Upper School Site-Specific Dances

April 22, 2009

Site-specific dances are a Packer tradition, allowing Advanced Dance students another chance to choreograph and perform, beyond the annual winter Upper School Dance Concert.

“I was very impressed with this year’s work,” said dance teacher Katie Gibson. “After the dance concert is over, they are all really passionate about it and are excited to make another piece. The site dances give them the opportunity to approach choreography from a new perspective.”

“It is very different to create a piece specifically for a site than it is to create a piece for the stage. They have to completely utilize the site they choose,” said Ms. Gibson. “The dance should be inspired by the site, about the site, and influenced by the site. They are not just making up a dance and then sticking it into a location. They are creating a dance for that location.”

This year’s dances were performed on the morning of April 22 for rotating groups of Upper School students and faculty. Sites included the Garden, Chapel, the art studio, and a stairwell in Pratt Hall.