The Classroom
Exploring the many layers of the learning process through the perspectives of K-12 students and teachers.
September 7-8th, 2019
Dancers Pictured Above: Mariko Ishikawa, Jessica DeFranco, Katherine Neumann and Nicole Maimon.
A Note from the Choreographer and Artistic Director, Alyssa Mitchel
My journey in creating “The Classroom” in March 2018. After hearing a lecture on the Growth Mindset at the Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto and reading Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, I participated in a short choreographic residency at LEVYdance, where I created a trio inspired by Professor Dweck’s groundbreaking work. Following the residency, in the summer of 2018, I continued my exploration of the learning process in my choreography. At first, I was determined to create an hour-length piece solely about the Growth Mindset. In the course of interviewing twenty-six students, teachers, professors and principals from Live Oak School, Laurel Dell Elementary School, Sandhill School and the Dominican University of California, my vision evolved. I decided to integrate the interview responses into new sections of the piece. I also realized that I wanted the work to connect to my own experiences—both as a student who struggled with learning differences and as a math and study skills tutor who has worked with hundreds of students around the Bay Area, to my new work.
I was lucky to receive the support and mentorship from Lizz Roman and Kimi Okada from ODC’s Pilot Program, who nurtured my growth and development for two back-to-back Pilot seasons (70 and 71) as I created the Defining Intelligence and Frustration sections. Special thanks to Daniel Weiermann who trusted my work and brought this piece to life through his incredible lighting designs and effects. It is such an honor to collaborate with you. Thank you to my cousin, Jake Fisher for creating the most wonderful composition that perfectly fit each tone, mood and movement of this section. Thank you Mark McBeth for your excellent cinematography, and Kyle Adler for beautifully documenting my project in photos throughout the year. Thank you to Micky Powell for providing my dancers and I with studio space. I’m also indebted to all of the generous individual donors who made this project possible. Thanks to St. Charles Borromeo Church for donating the school desks and to Virigina Paik for donating the classroom chairs. Special thanks to Ben, Maia, Eloise and Alexa for being so open and sharing your personal experiences and educational journeys with me, and for writing such honest reflections. I’m extremely grateful to all of the students and teachers from Live Oak School, Laurel Dell Elementary School, Sandhill School and the Dominican University of California who took time out of their busy end-of-the-year schedules to make room for my interviews. Finally, thank you to my seven dancers: Frankie, Jess, Jessica, Katherine, Nicole, Tayler and Sierra. I couldn’t have worked with a more dedicated, hard-working, artistic, supportive, generous and creative cast. Thank you for bringing my vision to life!
I dedicate my new work to my family—thank you, Mom, Dad and Olivia for all of your support and help throughout this entire journey! To my students—I dedicate this work to you as well. You inspire me to keep learning and asking questions. Finally, I dedicate this show to all of the tutors and teachers who believed in me during my most challenging times battling with my learning differences. Thank you for never giving up on me and for inspiring me to become an educator.
Alyssa Mitchel is a fiscally sponsored project by Dancers’ Group.
This performance is supported in part by the Lighting Artists in Dance Award, a program of Dancers’ Group.
Choreographer: Alyssa Mitchel
Dancers: Jessica Bozzo, Jessica DeFranco, Sierra Heller, Tayler Kinner, Nicole Maimon, Katherine Neumann and Frankie Lee Peterson III
Lighting Designer: Daniel Weiermann
Featured Composer: Jake Fisher
Videographers: Mark McBeth and Clare Schweitzer
High School Student Writers: Eloise Brotzman, Alexa Crandall, Ben Nguyen and Maia Pedrosa
Schools in Collaboration: The Urban School of San Francisco (San Francisco), Live Oak School (San Francisco), Sandhill School (Palo Alto), Laurel Dell Elementary School (San Rafael) and Dominican University of California (San Rafael)
Program Order
I. Defining Intelligence
Dancers: Jessica DeFranco, Sierra Heller, Frankie Lee III, Nicole Maimon and Katherine Neumann
Music: “Drums - Space” by Man Forever, Oneida & So Percussion, “Logos” by Ludovico Einaudi & Amsterdam Sinfonietta, and “The Apparatus” by Manu Delago
II. Maia’s Reflection
Dancer: Jessica Bozzo
III. Ben’s Reflection
Dancer: Nicole Maimon
IV. Frustration
Dancers: Jessica DeFranco, Sierra Heller, Nicole Maimon and Katherine Neumann
Music: Original composition by Jake Fisher
V. Eloise’s Reflection
Lycée Francais de San Francisco: Sierra Heller
Presidio Hill School: Tayler Kinner
The Urban School of San Francisco: Frankie Lee III
VI. Growth Mindset
Dancers: Jessica Bozzo, Tayler Kinner and Frankie Lee III
Music: Hip Hop Studies & Etudes: II: Hip Hop Study and Etude in D Minor by Daniel Bernard Roumain and Jade Simmons
VII. Alexa’s Reflection
Part I: Katherine Neumann
Part II: Jessica DeFranco
VIII. Tutor
Parent 1: Jessica Bozzo
Parent 2: Frankie Lee III
Student: Katherine Neumann
Tutor: Nicole Maimon
Music: “Without Sinking” by Hidur Gutnadottir and “The Road” by A Tribe Called Red (Feat. Black Bear)
IX. Recess
Full Cast
Music: “Skylife” by Ahn Trio
*The production runs exactly one hour in length
Slideshow: Photography by Kyle Adler