. What are they? What do you do well? Why have you been selected to work on particular pieces or with a particular choreographer? If you are in college, consider discussing this question as well with your advisor, mentor, or a particular professor. It is important to consider both sides of this question – considering the inner/outer and seeing/feeling. You have your opinions as a performer (from the inside, and how you feel), but it is always valuable to also consider the outer (audience perspective and choreographer's perspective) and what they see are your strengths and areas of growth as a performer. Have the conversation.

Observe: Picking Up Movement in Classes

Rebecca is known as a faster learner of material, in classes and in rehearsals. Consider your own pace of learning material. What strategies do you use to see, learn, and embody material? Spend a week taking notice of the tools and strategies you use to learn. Consider how you learn – is it through the counts, key words (ie "turn, leap, fall, melt"), or relating in space (ie "move to the left, then downstage, then back again")? Where do you need to be in the room to best see – front and center, off to the side, or in the back to have a full view? Are you a person who frequently asks questions? Try, for a week, noticing how you approach movement. Also consider when you are moving in smaller groups across the room or when there is a combination. Do you jump at going first, or do you hang back to go towards the end? Both going first and last have their purposes. If possible, write down ideas after each class.