It was the last week of our 2020 winter quarter. I taught
Modern Dance where 20 students had rigorous physical and interpersonal contact for 10 weeks. Their symmetrical closeness balanced vulnerability, risk-taking, enthusiastic effort, with growth in technique and creative acts of original choreography. Who could have imagined their face-to-face, side-by-side proximity in our last class on March 12th, would become an odd site?
After the cancellation of ‘Le Nozzi de Figaro’ student vocalists and orchestra members gather at DePaul School of Music, March 2020
We only reached dress rehearsal that same week for
Nozze di Figaro. I created choreography on 26 outstanding singers for March performances at Merle Reskin Theater downtown. DePaul Opera Theatre, directed with an ebullient spirit by Harry Silverstein, brought in accomplished guest conductor Roberto Kalb who led the fine student orchestra. It was performance-ready with all the nuances that follow a process of rehearsal and perfection with staging, costuming, light, and set design. Their Italian voices and developed characters in the Mozart opera were remarkably refined. Without performing the famous work, the learning was still deep and wide.