Friday, October 16, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Laban Movement Choir
As part of the Mahler Project (a JCFA wide theme this semester, based on German art) the dance department is organizing a 1,000 person Laban Movement Choir. At a school the size of Butler, it was difficult to get a 1,000 people to participate so instead it's more like a 300-500 person choir.
The performance is this Saturday on the Butler Bowl (the football field). Over a few rehearsal sessions the participants learned the choreography and during the performance we will be moving to music and poetry.
The piece reminds me a lot of Whirl of Divine (a performance I was involved in through the Spirit and Place Festival in which we recited a Dada poem entitled Ur Sonata in collaboration with the dance department.)
If you are interested there is a short video on youtube about the movement choir. I don't think you can see me anywhere, but it gives you a taste of what the performance going to look like. Hopefully we'll get a good turn out. It should be pretty cool.
The performance is this Saturday on the Butler Bowl (the football field). Over a few rehearsal sessions the participants learned the choreography and during the performance we will be moving to music and poetry.
The piece reminds me a lot of Whirl of Divine (a performance I was involved in through the Spirit and Place Festival in which we recited a Dada poem entitled Ur Sonata in collaboration with the dance department.)
If you are interested there is a short video on youtube about the movement choir. I don't think you can see me anywhere, but it gives you a taste of what the performance going to look like. Hopefully we'll get a good turn out. It should be pretty cool.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Time
I thought I had finally overcome my extreme messiness, but I just came home from an Alumni Convocation (for which we were supposed to look nice) and I realized my room is a disaster. However, I've concluded that my messiness isn't necessarily a result of laziness. At the end of the summer/beginning of the semester, my schedule was fairly light. I had spare time to clean up the messes I made along the way. Now I've got time to do my laundry. . . but it's been sitting in laundry basket, clean and unfolded, for a week.
Last week my Creative Arts professor was out of town. Instead of canceling classes (although senior-itis doesn't set in as much in college, getting to miss a 10am class is always preferred) she asked a woman to come in and talk to us about time management. Now, I consider myself to be a fairly organized person and I was already disgruntled that I wouldn't get to sleep in on a Monday morning, but I actually ended up taking a lot away from the lecture.
The lecturer asked us to fill out a chart with the amount of time we spent on various activities during the week. Did the time we spent accurately reflect our priorities? I know I spend way too much time on the computer. The other day I came on merely to check facebook and my email but ended up spending an hour looking a pictures from a photo contest about weddings. Not exactly the best use of my time. I had spent the previous two days meticulously documenting where I was spending my time. I was careful not to spend too much time on the computer, to actually spend a decent amount of time on homework and to try and get some sleep. However, by the third day I was tired of the tedious work and gave into laziness.
Although I can't spend my whole life noting how every little minute is spent, I do think I could use some more awareness. I was pleased to discover that the top three areas I spent my time in were sleep, classes and theatre. Despite my fairly balanced schedule, I still feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I want. Especially since this is my last year in college, I just want to use the time to experience as much as I can. Do I really want to waste this precious time watching stupid videos on youtube? Sometimes, yes, I do need a break, but there is really so much more I could be experiencing.
My goal is to continue to monitor where I'm spending my time. I love going to bed at the end of the day or looking back on a week feeling like I was productive or that I took advantage of the opportunities presented to me.
Last week my Creative Arts professor was out of town. Instead of canceling classes (although senior-itis doesn't set in as much in college, getting to miss a 10am class is always preferred) she asked a woman to come in and talk to us about time management. Now, I consider myself to be a fairly organized person and I was already disgruntled that I wouldn't get to sleep in on a Monday morning, but I actually ended up taking a lot away from the lecture.
The lecturer asked us to fill out a chart with the amount of time we spent on various activities during the week. Did the time we spent accurately reflect our priorities? I know I spend way too much time on the computer. The other day I came on merely to check facebook and my email but ended up spending an hour looking a pictures from a photo contest about weddings. Not exactly the best use of my time. I had spent the previous two days meticulously documenting where I was spending my time. I was careful not to spend too much time on the computer, to actually spend a decent amount of time on homework and to try and get some sleep. However, by the third day I was tired of the tedious work and gave into laziness.
Although I can't spend my whole life noting how every little minute is spent, I do think I could use some more awareness. I was pleased to discover that the top three areas I spent my time in were sleep, classes and theatre. Despite my fairly balanced schedule, I still feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I want. Especially since this is my last year in college, I just want to use the time to experience as much as I can. Do I really want to waste this precious time watching stupid videos on youtube? Sometimes, yes, I do need a break, but there is really so much more I could be experiencing.
