Photo: Eliza Tappan
As Artistic Director of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, my job description really runs the gamut. At times I am intensely involved in rehearsal, preparing for an upcoming performance or tour. Oftentimes, also choreographing. At other times I may spend most of my time in the office, working on the administrative part of my responsibilities. When I am in the studio from 9 – 5 rehearsing, the administrative work must either be done before or after that time slot. If I spend the day in the office, I can usually contain my work hours from 9 – 5.
Salt Lake City has really enabled a regularity of schedule where the running around time, trying to get from one thing to the next, is greatly reduced. This enables me to focus intently on my work. The week that I documented my schedule was very much singularly focused on choreographing a dance and getting ready for our upcoming repertory performance and family matinees. This took the right-of-way and occupied most of my time. Within any given day there are a lot of questions to answer, problems to solve, and various people in need of various things. There are a lot of items to field with my attention having to shift pretty quickly. These topics include personal matters of my own, dancers having special needs, artistic decisions that need to be made, and administrative work to move forward with. I realize that I have to be able to shift quickly, compartmentalize, and disengage from certain things so my mind is clear as I move forward and make decisions.
I don’t talk about Natalie Desch in my log. But she’s a big part of the week and my life. She is often running around on her own freelance teaching schedule, doing what she does gracefully and with full commitment. I rely on her support, trust, and love. I couldn’t do it all without her.
Photo: Eliza Tappan
Monday, January 16
6:00am
Alarm sounds, usually hard to get going… hence…
7:00am
Get out of bed late…. Already behind schedule. I like to get to the studios early to have some time to myself before the day gets underway. Good time to get stuff done! I’m in rehearsal mode now, which means that any administrative work typically needs to be done outside of studio time. Before 9 and after 5.
7:23am
Leave house to drive to work. About 15 minutes through town. Nice to do. Good time to be with my thoughts. I usually contemplate choreography, work on class preparation in my head, and other brainstorm ideas. Useful time.
7:40am
Arrive at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. This is late, and I feel behind schedule already. This is a building in downtown Salt Lake City. It’s a space that houses 6 performing arts groups. It has studios, offices, and three theaters and is subsidized by Salt Lake County (amazing!). I have an office cube in our offices and theoretical access to studios 24 hours a day. When I get there it takes me time to change, make a coffee, and get set-up. I’m often the first one to arrive.
7:45am
Finally in the studio to prepare for the day. Get ready to teach company class, work on choreography… mostly listening to music. Check various aspects of the business side – emails and phone messages.
9:03am
Teach Company Class. I regularly teach company class when we are in rehearsals. Usually it’s for the six full-time company members as it is today.
10:05am
15 minute break. Check email and phone messages, eat a banana. Step out of the studio to get a fresh eye and focus my mind. Try to disappear for a moment.
10:20am
Rehearsal for Physalia by Moses Pendleton and Alison Chase. Physalis is a piece commissioned in 1977 by the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and we are currently restaging it. We don’t bring too many pieces back from the past, but we do from time to time. Company co-founder Joan Woodbury is doing the bulk of the re-construction, I’m more like a rehearsal director on this one. We’re getting ready for our Winter Season performance opening February 3rd. This is one of our 3 fully-produced concerts we have in Salt Lake City each year.
Noon
Five minute break from rehearsal. Got a quick email off to my Technical Director about upcoming show.
12:05pm
Continue rehearsal
12:53pm
One hour break for lunch. Email check (this is constant), costume organization for upcoming show, worked on video design for my new piece. Listened to music.
2:05pm
Rehearsal. Worked on my own choreography for the premiere of a new work titled Snowmelt. It premieres February 3rd. I’m having to choreograph pretty quickly on this one. I have three weeks to make a piece. Probably half days only as other repertory needs to be rehearsed.
3:40pm
Break
3:55pm
Rehearsal continues…
4:25pm
Costume fittings…
4:54pm
Rehearsal is over…
5:00pm
Sat in my office cube decompressing after rehearsal. Checked news on phone. Made coffee. Made a phone call. Cleaned. Read my book just a little but. I’m reading Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel. This satisfies some of my sci-fi cravings.
5:25pm
Drive home…
5:45pm
Down time, ate a snack, short nap, read a chapter in my book.
6:40pm
Worked on the video design for my new piece. Sifting through stock video imagery at the computer. Testing out ideas and seeing how everything works. This type of computer time tends to be a time warp; suddenly hours go by.
8:15pm
Phone call, part social, part business… discussion about acquiring future choreography for the company. Part of my job includes seeking out and selecting choreographers for the company to commission. These conversations are ongoing and tend to take time, both in a single phone call and also develop over months and years.
8:45pm
Back to video design.
9:22pm
Done with work. I won’t check my emails now… try to let them go until tomorrow. Sometimes they create stress and affect my sleep or I get anxious about something. Somehow it usually seems less dire in the morning. Best leave it until the morning.
9:30pm
Having wine. Some TV or my book. Dinner late…. This is normal for me.
