A moment of thanks and reflection . . .

Thanks Kevin, for all your hard work, dedication, 

inspiration of others and beautiful art!

Daedream 2015: We Got This

Wow, what a day! Plus Schedule . . .

Amazing work done by all.....we're almost there!

TOMORROW STARTS IT WEEK....where we will all start saying, "This is IT!"

Kudos to Mr. Slusky and the tech crew today; awesome job!

Great work everyone.  See the previous post below for MENTOR MVP of the day!!!

See you all MONDAY!  4 rehearsals left....until A YEAR IN A LIFE.

SCHEDULE:  No absences or early pick-ups.  Please bear with us if rehearsals run over this week.

MONDAY, 6/1/15:
TICKETS/TICKET MONEY DUE.  PICK UP:  Red, Blue and Mentors 6:30 at CAREER

TUESDAY, 6/2/15:
RED PICK-UP:  6:30
BLUE PICK-UP: 7:00
SPECIALS:  7:30 (Will be announced on Monday evening)

WEDNESDAY, 6/3/15:  BRING a SNACK or SNACK/WATER MONEY
RED PICK-UP: 7:00
BLUE PICK-UP: 8:00

THURSDAY, 6/4/15:  Dinner is PROVIDED
RED:  7:00
BLUE/MENTORS:  8:00
SPECIALS:  Expect to be later; will be announced Wed. Evening)

MAY 30, 2015

Saturday, 5/30:  The major, most important dress rehearsal of the season at CAREER - PLEASE do not be late, do not deviate from times, no early pick ups.  DRESS IN YOUR WHITE!

BRING LUNCH
9:30 AM  Costume Crew BRING LUNCH
9:45 AM:  Stage Crew, Tech Crew BRING LUNCH
10:00 AM:  Costume fittings for March (Chris Brown) and CHRISTMAS who have NOT been fitted.
                  Kevin, Aissatou, Ronald, Trey, Savanna, Cheyenne, Taryn, Maria, Charlie, Frenchie, Yashira,                     Shawn, Neidelyn
BRING LUNCH

12:00 NOON  REST OF CAST ARRIVAL.
NO LUNCH NEEDED.  SNACKS WILL BE SOLD
Full Run Through Begins at 12 noon.  Please adhere to times.
Pick ups:  Red 5:00 PM
                 Blue:  5:00 PM
                 Mentors:  5:30 PM

DRESS IN YOUR WHITE!

SMASH WEEK IS ON!  TICKET MONEY IS DUE.

SMASH WEEK NEWS: Head Choreographer/Student Director Kevin Kelly receipient of Area Dance Scholarships

○Jim Altieri Photography, 2015

                                                                        

Head Choreographer, Student Director and Mentor Kevin J. Kelly of New Haven is getting noticed.

Kevin was selected in November of 2014 to choreograph a modern ballet for opera, "Virtue" by Christopher Theofandis of Yale.  Within a week's time, he had choreographed, taught and danced, along with other cast members Des'Tahnee and Aissatou, the piece to accompany the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, local opera talent, and the Elm City Girl's Choir.  But it didn't stop there.

After the two sold out performances at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Kevin was fortunate enough to receive recognition in the form of support for further developing his craft.  Both The New Haven Ballet and Elm City Dance Collective have given Kevin scholarships for dance.  

We asked Kevin about these experiences and here is what he had to say.

Q:  How did you feel when you were given these scholarship opportunities?

A:  It was amazing.  It was amazing, I'm going to tell you why.  It was amazing because first off, I really didn't expect something like this, and just because it just randomly happened it really shocked me and surprised me with joy and gives me more confidence in myself.  Like it brings me to a higher point, and like, and I just really love it.  I appreciate it.

Q:  So you said a random happening, you think this was random?  You didn't do anything to really deserve it?

A:  I mean, not just that, I think that, like, I worked so hard for it to happen, it's just shocking, it's like I do everything I can to get to this point.

Q:  So let me ask a question about what you meant by "you worked hard to get there."  Did you know that you would get a scholarship, or you worked hard for something else?

A:  I worked hard for myself.  I wasn't trying to get anything, or nothing, I just worked hard for myself to try and make myself feel accomplished.

Q:  What were the circumstances for which you did get the scholarship? Like, what prompted these people to award you?

A:  I guess that they just saw something in me that I didn't see at first, but now that I've grown, and all these people are telling me that I really have talent, I see it now, so, and I'm really thankful for that.

Q:  So you couldn't listen to your director when she first said it?

A:  It wasn't like listening, it was believing.  