My goal is to continue to monitor where I'm spending my time. I love going to bed at the end of the day or looking back on a week feeling like I was productive or that I took advantage of the opportunities presented to me.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Rock Tour
A few weeks ago I made this video from pictures and short clips we took while on a tour in the Red Centre. Near the end of our time in Australia, Katie, Diana, Angela and I flew out to Alice Springs and joined a tour group to Uluru. We camped under the stars and did a lot of hiking. The video is a little long, around 15 mins because I originally made it as a memento for those of us who went on the trip. Eventually I'll be making another one with stuff from the entire trip.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Senior Year
This past Wednesday was the last first day of college that I will ever have. So far everything is off to a fantastic start. Already I'm way more stressed/busy than I ever was in Australia, but I still have really high spirits and I'm extremely excited for the semester.
My class schedule isn't too taxing. I'm taking five classes, although most of them aren't in my major. To fulfill an art history requirement, I'm taking a class called Perspectives in the Creative Arts. Although it's mostly about 2D and 3D art, I think it's going to be a valuable class. I think the class will help sharpen my artistic eye, which will be helpful for directing. We are even going to get to create three different projects.
The worst part of my schedule is my Astronomy class. It meets everyday and we've got a 2 hour lab once a week. Science is not my cup of tea and apparently this class is full of math. . . another not-so-strong point of mine. Luckily another senior theatre major is taking the class as well, so hopefully that will make the class a little more bearable. I am kind of excited to get to look through the telescope.
One of the coolest classes I'm taking is Video Editing. (Which reminds me, I haven't posted the link to my video yet. It should be coming soon.) I'm hoping this class will help me improve my video editing skills and help me decide if this is something I'm interested in pursuing.
My two theatre classes are Stage Movement 3 and Stage Management. Unfortunately, I might have to drop the Stage Management class because we are required to SM a show this semester and I really don't think I'm going to have the time. I was really excited for Movement because that class usually puts on a performance, but I guess we aren't going to this year. Melli always has really good classes so I'm sure it will be awesome anyway.
Katie and I finally (after 3 years!) have a class together. We are taking a Spanish class which is based on experimental/avant garde poetry/literature/music, etc. The professor is Argentinean and doesn't speak much English. I have little trouble understand her, but I have the worst time attempting to communicate myself. I'm hoping Katie will be able to help me struggle through. It's my last Spanish class I need to get the minor.
I'm also working as a Lab Assistant again. I tried to cut back on the amount of hours I'm working, but I also want to make sure I'm making some money. The job isn't bad, especially because I can do homework most of the time.
The majority of my time is going be taken up by my senior project. The cast list for the main stages go up on Monday so I'm going to hold my own auditions sometime next week. I'm a little nervous, because I'm not super confident in my directing abilities. I'm really passionate about the play though.
My living situation is still going great. We are all a little messy and since we are all so busy the place has been a bit of a disaster. Tomorrow is going to be cleaning day. Luckily my job is mowing the lawn, which I don't mind doing. We also have some new additions to our household. Amanda originally had a little bunny but had to return it because her boyfriend was allergic. She now has a little guinea pig. I decided to get two little gerbils. I haven't really named them yet, because honestly I can't tell them apart. I just call them 'my girls'.
It's going to be a crazy busy semester, as usually. I'm having a really great time meeting the new first years, reconnecting with old friends and taking advantage of all the opportunities I can.
My class schedule isn't too taxing. I'm taking five classes, although most of them aren't in my major. To fulfill an art history requirement, I'm taking a class called Perspectives in the Creative Arts. Although it's mostly about 2D and 3D art, I think it's going to be a valuable class. I think the class will help sharpen my artistic eye, which will be helpful for directing. We are even going to get to create three different projects.
The worst part of my schedule is my Astronomy class. It meets everyday and we've got a 2 hour lab once a week. Science is not my cup of tea and apparently this class is full of math. . . another not-so-strong point of mine. Luckily another senior theatre major is taking the class as well, so hopefully that will make the class a little more bearable. I am kind of excited to get to look through the telescope.
One of the coolest classes I'm taking is Video Editing. (Which reminds me, I haven't posted the link to my video yet. It should be coming soon.) I'm hoping this class will help me improve my video editing skills and help me decide if this is something I'm interested in pursuing.
My two theatre classes are Stage Movement 3 and Stage Management. Unfortunately, I might have to drop the Stage Management class because we are required to SM a show this semester and I really don't think I'm going to have the time. I was really excited for Movement because that class usually puts on a performance, but I guess we aren't going to this year. Melli always has really good classes so I'm sure it will be awesome anyway.
Katie and I finally (after 3 years!) have a class together. We are taking a Spanish class which is based on experimental/avant garde poetry/literature/music, etc. The professor is Argentinean and doesn't speak much English. I have little trouble understand her, but I have the worst time attempting to communicate myself. I'm hoping Katie will be able to help me struggle through. It's my last Spanish class I need to get the minor.
