Meet the Choreographers- Joe and Ayla

Meet Choreographer Joe Svihel: 

Where did you find the inspiration for your piece/concept? 

The inspiration for this piece came from my family. I had a very interesting relationship with my step mother and her children (my step sisters). My step mother was a very controlling and particular woman, and my sisters and I had to do our best to please her and do the things she wanted exactly how she wanted them done. My concept stems from this childhood experience-showing how a controlling figure can effect the people near them.

What are some strategies you use during the rehearsal process for Afterimages? 

A lot of my choreography comes from the music and how I feel emotionally at different points in the song. What I would do is give my dancers a phrase of choreography and I would watch them do it and then improvise the next counts until we found something that worked. I really want to make sure I'm showcasing all of my dancers in a different light, given their character and their strengths, so that each of them stands out in a different way.

How have you grown as an artist through creating a new piece of choreography? 

I've never worked with dancers en Pointe before so that's a new experience. I also think I'm learning a lot more about myself and my cast. I couldn't have asked for a better group of dancers to work with.

How does one of your typical rehearsals usually run? 

I come with ideas for a certain section in my head, then I give them some movements, watch them do it with the music, and just keep adding things until we have almost an entire section-then we run it. My cast is really good at helping me put my ideas into movement, and bringing their own personality into their character.

What do you enjoy most about the Afterimages process? 

Finally getting my idea out of my head and into reality, and working with this amazing cast. I couldn't be more grateful.

Meet Choreographer Ayla Jakes: 

Where do you find inspiration for your piece/concept?

·     This last year my family was blessed with a very rare gift, that otherwise had always been known as impossible. At a young age my mother was told that she had ovarian cancer, and that she would not be able to have children, however I was born. When I was than just a little girl, my father also went through the battle of cancer and after all the fighting was completed, to say the least, be became sterile and I was told I would never be a big sister. Nineteen years later, my family’s fate changed drastically and my mother became pregnant. I am now a big sister to a beautiful little girl named Ollie, who at just 6 months has already taught me how life can be so delicate and precious. My piece reflects the process of being born, in regards to having a second chance, to see the world in a new way, and to simply be young and fragile again. My piece is about coming back to when we were young and recollecting all the important information from our childhood that we tend to throw away as we get older.

What are some strategies you use during the rehearsal process?

·     Some strategies I feel I use during the rehearsal process include improvisation, experimentation of different bodies, different uses of spatial awareness, and musicality emphasis. I try to stay refreshing with new ideas every rehearsal, along with making sure my cast is comfortable with what they are performing. Although this piece has an underlining reasoning for myself, I also feel as though all my cast members are able to connect to the “story” on their own personal level and I appreciate their willingness to accompany my crazy ideas, along with being open and honest with me about the creative creating process.

How have you grown as an artist thought the process of creating a new piece of choreography?

·     

      Through this creating process I feel as though I have grown mostly in understanding spatial awareness. I used to choreograph at my old studio in regards to recreational performances and self-choreographed solos, and being able to work on a collegiate level with a group of amazingly talented dancers has really been different but exciting for me. I am more open to other ideas and concepts than I have been in my past choreography positions and it is very refreshing to be able to work with others to create a beautiful and moving art piece.

How does one of your typical rehearsals work?

·     Man, does it depend. Typically, we will review what was obtained from the last rehearsal, along with any questions or concerns about the material and then we will jump right into working and collaborating with one another on new material. The reason I say that it depends is because we are only humans; there have been some rehearsals where I personally have felt burnt out and I can tell that the majority, if not all of my cast, is also feeling the same way due to just everyday busy life.  When days like this happen (and I know it happens to everyone), we tend to just roll with the punches and work around what we can, along with what we are comfortable with achieving. I am very grateful at how helpful and flexible my cast has been through this process, and I can’t imagine this process going any more smoothly without them.

What do you enjoy most about the Afterimages process?

·     

      I may sound like a broken record, but what I enjoy most about the Afterimages process is being able to work with my cast on a deeper level. I enjoy being able to get ideas and concepts from my performers along with being able to collaborate on a university level. I am so proud already of everything that my cast has achieved, and every week I look forward to having rehearsal with them!