A Sophomore's Perspective: Life in Butler Ballet

Hello all! My name is Robyn Jutsum. I am a sophomore dance major from Minneapolis, MN as well as the philanthropy chair for Sigma Rho Delta here at Butler. I am on the performance track, working towards my B.F.A.

One aspect of Butler Ballet that I absolutely love is the professional and motivational working atmosphere among the dancers and faculty. The department treats the dancers with expectations that parallel that of a professional company, but we have the opportunity to receive the benefits of a liberal arts education. Not only does this opportunity provide us with a college degree, but I think it also speaks to the intelligence and drive of Butler Ballet. By nature of our profession, dancers are dedicated, highly disciplined individuals, and that comes across in our academic endeavors in addition to our time in the studio. Another part of Butler Ballet is the diversity of training we receive. Our professors all have amazing backgrounds and different approaches to training that help develop versatility, artistry, and strength. Additionally, we have some wonderful resources on campus such as the HRC (health and recreation complex) and performances venues including Clowes Memorial Hall and the Schrott.

I am also in the University Honors Program and a member of Alpha Chi Omega-Alpha Chi chapter. Being a part of the honors program has been great for the resources and small size, discussion-based courses offered.  It also helps advance the registration process. Last semester, I took a course that studied prominent female leads in award-winning films. This semester, I am taking a course all about Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.

Being a part of Greek life on Butler’s campus has been an experience that has been really beneficial to me as well. I never thought being in a sorority would be something I would want or should participate in, given my professional aspirations. However, living in a sorority has offered a support system outside of the dance department. Living far from home, it is nice to have my dancer family and my sorority family as well as a place to look forward to going home to at the end of the day. I have found that it is absolutely possible to balance my academic/rehearsal schedule and focus on dance with the obligations of being in a sorority. I encourage anyone interested in Greek life to give it a try, but of course, it is not for everyone, and I never felt pressure either to join or remain an independent.

To give you an idea of a typical day as a sophomore:

Monday

8am-8:50am Voice

9am-9:50am Global and Historical Studies

10am-10:50am Jazz

11am-11:50am Character or African

12pm-2pm Lunch break/study time

2pm-3:30pm Ballet Technique

3:40pm-4:40pm Pas de Deux

4:45pm-5:30pm Rehearsal

6pm-8:30pm Acting for Dancers

Tuesday

8am-8:50am Music for Dancers

9am-10:30am Modern

11am-12:15pm Electronic journalism

12:15pm-1pm Lunch break

1pm-2:30pm Ballet technique

2:40pm-3:40pm Pointe

3:45pm-6pm Rehearsal

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below, and I will do my best to answer them:)

 

A Student's Perspective: Erica Johnston, Performance Major

      Hello readers!  My name is Erica Johnston, and I am currently a senior Dance Performance major here at Butler University.  My time in this school has been full of artistic experimentation and technical growth.  When I came to Butler, I had previously trained only in ballet and Slavic character dance; I'd never taken modern or jazz before, and had never even tried to choreograph.  Freshman year, my days were filled with many dance classes, including ballet (M-F), modern and jazz twice a week, pointe twice a week, and rehearsals for Butler Ballet productions (such as Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty) four days per week.  I also took Body Placement, a class that involved aspects of yoga, pilates, and anatomy, two days per week, and introductory music classes in both music history and piano.  Butler's program focuses on giving its dancers a well-rounded artistic foundation, especially in the first year; it's a taster for dancing and also for the other elements of the performing experience, including things like lighting and sound operation (learned in Professional Practices) and even the opportunity to learn sewing skills in the Dance Costuming elective class.  Costuming is something that has always really interested me and I was happy to be able to help create and maintain many costumes for the ballet here!
     In addition to all of this dancing, I also took a few of the general "Core Curriculum" classes (certain subjects, like global studies or sciences) that we have to take over the course of our time here.  Because I am a performance major, there were some Fine Arts classes I was exempt from, and the AP credits I came in with from high school took care of a few more (a writing course, and a math class).  My days in that first year generally ran from 8 or 9 AM until around 5, though I got a lunch break every day and also had a few shorter breaks between other classes throughout the day.  I always kept homework with me to do during those breaks and as a result I had a lot of spare time in the evenings to spend with new friends or go to the gym (called the "HRC" for Health and Recreation Complex).  The HRC is great- lots of different equipment, a track, a pool for lap swimming, and a hot tub and sauna for heating tired muscles at the end of the day.  They also offer group fitness classes like Yoga and Zumba for all full-time students, as well as things like health and counseling services in the same facility. 
    On top of all of the dancing I did during school hours, I was also involved as a dancer in the Senior Showcase and the Student Showcase; both of these productions were run and choreographed by current students.  Rehearsals occurred after normal hours and were a great introduction for me to new styles of movement.  They also gave me more performing opportunities!  The student showcase was performed around Halloween and the Senior Production was an ongoing process throughout the school year, with the final performances in March.  I also participated in these shows in later years, though for the most part the senior showing involves freshmen dancers.  It was a great way to get to know the older students a little better, too. 
   Over the course of the year, in the big ballets (Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty) I performed as a Party Mother and a Court Member- pretty standard stuff- but in Midwinter Dance Festival, our mixed repertory show, I had the opportunity to dance as a soloist in a modern piece by Susan McGuire, the modern professor here.  It was a great featured opportunity, and proof that the role you get in one show doesn't dictate the type of role you will get in the next!  My time here has also consisted of collaborations with artists in other fields, including composers, graphic designers, film editors, and musicians, both for classes and for independent projects.
   I've tried to take advantage of every opportunity I've been given, and also server as Treasurer of Sigma Rho Delta my Sophomore year, and the following year as President.  SRD has been a great way to get involved with the surrounding community (performing and working with kids at local arts centers, libraries, and the Salvation Army) as well as serve the Department of Dance (cleaning the studios, helping host a Faculty Appreciation week, and doing service hours in the costume shop to name a few).  It has also been a way to connect with older and younger classes of students, which is sometimes difficult since we are not usually in classes together during the day.  Butler overall gave me a wide scope of artistic experiences and introduced me to some of the greatest friends I've ever had.  Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section and I'll answer as best as I can!

