UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #349 
COLESCOTT, LYDIA

COLESCOTT, Lydia (1963- )
Undergraduate Student
At UW: 1981-1988

Interviewed: 1988	
Interviewer: Laura Smail
Length: 1.5 hours	

Background; Experiences as undergraduate major in dance.

Tape 1/Side 1

00:00:00	Interviewer’s introduction. 

00:00:36	Background.  Choosing dance major.  Changed from more practical majors due enjoyment of dance.

00:02:43	First decides major dance 1985, despite department reputation.

00:05:07	H’Doubler. Department philosophy unclear.

00:06:14	Buff Brennan, rhythmic movement class.

00:08:42	Problems scheduling, sequencing of classes due to poor advising, courses not offered.

00:12:06	Anna Nassif.

00:20:36	Politics of dance department.  Cliquishness problem with Claudia Melrose and Lonnie Gordon.

00:22:44	Lonnie Gordon.

00:26:00	Claudia Melrose.

00:27:24	Had to take electives when first began due department's not offering lower level technique classes.  Sequence becomes out of order.  Associated with Lonnie by chance not choice.

Tape 1/Side 2

00:29:29	Lonnie Gordon's teaching technique.  Egotism, ridiculing of students.

00:34:52	Improvements which took place before folding department.  Jane Ayer's involvement.

00:36:33	Disappointed with Melrose's technique class, unprofessional.

00:38:30	Melrose's composition class, how helped with solo concert piece.

00:40:18	Tibor Zana.

00:40:54	Value of undergraduate dance degree in job market.

00:41:14	Earned respect for composition and progress in technique.

00:42:06	Tension between Ellen Moore and dance department caused some discomfort, LC considered leaving.

00:44:17	Margot Colbert best dancer in department and good teacher.

00:45:28	Gordon sleeps through critique of solo piece.  Out of town during prep week.

00:47:13	Relationships among students, undergraduate/graduate relationships.  How supervision of concert pieces organized.

00:49:39	Consultation with Jane Ayer due to 
Melrose turning out of technique class. 

00:52:57	Composed piece for requirement in performance-choreography emphasis.

Tape 2/Side 1

00:00:24	All performers in concert also in performance-choreography.

00:01:13	Process of choreographing and producing a dance piece.

00:04:01	Group piece in concert first choreographed.  Only dance major in piece herself.  Many dancers in concert elective students.

00:07:29	Style differs from other dance students.  Artistic sensibility due to parents.

00:09:11	Little social contact between faculty and students.

00:09:38	Concert prep chaotic due lack of supervision.  Minimal feedback from faculty.

00:11:56	Lack of theater facilities demoralizes.

00:13:48	Future plans.  Pursue dance, perhaps get M.F.A.  Life of professional dancer difficult.

00:15:59	New York dance environment.

00:16:48	Concluding comments about UW dance department.

00:19:26	Heard of department closing by hearsay.

00:20:49	Faculty will be leaving the University.  Claudia and Lonnie marketable.

00:22:01	Jane Ayer's remarks in meeting with students.  Implied purpose was to get rid of tenured faculty.

00:24:11	Isthmus article with Paul Girard last summer.

00:25:34	LS re Lydia's piece in concert.  Program is in file.

00:26:13	End of session. 

END