Blog #10:
I can confidently say this internship has been a very rewarding experience for me. Not only have I received valuable exposure to a work place environment, but also learned what artistic career entails. I’ve learned how to positively interact with co-workers as I have talked about in previous blog post. And because we are in a creative work environment collaborating with other employees is key in the development of the company. Throughout my internship I also learned other beneficial skills such as time management, communication, and organization. Even if you are working under an art based company, this doesn’t guarantee all the work will directly reflect this. I have really appreciated this because it is a good look into the reality of these situations, and I believe I’m very lucky to have been exposed to this before I must venture out to get my own job. Some of my favorite aspects, and the ones I have learned the most from, are when I assist at elementary schools. Although this was not a part of the internship I was expecting, I have really enjoyed, and believe it has taught me much more than only working in the office would. In the beginning, I was unaware I would be working within the education and community sector therefore my initial expectations were mainly guesses. I thought I may be working more alongside the professional dancers, or maybe in their marketing. But what I’ve come to do there is much more rewarding than anything I imagined. My communication overall has improved, as I am constantly sharing ideas with others. It is something that I know will benefit me through the rest of my life, especially during my beginning years in the work force, it is probably the most important skill I have learned. I am sure I will leave this internship more prepared for any career which comes my way, therefore this has been an extremely knowledgable experience.
Blog #9:
Mainly, what I see in my internship is lots of children along with office work. Although, when I’m able to observe different parts of the business such as the professional ballet, I feel very artistically inspired. Over the past month, I had the opportunity to visit the ballet’s production of Swan Lake, and as it has been quite sometime since I had been to the ballet, the experience was really eye opening. I loved knowing that I was part of the behind the scenes of this incredible performance. Watching such talented individuals inspired me because it reminded me how beautiful ballet is and why I wanted to be involved with it in the first place. Not only does witnessing the professionals inspire me, but also all the kids I get to see dance. More so, seeing the kids expresses to me the power of movement and how enticing it can be, and this itself inspires me to help them learn. I love documenting their progression or watch a group become excited about pliés. I think being so involved with the education aspect has changed my artistic ambitions from a personal endeavor, to wanting to spread art while still creating it. I am most inspired watching others become excited over dance, so being a part of this expansion is what I’d like to do. I still maintain my initial interests, especially while watching the professional ballerinas who inspire me to try and be as great as them. But, I have discovered other aspects which inspire me just as greatly, but with a different impact.
Blog #8:
As of right now, my project is coming along nicely. Everyday I try my best to remind myself to film a couple second clip, and although I sometimes forget, I still have a good amount of footage. I have encountered a few problems along the way such as aesthetic dilemmas, and repetitive footage but all in all I am making headway. So far, I have about 15 mini clips which are being edited together into a little film showing the realities of being an intern. They range from short panoramas of the office space, to me working with kids on ballet. I believe when completed it will be an accurate representation of my time at Colorado Ballet incorporating the work and the fun I have at my internship. Both of my sponsors are very supportive of my project. When we sat down to further discuss my vision, they gave me really great ideas of clips to include and where/when to film. Each of them even offered to say short excerpts on their jobs to be added into my film if desired. If I am ever feeling uninspired or at all stuck, they both provide great insight to keep me on track and motivated. I think my project is unique in that it’s a literal account of my internship, but in an artistic form. I’m able to show exactly what I do, while still giving a creative spin on the entire deal. I enjoy video creation/editing but I also really love dance, so this project has given me the freedom to combine both in order to express to others what I do. I think my sponsor and I’s relationship has evolved some while discussing my project because they’re able to better understand my goals and expectations and I am also able to gain knowledge on what they hope for me to experience as well. Like I previously stated, there have been a few challenges during the actual creation of my project, but none major enough to deter me from my path, I am making steady progress.
Blog #7:
I’ve found over the past couple months through my internship how different personal and business art projects are. I know when I’m working on a personal project, usually my reason for creating it is only for myself. There is no one else involved which gives me expressive freedom I may not have had on a more communal project. Other factors which stand out to me while working on personal projects is the fact I am able to determine my own timeline. Some days I feel like working for a full 5 hours, other instances I want to draw out the process. When working in a creative business, I’ve learned how my ends of the project must be completed in order for others to progress. As much as I’d love to take my precious time completing a project to make sure it comes out perfect, I realize that I am no longer the only person involved and all I can do is finish my part within the time allotted to the best of my abilities. In creative businesses I’ve also noticed how it can sometimes be difficult to recreate someone else’s image. When I am assigned some tasks to complete independently, I can easily get confused trying to follow someone else creative idea rather than my own. This has probably been the largest difference I’ve noticed between personal and business creative projects. Although, working in a creative business has also been beneficial being around many other like-minded individuals. If I’m ever feeling uninspired I have an entire group of people to gain insight from. These are just a few of the things I’ve learned while working at my internship in a creative business.
