We are now in the final week of our journey together. I don't know how everyone in my class is coping with their inner anxieties, but I find myself in a constant marriage of reminiscing and looking forward to not only my future, but the bright futures ahead for my good friends. I am filled with excitement when I think of the possibility of running into them in the future, sharing experiences with them, remembering those little moments we shared together, and perhaps introducing any new little members that may have joined us along the way :)
By Troy Herring, member of the Class of 2014 I am extremely impressed with my classmate's ability to make things happen just in the nick of time (and of course with ample prep time, as well). Our production mentor, Risa Steinberg, has been gigantically helpful in this process, and we are so grateful for her! Senior Production was as smooth as a baby's bottom! I feel so lucky to have gotten to work next to these blossoming brilliant beauties for the past four years. Senior Production is not only a show but a reflection of my classmate's strengths, weaknesses, communication, wit, creativity, and most of all respecting each other's ideas. I didn't even know that there was even more to learn from these amazing individuals! We are now in the final week of our journey together. I don't know how everyone in my class is coping with their inner anxieties, but I find myself in a constant marriage of reminiscing and looking forward to not only my future, but the bright futures ahead for my good friends. I am filled with excitement when I think of the possibility of running into them in the future, sharing experiences with them, remembering those little moments we shared together, and perhaps introducing any new little members that may have joined us along the way :) We have been through a lot together and have taught each other so many things, that not only incorporate our shared love of dance and art, but they also include life lessons applied to our everyday life. One of these tid-bits, for example, include the act of finding positivity in (almost) every situation. I was blessed to have been planted in a forever growing garden that feeds on finding light and positivity. Of course, there is so much brightness to be found inhabiting The Juilliard School. Cheers to my colleagues! I am so proud of our accomplishments! One more show! Lets do the damn thang!
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By Bynh Ho, member of the Juilliard Dance class of 2014 One deeply exciting aspect of Senior Production is the opportunity for the choreographers to collaborate with costume designers. Despite the fact that we have had to put our choreographic process on hold for the Juilliard Dances Repertory Concert, behind the scenes choreographers and costume designers are now close to finalizing their designs. Because of your help with fundraising, the Senior Production choreographers are given the invaluable experience of working with designers to create costumes specific for each dancer. This is a rare privilege for young choreographers such as ourselves. For a deeper look into this creation process I interviewed Mary Kokie McNaugher, whom Kyle Scheurich and I have had the privilege of working with.
Q: How did you end up as a costume designer for Senior Production? A: I am an alumnus of the Juilliard Costume Shop Internship program. I loved my time here at Juilliard and formed many friendships with the other interns and members of the costume shop. In January 2009 a costume design spot opened last minute for the upcoming Senior Production Season. I was very excited and honored to be part of the team. This is my 6th season! Q: What is your process like? A: My process varies greatly depending on the piece and the kind of work. I approach Senior Production full steam ahead because we have very little time between first showing and our actual design formation. At first showing, I try to be open to everything the choreographers are presenting and also see past this initial stage. I try to look at core movements and feeling, and what I respond to visually and intellectually. Sometimes an idea of clothing comes to me right away and sometimes I have to dissect what it is I am seeing and find abstract visuals to begin discussion. Q: Where do you find inspiration for your work? A: Everywhere! From the NYC pedestrians, artwork, fashion, nature, music, the dancers themselves, pretty much everywhere. Q: What do you find special about working with Senior Production? A: I really enjoy going through this process with the choreographers. It is a very exciting time for them personally, at the end of their Juilliard journey, and I really enjoy going through the process of learning to speak visual about their work. And how the visual or the costumes can help create, enhance, and better define their choreography or overall piece. It is an amazing opportunity they are given and it is a total luxury, as a costume designer, to work with the amazing Juilliard Costume Shop! To see more of Mary Kokie McNaugher’s work check out her website: http://www.marykokiemcnaugher.com/ Our other costume designers for Senior Production are Amanda Seymour, Justin Hall and Kimberly Glennon. To see what these fantastic designers come up with, come see Senior Production 