After 5,289-Mile Journey, Dancer Returns to UA

University of Arizona dancer Danielle Sheather recently returned from a 95-day trip abroad, where she studied and performed in Paris.

Sheather writes that it took three plane rides and a 5,289-mile journey from Heathrow to return to Tucson for the fall. Having spend the summer in the United Kingdom and Europe, where she was involved in intensive training and performance, while also making time for touring, Sheather is now completing her final year of graduate school as an Master of Fine Arts candidate.

She writes: "To say it has been a whirlwind of a journey would be an understatement. I haven't even begun to take in that my European trek is over, and it's hard to imagine 95 days going like the snap of a Bob Fosse gloved hand. Whatever the case, I've been hitting the ground running. I managed to get most of my syllabi for the two courses I am teaching this semester completed over the summer, and our cohort began a Google doc this summer to begin discussing our desires as MFA students for our final thesis projects. So I felt ahead of the game."

To read more about Sheather's summer abroad and her training as a dancer, visit her blog, "pourquoipasdanserlemonde."

Photos and text courtesy of Danielle Sheather

"Tuesday we also had an assignment in Père Lachaise Cemetery. We were asked to lead a group of undergrads around to find and discuss historical figures buried within the walls."

"Since Germany, I've traveled to Rotterdam, a place I had visited before during my dancing days for Holland America Line. It's changed but it's also remained the same."

"I had been back to the Netherlands in 2010.... So this time, 2015, was a great way to see the city and travel to another city, Den Haag, where I participated in the Open Studio Workshop with Nederlands Dans Theatre and saw their 'Up and Coming Choreographers' show at the Korzo Theater with NDT2."

"Jeff Bizieau taught another contemporary class I took. I was happy to find out that he was teaching for the full two weeks so I was able to really delve into the material of his class. Also, having Mr. Bizieau scheduled the week after Mme. Kaisserlian was helpful. I feel that their courses lent well to one another and the material taught in Mme. Kaisserlian's class could be applied and further explored in Mr. Bizieau’s class."

"The heat in Nice and the fact that there was no air conditioning didn't bother me one bit! First, I knew that at the end was a dip in the French Riviera and second I was doing what I loved so why complain? I would walk down 80 stairs in the morning from our flat in Vieux Nice, grab a croissant and coffee and make my way to three dance classes in a row from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., most of the time until 5:30 p.m. because who wouldn't want to dance just a little longer?" 

La Tour Eiffel

"I wouldn't change a thing. The time is busy and the work is hard, but it's truly what I love."