Dancers Using Technology

The Most Portable Dancer

I have been thinking today about how a dancer can be - techwise - the most streamlined. We can easily have our "stuff" everywhere.

Consider your music. I myself have music in iTunes on my home laptop. I have music in iTunes on my work laptop, and I have music on my phone. I frequently use music from all 3 sources to teach classes. This method, clearly, is not the most efficient.

So, as I think about a tech savvy dancer in 2013 who needs music, information, etc. to teach, market her work, and get work done at home, at the office, and on the road, let's consider streamlining. Can all of this information be "housed" on your laptop or iPad? Can all of it be housed on a website so that you can access it from anywhere if need be?

• Google Drive, Mail, and Calendar. Clicking on google.com can be an easy step to access many pieces of information. Check your email anytime, anywhere. Use Google Drive as your online backup system, housing your most recent resume/CV, lesson plans, production budgets, and much more. Keep your schedule via the Google Calendar. 
• Your own website. Whether you are a freelance artist or a person with a company, your own website can house all of the key information - your resume, photos, video clips, and an online press kit. 
• iTunes/iCloud. Sign up for iCloud to be able to access your iTunes anywhere, but also to back up your purchases in case your phone, computer, or tablet gets stolen.

As a dance teacher, could it really be this streamlined? What might this look like? Let's say you own an iPad:

• You keep your class notes as a Google Doc (or Note)
• Your music is in iTunes on a playlist, and you simply plug in the device

Google Docs and Google Drive for Joint Dance Projects

Today's post might sound incredibly simple, but hopefully the idea will spark a few new thoughts for choreographers, companies, and festivals. For many of us, we are working on joint projects, working with committees and boards, and trying our best to archive information for future years.

Google Drive and Google Docs have now changed it all and streamlined this process. How easy it is to share meeting notes, the spreadsheet with the project budget, and the "to do" list. Google Docs are great in that you can make it possible for multiple people to view and edit the documents anytime. 

Google Drive also makes it so easy to access your information on multiple computers, at home, at the library, in a meeting, etc. 

For independent choreographers, consider making a Google Doc for rehearsal scheduling and finding out dancers' availability. Keep the most up-t0-date rehearsal schedule on Google Drive. Also consider typing up rehearsal notes for dancers to access before the next rehearsal.