A typical day for a Sophomore Dance-Arts Administration Major

Hello blog readers!  My name is Taylor Fengya, and I am currently a sophomore Dance-Arts Administration major here at Butler!  I am a member of Sigma Rho Delta and currently serve as this year's media editor!  First off, I wanted to give you a little insight into my daily schedule as a sophomore dance-arts administration major...


Monday:
9:00-9:50 Laban Movement Analysis with Professor Pratt
10:00-10:50 Global and Historical Studies: Revolutionary Europe and Colonial Nigeria with Dr. Porter
11:00-11:50 World Dance with Ronne Stone
12:20-1:50 Ballet Technique 3 (professors change daily)
2:25-3:40 Microeconomics with Josh Owens
4:45-5:30 Possible Butler Ballet rehearsals


Tuesday:
9:00-10:30 Modern Technique 2 with Susan McGuire
11:00-12:15 Principles of Strategic Communications with Professor Rademacher
1:00-2:30 Ballet Technique
2:40-3:40 Pointe 2 (either with Professor Byram or Professor Ruffo)
3:45-6:00 Possible Butler Ballet rehearsals


Wednesday:
9:00-9:50 Laban Movement Analysis with Professor Pratt
10:00-10:50 Global and Historical Studies: Revolutionary Europe and Colonial Nigeria with Dr. Porter
12:20-1:50 Ballet Technique
2:25-3:40 Microeconomics with Josh Owens
3:40-4:40 Pas 2 with Professor Cholewa


Thursday:
9:00-10:30 Modern Technique 2 with Susan McGuire
11:00-12:15 Principles of Strategic Communications with Professor Rademacher
1:00-2:30 Ballet Technique
2:40-3:40 Pointe 2 (either with Professor Byram or Professor Ruffo)
3:45-6:00 Possible Butler Ballet rehearsals


Friday:
9:00-9:50 Laban Movement Analysis with Professor Pratt
10:00-10:50 Global and Historical Studies: Revolutionary Europe and Colonial Nigeria with Dr. Porter
11:00-11:50 World Dance with Ronne Stone
12:20-1:50 Ballet Technique


Saturday:
Time for Butler Ballet rehearsals.  You can have rehearsals anywhere from 8-5.  Rehearsals change from week to week.


Now, a little bit more about the department...The faculty here each has his or her own prestigious background and knowledge in their forms, which brings a uniqueness to this department.  Each class you take with each professor will give you so much insight into so many different forms of dance.  It is great to learn the different perspectives of this art form.  I also think it is a very diverse program and offers so many different classes like jazz, African, contemporary pas, modern, body placement, etc.  The emphasis is on ballet, but with it you can get training in other forms as well.  Personally, I consider myself more of a "modern" dancer and my goal is to get a job with a modern/contemporary dance company.  However, I chose Butler because I knew that the foundation for all of dance is ballet.  I still get to take modern class twice a week and next year as a junior, three times a week.  I think the ballet emphasis is very important for any type of dancer. 


Please do not hesitate to comment on this post to ask me any personal questions that you might have!  :) 


~Taylor Fengya

Welcome to the Sigma Rho Delta blog of Butler University!

Sigma Rho Delta would like to take the time to welcome you to our blog!  We are the honorary dance fraternity of Butler University!

Our mission:

• To promote a sense of community within the department as well as to strengthen the relationship between students and faculty.
• To promote interest in dance both on campus and in the community.
• To offer service to the department, university and community.
• To further dance education by bringing in guest teachers, choreographers and speakers for workshops, seminars and lectures as well as to utilize the many talents of our own faculty.
• To keep dancers informed of current cultural events and programs.

As Sigma Rho Delta members, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with current dance students' perspectives of our daily lives as Butler dance students!  We encourage you to comment on these posts with any questions and/or concerns you might have about the department, Sigma Rho Delta, campus life, or any other Butler questions!  We are especially targeting prospective dance students!  We all have been in your shoes and know what it is like when making a decision whether to attend Butler or another school, etc.  Please, please, please, do not hesitate to pick our brains!  We are here to help you make your decision!

Once again, welcome to the Sigma Rho Delta blog!