ANNA WARD BLOG's HER INTERSHIP

Anna Ward
Internship Blogs
Fairfield High School

I was hired for my first “professional” choreography job this past fall; very exciting! I was contracted to do the choreography for Fairfield, Iowa’s high school show choir High Society. Show choir is a little nerdy but I have always LOVED it so of course I jumped at the chance. I was terribly nervous to get started, you never know what the director or the kids are going to think of you or your choreography. However, I got started on audition material right away, excited to get started.


Sunday, October 11, 4-8pm Auditions

Today I went down to beautiful Fairfield to teach some short audition material to the students interested in being involved in the show choir. I was so excited the entire drive and about when I got there I started getting nervous. A little silly I know, but I needed to stand myself up as an “authority figure” and professional… professional! So I arrived, and had coffee with the choir’s director Zach Reiter. Of course I spilt coffee all over my sweater and was a TOTAL disaster….good start, Anna, good start. I ditched my Columbian roast sweater and dried off a bit and headed to the theatre to introduce myself and start teaching. I only had to teach them about four eight-counts of two tunes so it went quick and most of the students picked up really fast. They were very respectful and I really enjoyed them. Other than the coffee explosion, all went well. Zach even called me on my way home to tell me one of the students told him they appreciate having another “Hitler” in the department. I love it.

Saturday, November 7

Today I got the music that the choir will be performing. Brand New You from 13, Song of Purple Summer from Spring Awakening, Hold On from Secret Garden, and Finale B from RENT… not exactly the show tunes I would have chosen but you work with what you got. I started Brand New You today because it is very “show choir friendly” if you will. It has a nice swing to it, pretty easy to choreograph. I have faith in these kids; I’m starting right off with partnering. We shall see….

Tuesday, November 10

Still working on Brand New You… going well I think. I’m thinking the pace is pretty quick, lots of steps in not a lot of time, but I think they will get it. I guess if they don’t I will just have to edit.


Thursday, November 12


Finished Brand New You today, oh joy… Anyway, I am thinking I will make these kids try some lifts. There are a few guys that I really believe could do it. I am meeting with a friend today to work on a few lifts that I think I could teach to these guys. Simple lifts add a lot of flash that people think is amazing even when it’s actually pretty simple. Ah, the art of illusion!