Art by Amber Heaton; http://www.amberheaton.com/

From Blog Director Jill Randall:

I am currently pursuing my MFA in Creative Practice in the new low residency program at Saint Mary's College in California. Now with new eyes, I have a deeper appreciation for the advice given to choreographers in the artist profiles each week here on the blog.

I have decided to revisit the past artist profiles from the last 3 years, and will highlight the choreographic advice and inspiration. 

These posts can be enjoyed by dance artists of all ages, and the posts can also be used each week within a college level composition/choreography course to offer current, fresh, real-world advice from artists around the United States.

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From New York City based artist Ivy Baldwin:

What are 3 pieces of advice you want to give to aspiring choreographers?

1. Stay true to what you’re interested in making, even when it is not what the current “cool kids” are making.

2. Be patient, but really go for the opportunities that you want.

3. Surround yourself with kind, supportive, and inspiring people­.

How do you receive feedback about your work? Do you have a mentor?

It is important to me to receive feedback from trusted friends who know me and have context for my work, so I invite them to rehearsal periodically/throughout the process. I also ask a choreographer whose work I admire, but who is relatively unfamiliar with my work, to come in and give feedback, too.  This year I asked Neil Greenberg to come to rehearsal for the first time.

To read Ivy's full profile, click here.

 

From Boston based artist Peter DiMuro:

Understand that form and content are related: don’t rely on movement fads, or even worse, rely on what movement you execute well solely.

Learn from all – old, young, even the pompous and especially the humble around you. Translate the information to make it make sense for you.

No goal is worth your soul: be good to yourself and others. The karma will come back to you.

To read Peter's artist profile, click here.

 

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