In tonight's performance of "Real People," College students will recognize many familiar faces dancing in a unique project which is making its first appearance at the College.
Fifteen Dartmouth College employees from Dartmouth Dining Services and Facilities, Operations and Management will participate in the dance performance under the direction of professional choreographer Ann Carlson.
For 10 years, Carlson has worked on many productions similar to this in which she "gathers people around their professions" in a series of performances entitled "Real People."
In the past, Carlson has used lawyers, nuns and basketball players in her performances in an effort to de-construct the stereotypes which attach themselves to certain professions.
The performance will reflect the personal lives of the performers by portraying the dreams and inspirations that our College's employees have experienced outside of their professional lives.
The entire presentation focuses on how public events shape people's individual development.
In preparation for this project, each employee did much self-introspection and conducted many exercises aimed at portraying themselves accurately in order to represent a piece of themselves to the audience.
The performance also features Carlson herself, who will be performing a solo titled "Blanket," which she finished in 1991.
The dance challenges the typical perception many members of the Dartmouth community have of these employees, allowing us to see them in a different light.
As such, it works towards breaking stereotypes and allowing the true character of these performers to come out. Simultaneously, it gives the College a chance to see an event in which traditional actors and dancers are not the stars.
Carlson reports that she has enjoyed working at Dartmouth with the people in her dance, but has been a bit rushed due to a short time allotment for preparation.
During rehearsal, the performers appeared to be enjoying themselves, working hard on something that most of them have probably never done before.
The performance is at 8 p.m. this evening in the Moore Theater. Tickets are $7.50 for students and $14.50 for the public.
