What is a Prime Mover?
The Prime Movers are the student performance company of Callanwolde School of Dance. Besides attending regular classes and performing in the recital and holiday shows, Prime Movers get access to supplementary performance opportunities, workshops, guest teachers, and rehearsals.
The extra performances often include collaboration with musicians, choreographers, and visual artists. Creation sessions deepen their relationship to the art form through exposure to various artists, collective movement making, and professional mentorship.
Included in the Prime Mover experience are social gatherings, group projects, and field trips to local performances and learning ventures.
The Callanwolde Prime Movers was founded by Jerylann Warner, who directs the group alongside Corian Ellisor and Jessi Scopp McGrath. Together, they represent a wealth of professional dance knowledge that spans years and continents. As educators, they grow students into better dancers and philosophers of movement.
How do I become a Prime Mover?
Callanwolde’s team of teachers is invested in continual consideration of our student body for new potential Prime Movers. When a student is suited, we will extend an invitation to explore the prospect of joining.
Additionally, interested dancers/families are welcome to reach out to Jerylann Warner with inquiries.
Entrance and advancement within the Prime Movers groups may require an audition.
What are the Benefits?
Why three groups?
Each level of Prime Movers provides building blocks for success in their current placement and equips them for readiness to progress. Levels include:
There is an increase in class and rehearsal commitment commensurate with each level. As they advance, their stage time in annual shows is raised and their appearances in Callanwolde sponsored events is expanded.
"Side Kicks" is our Callanwolde School of Dance Buddy System where younger dancers are paired with veteran dancers to help facilitate, nurture and motivate!
What determines my level, and how do I progress from one group of Prime Movers to the next?
Age, previous experience, readiness, and day-to-day diligence are all considered when a student is placed. Not every dancer will move through each level. A journey might entail forgoing or remaining in a level. Consistent excellence in daily practice is the main driver for advancement. Stronger members of a level should enjoy a sense of leadership and set an example for their peers within their group before moving onto the next level.
Callanwolde School of Dance staff are attentive to each student’s progress and needs and evaluate placement continually. Shifts usually occur as a new session begins to maintain choreographic continuity in upcoming shows.
Here is an expanded list of what we look for when considering dancers for our Prime Mover program at the Callanwolde School of Dance:
The Prime Movers are the student performance company of Callanwolde School of Dance. Besides attending regular classes and performing in the recital and holiday shows, Prime Movers get access to supplementary performance opportunities, workshops, guest teachers, and rehearsals.
The extra performances often include collaboration with musicians, choreographers, and visual artists. Creation sessions deepen their relationship to the art form through exposure to various artists, collective movement making, and professional mentorship.
Included in the Prime Mover experience are social gatherings, group projects, and field trips to local performances and learning ventures.
The Callanwolde Prime Movers was founded by Jerylann Warner, who directs the group alongside Corian Ellisor and Jessi Scopp McGrath. Together, they represent a wealth of professional dance knowledge that spans years and continents. As educators, they grow students into better dancers and philosophers of movement.
How do I become a Prime Mover?
Callanwolde’s team of teachers is invested in continual consideration of our student body for new potential Prime Movers. When a student is suited, we will extend an invitation to explore the prospect of joining.
Additionally, interested dancers/families are welcome to reach out to Jerylann Warner with inquiries.
Entrance and advancement within the Prime Movers groups may require an audition.
What are the Benefits?
- Enhanced performance opportunities
- Being part of a team/family
- An in-depth approach to training
- Cultivation of creative skills
- Collaboration with professional artists
- Mentorship between peers and from professional dancers
Why three groups?
Each level of Prime Movers provides building blocks for success in their current placement and equips them for readiness to progress. Levels include:
- Beginning: Pre-Prime
- Intermediate: Prime
- Advanced: Pro-Prime
There is an increase in class and rehearsal commitment commensurate with each level. As they advance, their stage time in annual shows is raised and their appearances in Callanwolde sponsored events is expanded.
"Side Kicks" is our Callanwolde School of Dance Buddy System where younger dancers are paired with veteran dancers to help facilitate, nurture and motivate!
What determines my level, and how do I progress from one group of Prime Movers to the next?
Age, previous experience, readiness, and day-to-day diligence are all considered when a student is placed. Not every dancer will move through each level. A journey might entail forgoing or remaining in a level. Consistent excellence in daily practice is the main driver for advancement. Stronger members of a level should enjoy a sense of leadership and set an example for their peers within their group before moving onto the next level.
Callanwolde School of Dance staff are attentive to each student’s progress and needs and evaluate placement continually. Shifts usually occur as a new session begins to maintain choreographic continuity in upcoming shows.
Here is an expanded list of what we look for when considering dancers for our Prime Mover program at the Callanwolde School of Dance:
- Other than our ongoing interest in the daily progress of your dancer, we will facilitate an end of season review/ audition for all students interested in entering or moving up.
- We value when students begin practicing skills notably in class, when they take the initiative to build on the instruction offered.
- When students reveal their joy by moving BIG, going through the range of motion, investing in every class. Risk taking during improvisation.
- Musicality, the ability to internalize a beat and tempo.
- Flexibility, freedom in torso, hamstrings, hips and the ability to use a plié.
- Taking corrections. We strive to connect each dancer with their growing edge and when corrections are embraced it is noted.
- Consistent attendance and arriving on time for class.
- Appropriate attire (no street clothes or clothes that have been worn to school) with hair in place (up and out of the face) before arriving.
- Retention of choreography.
- Acceptance of a dancer's path. A teacher will never hold you back, however it is more common to stay in a level for several years before rapidly moving up.
- The instructor will offer a dancer the opportunity to move up a level when they are ready. Dancers may not request to be moved up.
