Residency Wrapup!

 This post is from Marissa Byers, pictured here as Deepish in Open Dream Ensemble's production of Big Shoes. 

We left Asheville today after completing our final residency at Claxton Elementary. It's hard to believe that a whole season of working in the classrooms is over. We're all pretty exhausted, but there's a truly bittersweet air hovering over us. I'm left with images of all those faces with smiles and admiration in their eyes, all the chaos and magic of creativity and the hilarious and offbeat comments... Oh the things kids will say. Mr. Wiley was an exceptional teaching partner, and I couldn't be happier about the work we did together. Despite the fact that we're both still very much kids at heart and in physicality, we managed to integrate the academic material from the lesson plans into the classroom. It was satisfying and just plain fun.

Now we have two weeks left of the season, and we're just traveling around performing Big Shoes. It's a different kind of connection with the students, but equally as fun and meaningful. There's nothing quite like the sound of roaring laughter coming from a room full of hundreds of kids... knowing that it's a response to us, a stellar ensemble made of talented hard workers who exemplify mad respect and impeccable teamwork.

Diligent and Cerebral

This post is from our prized veteran Open Dreamer, Haydee Thompson. Through the years she has guided one dancer and now five musicians in the craft of teaching artistry. She is pictured here working with a group of fourth-graders last season.



This week we were assigned our teaching partners. I was not surprised when told Cameron would be mine. Every year I am paired with a musician and last year my partner was Guy who was also a trombonist. Drama requires using your body as an instrument and completely relies on the physical, whereas a musicians craft tends to be more cerebral in nature. I like working with musicians. So far I have been lucky to see them as diligent in there facts and enjoying the study of science. I often can rely on them to be a great source of knowledge which inspires me to co-create exciting lesson plans. Cameron is doing a great job and I know it will be an absolute pleasure to work with him this season!