Five Questions for Frankie Stokes, Choreographer

Francesca "Frankie" Stokes is one of the student choreographers for the upcoming 5th Annual Repertory/Ensemble Dance Minor Concert. We asked her five questions.

Frankie performing in the spring dance ensemble show.

What first interested you in choreography?

I have been choreographing dances for as long as I have been dancing, 18 years. Growing up I spent majority of my time in the middle of the living room floor choreographing dances to my favorite song at the time. I spent so much time in that spot that there is was an indent in the basement ceiling that showed my hard work, dedication and heavy feet.  It’s very rare that I don’t listen to a song and choreograph a dance in my head. 

Where have you found your inspiration for the piece that you are creating this spring?

The piece that I am creating this spring was originally created last year. I decided to reset it and see how far I can push my creative limits. My original inspiration for the piece came from my personal struggles but I decided to flip the concept and base it on the dancers ‘Struggle at Hand.’ 

What are the challenges to creating a new piece?

When the piece was originally created, I was working with four dancers for a five- minute piece. This time around, my cast consists of seven dancers with a length increase to seven minutes. 

Who is an artist you admire?

An artist I admire is Melissa Rector, the Assistant Artistic Director at Koresh Dance Company.  I admire Melissa for her creative ability and effortless technique.  She has a modest mindset that allows every dancer to feel comfortable regardless of their performance level.

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?

If I could be a fruit or a vegetable I would be an apple because of all of their different variations!

Frankie's piece for the minor performance.

Frankie Stokes is a Senior at Bloomsburg University, studying  Mass Communications with a journalism track and a dance minor. Looking to pursue a career in sports journalism while continuing to dance. 

Five Questions for Julie Petry, Choreographer

Julie Petry is the head of the dance program at Bloomsburg University and is choreographing for the 5th Annual Repertory/Ensemble Dance Minor Concert. We asked her five questions.

What first interested you in choreography?
By the time I could walk, I was whirling and spinning around the house. I loved making up dances to music I'd find in my mom's RECORD collection.  Yes--RECORDS.  I would put on Fame and Xanadu, (musical theatre blood runs in our family) and I'd sing and improv dance for hours. Eventually, I also began making up movement phrases and teaching them to my younger brother. He loved me then, and still loves me now, for dressing him up in silly costumes.

Where have you found your inspiration for the piece that you are creating this spring?
This spring I am re-mounting an older work, and creating a new one.  The older work is one that I first created in Chicago.  The title is Hatari, which translates to danger, risk and/or peril! What could be more inspiring than that to a risk taker?  My new work....I have yet to start working on, but am greatly inspired by the bold quality of the music, and bold women enrolled in my Repertory class! They are fearless!

What are the challenges to creating a new piece?
New works can have you staring up at the ceiling at night, tearing your hair out to figure out what should come next.  There is no road paved....you must pave every inch of it!  And....making it work on the artists who are dancing it adds another layer of difficulty....their bodies may not gel with your ideas.  You must remain adaptable the whole time.

Who is an artist you admire?
I admire so many artists, but particularly the ones who make me uncomfortable. DV8 Physical Theatre produces some of the most controversial, challenging, and complex work I've ever seen.  I also admire Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney...they are two actresses who paved their way by writing their own material much of the time. They are original thinkers who also aren't afraid of pissing people off!

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?
I am pretty sure I'd either be an onion or an avocado.  An onion because they are a jack-of-all trades (they work in many recipes) and they are quite complex in terms of layers.  An avocado?  Because my favorite color is green, and they are a super food.  They seem to last through unbearable conditions!

Julie Petry (Faculty Choreographer) hails from the beautiful Pacific Northwest and is in her 6th year of teaching at Bloomsburg University. She enjoys a varied theatrical background, has worked with Flamenco, Polish and Aerial Dance companies, in addition to directing and/or choreographing over 100 works to date. A few of her favorite career gigs involved traveling the country with Kenny Rogers, teaching Ellen Degeneres a dance step by telephone live on National TV, and receiving multiple Emmy nominations for her work in children's entertainment.

Photos: The current Repertory class rehearsing Hatari; Julie rehearsing a solo, 2008.