2014! By Maggie Segale, member of the Juilliard Dance class of 2014 I always enjoy learning the daily rituals of inspirational people. How thrilling it is to find out that William Forsythe eats lunch at a bad Italian restaurant across the street from his studio, and Twyla Tharp starts everyday by taking a cab to the local gym. Pablo Picasso had a terribly cluttered home and a pet goat, and Merce Cunningham followed a macrobiotic diet. Behind all great masterpieces are the otherwise unknown idiosyncrasies of the artists. It is exciting to learn the daily rituals of artists because it allows us to view the dance, painting, or sculpture with a new, refreshingly human, insight. Preparing for Senior Production, we fourth-year dancers are busy rehearsing, making T-shirts, and getting ready for the silent auction, but also partaking in supporting activities like, going to physical therapy, doing laundry, and Snapchatting our cousins. Inspired by Mason Currey's Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, I asked Michele Carter if she would answer a few questions about her routine. Michele is a radiant member of the class of 2014 and a phenomenal dancer, so it is my pleasure to learn her ways. Maggie Segale: What keeps you inspired during periods of rigorous rehearsals? Michele Carter: During periods of rigorous rehearsals, I have learned that I work best when I take things day by day. In order to get the most out of every experience, it is important for me to remain in the present. When classes and rehearsal hours are at their peak, I try to find excitement in the little things to keep me moving. Furthermore, adopting a mindset of gratefulness has been a huge help. Especially as my time at Juilliard comes to an end, reminding myself each day of how blessed I am to be where I am, doing what I love, is a remarkable source of inspiration. Keeping everything in perspective is essential. MS: What is your warm-up routine? MC: My warm-up routine consists of a medley of exercises, stretches, and "feel good" remedies that I have found work well for my body prior to taking classes. It has become somewhat set because of how often we must warm up at school, but I always do whatever my body needs for that specific day. MS: Any pre- or post- performance rituals? MC: Before a performance, I like to leave myself plenty of time for warming up, doing my hair and makeup, getting changed into costume, and focusing in for whatever piece I am performing. I like to have ample time pre-show so that I can enjoy my time backstage with my classmates. Those memories are just as important to me as the ones that I will have of being on stage. Post-performance, I usually celebrate with family and friends by going out for a late dinner and drinks. Nothing beats time with them! MS: And now a bit about Senior Production specifically. Whose piece are you in and what is your experience so far?
MC: I am in Bynh Ho's piece for Senior Production 2014. Thus far, it has been a wonderful experience. It is a piece for five dancers: two men and three women. We have been building material with an emphasis on the quality of movement that Bynh is after. There has been an incredible focus on detail and achieving finess from the inside out. We have been playing with the different "volumes" that we can move at and have been working on the attention that it takes to dial in and out of stillness in such a way that the beginning and end of that stillness is unrecognizable. It has been wonderful and fulfilling to explore the extremes of minimalistic and large movement. Bynh has been incredibly generous in this process and is a wealth of information, always offering up fresh ideas and analogies to guide us in the right direction. I am looking forward to getting back into Senior Production rehearsals after the run of Spring Dance shows! MS:What is something you'd like audience members to know before going to see Senior Pro? MC: I'd like for Senior Production audience members to know that the concert has been produced entirely by our class and that we have been working toward it since the first day of the school year. I am confident that our energy at the show will convey how much it means to us. So there we have it. She's a phenomenal dancer who values gratitude, and time with friends and family. Come see Michele and the rest of the Senior Class dance in our upcoming performances of Juilliard Dances Repertory this March! By Reed Tankersley, member of the Class of 2014 The creation process for Senior Production is unlike any other that we participate in during our four years at Juilliard. Most shows at school have a given rehearsal period where our primary focus is one specific piece until the process culminates with a run of shows. However for Senior Production, the creation process takes place in two sections separated by the Juilliard Dances Repertory Concert at the end of March. The first section of Senior Production rehearsals began at the beginning of the semester and consisted of two hours a day for two consecutive weeks. Since then we have shifted gears and the seniors have been cast amongst the second and third year dancers to revive three [repertory] pieces for the March concert. On top of learning these new dances there are also independent workshops keeping us up and moving into the night.
