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In our last newsletter
(Nov. 2002) director Betsy Cooper made a resolution to get acquainted or reacquainted
with graduates of the Dance Program and to highlight alumna activities. So
we begin. We hope that those of you who read this will be inspired to contact
the Dance Program and share with us your adventures.
Ryan Corriston, (B.A. 1998) was good enough to send us an in-depth email
recently. Here is what Ryan had to say—
After graduation I traveled in Nepal, India and Southeast Asia for six-months.
Then after a few months back in Seattle, I moved to New York in October of
1999.
I worked as a waiter at an Italian restaurant for a year and then began teaching
creative movement and gym classes for a program called Kinderdance. I have
the opportunity to go into schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn and
get the kids moving. Many of them would not have the opportunity to do so,
if it weren’t for this program. I have taught kids from 18 months to
18 years old—truly a rewarding experience.
Most
of my dance experience has been with a group called the Tiffany Mills Company.
We just completed a major show at the Guggenheim Museum, where we performed
two premier pieces with music by John Zorn. There are six of us in the company
and I have really loved working with them over the past three years.
I have also performed with Nancy Bannon, who danced for Doug Varone for many
years. Last Spring we performed at the Judson Church, and this summer we have
a weekend performance at the Joyce-Soho Theater. I really love her work.
I auditioned for Bill T Jones in December and have begun working with him
as an apprentice. It is very rewarding to be able to spend so much of my time
in the dance studio. I am very thankful that he is pushing me to become a
more well rounded dancer. Ihave always had the ability to move, but he is
really pushing me to be precise, and clear with each gesture that I do. I
have to fit in with the other dancers and that is a challenge because they
have trained for so many years in ballet. Working with Bill is also teaching
me how to tell a story through movement, an endeavor for which I have a lot
of respect.
I am still keen to perform some of my own solo work, however I haven’t
been able to put the time and money together yet...but hopefully soon!
