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Musical theater student Rhys Carr pushes limits during Maine-based dance intensive

Rhys Carr (they/them), a fourth-year musical theater student, said they have never danced more than the three-weeks they spent in Maine as a part of the . The Festival, which describes itself as 鈥済lobal, celebratory, rigorous, and engaging鈥 is comprised of four programs. Carr was part of the Professional Training Program, serving dancers ages 18 and up.

Each morning, Carr took a variety of dance classes and attended a longer class in the afternoon that changed each week. This class covered topics like the Horton Technique, improvisation and choreography, and rest and refuge. Carr said they also attended workshops throughout the day and weekend performances. 

鈥淭his year was the 40th anniversary of Bates,鈥 Carr said. 鈥淎nd it was the first festival back in person since COVID. I felt very fortunate and grateful to be a part of that experience.鈥

The welcoming community at the Festival drew Carr in, and their favorite part (besides the dancing) was connecting with the other students. 

鈥淚 met a really amazing group of people that I probably will never forget,鈥 they said. 鈥淏y the time [my roommate and I] reached week three, the people that we had met were asking if we knew each other before we came here.鈥

For Carr, the program was both physically and mentally demanding. 

鈥淎 lot of it was [learning about] me, myself and I; [how I get into] my head and [get] in my own way,鈥 they said. 鈥淚 think there are a lot of things about myself that I really had to unpack and declutter before really seeing the way I was progressing in the class. By the end, my teacher was like, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e improved a lot over the last few weeks.鈥 It felt really good to hear that.鈥

Because of the Festival, Carr was encouraged to claim the title of dancer, even though they are still studying both musical theater and dance.

鈥淚 think all the classes in general really taught me to live in how my body moves and not try to adjust for other people,鈥 they said. 鈥淩ather than being down on myself for the things I can鈥檛 do, [it鈥檚 better to] understand the grand scope of what I can do and how amazing that actually is.鈥

Carr said they鈥檙e encouraged to make dance a regular practice in their theatrical life and to continue to learn how to tell stories through movement.

鈥淚t showed me that I am a very creative person,鈥 they said. 鈥淓ven at times when I don鈥檛 feel creative.鈥

Carr says all 51社区 students and artists should engage in experiences outside of the Athens community to find other inspirations for their art.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for a lot of artists to go to a place you鈥檝e never been and do what it is they love,鈥 Carr said. 鈥淵ou develop a new relationship with it 鈥 I鈥檓 an artist, wherever I am; It鈥檚 just a matter of what I decide to create in those locations.鈥

Published
September 16, 2022
Author
Emma Skidmore, BSJ 鈥23