Blog #6:
When addressing how I am treated as an intern, I again feel very lucky to say that my work environment seems to be unique in the fact I feel equal to all my co-workers. Of course there is a hierarchy in the office and I realize I am at the lower end, but no one has ever treated me with any sort of negligence, or patronized me. Everyone in the company treats others with respect no matter their position, It is a collaborative environment and the workers understand that without one piece, the company couldn’t function properly. When at work, I mainly interact with my two supervisors and their other intern. We all speak to each other with mutual esteem, and this makes me feel like a necessary member of the team. I am assigned duties with importance and purpose rather than arbitrary tasks commonly associated with interns. If I were to one day have an intern of my own, I would ensure their usefulness just as Colorado Ballet has done for me. I also believe it would be very important for me to speak to them as an equal, because it is very discouraging to be talked down to, which thankfully isn’t an issue I face in my position. I would ask them for their input because being an intern, I know that we can have legitimate ideas even if we aren’t as experienced as others. All in all, I would treat my intern very similarly to how I am treated at my own internship. From my co-workers so far I have learned the ability to combine a creative interest with a more typical job. Every day I see their imaginative ideas being incorporated into their jobs as Director of Education. I think this is a very necessary skill to possess when pursuing a career in the arts, that there is always a way to express creativity in whatever setting.
Blog #5:
So far, I feel like my internship has been going very well. I’ve learned what its like to be in an office environment while still being an artist, and how there is a way the two can coexist. It has been very eyeopening being completely immersed in a whole new situation where I’ve been treated as an employee with a legitimate job to do, rather than just a spectator. The highlights as of now are when I’m able to see the outcome of the projects I’ve been involved with. Documenting viewers for the live stream Colorado Ballet offers for Swan Lake and The Nutcracker has been an ongoing task of mine, and over the past week we had a final number of viewers. It was insanely cool to see that over 5,000 people from across the globe tuned in to watch the live stream of Swan Lake, and to know that I had a part in that was a huge highlight. Teaching at schools as well is a highlight, and seeing kids becoming engaged with dance is always rewarding. Knowing that I get to help bring dance into kids lives who previously wouldn’t have the opportunity is really amazing. The lowlights really only occur when there is a down day (which is unfrequent) and I complete busy work. But I’m really lucky to be apart of a department who is constantly involved with some aspect of the ballet, and really does serve a purpose. Although, with any position it is to be expected some days won’t be as eventful as others, and those are the only times I experience any sort of “lowlights”. My co-workers and I all get along very well, like I have stated in previous blogs. We can have a good time while still getting work done which I really enjoy. I believe to enhance my experience, I should try and become even more involved in the programs offered because I have the opportunity to learn so much. I’m able to sit in on the specialized classes they offer, or watch the professional dancers practice, or even take classes there myself for free. It’s truly an awesome experience I get, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store.
Blog #4:
At Colorado Ballet, I have consistent responsibilities expected of me everyday. My most common duties include scheduling posts for their Facebook page, documenting all participants in their live streaming offer of Swan Lake, and then numerous other tasks which differ day to day. The Education and Community sect of the ballet has been pushing to be more active on their social media, posting photos of students and the ballet in general, along with relevant news concerning dance. This responsibility to post daily falls on me and their other intern McKenna. Even if I am not psychically at my internship, I am coming up with new posts, or taking photos of the students in order to develop posts which will hopefully reach a wide audience and gain attention towards the department I work in. Although, not all of my daily duties may seem to have extreme significance, I believe my main contribution is enabling the department to continue running at a well working pace. There are so many attributes you wouldn’t initially think of when controlling a business such as Colorado Ballet, but things are able to pile up very quickly and it is my job to take on tasks that may not have been finished otherwise. This results in me being exposed to projects not always handed over to someone with lesser experience, but because everything must be completed, I am quickly learning how to roll with whatever comes my way and complete it with diligence and quality within the time given. For example, this last week, McKenna and I were assigned the job of writing the script for the news broadcaster who will be speaking during the Ballet’s live streaming of Swan Lake. There were multiple questions we could not answer off the top of our heads like the directors could, but we used our resources and were able to mainly complete the assignment. Daily, I usually begin my with the new tasks Sam and Jo assign me. This could range from trying out craft ideas for a children’s study guide, to reviewing the plot line to Swan Lake in depth. If all is completed, the interns have a list of ongoing tasks which always need adding onto. Wednesday’s my main responsibility is heading to Barnum Elementary and assisting in their K-1st ballet class. My tasks are always changing, but I know my directors rely on me, and trust me to complete my duties on time and well done which is constant.