As I mentioned before, the Juilliard Dances Repertory Concert or “March Concert” consists of three pieces. This year all three works were created by American choreographers. The works are Twyla Tharp’s Baker’s Dozen, Lar Lubovitch’s Concerto Six Twenty- Two, and Eliot Feld’s The Jig Is Up. I find this period of the year to be particularly enjoyable because each cast is a mix of members from three different years. We get to be in the studio working on a major performance with people we haven’t had the opportunity to dance with, since other productions and many of the classes are separated by your graduation year. I am working on Twyla Tharp’s Baker’s Dozen, which is being staged by Shelley Washington. Shelley was an original cast member when the piece premiered in 1979. She also worked closely with Twyla for many years. Because of this, she is frequently sharing stories about Twyla, her own career, and character insights from the creation of the piece making the experience incredibly enriching. The piece is technical and full of character with a systematic organization of duets, trios, quartets, and sextets. At this point, most of the work has been taught, but there is still a good amount of polishing to do to get the work ready for the performance. The run of “March Concert” will be performed from March 21st to March 25th. Following this, we will dive full force into Senior Production. We’re busy busy, but my birthday is in two weeks. HOLLA By Taylor Drury, member of the class of 2014 In reflecting upon my four years at Juilliard, it is pretty remarkable to see how much I have learned. Not only have I gained the ability to captivate an audience by breaking through an imaginary wall, and gained strength by pretending I’m a crazy fish (a torturous hamstring exercise that involves a somewhat fish out of the water like movement), I have had the magical experience of learning about the entire field from the inside out. To be honest, Juilliard might as well be called Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry of Dance. Hogwarts has a course for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Juilliard's equivalent would be Senior Seminar in which we learn how to function in a harsh world filled with scary challenges that could drown someone who wasn't prepared to support and defend themselves… not to be dramatic. Hogwarts course Herbology, is defined by the school as the study of magical plants and how to take care of, utilize and combat them. Juilliard's equivalent might as well be the study of the magical human body and how to take care of it, utilize it and fight combat with it. I could continue with more similarities between these two fascinating schools but that’s not my main point, and I’m having too much fun. The things a dancer learns in one year at school is extremely diverse and helpful in shaping a long career in the field. The school makes the impossible possible with its amazingly experienced and passionate artistic team, and manages to cover the bases of dance from every angle. I could go on listing the dance divisions incredible courses but Juilliard has it’s own website for that. So here I want to zoom in on one specific woman and her role in Senior Production each year as it is conjured into being. Susan Hamburger is the Stage Craft teacher for the third year dance students. It is in this course that each dancer learns what it means to take on the role of a lighting designer, stage manager, technical assistant, costume designer, set designer, music operator and every other possible “behind the scenes” position. In their second semester of third year, the dancers take on the responsibility of acting in each of these positions for Senior Production, they basically run the whole show! Here is an interview between Susan and I to help you learn about how she found herself in this position at Juilliard. Taylor: Could you share a little bit of your story? How did you find yourself in this line of work? Susan: I was born in a log cabin….. (joking) When I was in college I was a dance major. As a choreographer I would talk with my designers as part of the process for putting on our shows and I became more interested in the design side of dance. In my senior year at college I worked with the department heads to create a lighting design independent study course that is still part of the program today. After that I was the Technical Director at a fantastic experimental theater in New York City called The Kitchen, where I got a tremendous amount of practical experience in many elements of production. After a few years of working in New York City I applied to Yale School of Drama where I got my MFA in Theatrical Design. Because of my previous experience as a dancer and choreographer, I gravitated towards designing for dance. I think dance is the most fun! I have been fortunate enough to tour with some amazing companies - Urban Bush Women, Troika Ranch, Mark Morris, Lucinda Childs among others. Eventually I became interested in commercial / residential lighting design as well as in teaching. I started teaching at New York University in 2005 in the dance division and then started teaching at Juilliard in 2010 in the dance division. Taylor: What is your role as teacher of Stage Craft for the third year dance class? What do you cover throughout the school year? Susan: My role as the Stagecraft teacher is to guide the 3rd year dance students as they learn about the “backstage” elements of putting on a show. We focus mostly on lighting, since that is a large part of their final project - Senior Production, but I include the other elements of design as well. We have guest lecturers talk about costume design, set design, sound design and even a guest lecturer to talk about contracts. I also try to get one fun trip in there. In past years we had a backstage tour of the Met Opera. This year we got to look at designs from the special archives of the Library for the Performing Arts. By the end of the second semester the class has learned how to hang all the equipment, focus all the lighting, write the lighting cues and program the sound board and light board. This is an excellent way to prepare everyone for what they will find when they work professionally in the field. They will be able to express themselves with clarity and expertise having already designed the lighting and worked collaboratively