By: Liz Monnier, Artistic Director
I write Artistic Director these days knowing that soon, I will no longer be adding that title to my name. And that is okay. I have been planning and working toward this transition for the past four years and as the time approaches I feel excited for the next incarnation of the Fort Wayne Dance Collective with a new Artistic Director. I am working tirelessly to put this, my last concert together, “Songs of Eagles.” It is an exciting but exhausting process. List: two more bear ears, re-edit music, find a follow-spot operator, who is striking the floor? Who is doing laundry? I spent about six hours creating the technical cue sheet and then I got to the bow. I had 216 seconds of music for 19 groups to bow, which is only 11 seconds per bow….not enough. Okay, no problem, just add more music! And then what is the bow order? When we get to the theater, rehearsing the bow seems to become the biggest order of business. Bows are important. It is the moment when audience and performers connect on a personal level. When our bow was cancelled due to tornado warnings for “The Kings Curse” in 2010, I was crushed. I so missed that authentic rush of the audience response at concert end.
I hesitate using the words “final bow,” as I really don’t know exactly what will come next for me. I don’t think I will ever really leave the Fort Wayne Dance Collective, but this is a closure on one part of my relationship with this amazing organization so as “Artistic Director,” I will take my final bow. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
Zoe Moore as “Sarah”and cast during the final bow of The Lost Balloon, June 2013 at South Side High School.
Erik Osterkil as “Casey” and cast during the final bow of The Boy Who Wanted to Count, June 2012 at the Arts United Center.
Vicki Gallagher as “Daisy” and cast during the final bow in The Gift of Daisy McGhee, June 2011 at the Arts United Center.