Q:  But, I asked, how did these people find out about you?  How did you bring their attention to you?

○Jim Altieri Photography, 2015

A: Ah, well, my director [Ms. Francis.]  My director, she helps me a lot, got me with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra opera thing for the piece I choreographed.  At first, I was kind of skeptical, but, I really involved myself, and put in the effort.

Q:  When you choreographed that, did you really think it would be a breeze, or were you concerned?

A: At first I was concerned, but then I started to really get into it and found myself really liking the music and really loving my choreo.

Q: My last question, what's the future for you as a dancer?

A:  My future (he pauses), cannot be told yet.  

Q:  Is dance in your future?

A:  Dance is definitely in my future.

○Jim Altieri Photography

SMASH WEEK is HERE!!! SCHEDULE!

Happy Memorial Day!

NEWS:  REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

Scroll down under this post for MORE SMASH WEEK POSTS

This week:  T, W, TH and FRI PICK UPS 

are ALL AT CAREER HIGH SCHOOL

BRING WHITE COSTUMES TOMORROW, MAY 26 - it is a partial dress rehearsal!

Students will be transported by BUS to the practices T-F.

FORMAL PAPER SCHEDULE will be out TOMORROW at rehearsal.  Not all students will meet every day.

Please, no early pick ups and no cell phones at rehearsal.

TICKET money due Friday, May 29.  See Jacqui or Evelyn.

THE COUNTDOWN is ON!!!!!

CRUNCH TIME, SMASH WEEK and IT WEEK

Crunch time is crunch time....but SMASH WEEK is here.  This is one of the most important weeks of the Daedream season!!!

In honor of SMASH WEEK, the blog will be active with news, events and tons of rehearsal photos, and maybe even a surprise or two, so don't miss our updates!!!

TODAY:  Rehearsal information and a few new SMASH WEEK photos to glance over:

Mentor Maria preparing for a solo

Head choreographer/director Kevin

and Mentor Radcliffe leading a difficult

bit of choreography

Mentor Radcliffe instructing the 

younger cast

Head Choreographer Torey teaching

new steps to the cast 

Everyone gets into the act during

finale rehearsal

WHAT is "IT WEEK?"  You'll just have to wait and see . . .

Saturday Mandatory Rehearsal Schedule

Saturday, March 28th - MANDATORY REHEARSAL

9:30 - 9:45 || Tech Crew/Stage Crew || Bring Lunch
9:45 - 10:00 ||  Mentors | Bring Lunch
10:00 - 11:30 || June Workshop || All blue shirts and sheep
11:30 - 12:30 ||
12:30 - 1:00 || Lunch Break
1:00 - 2:00 || February Song (Teaching) / Finale (Teaching)
2:00 - 3:00 || Red Shirts Arrive || Finale (Staging and Teaching)
3:00 - 4:00 || July and April (Staging)

Please be on time.  Please remain in auditorium with Ms. Francis at all times.

PARENTS:  These rehearsals are closed to keep the element of surprise!  Please stay at rehearsal only if asked directly by Ms. Francis.

Spring Event Notice

https://www.facebook.com/events/882327321830382

See our event details as they grow and develop at the above Facebook Page.

Where the Magic Happens . . .

Choreography stills

Lift, "May," Kevin/Tanaisha

Jazz Section, "July," Kevin/Torey

Jazz Section, "July," Kevin/Torey

"Hops" in The V, "July," Kevin/Torey

 

Leap Section, "The Finale," Kevin/Tanaisha

Battle of Thunder and Lightning, "April," Kevin/Torey

Battle of Thunder and Lightning, "April," Kevin/Torey

Battle of Thunder and Lightning, "April," Kevin/Torey

"Ayyy"

Be with us on JUNE 5 to see the magic come together in "A Year in A Life," Career High School, 6:00 p.m.

Tickets available SOON.

February Break

Happy February Break to all. Daedream will begin meeting again on Tuesday, February 24th...and our next Saturday rehearsal is Saturday, February 28th. Details and schedule will soon follow!

Oh yes!!! SAVE THE DATE!

Very HUGE shout out to Radcliffe C, Ronald D, Luis T, Torey Robinson, Chey S, Irma M, and of course, Kevin Kelly and Tanaisha B. - who finished the choreo (mostly) for the 8:49 June segment in only three sessions, along with non-mentors Des'Tahnee and Aissatou. Amazing....and it culminated with them getting the exact ending that I prayed for but thought they'd never be able to do...... preview? Check out the last 25 seconds of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-790dGx-o

Yes.....those lifts.....just like that! Yes my Daedream MENTORS! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. Save that date! June 5, 2015!

