Meet Monica Endres
Monica Endres is a fifth year Dance major. The title of her piece is titled It Was Warm... Learn more about Monica and her piece below!
Can you give a brief description of your dance? The style of movement, inspiration behind the choreography, message of the dance, etc.
The contemporary duet was inspired by looking at my own life and recognizing all people that have grown with me so rapidly over the last five years. I have been navigating the complicated emotion of nostalgia, and this dance feels very much like a slow, quiet, and thoughtful conversation.
How do you personally prepare for your rehearsals? Do you choreograph on the spot or come with material prepared? What is your process like?
I come to rehearsal with ideas, but nothing is rigid. Atmosphere is very important to me, so I choreograph the best when I set myself up in the world where the dance takes place. In this instance I used a very dark space and a lamp. With my cast I begin with broader strokes of the dance and later become very specific, down to the shape of their hands and when to close their eyes. I enjoy digging into every moment.
How do you think your cast would describe you as choreographer/teacher?
For this question I turned it over to Ayla Jakes, who I've worked with for three of the Afterimages experiences I've had. She said, "As a choreographer I feel like her main goal is to make the dance feel natural. She is always open to making sure we are comfortable as dancers. She is huge on imagery, and truly invites us to into the world she is creating.
How does being a Choreographer for Afterimages differ from choreographing for any other projects? If you've never choreographed before, how have you approached this process differently than when you were just a performer/dancer?
I think with Afterimages there is such a feeling of dedication from every cast. My peers have been so supportive of me and my work whether they were in my cast or just watching, and that support is hard to find in every environment. In rehearsals we can have a lot of fun, and at the same time I know that each of us is fully committed to working hard to make the dance come alive.
Monica Endres is a fifth year Dance major. The title of her piece is titled It Was Warm... Learn more about Monica and her piece below!
Can you give a brief description of your dance? The style of movement, inspiration behind the choreography, message of the dance, etc.
The contemporary duet was inspired by looking at my own life and recognizing all people that have grown with me so rapidly over the last five years. I have been navigating the complicated emotion of nostalgia, and this dance feels very much like a slow, quiet, and thoughtful conversation.
How do you personally prepare for your rehearsals? Do you choreograph on the spot or come with material prepared? What is your process like?
I come to rehearsal with ideas, but nothing is rigid. Atmosphere is very important to me, so I choreograph the best when I set myself up in the world where the dance takes place. In this instance I used a very dark space and a lamp. With my cast I begin with broader strokes of the dance and later become very specific, down to the shape of their hands and when to close their eyes. I enjoy digging into every moment.
How do you think your cast would describe you as choreographer/teacher?
For this question I turned it over to Ayla Jakes, who I've worked with for three of the Afterimages experiences I've had. She said, "As a choreographer I feel like her main goal is to make the dance feel natural. She is always open to making sure we are comfortable as dancers. She is huge on imagery, and truly invites us to into the world she is creating.
How does being a Choreographer for Afterimages differ from choreographing for any other projects? If you've never choreographed before, how have you approached this process differently than when you were just a performer/dancer?
I think with Afterimages there is such a feeling of dedication from every cast. My peers have been so supportive of me and my work whether they were in my cast or just watching, and that support is hard to find in every environment. In rehearsals we can have a lot of fun, and at the same time I know that each of us is fully committed to working hard to make the dance come alive.
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