12:41am
Bedtime
Tuesday, January 17
6:30am
Alarm number 1
7:04am
Get out of bed
7:20am
Leave for work… driving as I do everyday… through town… music today about runaways on KRCL.
7:40am
Arrive at Rose Wagner Center – building is locked so I call the Sheriff, wait for 10 minutes then get let in. Sometimes this happens. The county sheriffs guard the building. They manage multiple downtown arts buildings. This puts me behind schedule… I feel really late arriving today. This is actually usually the case. I love getting in early and feel like I can accomplish so much.
8:00am
Preparation for the day. In the studio. Listen to music. Work on video design. Emails. Work on company class, developing some of the material.
9:00am
Teach company class for 14 today. I’m working with dancers from the University of Utah for my new work. 6 company members + 8 additional dancers = 14.
9:55am
Class ends. 15 minute break. Check in at the office. Quick discussion with Executive Director, Jena Woodbury, about future project. Space and time to get thoughts together for rehearsal.
10:10am
Rehearsal for new work.
11:30am
5 minute break – check email. Field questions from university dancers.
11:35am – 12noon
Continue rehearsal.
12:05pm – 1pm
Rehearsal for Physalia.
1pm – 2pm
Lunch/Staff meeting – with ED Jena Woodbury, Education Director Ai Fujii Nelson, Marketing Director Bryton Sampson, Patrons Services Manager Eliza Tappan, Outreach Director Gigi Arrington, Development Director David Hodges, and Booking Manager Miles Hunter. Topics discussed: upcoming performance, family matinees, marketing, pr, summer workshop, local funding, upcoming benefit, grant deadlines, calendar, and ??? It’s great to have a team to work with. We all work together to make stuff happen. Great infrastructure!
2pm – 3pm
Rehearsal for new work, company members only.
3pm – 3:30pm
Costumes.
3:45pm – 5pm
Worked on our family/kids show. Narration and stage direction working with our Education Director on a narrated performance geared towards kids and families. I’ve been working on this with ED Ai Fujii and company founder Joan Woodbury. My role is directing the staging and overseeing the entire production. I’m also creating a video design to go along with the piece.
5pm – 5:15pm
Decompress in my office cube. Check emails and messages. Eat a little food and do some watching of videos online… choreographers I am considering for a commission. Also spend some time organizing our summer workshop, communicating with teachers for bios and class descriptions.
5:15pm
Drive to the mall 20 minutes south to pick up a few dresses and other costume items. I don’t usually do costumes because I often work with a costume designer. This one is different so I’m doing more running around than usual. I love hanging out at Charlotte Russe; they look at me so strangely and I buy so much stuff!
7:35pm
Arrive at home, take care of a few house things. Clean kitchen, aquarium maintenance (a hobby of mine…). Play with the cats for a while.
8:00pm
Sit down at computer to continue to develop video design for upcoming new work and family show. Eyes bug out and this is a time warp.
8:30pm
Called my mother.
9:30pm
Shower
10pm
Unwind, eat, read, tv, wine
12:51am
Bedtime
Wednesday, January 18
6:30am
Alarm
7:10am
Wake up (late!)
7:30am
Depart for work. Late. I can feel myself getting tired so it’s harder to get up in the AM.
8:00am
Arrive at the Rose Wagner Center. Preparation for the day. In the studio. Listen to music. Work on video design. Emails. Phone interview with press… preview article for upcoming performance.
9:00am
Company Class for 10 dancers.
9:40am
Repertory review. Dancers sometimes self-rehearse with me observing. It can be more efficient this way at times.
10:00am
15 minute break. Gather costumes. Check in at the office. Emails.
10:15am
Rehearsal for new work. 14 dancers.
11:40am
Costume fitting with full cast of 14.
12:10pm
Break – check emails.
12:15pm
Physalia rehearsal.
1:15pm
Lunch, impromptu meeting about the security of the building our studios are in.
1:35pm
Rehearsal with Ai Fujii – narration and staging of the family show.
2:05pm
Eat
2:15pm
Rehearsal for new work, 8 dancers.
3:40pm
15 minute break. Eat snack, check in on emails and send a couple off.
3:55pm
Rehearsal for Super WE by Tzveta Kassabova and Raja Kelly. This 8 minute duet is triple cast so we run it three times. Sometimes my eyes get tired when we run rep like this. I like to keep things during the day ever changing to keep my brain shifting and same with the dancers.
5:00pm
End rehearsal. Emails. Phone call to presenter about upcoming tour. Nice to have dialogue with presenter so when we show up, there is already a relationship established.
5:25pm
Read my book over some dinner.
6:30pm
Nap.
7:45pm
Up – tired tonight so not too much to report. Wasn’t as productive as I wanted to be. I actually couldn’t do anything regarding my piece and the show. I find this necessary from time to time to unload and to find a fresh eye and mind. Even though there is a ton to get done, this helps me big picture.
11:32pm
Bedtime
Thursday, January 19
6:10am
Wake-up. Do admin work on computer. Work on video design. All at home before I head to work.
