Thread: An Open Letter for the 2009 Festival Season

Dear Bhuzzers (and anyone else willing to see and hear),

The 2009 festival season is underway and, as usual, has gotten me thinking.

My purpose in writing is to get us all -- teachers, directors, and students -- thinking hard about what we are presenting onstage at recitals/haflas and at festivals of any size.

Remember: these thoughts concern performances at venues that are of the "open invitation" variety where anyone may attend.

Will it be "Good effort!" or "Good grief!"?
A performance by not-quite-ready-for-prime-time folks might earn a "Good effort!" if it's three minutes in length; however, "Good effort!" will turn to "Good grief!" if it goes much longer than that . . .

Will it be messy group pieces or teachers/directors stepping up? A teacher/director might have to say, "If you don't know it, you don't dance it" or -- horror of horrors -- nix the performance altogether.

I know these are just two "thoughts," but they encompass so much within them; things like realistic skills assessment, required rehearsals, dance competency (should beginner students really be on a stage in a public place, for example), entertainment value, considering the attention span of one's audience, and many more.

Oh! Here's a third thought:

Will we be part of the problem or part of the solution?

Let's make 2009 our best festival year ever! We can do it!

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

I know these are just two "thoughts," but they encompass so much within them; things like realistic skills assessment, required rehearsals, dance competency (should beginner students really be on a stage in a public place, for example), entertainment value, considering the attention span of one's audience, and many more.

Oh! Here's a third thought:

Will we be part of the problem or part of the solution?

Let's make 2009 our best festival year ever! We can do it!

Deborah

I would like to add that there be an awareness in costuming and Teachers to step up and tell their students to wear underwear.

No Raqs Beaver please, remember to treat all festivals as Family shows.