Politics

Why in an academic setting, if you have an outside company as well, would you find the need to downplay the work of another faculty member? Why compete over something as trite as a student dance concert if you are respected in wider circles? I understand the urge to think your work maybe better, that you may have a better understanding of some things, but why be catty about it? While I have enjoyed working with the choreographers--some more than others--it is apparent that some major politicking in going on among them. One will not let the other light his pieces so he brings in a designer from NY. The lighting designer/choreographer with whom he has an issue of course lights his own piece better than any of the others. Some dispute among the theater and dance program results in some choreographers never allowing a student to design their piece or to use them solely for hemming pants and passing unhappy mummers about the student "designer" to others in the hall (hence the request for graduates over the equally talented undergraduates).

My only clash so far has been with the production manger/artistic director/etc. Not a clash so much as he is the only one displeased with anything. I appreciate a high level of criticism as I feel I receive little of it from many of the faculty here. But he is always so condescending. He always manages to seem assured that you gave the choreographer what they wanted, which is why I am skeptical of the relations between the choreographers. In many cases I agree. Certain things don't fit quite right (it would help if the dancers wore proper under garments). Fittings were rushed and corners cut to save time and money, hurting the end result, but is it really as bad as this particular gentleman makes it out to be? If Julia's happy should I give a damn? And if the dancers are thrilled?

Overall I feel overwhelmed and undersatisfied. Everything has an unfinished quality about it. My favorite piece by far is Paulette's. She was the one I worked most closely with and I think it shows. I wish I had taken more notes during Julia's rehearsals. I wish I had attended more rehearsals later in the process. I wish I had pushed with more questions even when she liked the sketches, colors, fabrics, etc. Maybe I'm just letting Randy get to me.