Meet Katelyn Piepmeier
Katelyn is a fifth year dance and business entrepreneurship double major. The title of her piece is Communion. Learn more about Katelyn and her piece below!
Can you give us a brief description of your dance? The style of movement, inspiration behind the choreography, message of the dance, etc.
I started with Contact Improvisation and through the process discovered set material that relies on weight sharing, partnering, and group connection. I was interested in the possibilities and limitations of having four bodies stay connected through touch throughout the entire dance. This piece represents the truth that the actions of one individual affect everyone else whether they are intended to or not. It is not our choice but rather something outside ourselves that causes this unity.
How do you personally prepare for your rehearsals? Do you choreograph on the spot or come with material prepared? What is your process like?
While I do push the dancers to find new possibilities and ultimately I set the material, the dancers are very instrumental in creating the movement. During the first few rehearsals, I gave the dancers various contact improvisational exercises and videotaped their explorations. From viewing these videos, I was able to choose specific movement sequences as well as find inspiration for more possible movements. Rehearsals after that often consisted of me saying something along the lines of - ‘I have this image of you standing on each other’s backs’ or ‘I want someone to dive upside down into the other’s arms while holding hands’. Then they would try to make it happen. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t and sometimes something happened that none of us could have predicted.
How do you think your cast would describe you as a choreographer/teacher?
I think my cast would say that I expect hard work and dedication but that I also care about what they need and their well-being. They know that I have put a lot of thought and effort into this piece but I also appreciate their hard work. They would say I come with ideas, both specific and general, but I also value their input.
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?
My choreographic experience comes mainly from class assignments. As a choreographer, there are less parameters for Afterimages than there are in class assignments. I have the freedom to choose my cast, movement style and content. This makes the work much more personal. There is also a great sense of community in the Afterimages process. Because Afterimages is run almost entirely by students and focuses on uplifting and sharing our work, we gain a sense of vulnerable comradery that is hard to find anywhere else. Because we are supported by experienced faculty, we have the freedom to make mistakes and grow.
Katelyn is a fifth year dance and business entrepreneurship double major. The title of her piece is Communion. Learn more about Katelyn and her piece below!
Can you give us a brief description of your dance? The style of movement, inspiration behind the choreography, message of the dance, etc.
I started with Contact Improvisation and through the process discovered set material that relies on weight sharing, partnering, and group connection. I was interested in the possibilities and limitations of having four bodies stay connected through touch throughout the entire dance. This piece represents the truth that the actions of one individual affect everyone else whether they are intended to or not. It is not our choice but rather something outside ourselves that causes this unity.
How do you personally prepare for your rehearsals? Do you choreograph on the spot or come with material prepared? What is your process like?
While I do push the dancers to find new possibilities and ultimately I set the material, the dancers are very instrumental in creating the movement. During the first few rehearsals, I gave the dancers various contact improvisational exercises and videotaped their explorations. From viewing these videos, I was able to choose specific movement sequences as well as find inspiration for more possible movements. Rehearsals after that often consisted of me saying something along the lines of - ‘I have this image of you standing on each other’s backs’ or ‘I want someone to dive upside down into the other’s arms while holding hands’. Then they would try to make it happen. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t and sometimes something happened that none of us could have predicted.
How do you think your cast would describe you as a choreographer/teacher?
I think my cast would say that I expect hard work and dedication but that I also care about what they need and their well-being. They know that I have put a lot of thought and effort into this piece but I also appreciate their hard work. They would say I come with ideas, both specific and general, but I also value their input.
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?
My choreographic experience comes mainly from class assignments. As a choreographer, there are less parameters for Afterimages than there are in class assignments. I have the freedom to choose my cast, movement style and content. This makes the work much more personal. There is also a great sense of community in the Afterimages process. Because Afterimages is run almost entirely by students and focuses on uplifting and sharing our work, we gain a sense of vulnerable comradery that is hard to find anywhere else. Because we are supported by experienced faculty, we have the freedom to make mistakes and grow.
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