dancer – Kirstyn's Blog

Image taken from ‘You Can Be You’ By Elisabet Sandal
Photographed: Sunniva Opdal, Sofie Bjelland, Thea Asimina Bjørhovde Mavropoulou and Kirstyn Michalczyk

Det Går Bra? It’s Okay?

Was the title of our performance project which came to an end last weekend. And may I just say that I think we pulled of a damn good show.

Image taken from ‘Are we missing the point?’ by Kirstyn Michalczyk
Dancers Photographed: Karen Engene Hognestad, Oda Strandheim Lykke, Sunniva Opdal and Elisabet Sandal

Image taken from ‘Are we missing the point?’ by Kirstyn Michalczyk
Dancers Photographed: Karen Engene Hognestad and Sunniva Opdal

Image Taken from ‘Hva styres våre handlinger av?’ by Ida Sofie Mathisen
Dancers Photographed: Elisabet Sandal, Karen Engene Hognestad, Oda Strandheim Lykke and Kirstyn Michalczyk

It was kind of bittersweet when it all came to an end, this project has been months in the making, so just like any project or performance to see it all come together as we’d hoped was amazing but also kinda sad because now its just over.

As I mentioned in my last blog I was one of the choreographers for the contemporary dancers, I couldn’t have been more happy with how it came together. I’m so grateful for my dancers and how they performed, with their help my piece was better than I could have ever hoped. But as well as not wanting to be finished with that piece of choreography yet, reaching the end of this project means we’re in May which also means I’ve only got a month and a half left. Until now its felt as though I’ve had forever left but I don’t. So know I’ve just gotta make sure i make the most of the time I do have.

When it came to this project until i was almost half way through it felt kind of like i was at loss for what to do. Sometimes i think choreography is just like that, choreographers block is a thing for one and also sometimes your running with an idea that doesn’t work or your just not sure where your going with it yet. That’s how I felt anyway, until i reached the end i wasn’t really sure what I wanted to leave the audience with as a parting image. I got there in the end though and I’m proud of the work I did. Sure I’d love to go back and play with the ideas even more but this was the first piece I’d made of this scale and this standard, so I’m proud of myself and my dancers because I’d say the ownership of this piece was like 45/65. They created solos based on the tasks i gave them and there was a good deal of improvisation in the opening of the piece, so without the hours they put in, how patient they were when things didn’t work first time, this piece wouldn’t have turned out as great as it did. All of them were amazing to work with in all of the pieces. I’m grateful that I’ve had the chance to perform with such a talented bunch.

Here’s pic of me in the lovely wigs we had for Ida’s Choreography

I was also very lucky that my mum and dad were able to fly out to see the show.

Hey!!

A couple of weeks ago it was birthday, I’m no longer a teenager! I thought that would probably be the hardest day to be away from home but it wasn’t. I was spoiled with messages and gifts from my family and friends back home. Then the my dance girls here absolutely spoiled me, with cake, presents and celebrations. It was one of my favourite days out here. I couldn’t be more grateful not just for the presents but for the effort they put it in to make my birthday special. Tusen Takk!

We have also begun work on our performance project, which we will be performing in the start of May. The overriding theme of our show is to target the issues and opportunities young people face about fitting in or standing out, make our own choices or going where/doing what their told. So my piece explores the idea that we spend our lives chasing after one specific idea, ideal or goal, that we miss what’s in front of us in today. Its always about getting through the next set of exams or applications. We’re so focussed on what we need to do to get through secondary/high school, to graduate from uni or get a job so that we can do what makes us happy, and find our own version of freedom. That we miss out on the opportunities and the possibilities that are right in front of us in the moment. If we miss the relationships, the opportunities and the pockets of freedom in the every day then are we even really living or are we just surviving. Are we missing the point?

So far its going really well, at first I was struggling to get my ideas to make sense in my head let alone make them a reality. Its clear in my head now so that’s one hurdle down, now I’ve just got to keep working with my dancers to make it a reality. I’m really excited to be able to share the final piece.

It’s been a new experience as the work needs to be about 9 minutes long and I’ve never choreographed anything like this alone as just a choreographer. I’ve learnt how much I like choreography throughout this process, but its been easier because I have a phenomenal group of dancers to choreograph on, and some of the ownership of the piece has to go back to them for their work in the process.

I’m gonna be sharing more pictures when I can but if you use Instagram, follow our performance page @dgb_forestilling where we will be sharing pictures and videos throughout the next few weeks.

Marie has now become my official Norwegian tutor

In composition we were given the task to create a dance for a famous pop song specifically a song by the Beatles. So we decided to go for one we could have some fun with.

On the 21st it was Rokkesokk Day, so we all wore odd socks in support of Downs syndrome

Improv