Learn By Practise

"Learn by Practise" Martha Graham

I have studied Graham style contemporary for the last six or seven years. I then went on to college to find a whole new description of “contemporary” as Urdang taught the Cuningham style. It is interesting that Graham asked Cunningham to be a dancer in her company and therefore passed down her style through him, consciously or subconsciously. The way contemporary dance has developed is largely dependent on the work of these two choreographers.

A link of interest http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/sep/16/mercecunningham.dance

I found this style much faster, with more travelling steps and different back techniques used. I liked it, though it was challenging in a different way to Graham's style, which I think is more strength and core based in ways, though their techniques cross over frequently.

From this experience, I have concluded that there is more to contemporary than meets the eye and everyone's idea of contemporary can be very different. Unlike ballet, it is a very versatile and flexible style of dance, which can be performed in entirely different ways. It was the beginning of the post-modern era, taking and recycling old styles and reforming them as a collage of ideas of eclectic styles. Contemporary has the same basic idea of expression, but dancers and choreographers will take their impression of the style and continue to create new ideas.

With my own choreography I would like to try and mix both Graham and Cunningham together, from what I have been taught uses both styles, therefore I undoubtedly am influenced by both.

Lucy's Performing Curriculum Vitae

Hi, I'm Lucy, I am twenty-one and have just graduated from Urdang Academy in London. I now have a Trinity Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre. I also hold an Associate Musical Theatre Diploma from The London College of Music and am about to take my Licentiate.

I trained previously at The YEM Theatre school based in Fleet, in Musical Theatre (LCM), Ballet (Cecchetti), Tap, Jazz, Drama, Contemporary (Graham) and Keyboard. I started choreographing for the school's shows at 14, and was student teaching by 16. Today, I still teach for YEM jazz, MT, Ballet, Tap and drama.

At Urdang I trained intensely in Musical theatre, tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary (Cunningham), pas de deux, commercial, theatre jazz and pointe, acting through song, accents, vocal technique, drama and intergrated performance. During my three years at Urdang I worked very hard whilst undergoing a strenuous two hour commute each way and coping with several injuries. Despite this I had full attendance and took part in all choreography competitions, I helped with Candoco Dance Company, and took on extra responsibilities for our final shows.

Urdang has taught me how promote myself professionally and given me a clear insight to the professional world. A highlight of Urdang was winning a place in the second year choreography competition. Another was gaining a place in the third year showcase, which went on to be lead highly professionally and it was very exciting to be a part of. An extract of one of our second year shows; Evita was taken to Sadlers Wells where we performed successfully. In third year I wrote my own musical; creating a poster, costume board, and composing a song on CD, which I loved creating. Overall my favourite classes from Urdang were Acting Through Song, as they were very academic and professionally conducted and I learnt the most from them. I also enjoyed Jazz and tap classes and could see notable improvements in my techniques, frequently we would have guest teachers currently working in the industry which was very inspiring.

Others skills I have accumulated during and before my training include Irish Dance (hard shoe), horse riding, clown skills, kick-boxing, Keyboard, Irish accent, regional British accents and American accents. I am currently a soloist singer in a rock choir which regularly perform and have just joined a cabaret group which are in rehearsals.

I love to perform, my strengths being singing and tap dance and hope to gain as much experience as possible. I would love to try anything from background work, adverts and short films to plays, cabarets, cruises, film, tv and musicals. I am looking forward to starting my career and to keep on learning.

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