Spectral Heartbeats
Directed by: Sandra Kaufmann
Choreography by: Masha Bandouil, Sarah Cullen Fuller, Raúl Casasola, and Samantha Geracht
Performances: November 21 & 22, 2020
This year, I was tasked with head stage managing Dance Concert 2020: Spectral Heartbeats. The dance consisted of 3 filmed pieces, as well as one live piece titled Rooms (1955). Going into the project, I was really nervous because I have never stage managed anything before, and I did not want to disappoint anyone or do a poor job. We worked with dance and theatre faculty, as well as student rehearsal assistants and outside filmmakers to bring the production to life. It was really beneficial to work with so many different people that had different specialities. I learned how to manage and work with a group of people that I did not know that well and learned how to respect their skillsets and adapt to their needs.
The first part of the process involved preparing documents for rehearsals including the rehearsal calendar and reports, cast lists and company contact information. We then had to plan and coordinate filming logistics for the Family Tree. This all occurred during the first month of my engagement, and I gained a lot of experience in how to navigate my footing and about patience.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was how to work in the moment. We found out last minute that dancers in films Friends Dance from Coppelia and Mic Check 1.2 would have the opportunity to film in Mundelein in studio 409. We had to put together filming schedules, logisitic documents, and communication to the film teams and dancers all within a week and a half before filming began. I learned a lot about my communication style and gained a lot of confidence in my abilities to share large amounts of information to multiple groups of people.
Photo Credits: Emma Petersen Photography
As we approached tech, I was really anxious because I was unsure of my ability to lead the rehearsal room. However, as tech progressed, my confidence grew and I became really comfortable in the room and with the dance and theatre faculty. There were times where I was purely working in the moment and was able to get out of my head, and it was amazing to realize that I have the skills and power to be a stage manager. By the time performances started, I felt confident and strong about how the show would go, and I really enjoyed myself and working with everyone.
Overall, I learned so much not just about being a stage manager, but about myself throughout this entire process, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I gained insight to my communication style and work ethic, as well as valuable skills on how to be a leader and how to work with a team of individuals you may be unfamiliar with. I hope to use these skills in my future projects and in my daily life. Thank you all for helping me through all of this!
