Snag That Dream Job: I wanna...be a dance choreographer!

Find yourself dancing along to every song that comes on the radio? Always looking for new ways to move, challenge yourself and think? Well look no further, dancing queen, we may have found the perfect career for you!

I got a chance to dance and chat with modern dance choreographer, Jen McGinn (check out her site at: jenmcginndance.org), about her inspirations, creative process and the ups and downs of her awesome job.

GL: When and how did you know you wanted to be a choreographer?

Jen: I started dancing before I can really remember. My mom was a ballet dancer and teacher, so I grew up in a dance studio. I was around it all the time.

I knew [I wanted to be a choreographer] at a very young age. I was always choreographing as a kid. I made my first dance that was performed around the age of 13, and I kept trying out choreography. I went to a performing arts high school where I took classes in composition and got to work with a lot of dance students there. When I was in college, I went to a school that was very heavily focused on choreography, so I really put all my effort towards that. I decided there that choreography was something I really wanted to pursue.

"Both members of a Grecian couple"

Photo by Bill Hebert

 

GL: Where do you draw inspiration for your pieces?

Jen: All sorts of places and things I encounter every day. I’m constantly reading books or watching movies that inspire me. I would say it’s mainly through other creative outlets that I have ideas that serve as my own inspiration.

I really look to the performers to help me create the movement, so it’s more specific to their bodies and what they’re interested in performing, in addition to supporting the conceptual ideas that I’m trying to get across. I also have a very classical background, so I really focus on merging formal, classical ideas of dance with more contemporary ideas.

GL: Do you ever hit mental road blocks?

Jen: There are definitely times, especially when I try to force something—when I think, “I need to have this done”—when I feel pressure. If I just relax or get into the idea with other people, it normally flows pretty easily. Just having people around me to work with tends to allow us to produce something great.

GL: To become a choreographer and start your own company, where do you even begin?

Jen: I think I’m still in the beginning stages. Most people do it through their own dancing and then turn that into a company.  The dance world is actually very small in terms of gathering the people you’re interested in working with, doing shows with and gaining inspiration from other works with. It’s a very small world.  I was never interested in being a performer, so I work differently than a lot of other choreographers. 

But I’m still interested in working with people I went to school with or that I prefer dancing with, so the pieces are something we all care about. My brother, James, is a dancer and my other siblings are artists as well, so it’s all about making connections with the people in the community around you.

GL: You said you felt you were in the beginning stages, so what is your ideal end result?

Jen: I would want more visibility and more access to finding different spaces, traveling to different countries and just expanding my network and my community.

GL: Can you walk us through your creative process and a typical work day?

Jen: I start with an idea that is usually a pretty simple concept.  I either have a dream and have an image from that dream or I read a book and think about this one conceptual idea that serves as a base. I spend a lot of time thinking about that idea and planning it out. I’ll write things down, draw or make a map. Once I’ve worked that idea in many, many different ways, I’ll start incorporating other people. We talk about it, get a studio, and I usually think of a lot of different techniques to get the performers to come up with different movements and solutions to the problems.

That opens up my ideas so much more creatively and helps me think. Then it becomes, for me, a logic problem. I think about different elements in terms of where things happen in space, direction, and relationships between the performers and more theatrical elements of lighting and colors and props. Together that creates the whole picture.

GL: What is the best part about your job?

Jen: The best part about my job is getting to work with my friends and family, the people that I admire so much. We have a great time and work very hard, but I can’t imagine a better way to share something with people who can create something amazing together. Then we get to share that with an even larger group of people who come to the shows and get to see their responses. It’s really incredible.

"Thank You"

Photo by Parker Gard

GL: What is the worst part about your job?

Jen: The worst part is the lack of support that can sometimes be felt in art. A lot of times with dance, it’s hard to find funding. It’s hard to keep going, and it can be very discouraging. It’s a constant negotiation of trying to find space or support or money or shows. There’s a big business side to it, as well as the creative side.

GL: Do you have any advice for young girls interested in this field and for dealing with a sometimes harsh environment?

Jen: If it’s something that you’re interested in, it’s worth it for you to keep going. It can definitely be very cutthroat, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Just fight for it, work hard, and it will pay off. It’s all about communicating and connecting with the people around you and creatively coming up with solutions to make things work for you.

