Previous McKinnon Artist Minigrants
Spring 2020
Kiana Pilson
Enhancing Dance Through Music
I am applying for a Miller Arts Minigrant to purchase, learn to play, and eventually compose with an acoustic guitar. My hope is to use what I have learned through UVA’s dance program and what I will learn through an active engagement in UVA’s music department to compose a non-traditional dance/guitar piece before I graduate.
Zohar (Zoe) Ziff
Attending FLUX Summer Intensive in Madrid, Spain
I am applying to obtain funding for the FLUX Summer Intensive, a four-day dance workshop in Madrid, Spain that offers classes in Gaga and the chance to study repertoire from internationally-acclaimed choreographers Noa Zuk, Ohad Fishof, Seth Buckley, and Carlos González.
Fall 2020
Zohar (Zoe) Ziff
Creating Dance On-Screen
I am applying to obtain funding for materials that would allow me to pursue screendance further and enhance my creations within this medium. With these tools, I would be better equipped to create screendance for my current and future academic courses and add films of professional caliber to my portfolio as a dance artist.
Fall 2019
Cordelaine Klyne
BalletNova Open Class
I would like, over the course of winter break, to alleviate this period of lethargy by attending open classes at BalletNova Center for Dance, which offers classes at the appropriate age and skill level during this time. The opportunity to study under new instructors often results in exposure to new techniques and imagery that help with technique, artistry, and quality. I plan to take a number of pointe, jazz, and/or musical theatre classes.
Zohar (Zoe) Ziff
GagaLab in Tel Aviv, Israel Over Winter Break
Gaga is a movement language developed by Batsheva Dance Company and its artistic director Ohad Naharin. Rather than use mirrors to direct dance through shape, Gaga encourages students to improvise based on imagery and somatic experiences while following an instructor. I have taken Gaga classes and workshops before.
Spring 2018
Rachel Good
Resources for Dance Videography and Technique Improvement
When I put my heart and soul into a piece of choreography, usually all I have to remember it by and show for it is a low quality cell phone video filmed from the back of the dancers in the mirror. I love watching these videos though. They have a special place in my heart. However, when I show them to other people, I am often met with confusion. It is hard for other people to register what I am trying to communicate to my audience through the lense of a narrow cell phone camera, filtered by the reflection of a mirror. Accordingly, my goal is to start compiling a collection of high quality videos of my dancing and choreography. This material could potentially even be used to update my current dance reel (made with an iPhone camera).
Alexandra Murphy
The Acquisition of Dance through Videography
I seek to be able to more thoroughly explore my creative process in two different realms of dance. One exploratory video project will be on the ways other art forms can inspire dance movement. The other project will be focused on a way to portray dance to the rest of the population through videography on social media. I want to do this in order to create an online platform to build off of for future work.
Fall 2018
Bryce Cuthriell
Continuation of Performance Intensive
It is my intention to visit Steps on Broadway and take ballet and modern classes, as well as American Repertoire Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and a few other dance schools in NYC. I want to use this trip as a continuation of my studies over the summer in Columbus, and to reinforce the things I learned there. Also, I would like to participate in a couple company auditions while I am there. My overall objective, as before, is to continue to build my technique and artistry. I also hope to be able to glean more ideas and inspiration for choreography at the dance department at UVa. The entire project will take place over the course of two or three days.
Heidi Waldenmaier
Company Class with the Charlottesville Ballet
The Charlottesville Ballet offers open company class every weekday at 10am. I’d like to attend this class every Friday morning for the remainder of the semester. Although I am a dance minor and would love to take class with the department, my class and rehearsal schedule as a drama major does not allow for it at this time. Each ballet class costs 19 dollars with my student discount which will add up, making it beyond what is affordable on my student budget. I am asking for 200 dollars to fund tuition and gas expenses over the course of the semester.
Meghan Walther
Analyzation of Dance Performances from the United States to Italy
Every ballet company has different dancers, directors, and styles, which is why I would find it to be a culturally enriching experience to analyze the similarities and differences of two professional ballet companies’ performances. Since I am planning to study abroad for this upcoming January 2019 in Rome, I will have the opportunity to attend a ballet performance while abroad to further my artistic curiosity. My project will be set up into three parts. I will analyze a ballet in Rome, followed by a ballet in the United States. Then, I will reflect upon both by writing a detailed report discussing the similarities and differences of each production.
Fall 2017
Braelyn Schenk
The Branding of an Artist: Video Series
These past few years I’ve written and performed my music periodically and am feeling, more so than ever, the urgency and necessity to make my work more accessible and shareable with others. Though I have the makings of an EP, before initiating steps toward full-band, studio recordings, I would like to begin with two to three excellently recorded and filmed videos. With a few bare-bones music videos I can begin the journey of branding myself and garnering a following as I simultaneously work to release a four-song EP by Summer 2018. These spreadable tools will launch me into my next steps as a musician and as a well-rounded creative, outside of the direct context of UVA.
Heidi Waldenmaier
Preparation Materials for 2018 Spring Audition Season
My goal is to attend the Spring 2018 Southeastern Theater Conference (SETC) in Mobile, Alabama and audition as a dancer. I have been training in ballet and contemporary for years, but I have had little exposure to the styles that are highly sought by musical theatre companies. Dancers at musical theatre auditions are frequently asked to audition in character shoes as well as perform basic tap combinations. In order to compete against dancers with more training and audition opportunities, I have to diversify my abilities and prove that I am a malleable, versatile choice for hire. I want to remake my dance audition reel (which is out of date) with the additions of work in both character and tap shoes to show versatility. This reel can then be sent to theaters that are too far away to audition for shows in person.
Fall 2016
Alexandra D'Elia
A Dança Portuguesa
I propose this Minigrant to help further equip my project, A Dança Portuguesa, so that it may result in a superb video documentary.
2015
Alexandra D'Elia
Company E Summer Dance Intensive in Washington, D.C.
Alexandra will attend Company E’s Two-Week Summer Dance Intensive in Washington, DC.
Vivien Fergusson
Preparation for Third-Year Arts Award at Bates Dance Festival
Vivien will spend time at Posture Studio Pilates in perparation for her attendance to the Bates Dance Festival.
Kingston Liu
Videography for Dance
Kingston recieved funding to further study videography techniques for dance.
Braelyn Schenk
Apples & Oranges-Further enabling a project on the move
Braelyn will conduct a series of documented sound and movement based improvisations on her own. Later in the project outline, she plans to bring in an outside photographer/videographer to capture workshops, interviews etc.
Braelyn Schenk
Apples & Oranges-Further enabling a project on the move
Braelyn will purchase portable recording equipment in order to capture interviews, soundscapes, and other environments.
Gabrielle Struckell
Summer Preparation for Dance Improvisation and Composition
Gabrielle will attend summer ballet courses.