CBJ welcomes its 2018-19 mentorship students, Jade Chaplin, Adam Davidson, Sierra Goldak, and Rachel Schilberg.
CBJ’s Mentorship Program transitions George Brown Dance graduates from post-secondary training into professional dance. The program immerses new GBD graduates in a professional company atmosphere, engaging them in rehearsals, performances, touring, and creative processes.
In this second part of our mentorship student series, we’re introducing you to Adam Davidson and Jade Chaplin. Adam and Jade share about the significance of CBJ’s mentorship program to their dance education and offer a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a CBJ mentorship student.
Meet Adam Davidson
What does a mentorship at CBJ mean to you?
Being a mentorship student at CBJ means that every day I have the opportunity to not only see what the day-to-day life of a company member is like, but to gain the tools to improve in areas that I am weak in by watching and observing the company members during rehearsals, while also having one-on-one conversations with them.
What will you be working on for the 2018-19 season?
During the 2018-19 season I will be working towards improving my technique in classes to help me when needed in a rehearsal. I’ll also be improving my ability to learn and retain choreography shown in repertoire, not only for my part, but any other part that the staff would have me learn.
What does your day look like?
A usual day consists of a total of four hours of commuting to and from the college. I then have an hour and a half of ballet in the morning, followed by rehearsals of all the parts that need to be completed. That is about 7 hours of the day. Any exercise takes place in between rehearsals when time permits, or on weekends.
How do you prepare for a performance?
I prepare for a performance by exercising and stretching. I tell myself if I can keep my mind focused on those things, I won’t have time to worry about it.
Meet Jade Chaplin
What does a mentorship at CBJ mean to you?
To me, mentorship is an opportunity to gain knowledge on the life of a professional dancer from the company members and faculty. It is a great way to get inspired as an emerging artist by seeing how professional dancers work each day.
What will you be working on for the 2018-19 season?
Besides working on technique each day and adapting to the professional dancer life, we are currently working on the touring ballet, Coppélia. We are also working on other repertoire for the year, such as The Nutcracker and BITS.
What does your day look like?
A typical day for a mentorship student consists of company class each day, learning repertoire, and leading the warm-ups for the George Brown Dance programs. Also, we occasionally get to travel with the company if we are needed for a show.
How do you prepare for a performance?
In order to prepare for a performance, I make sure I give myself lots of time to get ready before I leave for the theatre. I want to be as calm as possible for once we warm up and prepare. I also make sure I eat well and stretch plenty.
For more about the program visit https://cb.dtsandbox.com/cbj.old/education/mentorship/
Written by Victoria Campbell Windle, CBJ Communications Contributor
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