The Start of Chrysalis London :D

We started Rehearsals with a week intensive in September at Tring Park School. It was weird going back for rehearsals with a professional company to the school I have spent the last five years training at. It was difficult to get out of the feeling of being a student to start with but the rehearsals were so mentally and physically challenging that this changed quickly. On the first day we met the other members of the company for the first time which was so exciting as we all felt like ‘This is actually happening’. We started the day with a class taken by Jodie. We did a few improvisation exercises…normally I feel uncomfortable improvising but being around people who are just as passionate about contemporary made me so much more comfortable as it was such an open and friendly environment. I now feel like improvisation really helps you become an individual dancer. Now I have left training this is more important than ever to not just concentrate on technique. Throughout the week, Jodie choreographed a group section which is a lot more challenging than his previous work. I love the fact we are doing new and different things with the company as it will make us stronger and more versatile. He also put us into groups of three (people he thought would work well together) and choreographed different sections. Each group had a very different way of moving and it was a really good way for us all to see each other dance in the ways we feel the most strong in. On the last day, Rowan (zoonation) came in and helped Jodie to create moves to every detail of the music which meant we all had to really listen to the music and the sounds within the music. Here are some shots from the section Rowan helped with.

By the end of the week we all agreed that we felt a lot stronger than we did at the start of the week. We did the same class from the beginning and we all felt and looked like different dancers. It was amazing to see everyone grow individually and as a company.