Wanna learn more about Jen’s amazing work?  Head over to jenmcginndance.org for pics, videos, and more!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 3/7/2010 7:00:00 AM 29 COMMENTS

Snag That Dream Job: I wanna...start a worldwide charity!

Think for a sec about how many times a day you use your hands.  Whether you’re brushing your teeth, snackin’ on a bag of pretzels, or writing that five-page essay for English, having coordinated hands sure is…handy!

Now imagine what it would be like to NOT have those motor skills. And…what if you couldn’t get the medical help you needed?

Unfortunately, kids all over the world have been the victims of serious fires and accidents that have left them in this horrible situation.

That’s why foundations like HandReach were started in the first place. HandReach works hard to raise money and provide doctors to help kids with severe burns and injuries.

We got to chat with the founder and executive director of HandReach, Brecken Chinn-Swartz, about the amazing and inspirational work that she does. Everyone (even you) can lend a hand!

Brecken: HandReach is working to reduce the suffering of kids with very serious burn injuries and orthopedic injuries—things that happen traumatically and suddenly—that then change their bodies forever. Most kids with these injuries in the developing world can’t get access to proper care or full rehabilitation, so we’re trying to bridge that gap.

GL: What are some examples of projects that you have worked on or are planning to work on?

Brecken: We just recently had a group of American surgeons and physical therapists go to China to work with the top burn hospital to train the staff there in new upgrades in techniques of surgery, splinting and rehabilitation therapy for kids. We did 85 procedures and dozens of hours of rehabilitation training that would have cost several hundred thousands of dollars, but some kids in China (who would have never had access to that kind of care) got it all for free!

We were really happy to see all the doctors and families come together. People were so overwhelmed with the kind of care that was offered. It was really beautiful. We’re working with families that are really poor. Burns are the riskiest injuries for poor children, and those are the families that are the least able to pay, so we’re making sure that those families can get access to care for their kids.

GL: What inspired you to start HandReach?

Brecken: When I was working in China, I met a little girl named Zhou Lin who was begging on the street. Half of her body had been burned by a very bad kerosene explosion. She hadn’t gotten proper medical care, and her condition was just so horrifying to me. I realized that no one was helping her. People would help if they knew more about these kinds of accidents and had a way to, so we decided to take HandReach in the direction of educating doctors and institutions to provide the kind of care that’s needed. We realized that burn survivors are suffering from the most expensive injuries in the world, and there’s almost nothing out there for them. We decided to fill that gap. Right now, we’re working mainly in China, but we realize that there are kids all over the world who aren’t getting the care, so we’re trying to build an international network.

We call it HandReach because it really is hand-to-hand contact and communication between patients and doctors and people who want to help.  It’s a beautiful, uplifting experience to see so many people coming together to reduce suffering. Kids who never really envisioned a hopeful future now have a completely bright future.

GL: There are so many people who would love to work on such amazing projects, but don’t know how. How do you even start an international foundation like HandReach?

Brecken: HandReach started very, very small. We only raised about a thousand dollars a year, but we just tried to make sure that every penny was spent well, that all the money was used to really helping people. People would just give us a dollar or two, so we tried to always use it well. Once people see that you’re using the money well, they want to give you more.

When they see you’re managing well and you’re working with good people, they offer you help to create a lasting effort that keeps growing. People come forward once they know what you’re doing and offer the help you need right when you least expect it. They’re like angels that appear out of nowhere and give you what you need if you’re really committed to work. So I can’t say I’ve done it alone by any means. It’s been a contribution from dozens of people over the years.

GL: What is the best part about your job?

Brecken: The best part about my job is getting to work with good-hearted people. When you’re working with burn survivors, it’s a difficult thing to face.  It’s really hard, but everyone who comes forth to work on it is brave and loving and caring and genuinely interested in making other people’s lives better. I love working with people like that. If you work with a business, you’re working with people who want to make money. For different fields, you may not find such golden-hearted people, but every day, I get to work with people who truly care. I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.

GL: What is the most challenging part of your job?

Brecken: I don’t like raising money. I don’t like asking for money.  I don’t like having to deal with money. But the fact is, unless we do that, nothing’s going to happen. There’s no help that we can give without money because the care the kids need is very expensive. So, I’m facing my fears. It’s kind of like being afraid of a lion and walking into a lion’s den because I have to worry about making sure everything lines up and is spent well. In working with money so closely, it’s scary and frustrating, but it’s also rewarding because I’m overcoming my own “biggest fear.”