I'm also working as a Lab Assistant again. I tried to cut back on the amount of hours I'm working, but I also want to make sure I'm making some money. The job isn't bad, especially because I can do homework most of the time.
The majority of my time is going be taken up by my senior project. The cast list for the main stages go up on Monday so I'm going to hold my own auditions sometime next week. I'm a little nervous, because I'm not super confident in my directing abilities. I'm really passionate about the play though.
My living situation is still going great. We are all a little messy and since we are all so busy the place has been a bit of a disaster. Tomorrow is going to be cleaning day. Luckily my job is mowing the lawn, which I don't mind doing. We also have some new additions to our household. Amanda originally had a little bunny but had to return it because her boyfriend was allergic. She now has a little guinea pig. I decided to get two little gerbils. I haven't really named them yet, because honestly I can't tell them apart. I just call them 'my girls'.
It's going to be a crazy busy semester, as usually. I'm having a really great time meeting the new first years, reconnecting with old friends and taking advantage of all the opportunities I can.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
New Beginnings
It's been a little over a month since I left Australia. The trip home went fairly well, although people got noticeably ruder once we arrived in San Francisco. It took awhile to get re-adjusted to simple things. Light switches, flushes on toilets, traffic direction. And of course I had jet lag for several days.
It was good to be home, but it quickly got boring. I was happy when I had the chance to go down to Indy for the weekend and then shortly after that we left for our family vacation to Michigan. I really love Conger family vacations. I feel really lucky that we get the opportunity to spend time with our grandparents and cousins on a fairly regular basis.
While on vacation, I got an offer for a part in an Indy Fringe show. The play is rather strange and my part is small, but I jumped at the chance to have something to do. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to move into my house until the 15th, so I've been spending the past couple of days at Jeff's house. My second day in Indy, my new MacBook Pro arrived, which has provided me with hours of entertainment. I LOVE my new computer. Of course I stayed up way too late, playing with imovie and now have a sinus infection. I hope I can get rid of it before school starts.
Tonight I was able to move into my house early. I haven't unpacked much yet, aside from kitchen items. The house is a lot older than I remembered, but it's a good size and the landlord is really nice and helpful. This year I'm living with Katie (again) and two theatre majors, Shivani and Amanda. I think (hope!) that we will all get along well.
My plan is to try and keep this blog updated throughout the year. So be sure to check back periodically. I'd like to update at least once a month and I'll probably write more often when I need to procrastinate :)
My original intent was to post the video I made. . . but for some reason the music is a little off. Once I fix that I'll post it ASAP
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Final Goodbye
It's five in the morning here in Adelaide. I decided not to go to bed the night before leaving Australia so I would be good and tuckered out for the flight. I'm not sure if this was a wise decision, but I had a really good night saying goodbye to my friends. A bunch of the Drama Centre students came to Nate's apartment tonight to drink some beer, play some guitar hero and enjoy our last night together.
I feel very conflicted about this whole leaving Australia thing. On one hand I'm extremely excited for starting my senior year. (Living in our own house, directing an Aussie show, the mainstages, and other general senior excitement) It'll be good to see all my friends and family again after being away from home for so long. However, I've really grown to love Australia. It's come to feel very much like home to me. So much so that I don't even really feel like I'm leaving. I imagined that I would feel much sadder on my last day, but instead it doesn't really feel like I'm actually leaving at all but only going home for the summer vacation.
I know I've said it before, but I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible for me. It was so comforting to know I had everyone's love and support back home. Also, thank you to everyone who read along with my journey. I hope to continue this blog in the future in order to update my friends and family on my comings and goings. I am also planning on putting together a short video with pictures and video clips from the trip. I'll try and upload it here eventually.
Goodbye, Australia! I've grown so much since I landed here four and half months ago. Thank you for the wonderful memories, the beautiful sunsets and the new friends.
I feel very conflicted about this whole leaving Australia thing. On one hand I'm extremely excited for starting my senior year. (Living in our own house, directing an Aussie show, the mainstages, and other general senior excitement) It'll be good to see all my friends and family again after being away from home for so long. However, I've really grown to love Australia. It's come to feel very much like home to me. So much so that I don't even really feel like I'm leaving. I imagined that I would feel much sadder on my last day, but instead it doesn't really feel like I'm actually leaving at all but only going home for the summer vacation.
I know I've said it before, but I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible for me. It was so comforting to know I had everyone's love and support back home. Also, thank you to everyone who read along with my journey. I hope to continue this blog in the future in order to update my friends and family on my comings and goings. I am also planning on putting together a short video with pictures and video clips from the trip. I'll try and upload it here eventually.
Goodbye, Australia! I've grown so much since I landed here four and half months ago. Thank you for the wonderful memories, the beautiful sunsets and the new friends.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