Saturday, January 31, 2015 Rehearsal Schedule

Saturday, January 31, 2015	Career High School Auditorium
Be on time for arrivals and pick ups!	Use parking lot door
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.	Mentors and Tech Crew Arrival Bring Lunch
10:00 a.m. Warm Ups – September – July - You Raise Me Up	7th and 8th Graders plus Aissatou, Savannah, Frenchie Bring Lunch
11:30 a.m. November – Opening (fast)	5th and 6th Graders plus Chyna, Snigtha, Jaylen, JeNiyah, K’I, Gianni Bring Lunch and a book to read
12:30 p.m.	Lunch Break – Snacks Available
1:00 p.m. May – Script Run Through	Trey, Julianne
2:00 p.m. Storm – August – July - Finale	Red Shirts (there will be no lunch time available, please eat beforehand) Bring a book to read
4:00 p.m.	Pick-up
Please note:  Arrival and pick-up times MUST BE ADHERED TO.  As you can see, the rehearsal day is carefully planned.

Updated Calendar Feature

We've added a rehearsal schedule to the blog.  You can access it by clicking "Calendar of Events" above and utilizing the directions there.  Lists upcoming events and rehearsals for Daedream.  Please note:  Daedream students in grades 1-6 do have a hiatus period every year in January.  That is when the mentors and older students make a huge push to have everything ready to create the final production in June.  Please refer to the calendar for information.

Also, there will be no Daedream on Tues. Dec. 23 for the Christmas Recess (half day).

The program resumes for grades 1-6 on January 20th, 2015.

For grades 7, 8 and special request members (you will be notified), Daedream resumes on January 6, 2015, with a special calendar of rehearsals, choreography and planning sessions.  At this time, projects and personal goals will be solidified.

More to come!

Preview of Professional Photographs from "Virtue"

These are the first photographs available of the performance and dress rehearsal of "Virtue," the opera with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Elm City Girls' Choir, performed Nov. 20 and 21 at St. Mary's Church in New Haven.

Daedream Goes to the Opera!!

This past week has been a hustle and bustle of planning, preparing and practicing.  Head choreographer, lead dancer and program assistant, Kevin Kelly, 7th Grader and choreographic assistant, Des'Tahnee , and 5th grade newcomer, Aissatou Diallo were part of a beautiful presentation featuring the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, The Elm City Girls' Choir, and local opera performers this week at St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue here in the Elm City.

Shawn Marie Jeffrey, a parent involved with Daedream for the last year, selected Kevin to choreograph a piece to incorporate into the opera presentation, entitled, "Virtue," and composed by a Yale musician Christopher Theofanidis.  Kevin, dancing as "Faith," created the dance with the theme of the musical story in mind and directed/coached the other dancers (Des'Tahnee as "Love" and Aissatou as "Purity") in this 23 minute presentation.

When more photos become available through the NHSO Website, we will certainly post them here!  Keep up with us via this blog, our Facebook page here:  Daedream Facebook Page and our twitter here: https://twitter.com/DaedreamNH

More news and updates coming soon!!!

The team getting briefed on the story of "Virtue"

by Shawn Marie Jeffrey

Kevin, Des'Tahnee and Aissatou

 

Shawn goes over the musical score with 

the dancers

Kevin works on choreography for the

presentation

Teaching session/rehearsal shots

What are we up to?

A little blast from the past.  Choreo Session, 2013 for 2014 show....Kevin and De'Andre "True" from "Color My World."

We found out recently that many don't know what goes into a show like our musical productions.  So we will be doing small vids to explain the steps in creating a full-scale musical like this year's coming event, "A Year in the Life."

So be on the lookout for NEW vids of current events and planning!

Grand Opening Coming TUESDAY, Oct. 14!

We have been in session for a few weeks now, with our junior mentors in training, as well as the returning cast from last year's program.

It's been fun, and now, we open our doors to Season 27 and our NEW members on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014.

There are still spaces available in grades 3 - 8.  Contact Ms. Francis or any Daedream member for details.

Thanks go to Sophie for her recruitment in Grade 2 - a little mentor in training!

Follow us on twitter:  https://twitter.com/DaedreamNH

SEASON 27 is here!!!

RESERVE a place NOW for the 27th Season! Grades 2 - 8 openings available, largest number in upper grades. 8th graders have priority (mentorship program). K-1 by teacher recommendation only.

Sign up now by emailing director at daedreamtech@gmail.com

 Season 27: Musical Production Tentative Date = June 5, 2014
Title: "A Year in the Life!" Reserve a position now!