Blog #3:
Although I serve as a small a part in the scheme of Colorado Ballet, I still notice the effects my actions have on the company. Being part of the Education program, and working underneath Sam and Jo, I know every seemingly minuscule act I do has a purpose. Whether it’s scheduling a Facebook post, or helping organize the live streaming chart, all my actions are going towards something bigger. I see the positive effect I’m having most strongly when visiting Barnum to assist with the ballet classes. Colorado Ballet offers classes at multiple schools for little to nothing based on their free and reduced lunch percentage, so being able to teach kids who wouldn’t otherwise get to take dance classes is very rewarding. Seeing the kids excited and engaged proves to me what I help with is having positive influence. My co-workers have a great influence on my internship. I’m very lucky to be in a position where I haven’t interacted with one person who I’ve found any issues with. Their actions and their upbeat attitudes keep me excited for whatever comes that day. Sam and Jo always have tasks for me so I never feel useless, making my internship very enjoyable. Both of them remain very patient if I ever need help, and are always willing to teach me knew things about the company, or a specific project, or ballet in general. I work with only two of the employees at Colorado Ballet directly, and I’ve made solid connections with both of them. Sam and Jo are really easy to talk to so things never feel awkward, even with me being their intern. We’re able to talk about things beyond work (like I discussed in my last blog post), which has made connecting with them extremely natural. They also have two other interns who I see now and again. Most recently I’ve made connections with McKenna who is currently taking a gap year to pursue her internship at Colorado Ballet as well as an extensive dance project in Boulder. It’s nice to have someone close to my age who is in the same position as me being an intern, and we are able to talk casually while together. So far, the actions of others and relationships I’ve experienced have done nothing but create a congenial internship.
Blog #2:
This past week at Colorado Ballet has been amazing in itself, but there were definitely a few moments which stood out to me. Although I had a blast doing things such as touring the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and assisting with a class at Barnum Elementary, one of my favorite times over the past week was placed outside the ballet realm. Friday, my directors Sam and Jo, took myself and their other intern Jasmine out to lunch at Torchy’s. This may seem to have been a negligible activity, but it was really enjoyable to escape the work environment and be able to talk with Sam and Jo in a less professional setting. We sat around together eating tacos, discussing the educational program at CO Ballet, along with more arbitrary topics like our weekend plans. I found this to be so engaging because I was able to have a free flowing conversation with these three extremely creative and devoted individuals who were all so knowledgable on the art form I desired to learn so much about. It was quite nice listening to Sam and Jo talk to Jasmine and I about what keeps them motivated to do what they do at Colorado Ballet. I learned about the connections they are able to make with their students, and the joy they’re able to bring into people’s lives through dance. Speaking with them outside of the office gave me a different introduction into their roles at Colorado Ballet and why they’re so fulfilled. This discussion left me feeling awakened to the impacts created through art, and inspired to make my own. I’m excited to take advantage of the opportunity I have being an intern here, and immerse myself in everything I possibly can. I’d love to attend a BBBY class where they teach dance to children with Down Syndrome, or accompany them to a student matinee where thousands of kids get to see a professional ballet first hand. This brief lunch was most certainly the highlight of my week, as I left feeling part of something much bigger than dance alone.
Blog #1:
The first week of my internship I learned a ton about the behind the scenes departments which help Colorado Ballet function. Because I am interning with their Educational Program, I was always in the office environment, so it was neat seeing that side of the company rather than just the dance. Specifically, I learned how directly involved their program is with schools and other organizations. Sam and Jo, the two whom I work with, help set up school performances, classes, and help prepare for the larger productions like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. I was surprised to find out how extensive the list of different organizations the Educational Program partners with. On Monday, I was actually able to attend a meeting they had with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, since CO Ballet offers a class for children with Down Syndrome. Not only do they offer classes to them, but the program is able help kids from the Warren Village learn to dance. These children come from low-income, single parent families. It was very cool and surprising to me to know how far this company is able to reach, and see what big of an impact they have. Over the past the two weeks I haven’t been able to meet the entire company, but I will be able to do so next week. Although, I’ve already met one of their other interns Jasmine, who is a student at Metro, and I had the privilege of meeting some members of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation at the meeting. For code switching, in the meeting I found myself making sure to only comment when appropriate, and spoke in a more sophisticated manner. While when assisting in a class of kindergardeners, I was code switching to better communicate with the children using easily understood language.