Brecken: Any time people come together to think about or care about burn survivors, they’ve done something good.  People can host little events, even if it’s just a family dinner, or a picnic, a dance, a benefit concert or anything to bring people together and raise awareness. They can donate money, pray or write letters to donate supplies that are needed.

Every little contribution makes a huge difference. It’s like how the ocean is made up of so many drops of water. Each drop thinks it’s not important, but without it, there would be no ocean. There’s no contribution that’s too small to make a difference.

Brecken: Follow your heart. When you see something that really disturbs you or moves you or challenges you, don’t run away from it. When I first met Zhou Lin on the street, I wasn’t ready to talk to her.  I wasn’t sure that my language skills would be enough. But, my heart was breaking to see her in that condition, so I followed my heart and talked to her. It was hard at first, but we were able to communicate through our eyes and our body language. Somehow I committed to her, and knew that I would find a way to help her. Once we made the commitment, the resources came together to do just that.

Now she’s walking, going to high school, getting straight A’s, learning to drive and thinking about college. She has so many possibilities now. If I hadn’t followed my heart and been courageous and stepped forward and made a commitment, none of that would have happened.  I think so many some girls see something on the news or on the street, or they hear about something, and they think, “Oh, I wish I could do something.”

What they should do is hold onto that dream and say, “I can do something, even if I just do one tiny thing for this every day.” If you raise one dollar every day for the rest of your life, you will have raised a lot of money. Even if you do a small thing, make a commitment. Girls have so much power, and if they follow a dream all the way through to the end, they will have achieved truly magnificent results no matter what.

Wanna learn more about HandReach and what you can do to help? Check out handreach.org for more info!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 2/28/2010 7:00:00 AM 18 COMMENTS

Snag That Dream Job: I wanna...be a video game developer!

Instant action. Tons of adrenaline. Video games give you that welcoming escape to everyday happenings. But did you ever wonder just how much talent and long hours went into making one of those games? What’s life like on the opposite side of the screen? We’ve got the scoop.

A video game junkie myself, I’ve always questioned what it would be like to work in the seemingly male-dominated field of video game development. A call from the fabulous folks at Disney Interactive Studios last fall gave me an entirely new insight into an industry that’s hot, hot, hot right about now.

So, I packed my bags last November for Lyon, France, and headed to French video game developer Etranges Libellules (ELB), who were in the midst of putting finishing touches on the brand spankin’ new Alice in Wonderland video games, (based on Tim Burton’s latest 3-D flick) for Nintendo Wii and DS (psst! The game is out March 2!).

And while the games focus on a female heroine (Alice, of course) it’s even more intriguing that a female was the mastermind behind most of the process. Developer Edith Protière gave us a peep into the gaming world, offering pointers for those creative chicas who might want to follow in her footsteps some day…

GL: How did ELB get involved with making games for the exciting new Alice in Wonderland movie?

Edith: We were in contact with this name for a long time. It [finally] came to us that there was an Alice in Wonderland [movie in the works] and we have people in the office who have been Alice fans for ages. We thought it could be a game where we could do something different. Sometimes, you have to really follow the action of the movie [in the game, too]. Here we thought, yeah we have to follow the movie and the story is great, but we can bring really good game playing ideas into it. We kept thinking about the world of illusion and what we could add to it.

Edith: We didn’t even have the script of the movie for confidential reasons. We read lots of books on Alice. [We looked at] old illustrations. Then we got access to the screenplay. We went to L.A. where they were shooting the movie and then, suddenly, things came together and we changed what we planned. [Making the game] was quick [though]. We started last October.

GL: Why do you think now’s a better time than ever to get involved in the gaming biz?

Edith: It’s a great moment for video games because I think we can really express lots of emotion, which you couldn’t really do a long time ago. We can really show to our broader audience that [video games] are not something [directed] to some kind of weird, young adult, but that it is accessible to everyone.

GL: How did you first get involved in the industry?

Edith: I always loved video games. I started 15 years ago and, it’s true, there were very few people and even less women [in the business]. I was really fascinated by the graphics. I did both computer and business studies [in school], so I thought it would be good to come into this industry. Then I grew, and production changed. When I started, it was on the early Nintendo and the Playstation 1 console. And now we can do better and better things.

