Messages

1

Stage Management: Other / Re: Looking for Suggestions on Stage Managing Dance

« on: Oct 31, 2006, 11:53 pm »

The problem is not with calling the show. I have complete confidence that I can call the show. The problem seems to be that applying a drama model of stage management to our dance concert causes too much interaction between stage management and the dancers. The dancers, being unfamiliar with stage management, get irritated with stage management's expectations that they come to rehearsals and performances on time, that they sign in for performances so that we know that they there, that we expect them to call us when they're not going to be at rehearsal instead of just telling their choreographer or a fellow dancer, etc. They tend to end up thinking that stage managers are just on a power trip and a lot of friction is created between the dancers and stage management. The choreographers don't back up stage managements expectations so it becomes difficult to enforce these things. I don't remember ever seeing stage managers when I was a dancer so I don't know if less interaction is better and our problem is that we were just trying to be too involved. If anyone has any suggestions about how I should approach the rehearsal process and interaction with the dancers, I would really appreciate it.

2

Stage Management: Other / Looking for Suggestions on Stage Managing Dance

« on: Oct 29, 2006, 10:43 pm »

I am an undergraduate stage manager and will be stage managing my first dance show in January. I was an ASM on the dance concert last year and the experience was a nightmare. Since our stage managers are trained in stage management of plays and musicals, we have tried to approach dance in the same way. Unfortunately this model doesn't work. I have an extensive background in dance, so am familiar with the dance terminology but I never interacted closely with stage management when I was a dancer and therefore do not know how the stage managers approached their jobs. I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions about how to approach stage management of dance from rehearsals through performances.