with a set and costume designer on a dance concert. Taylor: What is your favorite part of the Senior production each year? Susan: My favorite part of Senior Production is watching everyone get excited and have fun putting the show on together. One group was actually singing on the gantry! It really becomes a party in the Willson Theatre, even though it is serious work. The other part I love is watching the students take real artistic risks and just going for it. This is the place to do it. Juilliard has the unique situation of being an educational environment with an extensive support system to help realize one's ideas. You want the moon? We can get you the moon. Just give us a day to help you get it…. As you can tell, the class is always a ton of fun and an exciting part of a dancers training at Juilliard. Susan really does help each artist create the world they imagine for their choreography and with her skills at the lighting control board, magic is created and moons exist in the Willson theatre. As a choreographer this year, I look forward to working with a team of third years who will help my piece come alive with their lighting design. But of course, I am most excited about watching our production from the audience this year once all the work has been put in. What a joy it will be to see the work of our long hours spent at Juilliard culminated into this final production. How lucky are we to share our ideas and artistry with a supportive community as the third years test their knowledge as Stage Crew members! Best of luck third years!! By Taner Van Kuren, member of the class of 2014
As we patiently await our final steps out the door the energy in our class is that of a child, walking for the very first time. Of course there are good days and bad days, but come take a walk around the 3rd floor at Juilliard and your ears will be filled with the sounds of raucous youths. Yes, you better believe we're screaming with excitement for our release into the wild. I hope when the fresh scent of "Real Life" sets in I'm delighted by the smell. Many of us aim for jobs right out of the gate, and I believe my classmates are the people to do it. Some of us are nervous at the moment with still a lot left to do, and others relaxed and enjoying the final ride, but all of us in high spirits for the future. Crazy to think that 4 years ago we were just about to embark on this cliché but true, "Roller Coaster Ride" and it has been just that and more. My personal quick story is coming to Juilliard as a transfer student after 2 years at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. I loved the idea of starting fresh, maybe not having to do four more years fresh but I couldn't have been happier with my decision. Being in school previously I had developed certain ideas of dance and the dance world. Ignorant and naive back then, I thought I knew it all. Arriving at Juilliard I instantly became a baby walking for the first time. I had many preconceived notions and in a matter of a few days they were all diminished. Over the next four years I'd learn the greatest tools, to allow me the utmost freedom artistically. You see, Juilliard doesn't just produce dancing machines, Juilliard produces the most stunning and dedicated performers. These master minds pushing the boundaries of their craft compacted into one room really pushes you to better yourself. At least that stands very true for me. We've all grown together, been given these amazing skills, and it's time now to make it happen. The potential for different career paths in the arts with the training from Juilliard is endless. I was excited at the possibilities of being a dancer, singer, and actor. I didn't just want to dance anymore, I wasn't content with that. I wanted to do it all. The teacher's here handed me their wealth of knowledge along with combing the five borough's of New York City I've had experiences I can't wait to tell my grandkids. Now I can certainly say I've made the best of my time here in NYC. Thats not to say that I'm leaving anytime soon that's still up in the air, sorry mom and dad. But being able get pizza at 4 in the morning after a night out is priceless. Not to mention the lights and tourists of Times Square, discovering secrets in Central Park, and particularly odd encounters on the subway. I wouldn't change a thing. It seems as if these past four years have come and gone in an instant but I've made connections and memories to last me a lifetime. And if there's anything I can say to my class, "You've done me proud, even being around you 24/7 you never cease to inspire me with your artistry." Check out Senior Production it's going to be the cat's pajamas! Stay Classy, Taner By Corwin Barnette, member of the class of 2014.
As much as we are eager to reach graduation, there is still much to be done. It's becoming increasingly difficult to escape the ever-looming cloud of senioritis. But, we are accomplishing just that! Here's a beginning of the semester update: We have begun immediately, diving into the choreographic process for our Senior Production in April. The seven choreographer's have been allotted twenty hours of rehearsals in these first two weeks! I am in Taylor Drury's cast, and the rehearsals have been varied and productive so far. Within the first few rehearsals, we have created movement phrases both quirky and lyrical. We have been using music from Italian and Greek influences. And, we have even created a scene that involves some butlers and a box of cereal. Although I am keen to share more, I know the end product will be quite different, especially because the rehearsal process will be put on hold at the end of this week. A unique aspect of Senior production is the rehearsal schedule: we create for two weeks, break for about nine, and come back to the pieces for another three weeks. While this may seem daunting, this break can give choreographers time to let their work settle and rest. After this, they can come back with a refreshed perspective. In our Senior Production class, we are discussing more possible fundraising ideas. Our calendars were a huge success, and we are hoping to recreate this success with a Senior Production t-shirt. Aspects such as color, design, amount, and style are all being deliberated. You can expect to see these t-shirts for sale during the performances of our Juilliard Dances Repertory