dancing over distances:
teaching “Bolero” & “Burning Air” through distance learning technology
Dancers, here are our resources to help you learn some of the history and choreography in these two works. Start with Joanie Smith’s introduction, work through Laura Selle Virtucio’s overview, and then dig into “Bolero” and “Burning Air.” We’re giving you context of the work, breaking down our movement, and sharing some of our source material so you get a sense of what inspired us.
It all started with a …
Joanie Smith, our artistic director who co-founded the company with her husband Danial Shapiro, recounts the origin stories for “Bolero” and “Burning Air.”
A perspective over 20 years in the making…
Laura Selle Virtucio, our artistic associate and performer, talks about her journey from student to professional with Shapiro & Smith, as it relates to “Bolero” and “Burning Air.”
ONLINE CLASS INFORMATION
Our professional dancers will lead live online classes and rehearsals. Look here for links to the sessions.
To prepare for the online class, visit zoom.us/test for a test meeting where you can check if your laptop can join a Zoom session. Here’s a tutorial for dance students getting started.
Test your mic and camera, important tools for an online class. An individual can rely on a laptop. A cast in a studio should at least have a wide-angle USB webcam that can be re-aimed, and the laptop should be displayed on a large monitor.
Questions or issues? Email shapiroandsmithdance@gmail.com
Work on this content first.
Company dancers discuss what it’s like to perform this athletically punishing work and what its relevance is today.
Any questions, email: shapiroandsmithdance@gmail.com
then work on this content.
Company dancers discuss the challenges of bringing an historical story to the stage stage and how it informs today’s world.
Email questions to: shapiroandsmithdance@gmail.com
Company dancers Scott Mettille and Drew Lester demonstrate a section from “Burning Air.”
Current Company Dancers: Emilia Bruno, Joe Crook, Doug Hooker, Drew Lester, Megan McClellan, Scott Mettile, Mirabai Miller, Laura Selle Virtucio
*Special thanks to former company artists and guest artists who appear in the footage presented on this page. We continue to celebrate your contributions to this work.
Bolero Music by Maurice Ravel
Burning Air Music by Scott Killian
Burning Air Text Written and Performed by David Greenspan
Costumes by Carol Salmon
Choreographed by Joanie Smith
This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