7:25am
Arrive to the Rose Wagner Center. Preparation for the day. In the studio. Listen to music. Work on video design. Emails. Try to do some body conditioning that is beneficial but often forgotten… taking care of myself in that way often falls on the back burner.
9am
Company Class for 15 dancers.
10am
15 minute break. Gather costumes. Check in at the office. Emails.
10:15am
Rehearsal for new work. 14 dancers.
12:10pm
Break – check emails. Listen to phone messages. Make a quick call to set up another call.
12:15pm
Physalia rehearsal.
1:00pm
Lunch. Impromptu lunchtime meeting about upcoming touring.
2:15pm
Rehearsal for new work, company only. Clean already existing sections.
3:40pm
15 minute break. Eat snack, check in on emails and send a couple quick ones off. Personal phone call.
3:55pm
Worked on our family/kids show. Narration and stage direction.
5:00pm
End rehearsal. Emails. Books… etc.
5:25pm
Arrive home.
6:00 – 10:00pm
Work on video design for my new work for the full night. This includes sifting through stock videos and photos and preparing them. I’m not sure the video will be a part of the final performance. I am really interested in the idea in theory, but when I get on stage and see the complete picture…. it’s possible it will overpower the dance. I’m curious about this threshold. I may do all the work and then in the end cut the video. But… it is something I need to explore.
12:23am
Bedtime
Friday, January 20
7:34am
Arrive to the Rose Wagner Center. Get ready for class.
9am
Company Class for 15 dancers. I pretty much teach the same class everyday for this rehearsal period. We can get into a groove and just turn on the music and run class. It helps me be efficient with the use of the rehearsal time. It’s great to be able to develop a class and work with it for a while. I think the dancers appreciate it too; some days they don’t have to think as much about sequences and patterns but can concentrate more on physical upkeep and taking care of their bodies.
9:45am
15 minute break. Gather costumes. Check in at the office. Go online and research a grant. Continue a conversation with a future guest artist about their contract.
10:15am
Rehearsal for new work. 14 dancers. Trying to really push to get a first run-through in. Moving quickly. Realizing that spontaneity can be a good thing. I’m realizing that this process is really relying on structures, games, and devices that I am familiar with more than a process about experimentation and finding new ways to generate material. Sometimes in the position, both processes have their place.
11:30am
First attempt at a run-through of the piece. I try not to judge too much on the first day.
Noon
Break – check emails. Listen to phone messages. Quick call to upcoming faculty member for our summer intensive. We talk about class description and fees.
12:15pm
Physalia rehearsal.
1:00pm
Lunch. Drive over to the Aviary to get guest passes. These passes we’re given to us as a thank you from the Aviary for a benefit we helped them with earlier this season.
2:15 – 4:00pm
Rehearsal for new work, with 2 guest dancers from the U. Good rehearsal! It’s fun to work with eight dancers when you’re used to six. I think the configurations of dancers have exponentially more options! Sometimes with six, you see the same pairing over and over again… you really can’t help it.
4:00pm
Release everyone from rehearsal early so we can get ready for a company party that evening.
4 – 4:35pm
I finish up in the office. Sorting some costumes and cleaning my cube up. Making sure everything is in order for next week… a new week. Check emails. Proofread the program one more time. Post on social media about the upcoming performances.
6:05 – 7:45pm
Attend a post-holiday company party at the home of one of the company board members. Full company attends plus many board members and friends of the company. These events are usually pretty fun ,and it was nice to be able to wind down from the week. Celebrate and acknowledge the work week and the upcoming performances.
8:15pm
Return back home. Try to watch the Crown on Netflix but my eyes are heavy. It’s been a big week. Happy to be done… satisfied. Ate more food.
11:20pm
Bedtime
Saturday, January 21
7:30am
Wake-up. Tried to sleep in but an eager for the day, and I am conditioned to wake up early. It’s good. I always have a greater sense of accomplishment when I get up early and start to be productive.
I’m not going to break down the timing of this day. I literally spent approximately eight hours at my computer working on video design. I got sucked into the time-warp that is computing.
This evening I went to Utah Valley University to see them perform my work Wake, that I choreographed while I was at CalArts. It was recently staged on them. I hadn’t seen any of the process so was not sure what to expect. Everyone involved did a great job. Drove home afterwards. Trying not to think about work events.
Sunday, January 22
Day of rest. Spent the day with football on the tv. I didn’t really watch too closely. I had my computer in front of me and continued to get stuff done. I was able to chip away at my book. I worked for about 3 hours today on work-related items. Mostly working on video projections. I also work on weekly schedules this day. I usually have two or three versions of a schedule to create and send out. I cooked, trying to prepare for the upcoming week. TV at night, the Crown, Chopped… basically easy and mindless watching.
To read Daniel's artist profile, which he wrote when he was just beginning as the new Artistic Director, click here.
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Artist Profile: Phyllis Haskell Tims
Artist Profile: Gigi Arrington
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Life as a Modern Dancer 
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