concert (March 21st-25th). We have also decided to take on another silent auction! This will function during our Repertory concert, as well. Furthermore, we hope to sell a notecard bundle, created by using outtakes from our calendar photo shoot! Please keep an eye out for these sales, as we will have only a limited supply. (For more information, visit our Merchandise page!) On another note, a good majority of us have recently returned from our European tour auditions. As a class we have visited companies in France, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and the U.K. The auditions were full of wonderful insight and assurance that our time at Juilliard has been supremely beneficial. We found learning experiences outside these auditions, as well. We discovered the difficulty of keeping up morale when traveling alone; a certain music playlist, a book, or even a beer or two helped counter this brief isolation. We also figured out how to find cheaper ways to travel. We took a couple buses instead of trains, and surprisingly the German company DeinBus (equivalent to American MegaBus) proved to be quite comfortable and affordable. Once we arrived at our destinations, we discovered how to orient ourselves without the use of the beloved iPhone. While we feel happy about our work in the auditions, we won't hear from the companies until next month, as they still have their larger, public auditions to do. Luckily, our involvement in multiple projects at school will keep us busy and distracted! Many of us have done multiple auditions thus far, but we still have more to come! It's quite the exciting prospect - imagining where all of my talented classmates will be at the end of this final semester. Here is a photo as we finished our audition in Saarbrucken, Germany. Excitement all around!! By Leiland Charles, member of the class of 2014. Photographs by Leiland Charles The title of this blog post is a quote I haven't been able to get out of my head since the day faculty member Laura Glenn said it to our class during 1st year Limón. I remember distinctly thinking to myself, “No way, this is going to be the slowest 4 years of my life. At least I hope it is.” A part of me never wanted the time here to end. I recount to Laura every now and then how she was absolutely correct. It’s unreal to think about how quickly the time has passed and how much has been done or not done in that amount of time. At this point, the class of 2014 is looking forward.
As we move quickly towards the May 23, 2014 finish line, there is still plenty of work to be done. So far, our final semester is not cutting us any slack. Senior Production rehearsals are off to a great start. I must say thank you to the 3rd year dancers for joining us in this process of creation. I am dancing in a work by Kyle Scheurich, fellow classmate and a wonderfully adoring friend of mine, whose work along with 6 other dancers from the graduating class, are set to premiere April 24, 2014. Along with this, we have just found out about casting for Juilliard Dances Repertory. The senior class along with 2nd and 3rd year dancers, will be performing the following works: The Jig Is Up by Eliot Feld, Concerto Six Twenty-Two by Lar Lubovitch and Baker's Dozen by Twyla Tharp, all set to open on March 21st! And during this time, the seniors are also prepping for, what I know to be my favorite show of the year, Senior Showcase, showing off repertory as well as new creations all done on the senior class either as solos or duets. There's no doubt that this is an exciting time for us all, but it does becoming extremely draining. During rehearsal periods, it is very likely that our days may sometimes run from 9AM to 9PM. Some of those days, all I want to do is pull my hair out, but hey, that’s life! Everything will not always go the way you want it or need it to go. All in all, it has been wonderful to be at a place where the talent pool is unparalleled and the community is welcoming. It has been a blessing to say the least. As I reminisce about my past few years at Juilliard, I keep wondering what I would say if someone asked me to describe the experience I have had here in one word. In all honesty, I don't think I could. Not only have I whirl winded through a fury of technique classes from Classical Ballet to Gaga, I have, along with everyone else in my class, been held back by obstacles, blinded by naivety, but nonetheless shared countless moments of love and artistic growth. All I can really say is, through all the blood, sweat and tears, it is definitely 4 years I will never forget. By Niall Lessard, member of the Juilliard dance class of 2014
We began learning Wind von West in September, and eight classmates got to travel to Wuppertal, Germany to work with Ms. Bausch's alma mater, the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. It was premiered with a mixed cast from both Juilliard and Folkwang in Germany at the end of November, and we presented the piece in New York City on December 11th. My class danced in the last section of the show each night, with Takehiro Ueyama, Brian Brooks, and Darrell Grand Moultrie choreographing beautiful new works on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years. We even got reviewed by The New York Times! You can read Gia Kourlas's review here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/arts/dance/juilliard-presents-pina-bauschs-wind-von-west.html?_r=0 New Dances this year was also exciting because it was another opportunity to fund-raise for Senior Production 2014. As Ellie wrote about last week's blog, we worked with both Yazmany Aborleda, a brilliant photographer, and Accent Printing Solutions to create our Senior Production calendar. I cannot reiterate enough how rewarding it is to have all of my class's hard work, sweat, and thankfully no tears put into such a beautifully finished product! We sold the calendars during the run of New Dances in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater before, at intermission, and after the shows each night. It was an incredible amount of fun to venture into the unknown world of sales and just dive in full force. Of course, we had the Associate Director of Dance and mentor for senior production, Risa Steinberg, guiding us along the way, and with her amazing help, we really accomplished something as an independent company. I couldn't be happier.
