| Description |
The purpose of my project was to examine the benefits of travel in dance education to determine if international travel is something the University of Utah Department of Ballet should continue to support The funding and allowance of training and performance-based travel abroad has long been a point of contention in the department However, upon personal reflection and listening to testimonials of my peers who have experienced international travel in their University of Utah dance training, it is clear that opportunity to train and perform abroad is essential for a flourishing and well-rounded university dance program. To emphasize the importance of international travel opportunities in dance training, my project also contained a choreographic component One of the greatest benefits of training and performance abroad is the personal skill set it fosters. The travel opportunities offered by the University of Utah Department of Ballet are hips lasting ten days, therefore a lot of activity is packed into a short amount of time. The brief but dense nature of the trips abroad teaches dancers to be self sufficient, to work effectively under pressure and time constraints, and to face new and sometimes discomforting situations with confidence and determination. Having never choreographed a complete work before, my travel-honed skills were put to the test in the choreographic component of my project. They came through with flying colors. My choreography was accepted into Ballet Showcase II, was well received by the audience, was enjoyed by my dancers, and, most importantly, was and continues to be something I am prowl to present, something I could not have achieved without my experiences training and performing abroad while at the University of Utah. |
