"I think being involved in the online platform will teach you a lot and you’ll gain knowledge you would’ve never gotten otherwise. We’re getting such a unique experience compared to a cookie-cutter format for our productions. We’ve learned a lot of different things that I think will be beneficial in the future for us.” - Kaya Snow (She/Her), Junior Double Major in Theatre Arts and Dance.
Ever wonder what a day in the life of a performing arts major is like? Walking through Bunce Hall and meeting the caring people inside this program, I immediately knew Rowan was right for me. With shadowing being virtual right now, junior double major in theatre arts and dance, Kaya Snow (She/Her), sat down to give us a full glimpse into her day.
Want to walk through 9:30 am-9:30 pm with Kaya? Keep on reading!
9:00 am: Wake Up, Eat Breakfast
9:30-10:45 am: Acting I with Michael Dean Morgan
Course Objectives:
"This course covers elementary actor-training, designed to aid the student actor in identifying both strengths and weaknesses. Actor training exercises are designed to awaken the student actor's sensibilities to creative expression (such as improvisations, theatre games, sensitivity exercises, characterization exercises and performance projects). Open to Theatre majors only; others by permission.
This course is designed to introduce the actor to the foundational elements of acting technique with primary focus on Stanislavski and the methods that followed it.
Our focus will be to create a structure on which to build all of your future acting work and create a resource to pull from in times of need. We will move from simple exercises to complex scene work culminating in a final presentation."
Snow: "Michael has found great ways to make this class really worthwhile!"
11:00-12:15 pm: Advanced Tap Dance with Corinne Karon
This course is a continuation of "Fundamentals of Tap". When speaking about the challenges of dance on Zoom, Snow said, "Tap is the least challenging spatially, but I do worry about making noise for my roommates!"
12:30-1:45 pm: Dance for Musical Theatre with Dawn Marie Bazemore
"This course is an intermediate level experience of technical training in stylized jazz dances used in Broadway musical shows. Students have the opportunity to mount excerpts of dance routines from various eras and to perform them for the university community."
Snow: "I have been so excited to take this class since my freshman year! This is my favorite part of my day because I get to combine my two majors by singing and dancing. Right now we are learning "One" from "A Chorus Line". I also get to wear my LaDucas!"
Eat Lunch and Prep for Voice Lesson
Kaya's favorite places to eat in Glassboro are Playa Bowls and Steve's Grilled Cheese! Both establishments take Rowan Bucks.
3:30-4:00 pm Voice Lesson
Right now Snow is singing The Music and the Mirror from A Chorus Line and There's a Fine, Fine Line from Avenue Q. All musical theatre concentration students sing two pieces and are graded in juries each semester.
Grocery Shopping and Dinner
If Kaya has time, to relax, she will catch up on The Bachelor.
6:30-9:30 pm: Rehearsal for Rowan Lab Theatre's The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Snow: "I am the movement captain, assistant stage manager, and swing for this production. I will probably also do editing and sound op. I’m really excited to be on the opposite side of everything with this production because I’m normally performing. I’m glad I have the opportunity to learn all the technical aspects."
Often times after rehearsals Kaya Facetimes to stay connected with fellow dance major Heather DeSanto (She/Her). She will catch up on homework if she has any, and maybe even have some Ben and Jerry's. Kaya does not get to bed until around midnight because her first class on Wednesday's does not start until 12:30 pm.
How do you keep a sense of normalcy in your day?
“On Mondays and Wednesdays I go to a local dance studio to take class with (fellow dance major) Abby Lamb (She/Her). That helps motivate me to keep dancing because somebody else is in the room. Actually having the space makes things feel normal again, too.”
What is your biggest takeaway from this year’s remote experiences?
“I like what (RUTD Department Chair) Paule Turner says: 'We get to keep all the things we’re learning from this.'
In terms of how I’ve been running Dance Extensions (DExt), we’ve been able to have a lot more guests and a bigger outreach because we’re not limited on capacity or location. We auditioned for University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)'s Professional Studies Program and have another audition coming up for them, too. They used our master class as an audition and sent DExt a list of people to accept based off of it. It was fun! We took the opportunity, had a handful of students get in and at least one attending.”
What advice would you give seniors starting college in the fall for theatre and dance?
“I would give the same advice as I would give regardless of the pandemic; get as involved as you can. I think it’ll help keep you busy and find some normalcy, but also prepare you for when things do go back to in person. I think being involved in the online platform will teach you a lot and you’ll gain knowledge you would’ve never gotten otherwise. We’re getting such a unique experience compared to a cookie-cutter format for our productions. We’ve learned a lot of different things that I think will be beneficial in the future for us.”
If you would like to virtually shadow a Rowan University Department of Theatre & Dance student to see if our program is right for you, contact Caitlin Reed: reed@rowan.edu.
See you next week!
Erica Gerold
Theatre Arts & Public Relations '23
A well captured day-in-the-life...this clearly articulates how performing arts students are like no other! Great work!