BODY TALK and BODY LANGUAGE
The dance world today demands virtuosity: performers who not only repeat movement, but make it their own. High school students who chose to dedicate their after-school lives to this ever-changing artistic realm, have become members RoCo’s select modern dance companies Body Talk and Body Language. The unique conservatory-style program specializes in post-modern/release technique and partnering, training most high school dancers don’t receive until they enter college dance programs. Recent choreographic works have even integrated spoken word poetry, challenging the dancers to acknowledge written text, as well as apply it to the everyday human experience.
The companies have had the opportunity to collaborate with prominent Bay Area choreographers and present work outside of RoCo Onstage Shows, including the WorldWideWomen Festival, Bay Area High School Dance Festival, Homestead Valley Music Festival, Dance Hack Day, Cali & CO Dance, and sjDANCEco ChoreoProject—for which it has received two Audience Choice Awards. Students have the opportunity of being trained as teachers, assisting and subbing professionals, and eventually taking on classes of their own in the youth program. Skills in class management, foundational contemporary dance technique, and choreographic invention prepare dancers to potentially find jobs as teachers outside of RoCo. A combination of highly distinctive training and performance opportunities has enabled students to study dance at top universities, including the The BFA programs of USC, CAL Arts, Cornish, University of Michigan, The Boston Conservatory, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Chapman University, and University of California, Irvine, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, Stanford and Bard College to name a few.
Body Talk/Body Language
There are two companies within the Conservatory: Body Talk and Body Language. The requirements and schedule for both companies is identical. Sadie Carhart is the artistic director and leader of both companies and ainsley e. tharp and Jessica Lawing Adams are the resident choreographers. Body Talk is preparatory to Body Language. Our hope is to have dancers spend 1-2 years in each company depending on their grade of entry. Both companies value student connection, collaboration, rigor, support, and creativity.
The demands for participating in these companies are vast and include theatrical and improvisational skills, contact work and composition. They are required to take 7 technique classes weekly in addition to all required rehearsals. They are given preparation for university dance programs by setting high standards to achieve personal goals and build physical awareness with a solid technical base. The Company has opportunities to work with a rotation of choreographers to experience a range of aesthetics and artistic processes. They are taken to see professional performances to generate inspiration and deepen their awareness of modern dance and its history. Outside of RoCo shows they have many performance opportunities in ambitious and professional environments and are taken to master classes and workshops throughout the Bay Area
*Sample Required Schedule:
Mon-Thu
2 contemporary classes with rehearsal M/W
2 ballet classes either M/W or Tu/Th
2 jazz classes Tu/Th
1 Hip Hop Tu
*Performance workshops TBA for Jazz and Ballet only on 6 selected weekends
Summer dance programs are required
Dues:
In addition to class tuition there is a 250.00 company dues fee each session.
Attendance:
Regular attendance to all classes and performances is required. If more than 5 classes are missed in any one class during a session dancers will be evaluated for continued participation in the company and involvement in productions. If a class has to be missed, it is required that you announce to your teacher that you will not be attending prior to class starting.
Attitude, enthusiasm and healthy relations to others are vital to the dynamic of a company. Dancers compromising the collective energy of the group or disrespecting the teachers will not be tolerated.
