Shining Star: Victoria Pollack

Name: Victoria Pollack
Major: Theatre
Year: 2012

What has been your involvement with Orchesis? I started dancing with Orchesis during my first semester here and have performed with them every semester since! (8 for 8).  I joined the Orchesis board during my sophomore year and have served as a Costumer, Space Coordinator, CUPAL Liaison, and Producer.  I have also choreographed four pieces for Orchesis, creating works for casts ranging from 5 to 40 dancers to everything from The Countours to Queen.

 
What is your favorite part of working with the company?  I love that Orchesis provides a place where any dancer, no matter how much prior experience they have or what styles of dance they like, can find an opportunity to perform.  Orchesis thrives on its inclusive philosophy, featuring an abundant array of student talents in an eclectic show every semester.  I always love watching the show evolve and come to life from choreographer auditions to the final performance–it’s absolutely incredible to see so many minds and generous spirits at work!
 
If you had unlimited creative license, what would you choreograph?I’ve been dying to create a piece to “Glasgow Love Theme” by Craig Armstrong.  It’s a beautiful piece and has a totally different energy than anything else I’ve choreographed to— much more somber than my other choreographic dabblings.   
 
What are some of your other on-campus interests?  I’ve spent the majority of my time here in rehearsals for dance works and theater shows, and I’ve loved every minute of it.  In addition to performing with Orchesis, I’ve performed with CMTS in “The Secret Garden” and “Company”, with CUP in “Starry Night”, with KCST in “Hamlet”, with V117, and with various productions in the Theatre Department, most recently “The Egg-Layers”.  I’m also one of the CUPAL Co-Presidents, so I spend a lot of time working with various theater, dance, and music groups on campus in non-performance capacities, developing community-wide initiatives like the Production Agreement, Color Wars, and CUPAL Showcase, “performing arts prom”.
 
What do you like the most about Barnard?  Least?  I’ve loved being surrounded by insanely tenacious, articulate, witty, resilient ladies throughout my time at Barnard.  I am so grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned from my peers and wouldn’t trade that for anything.  Occasionally I wish that we had more opportunities to slow down, but then again, that’s part of what makes us “us”, and I wouldn’t dare change that.
 
Where do you see yourself in five years?  Five years from now…I’d like to imagine myself performing professionally.  The stage feels like home and whether it’s a dance piece, a musical, or a play, I can’t imagine doing anything else.  I’d love to be an actor-producer, focusing on acting now and eventually foraying into producing.

What is your ideal vacation?  I’m kind of itching to go to Iceland.  Random, yes, but I’ve heard amazing things about the Blue Lagoon, the geysers and hot springs.  Plus they have live volcanoes.  Great, right?