Dancing for Young Audiences: A Practical Guide to Creating, Managing and Marketing a Performance Company

by Ella H. Magruder

Overview

This book has systematic directions for those who are creating a dance company for young audiences: how to handle bookings, write effective grants, handle crowds of children, keep their interest high and deal with the unexpected--backstage, or onstage or costume! Important also: how to maintain the support and the appreciation of presenters, teachers and principals. Profiles of ten successful dance companies who perform for children are provided.

The book's touring and production information can be applied to almost any performing group that uses the medium of dance to deliver its message--from professional dance companies to university, high school and studio dance performers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786471027
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/04/2013
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ella H. Magruder is a professor of dance at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Virginia. She lives in Amherst.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Foreword Lynnette Young Overby 1

Introduction 3

Part I Dreaming and Creating 9

1 Defining Your Goals 10

2 Choreography That Appeals to Children… (Is Choreography That Appeals to Everyone!) 17

Part II Producing 25

3 Production: Putting the Show Together 26

4 Marketing: Don't Sell Yourself Short 44

5 Publicity 52

6 Finance 62

7 Booking 71

Part III Dancing 89

8 Touring: Basic Equipment, Checklist and Travel 90

9 In the School and Theater: Check-In, Set-Up and Safety 97

10 Good Liaisons Make Good Residencies 101

11 Teachers Who Help, Teachers Who Hinder 103

12 Arranging and Seating Audiences 105

13 Your Performance Voice 109

14 Performing for an Audience: Numbers, Cautions and Facts 114

15 Audience Participation 118

16 Don't Be a "Drop-In, Drop-Out" Company: Master Classes, Workshops and How to Handle Them 123

17 Assessment and the Structure of Evaluation: Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Audience, and Why 131

Part IV -Dancing their Dreams: Ten Successful National and International Dance Companies, and Interviews with their Artistic Directors/Choreographers 137

18 Dr. Schaffer and Mr. Stern: Two Guys Who Dance about Math 139

19 Plankenkoorts: A "Dutch Treat" Trio from the Low Country 144

20 Frequent Flyers Productions: Soaring Through the Air, Rocky Mountain Style 152

21 Flatfoot Dance Company in KwaZulu-Natal: Outreach in South Africa 155

22 Peanut Butter and Jelly Dance Company: A Sticky Boston Quartet Named for Food 158

23 Jasmine Pasch & Phew!!! Arts: London's Visionary and Her Company of Art Collaborators 161

24 Kinnect Dance Company: A University Troupe in Utah 165

25 CoMotion Dance Project: In Motion in Montana 169

26 Kaleidoscope: Seattle's Rainbow of Dancing Children 171

27 Dance Imagination: Creative Kids in Canada 175

Part V Epilogue 181

28 "Dancing with the Lettuce Leaf": Things That Can Happen While Touring, with Suggestions and Advice 182

Appendix A More Successful Companies 191

Appendix B More Dance Performing Groups: Children, Professionals and Schools 195

Appendix C Websites, Resources and Publications for Dance Companies, Dancers and Dance Educators 200

Chapter Notes 203

Bibliography 205

Index 207

Editorial Reviews

Helps dance students, dance companies, and performing arts educators learn how to create, produce, and dance in productions for children”—Reference & Research Book News.

From the Publisher

Helps dance students, dance companies, and performing arts educators learn how to create, produce, and dance in productions for children

Reference & Research Book News