Name: Kathryn Watts Year: JuniorMajor: Theatre and Art History, Minor in Economics Hometown: Charlotte, NC
So, you’re one of the the choreographers for the Waa-Mu show GOLD. How did you get your start in dance/choreography?
I’ve been dancing ever since I can remember—some of my earliest memories are from ballet class as a preschooler. In high school I was a part of a pre-professional dance company in addition to serving as the captain of the varsity dance team and performing in musicals at school and in the community. My first stint as choreographer came as a junior for a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. Before I graduated I had set choreography for an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s work in addition to creating pieces for the dance team. The Waa-Mu Show is the first opportunity I have had to revisit choreographing as a college student, and it has been an incredible experience.
What is your favorite type of dance?
My answer to this question has certainly changed as I’ve gotten older. In high school I was drawn to styles of dance that were highly technical—ballet and contemporary were my favorites to perform and to watch. Now, I am particularly interested in movement that tells a story. Technique matters much less to me now, and I am more focused on the intention behind the movement, the quality with which it is performed, and the story it serves.
How was opening weekend?
Opening was magical—it was an out-of-body experience for me. I was so proud of the cast and the show we created together with the creative team. When you work this hard with this many people on this big of a scale, the reward is astoundingly huge.
What is the best part of choreographing a show like Waa-Mu? What are some challenges?
Waa-Mu is the ultimate blank canvas for a choreographer. Because it is a new work, the creative possibilities are endless, and there are close to zero limitations when it comes to movement and dance. Choreographing a world-premiere musical is especially exciting because often the choreography will be created before the music is written. There were many times throughout the process when music was actually built around movement that we (Nick Leighton and Alyssa Sarnoff, the other two choreography co-chairs) created, and that is certainly a unique phenomenon. It can be overwhelming, though, to have such a wide breadth of artistic liberty. If we ever struggled, it was because we were lucky enough to be in an environment in which there were very few clear wrong answers.
How did you get involved with Waa-Mu? Are you/have you performed with them as well?
I auditioned for the show my sophomore year and was cast in the ensemble. During that process I was totally bitten by the Waa-Mu bug and decided to apply for Choreography Co-Chair for the 2015 show. In addition to being one of the choreographers this year, I am also lucky enough to be performing in the production again.
How were the 1936 Berlin Olympics chosen as the backdrop/story for the Waa-Mu Show this year?
I was actually not a part of this decision-making process at all! There are three Co-Chairs (Seniors Hannah Dunn, Max Rein, and Kylie Mullins) who are in charge of picking and producing the show in collaboration with our director David Bell and the writing team, among others. David choreographed a part of the closing ceremony for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and when Hannah, Max, and Kylie learned about his experience, I think they were pretty smitten with the idea of setting the show against the backdrop of the Olympic games. And the 1936 Berlin Olympics, for obvious reasons, offer a really astounding wealth of dramatic possibility to the show’s creative team.
GOLD is about “ambitious athletes on their quest for glory at one of the most celebrated international competitions in history.” What’s the underlying story/theme of the show?
GOLD tells the story of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances who achieve really, truly incredible things. What does it mean to train for a lifetime for a fleeting moment on the international stage? A moment when, quite literally, the world is watching? And then what happens when it’s all over? All at once, GOLD tells a story that is hopeful, inspiring, and heartbreaking.
What’s your favorite part (you don’t have to give anything away J)?
When Kyle Sherman sings.
Why should everyone go see the show?
This year’s show is accessible in a way that it hasn’t been before. The Olympics have a way of bringing people together in a way that no other international event can. In addition to the fact that GOLD is entirely student written, composed, orchestrated, and choreographer (which is exciting on its own), the stories that the show tells this year are especially exciting. Other exciting attractions include the boys’ short shorts.
If you could be an Olympic athlete for any sport, which one would it be?
Gymnastics
Dying to see Waa-mu this weekend? Buy tickets here!
Photos courtesy of Kathryn Watts