PDPR Fall 2023 by Faith Davis

1) the summer / 2) bringing into the fall

fndavis1177 — 2023-08-24 20:45:28 UTC

i talked with katie jones on the first day of pdpr. i did ballet austin this summer for 6 weeks (that was crazy) and from that i wanted to take my dedication and commitment into the fall. i feel like i'm normally dedicated and committed to pdpr, but sometimes the anxiety i get from ballet culture makes me even more dedicated and eager to please. i want to take that here without the way ballet makes me feel. i also think my technique improved this summer, which is something i can keep on growing.

because of the culture around ballet, i am never late to class. i'm good about getting to class on time if i'm already on campus, but if it's my first class of the day, i struggle. once again, i want to bring that commitment into my classes here, without as much of the stress.

3) realistic fall semester

fndavis1177 — 2023-08-24 20:46:56 UTC

me and katie talked about our capacity this semester. i need to decide how much i can realistically put on my plate so that i can really focus on the things that matter. if i'm doing too many things, i'm not able to take care of myself. in the past, i really let things like eating enough, cleaning my room, and sleeping fall to the side. hopefully if i choose wisely, i'll be able to also focus on myself. katie talked about holding herself accountable, checking in, and being honest with herself, which are good practices to implement.

4) pdpr this semester

fndavis1177 — 2023-08-24 20:53:45 UTC

i was thinking a lot about what processes might be the best fit for me. both of my roommates and close friends are student choreographers which is crazy! i wrote about not knowing where i might fit before auditions, but maybe it's a little clearer after going through that process. i also want to be on the creative team again but it feels like more of a commitment. i loved making the trailer though and would love to work on it again.

audition brain dump

fndavis1177 — 2023-08-24 21:00:58 UTC

on tuesday, i had a really bad headache and felt lightheaded every time i stood up. i think it may have been dehydration because i underestimated how much water i would need walking around in the heat all day.

gesel's audition process was difficult, but i enjoyed the movement. i wish i felt better because i would have enjoyed it more.

i liked angela and ava's! i also wish i felt better because i didn't think i was doing my best.

i loved aida's combo. i'm familiar with their movement style because i've worked with them several times in the past and knew their movement style. i liked watching everyone else's interpretations. i've learned i really like gestural phrases like that.

lauren's was a lot of fun. i felt better by the end of class and was able to enjoy and be more present.

challenges

fndavis1177 — 2023-09-30 21:10:23 UTC

i'm not the best at floor work and val does a lot of floor work. i'm also not the strongest at picking up choreography so this is challenging me. also some of the dance theatre stuff but it's fun.

delights

fndavis1177 — 2023-09-30 21:11:10 UTC

community! sharing! getting to know and work with a whole group of new people - most of whom i've never worked with before. trying new things.

contribution

fndavis1177 — 2023-09-30 21:12:11 UTC

i think everyone in this piece is encouraged to contribute and share their own experiences and insights, which is what is happening. i am really excited to see how it manifests as the process continues.

what's next

fndavis1177 — 2023-09-30 21:14:01 UTC

i need to work on material and the type of movement val wants specifically. and start filming! clearing up storage to film... i used andrea's phone at the gathering because she had a ton of storage and a nicer camera i wish that were me

developments on the process

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-04 00:33:48 UTC

we always share at the beginning of rehearsal and then connect with each other. we also spend a lot of time on things that will help us in the future and bring us closer together, but sometimes don't have a lot to do with the piece.

your growth

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-04 00:35:33 UTC

i think i'm more comfortable being emotional and using my voice on stage, but not enough yet because my part got cut because i guess i wasn't doing it right. but it's still progress for me that i would be willing to do it? i have also improved a lot in floor work. i'm still kind of behind comparatively i think, but i'm learning a lot.

challenges

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-04 00:38:18 UTC

i am not great at picking up choreography, and i'm especially not a visual learner. val mostly just shows something and then expects us to pick it up, which is not how my brain works, but i'm learning to try and work that way. the piece was also just finished, which stresses me out a little. it's also hard for group sections to be clean when we don't clean them, so i should do more work on my own to really solidify the material in my head. if i start doing this, it will help me in my professional career.

discoveries/clarifying moments after showing

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-04 00:39:40 UTC

i thought the piece was fun to do with an audience, and i got really invested in the world of the piece. i'm excited to keep discovering this through tech and the show.

plans for how to successfully navigate tech/show

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-04 00:41:00 UTC

eat food! go over all of the choreography. be prepared.

performing

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 21:53:55 UTC

i really enjoyed performing this piece. it really came together and started to feel more enjoyable every time. i loved being in that world and getting to show the audience what we had done.

concussion

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 21:59:10 UTC

on wednesday night, right before the start of dress rehearsal, i hit my head on the dressing room door frame. would not recommend.

i kept trying to push through the rest of the week, but my symptoms didn't go away. by monday i was like hmm i definitely have a concussion. i did in fact have a concussion. i was on like a medical leave for the next week, which was good for me. i missed moving my body more during the day, but it was easier on me mentally to not have to worry about classes And the show. lots of sitting in the dark.

the piece itself was pretty intense and i was a little scared to give it my all, but i tried my best. i got kicked in the head again with someone's heel and during my fighting section i got hit in the face, which didn't help. but i did it!

i'm mostly better now i think but it lingers.

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 22:01:29 UTC

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fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 22:02:39 UTC

trailer

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 22:04:08 UTC

i really enjoy making the trailers. this system for it was good, and working in a small team is helpful. liz is great and we worked together well. i'm glad we got to collaborate and make things we were proud of. it was a lot less stressful this semester because i was working with someone who was good at it.

fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 22:13:25 UTC

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fndavis1177 — 2023-11-27 22:13:46 UTC