Photo by Sarah EwaldInstructor Jimmy Morrow observes his dancers’ steppin’ skills. The experience of shadowing dancer Kat Folckomer as she attended classes made me curious about the other classes offered during ADF. I chose three more classes to attend and observe. As ADF asks of its students, I chose two technique classes and one theory […]
Sarah Ewald
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ADF Classroom Series: Want some theory with that practice?
Photo by Sarah EwaldADF student dancers discuss relevant issues in Jesse Zarritt’s composition class. After sitting in on Kat Folckomer’s two technique classes, I follow her to the Nelson Music Room. It’s here where she’ll attend her last class of the day, “Composition, Improvisation: the Practice of Performance.” This class is designated as Section B, […]
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ADF Classroom Series: Elsewhere on campus—The Duke Gardens Project
Photo by Sarah EwaldDancers rehearse in trios in Rodger Belman’s Duke Gardens repertory class. The Repertory Workshop: Duke Gardens Project class met in the wood-paneled Southgate Gym. A mat lay over the small basketball court and, with giant, deafening fans overhead, dancers gathered in groups, chatted and warmed up waiting for class to start. Professor […]
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ADF Classroom Series: Get your technique on
Photo by Sarah EwaldBrenda Daniels’ students stretch it out. I meet up with ADF student dancer Kat Folckomer in front of Epworth Hall, where ADF maintains its administrative headquarters. She’s wearing a loose-fitting brown tee, shorts, Birkenstock sandals and sunglasses. It’s 10 a.m., and class starts in 15 minutes. On the way to her first […]
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ADF Classroom: Meet Kat, an ADF student dancer
2009 ADF / Sara D. DavisKat Folckomer (fifth from right) dances in last year’s “Past/Forward Workshop.” You could be forgiven if you thought American Dance Festival was solely about the performances at Duke’s Reynolds Theatre and the Durham Performing Arts Center. But ADF also hosts 385 student dancers from such far-flung locales as Singapore and […]
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ADF Classroom: Getting in is half the fun
Photo by Jay Anderson. Courtesy of the American Dance Festival Archives.Merce Cunningham and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in rehearsal, Page Auditorium, 1988. The 2010 American Dance Festival began June 10, with African American Dance Ensemble performing in Duke’s Reynolds Industries Theater. But ADF is most commonly associated with the high-profile dance performances at Duke […]
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Textiles’ seniors show off their skills, but don’t say “like”
Photo courtesy of Kristen DePalmoHalf of Kristen DePalmo’s garments await public display. “You do not ‘like that one,’” a sign in North Carolina State University’s Leazar studio sternly admonishes inquisitive visitors who might want to express appreciation for a design piece. Across campus at the College of Textiles, the same sentiment prevails during class critiques […]
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Redress Raleigh: Not just fashion as usual
Photo courtesy of Margo Scott, Rocket Betty DesignsOne of designer Margo Scott’s tiki-inspired creations. Green, sustainable fashion is so hot right now. But residents of the Triangle don’t have to jet to New York or Los Angeles to see it (which is good, since the goal is to reduce the carbon footprint). This weekend, they […]
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Art to Wear: Prepping for The Big Strut
Photo by Sarah EwaldDesigner Gennie Catastrophe chats with her models before showing her collection onstage at Reynolds Coliseum. Audience members cheered and roared for N.C. State’s student designers and models Wednesday night in Reynolds Coliseum. But what the audience never sees is how much hairspray, cookies and ironing go into putting that line out on […]
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Art to Wear: A mid-summer forest and a mental ward
Photo by Sarah EwaldDesigner Eleanor Hoffman works on her collection in Leazar studio. When showing a collection, a designer’s job is to take the audience into his or her own created world. Two designers in this year’s Art to Wear (A2W) are pulling from different locales to put their looks in proper context. Designer Eleanor […]