The CDCT Intern Program
The CDCT’s intern program offers opportunities and valuable experience to future leaders in the world of dance and the performing arts that are rarely found in other professional internships. Since the program’s establishment in 2006, The CDCT has sponsored undergraduate and graduate students in their independent coursework, field-studies, and continuing education from Bennington College in Vermont, Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, The Virginia Military Institute, and Washington and Lee University. Working in partnership with Halestone Dance Studio, The CDCT intern program provides participants the flexibility to design courses of study within a wide range of creative work including performing arts education, business administration, public relations, advertising, stage production, writing, and research.
This past year, The CDCT has been fortunate to sponsor Tabitha King as our intern in residence. When she graduated from W&L in June 2009, Tabi was seeking additional dance training to help prepare her for professional theatre and graduate school auditions. She heard about The CDCT’s intern program and decided to apply. “The first week of my internship I found myself in rehearsal, helping to create a children’s theatre piece to be performed in the Rockbridge Regional Libraries. By the second week of my internship, we were already on tour and performing. Plus, I was coteaching dance conditioning classes at Halestone, getting that valuable dance training I wanted.”
As the summer continued, Tabi served as concierge for The CDCT’s Dancers’ House, hosting the professional dancers from New York City and Washington, D.C. who were participating in The CDCT’s Rockbridge Artist Exchange program. Staying on for the fall, Tabi’s intern duties extended to managing The CDCT’s fall production schedule and working with local school children in The Moving Arts Initiative. “I’ve gained field experience in everything from stage management and arts administration to production and publicity. Dancing with the company, my skills as a dancer have improved tremendously and I can tell it’s had a positive affect on my acting technique.”
After The CDCT’s winter concert season is finished, Tabi is leaving Lexington for NYC with plans to pursue a MFA in acting. “What I have learned and all that I have gained from this internship has had a direct impact on my future plans and goals. The programs I’m applying for have a strong dance component to them. I have a new vision for creating theatrical pieces and using dance choreography to tell stories.”
The CDCT is now accepting intern applications for the 2010-2011 season. To learn more about the program and how to apply, click here.
Tabitha King - Intern, 2009 / 2010