GL: What type of education would you recommend girls consider, in the hopes of possibly pursuing a job like yours down the road?

Edith: Computer science or graphic art. We have lots of very talented artists [at ELB] and it’s very important to have a great arts [background]. Producers have various backgrounds in this industry. I think what’s important [though] is to be passionate because it’s long hours and long years. You need to care and play again and again and again. And if you want a good quality game, you need to sometimes start, three, four, five, 10 times [over again].

GL: What are some pros about your job?

Edith: The fact that you start from nothing and have a game at the end of it. It’s such a great accomplishment. You have nothing except a group of people and then you start putting together ideas and then they come to life [before your eyes]. We are lucky working in such a great environment. It’s a fabulous world—[especially] the quality of the Wii [console].

GL: What are some of the cons?

Edith: It’s a lot of pressure [especially] working on [games pertaining to] movies. You have dates you cannot miss. You can’t be one or two weeks late because it has to come out in time with the movie.

Edith: The fact that, finally, all the men you work with really respect you. At the end of the day, they listen to your point of view. We have lots of artists who are girls. We want to have girls working here. Men do not have the same sensitivity about things.

GL: What about one disadvantage to being a female in this industry?

Edith: Sometimes when the [men] first meet you, they don’t think you deserve the position you have and you have to prove more than ever that you do.

GL: What advice would you give to girls right now about prepping for a possible job in gaming?

Edith: It’s important to play games to discover the value in [them] and to see that there are lots of different [types of] games that are fun to play. I personally don’t like violent games, but there are, you know, racing games that [still give you that] good sensation. It’s good to have different views of the many games out on the market. You should keep an eye on everything and be open-minded to different [titles].

Get more info about Alice in Wonderland and other great games from Disney Interactive!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 2/21/2010 7:00:00 AM 35 COMMENTS

HW FYI: Three Ways to Focus

It’s the night before a HUGE homework assignment is due...and you’re freaking out! After getting home, grabbing a snack and going for a run—and then helping your mom clear the table after dinner—you just have NO time to finish all of your work before that bell rings tomorrow a.m. Eek!

Feeling the homework crunch right now? We’re here to help, stat.

First step: Take a deep, long breath, breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
Second step: If you’re sitting on a couch, move your computer to a desk where you can sit up straight on a chair.
Third step: Keep on reading this article for three awesome (and easy!) ways to form focus-friendly homework habits.

If it weren’t for your morning alarm, you probably wouldn’t get up on time for school, right? Well, if it weren’t for your homework alarm, you probably wouldn’t do your homework, either!

Set an alarm for a daily “homework time.” When you hear that buzzer beep, you’ll be inspired to stop whatever you’re doing and hop to it. Plus, if you’re in the middle of something —like talking to your BFF on the phone —you can use the alarm as an excuse to cut the chat or activity short.

Setting sound reminders are a good way to end your sessions, too! You’ll actually be more productive if you give yourself breaks. Have a really big project to work on? Set your alarm to take a 10 minute breather every 45 to 60 minutes. Grab a glass of water, go talk to a sibling or take a quick walk outside. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the project again, especially if you know that another break is just around the bend.

Cell phones, radios, TV and even the latest issue of Girls’ Life can be huge distractions that keep ya from your HW. Find a quiet place in your home where none of the above can be found, like your dining room table, the basement...or even the bathroom!

Can’t find a study nook? Then remove anything that might be distracting from your room and put it in a safe (but far away!) place. Walking downstairs to grab your cell phone in the kitchen will remind you why you put it there in the first place—to focus!

From instant messenger, to Facebook to e-mail…yep, even reading this article on Girlslife.com … there is just so much to do on the web (except homework!)

If you don’t need to use the web for homework research, X those pages out! That way, if you feel the need to check your crush’s away message, you’ll think twice about opening up your browser. If you do need to use the web, copy and paste your research into a Word document and then read it, instead of studying it straight off the screen. That way, you won’t “accidentally” log onto your Facebook account instead of focusing on that important article for American History.

Good luck and remember...the more productive you are, the more time there is for FUN when you're done!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 2/7/2010 7:00:00 AM 89 COMMENTS