[upbeat music] ♪ [upbeat music] ♪ [upbeat music] [gentle music] - Contemporary dance kind of started out as modern dance, which was a reaction to ballet.

So if you think of Isadora Duncan and the early creators of what we think of as modern or contemporary dance, you know, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham.

They wanted a style of dance that was freer in a way than ballet, but still rigorous and could address some contemporary concerns that would address issues of, could be a storyline like war or some things that maybe you don't see every day in ballet.

- I came into UNCSA as a ballet dancer and I was happy being a ballet dancer, but I wasn't fulfilled, and so the summer of my sophomore year, I emailed Brenda and I asked her if I could switch, and she said yes, and so beginning of my junior year, I think that I've been able to dig deeper into what it means to be an artist and not just a dancer in the technical sense, but to not lose the connection between being a technical dancer and being an artistic dancer because they're intertwined.

But I had lost all sense of that, and so being in the contemporary program brought me back to refining that.

- "Bloom of Youth".

It's all about the appreciation of youth and beauty.

The dance is divided into three sections.

The very first section, it's very like lifted and proper, but at the same time there's a very playful element to it, which was really fun to perform on stage and you got to interact with your peers, which also was extremely fun to do.

And skipping to the third section, it's just, it was full of tiny little like exciting moments and lots of jumps and hops and lively energy on stage.

You couldn't help but smile when you're doing it.

It was so fun to perform.

- My process for rehearsals, it can tend to change from piece to piece depending on the needs of the piece.

This particular piece, "The Bloom of Youth", I've taught technique a lot to this particular group and I was very happy to get this group to make a piece on because they're a lively group, they're a varied group, they're technically very adept, and they're a joyful group, and that's what I wanted to make my piece about.

It was going to be about joy and about the beauty and vivacity of youth.

Probably for my last 10 pieces or so at UNCSA, I've co-collaborated with the School of Music on having a live musician play.

So I've had pianists, I've had classical guitar, cello, violin, percussion, you name it.

It's really, really nice to have that live music, so the dance and the music are being created in essence in the same time and space.

It adds a magic to the process that you just can't get with canned music.

So the idea started marinating in my head about making this piece for young people, for young dancers and what they bring.

The piece is not really about anything more than the celebration of youth and beauty.

[dancers murmuring] [dancer clapping] [dancers applauding] [sprightly music] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [sprightly music continues] [dancers murmuring] [no audio] [no audio] [gentle music] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [no audio] [spirited music] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [spirited music continues] [audience applauding] - Merce Cunningham was my mentor.

I worked very closely with him.

I did not dance in his company, but I taught at his school.

He took my class when he was taking class.

I taught the company, I staged his works, and that's the technique that I teach here at this school.

- Merce Cunningham is definitely one of the most influential choreographers of the 21st century.

- Watching Merce's work is like watching a curious mind on stage.

- Merce Cunningham is an American modern choreographer.

He collaborated a lot with other disciplines.

His partner, John Cage, who also did a lot of more experimental work as a composer, untraditional work, and I think that is what he found in other artists too and why he liked to collaborate with them, because they also did a lot of untraditional work.

- There's a clarity that you just inherently step into by dancing any of Merce's work, and we've seen this realized-- - Yeah.

- By the dancers.

This is something that they can take with them as they move into the dance world and they know this language, they have it in their body and that, you know, it'll make them more versatile.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

I don't think that most of Merce's work has a story or any sort of meeting behind it.

It's just dance for dance.

- Chance procedures.

Well, it's a method that Merce used to create his dances.

Cage also used for music.

One that I think we are very familiar with or that is very known with Merce is rolling a dice.

So he would have a die and roll it.

He may use the dice to decide how many dancers are going to be on stage at a time, he may roll to decide what facing a dancer is going to do a phrase.

He may roll a dice and say, "Okay, Marcy, you're facing stage right," or, "Andrea, you're facing stage left for this."

So I think maybe we don't know all of the things that he used the dice for, but I think that's an an easy example of the chance procedures and that's not something that we as dancers would see.

It was always something that he did while he was creating the movement or the staging of the dance.

Staging a dance that, as Andrea said, being like an archival project is looking at whatever materials we have of the dance and then actually bringing it back and having an audience be able to see it again and putting it on stage, which for this dance is very exciting because it hasn't even been seen since 1979.

And you know, we were able to bring all of the components back together and put it on stage and allow dancers to be able to learn it and perform it and for audiences to see it again.

[birds tweeting] [birds chirping] [phone beeping] [phone operator intoning indistinctly] ["Take Five"] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Voice] Thank you for calling cardiology, if this is a medical emergency, please hang up and dial 911 emergency department.

You're calling.

[phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone bleeping] - The number you have called is not in service at this time.

[phone operator voice intoning indistinctly] [phone bleeping] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] The number you have dialed does not work at this time.

Please check you have dialed the number correctly.

Remember, Connecticut now has two area codes.

203 and 860.

This is a recording.

The number you have dialed is not currently working.

- [Phone Operator] At www.rpt.uk Please contact for emergency.

Otherwise, for more information about changing the dial, if you need help, premium rate, or teller account, press one.

[Phone Operator] If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911.

[phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone operator intoning] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] - [Phone Operator] The number you are attempting to reach has been disconnected.

Please contact customer care.

[birds tweeting] [phone operator intoning] [birds tweeting] [phone operator intoning] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] - Make your home safer and easier to clean with these flooring tips on TV, in store today.

Their jingle might remind you to look at new carpets for built-in protection, or putting wood laminates in your hallway or better in new waterproof laminate floor for laundry and bath, with system protection that really protects against slips and falls.

And remember, Empire Bath rewards with warranty, if you buy any Empire bathroom today special and save $350, by pressing one now, we'll connect you with Empire today for an in-home touring and free sample.

[birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] This number is no longer in service.

[birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone operator intoning indistinctly] - [Phone Operator] This is a prerecorded message.

When you have finished recording, you can hangup or press one for more options.

We did not hear your message either because you were not-- [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [birds tweeting] [cans rattling] [birds tweeting] [cans rattling] [birds tweeting] [cans rattling] [pigeons cooing] [pigeons cooing] [birds tweeting] [cans rattling] [phone beeping] - [Phone Operator] Thank you for calling your account.

[cans rattling] [phone operator intoning indistinctly] Please enter your account number.

[birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [cans rattling] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] Please press the number now.

Or dial 611 for customer assistance.

Message.

22351.

[phone beeping] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] Thank you for calling media corporation.

Please listen to all the menu options before pressing zero.

If you know your party's extension number, you may enter at any time.

For door 1 to door 3, please press the pound key.

For the top doctors program, press three.

Magazine advertising, press four.

Accounting, press five.

If you'd like to speak with the operator, please press zero.

Thank you.

[birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] Welcome to American Diamond Interiors.

For our diamond residential inventory, please press one.

For our development department, please press two.

[phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] - To continue the call in English, please press one now.

[phone operator speaking Spanish] - [Phone Operator] To continue your call in English, please press one now.

[phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] - [Phone Operator] Invalid.

Please check the number and dial again.

Or dial 611 for customer assistance.

Message on two.

For quality assurance purposes, please call the number.

- [Phone Operator] Welcome to customer service assistance.

I'll do my best to help you today, and if I can't, I'll transfer you to someone who can.

If you are calling to enter a new purchase, just say, "I want to order."

If your purchase is connected to your Amazon account, say, "Amazon."

If you are calling about your mobile app, say, "Mobile app."

[phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] This call is being recorded for quality assurance.

We have a special promotion today for select callers.

If you are interested, please press 9 now.

If not, press 2.

[birds tweeting] [phone beeping] If you are over 50, please press 1 now.

If not, press 2.

[phone operator speaking Spanish] - [Phone Operator] For English, or other languages, press 1.

At this time we're experiencing higher than normal call volumes which make wait times longer.

If at any time it becomes unsafe for you to wait, please hang up and call back at a safer time.

[phone operator intoning indistinctly] - [Phone Operator] We would like to collect demographic information while you're waiting to be connected to a technician.

This information helps and informs us.

[phone operator intoning indistinctly] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone operator intoning indistinctly] - [Phone Operator] If this is a medical emergency, please hangup and dial 911 to be put through to the emergency department.

This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes.

[phone operator intoning indistinctly] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] If you decide to schedule, reschedule, or need a clinic appointment, press 3.

[phone operator intoning indistinctly] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] Thank you for calling.

[phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [phone operator intoning indistinctly] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] - [Phone Operator] Magazine advertising, press four.

Investing, press five.

If you'd like to speak with the operator, please press zero.

Thank you.

Which of these would you like?

To go back the maternity program, choose maternity program.

For the health coach program, your own personal health coach.

[birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] ["Never Gonna Give You Up"] [birds tweeting] ["Never Gonna Give You Up"] [birds tweeting] ["Never Gonna Give You Up"] [birds tweeting] ["Never Gonna Give You Up"] [birds tweeting] ["Never Gonna Give You Up"] [birds tweeting] ["Never Gonna Give You Up"] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] - [Phone Operator] Thanks for calling.

[cans rattling] [cans rattling] - [Santa Claus] [laughing] Merry Christmas!

This is Santa Claus, and you have reached my personal hotline.

We have been busy making all of those toys to deliver on Christmas morning, [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [cockerels clucking] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [cockerels clucking] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [cockerels clucking] [birds tweeting] [cockerels clucking] [phone beeping] [birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] - [Phone Operator] Thank you for calling the health program.

[birds tweeting] If this is an life threatening emergency, please hangup and call 911.

[phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [phone operator voices overlapping indistinctly] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [birds tweeting] [cockerel clucking] [radio dialing] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [birds tweeting] [phone buzzing] [birds tweeting] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [phone operator speaking Spanish] [audience cheering] - I think the most beautiful aspect of dance is that, and this is funny to be saying on a project that is filming one of my dances, but I think one of the most beautiful aspects is that it does often just disappear, and so it's like those sand paintings that the monks make in Asia where they spend countless hours making something and then after they're done, they sweep it away.

And so dance exists in the time and space in which it's being created, and then it's gone and it doesn't clutter up the world with a whole bunch of stuff.

Only the beautiful memory in the dancers and in the audience.

[gentle music] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music continues] [gentle music fades]