Faculty Spotlight: Patrick Hinson

Q: What do you look for most in a student?

A: What I admire most in a student is for them to have an open but inquisitive nature.  My teacher for the last 15 years of my performing career wanting us to be like a white wall waiting to be written upon.  AT the same time it is very important to have an inquisitive nature always searching deeper for the answer.

Q: What are a few specific things you like to focus on in class? 

A: In class I like to begin with a focus on alignment and weight placement as once these are achieved to an optimum they allow much more to be accomplished.

Q: How would describe your teaching style? 

A: I would say that my teaching style is certainly Vaganova based, yet certainly influenced by my years with New York City Ballet.  And, yet further influenced by my final coach Stanley Williams who had been trained by Vera Volkova at the Royal Danish Ballet.

Q: What is your favorite place you have lived in and why?  

A: I do have an affinity for Germany, and specifically Ulm.  It holds a special place in my heart due to the lifestyle and its location in southern Germany close to the Alps, France and Austria.

 

 

Q: Favorite thing you did this summer? 

A: The only thing I actually did this summer was to work in India, although I am not sure that it would classify that as one of my favorite things.

 

 

Q: If you were to have another career (however unlikely), what would it be? 

A: It would have to be architecture, which was my love as a child.

 

Q: Favorite music to dance to (not-ballet)? 

A: Salsa

 

*Interview provided by Kate Webb, Sophomore Dance-Arts Administration Major

A Junior's Perspective: Annie Mushrush, Dance Pedagogy Major

Hello Everyone!

My name is Annie Mushrush and I am a junior Dance Pedagogy major at Butler University from St. Charles, IL, a western suburb of Chicago.  I am also the Secretary for Sigma Rho Delta.

I want to second what Taylor, Robyn and Erica had to say about Butler Ballet and add my own unique perspective as well. If you haven’t read their posts please scroll down and read those too!

I feel fortunate to be a dance major at Butler.  Not only is the university a wonderful place to grow as a student, the dance department is a wonderful place to grow as an artist.  I knew from the moment that I first stepped on campus for my audition that Butler was the place for me. Unfortunately, I was not accepted into the dance department upon my audition during my senior year of high school. I knew Butler was the place for me and I strived to fulfill my dream of dancing at Butler, no matter what it took.

I went to another university for my freshman year of college, knowing that I would audition again in the fall in the hopes of transferring to Butler for my sophomore year. I auditioned again in October and was admitted. I spent my freshman year working hard on my technique and artistry as well as scheduling my courses in alignment with the Dance Pedagogy curriculum to ensure as smooth of a transfer as possible.

Although there are only a handful of transfer students in the dance department, my transition could not have been smoother. Despite my careful planning, I was still behind and had to take some freshman year level courses my sophomore year to catch up. These courses were ones that were unique to Butler’s dance department, including Masterworks of Dance, Professional Practices and Body Placement.  In the beginning, I was in more classes with the incoming freshman class than I was with my own sophomore class, including technique classes (ballet, modern and jazz). This provided me with some wonderful friendships with dancers I might have not had otherwise!

Currently I am still playing catch up with in some sophomore level courses, but I am on track to graduate with my class in 2015. My schedule is very unique because of my situation, and therefore it would not be to prospective student’s benefit to see mine listed out as other blog posts have. 

I really want to make the point that it is possible to be a transfer dance major at Butler. If you feel like Butler is really the place for you and you were not admitted, know that transfer is an option, not an stress-free option, but it is possible. Careful planning and hard work made my transfer possible.

Having experienced another dance department at another university I know from personal experience how special the dance department at Butler truly is. I am so grateful for the opportunities we are afforded in Butler Ballet. The faculty is full of insightful information to help us develop as dancers. The performance opportunities we have as members of Butler Ballet is unparalleled.

Outside of dance I am also in the University Honors Program and am in the process of writing my senior thesis. My thesis is focused on the assessment and addressing of hyperextended knees in early dance education and its benefits. I am working closely with our faculty during my research. I am also a member of the Dawg Pound, the student cheering section for all Butler Athletics. I especially love going to the Men’s Basketball games! I try to go to as many games as I can (provided that I do not have rehearsal at the same time!) The games are so much fun in the Dawg Pound and we have special ‘choreography’ for each situation in the game and our fight song! I also work as a Desk Assistant at Apartment Village and University Terrace on the weekends where I sort mail, give out packages, rent out an extensive collection of DVDs etc. Although a dance major’s schedule may seem dauntingly busy, most of us find the time to be involved in other things and/or employed.

I encourage you to comment if you have any questions and happy dancing!

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!

Hello blog readers! 

Looking for more information on Sigma Rho Delta or Butler Ballet?  Check out our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more information and updates!!

Instagram: sigmarhodeltabu
Twitter: @ButlerSRD

Find pictures and updates of SRD and Butler Ballet!!  Be sure to spread the news to anyone who might be interested in our updates!  And again, please don't hesitate to comment on our blog posts, Instagram photos, or tweets (especially prospective dance majors!)  We want to help ease your decision-making process!

Thanks for keeping up with our posts and be sure to ask any questions that you may have!

~Sigma Rho Delta