Principal of Carlo Rossi School of Dance Speaks On Organising Showcase During The Pandemic

What would you say is the most important part of a show?

The choreography

How do you get inspired?

Well to be honest with you, all the time I don’t think I ever stop looking. If I go to see shows or I go to competitions or I’m judging things or if I’m examining. All of the time I’m doing those things, if I see something and think ‘oh that's good’ I will make a note and write it down so I never forget the ideas but then if I wanted to develop it I usually just sit and chat it all through with the teachers at the school.

I’m interested in your creative process, how do you go about choreographing your pieces?

When I am choreographing I always need a piece of music to inspire me. I usually let the music be my guide but then I also have to take into consideration the varying standards of the students I am working with so I have to bring that into the equation. So choose the music, the music inspires you to choreograph and then you’ve got to make sure that your choreography is suitable for the people that you’re creating the dance for.

How has being stuck indoors effected that process?

No my thought process is still the same, of course it’s more difficult now. I mean, all of the numbers are finished apart from the lyrical number we’re doing with the senior group and for that I’m having to choreograph and draw patterns and then show them the patterns I’m using on zoom but at the moment everyones doing a group dance individually. I know how the vision is … but that is quite testing

So you said you’re using zoom for rehearsals, how are they going?

Its okay but its frustrating as well because for me, I hear the music and I’m playing it to the students but theres a bit of a delay in it getting to them. So I do find it very frustrating at times but its better than nothing. I think it keeps everyones memory on the dot as well.

taken by a student of Carlo Rossi School of Dance during online rehearsals and classes ( click this photo to go to Carlo Rossi's website and take a look at the classes that are available)

You have also started to use video calls for a weekly quiz, (even with those who have left like myself) is this something you believe to be important? why prioritise those interactions?

I think that is nice. We’ve lost the social aspect, because dance is a very social thing as well. People come to class, people talk to each other and we’ve lost that because we’re all in our houses so rather than just dance its still nice to have that social aspect. I think its important to prioritise that

a photo taken of one of Carlo Rossi's Monday Quizzes ( click this photo to see how you can use Zoom to socialise with your friends or get some work done during the pandemic )