Alongside our calendar sales, we held our very first silent auction. Each member of the senior class was delegated certain areas of the city to scout out local vendors for donations, as well as pull together items contributed from our families to sell during the shows. From a pair of Gucci sunglasses to hand crafted cards made by our very own Maggie Segale, the silent auction was another victory on the way to our ultimate fund-raising goal for Senior Production. I would like to thank Yazmany, Accent Printing Design, and all of the vendors, families, and students that donated items to us; you helped us grow, flourish, and succeed this semester in more ways than you will ever know. By Ellie Swiatkiwsky, member of the Juilliard Dance Class of 2014 As Robbie mentioned in the previous blog, as a class we undertake several fundraising projects throughout the year to fund our Senior Production show in May. One of these projects is the Senior Production Calendar, an annual fundraiser that has been a tradition since the graduating dance class of 2008. After our class viewed all of the past calendars we began conceptualizing ideas for our very own. Many ideas interested us, such as being immersed underwater or elevated by trampolines, and this is when the discussion with our wonderful photographer, Yazmany Arboleda, began. I had the pleasure of meeting Arboleda in 2012 when we traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa together as part of the artsINSIDEOUT team. With this team we taught the arts to children and mothers who have been affected by HIV/AIDS at the Nikosis Haven village. After seeing his work and passion for photography I knew he was an invaluable artist to have on board! The production of the calendar was on a very strict time schedule. We needed them ready for sale in December, so finalizing concepts, shopping for feathers, balloons, flour, paint, requesting costumes, props, and the actual shoot, all somehow had to happen within a few days! The calendar team (Niall, Evan, Kristi, Daphne, Ashley and myself) then worked with the printing company, Accent Printing Solutions, on design and layout while Arboleda worked on photo-shopping the images.
Thank you to those who purchased calendars, and for those who missed out, you can still buy them on our website (!) or at The Juilliard Store on West 66th St. On behalf of the class of 2014 I would like to thank Arboleda for his energy, spirit and passion towards this project! Now let’s get to know a bit more about the guy behind the lens… INTERVIEW WITH YAZMANY ARBOLEDA Q: Tell us about yourself. A: I was born in Boston to Colombian parents. I grew up between Medellin and Miami and attended university in Washington D.C. where I studied architecture. Q: When and how did your love of photography begin? A: I have always been interested in the arts. From a very young age I looked at photography magazines for inspiration. I remember collecting the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog and marveling at all of the opulent photo narratives. Q: Did you have any formal training? A: Even though I am formally trained as an architect, I have studied various disciplines: fashion design, industrial design, and urban planning. I strongly believe that innovation in the arts often grows from cross-pollination of various forms of expression. Q: Each of us has something which inspires our life and work. Can you tell us the true basis of your inspiration? A: All of my work involves the creation of experiences through collaboration. My inspiration comes from all of the incredible people that surround me: from the way they choose to live their lives to how they express themselves through the arts or otherwise. Q: From your experience, have your best shots come from perfect planning or accidents? A: As one of my favorite teachers used to say, "Proper planning prevents poor performance." Which is to say, preparation is important, but capturing a truly memorable image comes into being through happenstance. Q: Best piece of advice you have ever received about photography? A: To shoot from your gut. Q: What has been a career highlight? A: Working with Afghan artists and activists to give away 10,000 balloons to the citizens of Kabul earlier this year. (Read more about this project in a May Huffington Post article.) Q: What appealed to you about being the photographer for the Senior Production calendar? A: I was really interested in creating an original and dynamic narrative and the 2014 class of dancers were equally interested in that goal. Q: What has been a highlight of your experience with the Class of 2014? A: Spending 10 hours playing with beautiful materials that were being activated by beautiful humans and their graceful gestures. Q: What has been a challenge? A: The toughest part of our process was the tight deadline. The project involved a great deal of post-production, and editing all the images in time for printing was a challenging process. Q: What are you working on at the moment? A: I am currently working on a few projects. One of the most exciting works involves the creation of visuals that will coexist with dancers and poetry. YAZMANY ARBOLEDA www.glasslessglasses.com See below for behind the scenes pictures from the calendar shoot! |