How was my summer vacation? Oh, the family and I frolicked on the beach for two months with ice cream dripping down our hands while we joyfully indulged in the long lazy sleepy summer days before I gently glided into the smooth transition of becoming the department’s new chair. I had plenty of time to get acclimated to the administrative side of the college while I redecorated my new office. I wondered how I would spend all the money in the department’s flush budget and my heart leapt knowing that I could dream big and envision the growth of the department unencumbered by financial nuisances. The national and global scenes were stable and global happiness ensured. All was right with the world.
The record screeches. The scene ripples. The dancer stumbles.
Of course, my first months as chair were nothing like that! Who knew in January when I outlined a 5-year vision for the department that the fall would look anything like it does now! On July 1st, I hit the ground running working with the staff to overhaul the fall so that we could come back with a plan that blended in-person, online and hybrid teaching as the college mandated us to do. There was so much uncertainty about best practices, protocols and risk. I joked that the unit dance had the most in common with was football and since we all know the status of the football team at Ohio State, I just asked for the kinds of masks they were getting. And then football got canceled! So, as far as I can see, we were charged with bringing back, arguably, the most challenging unit during this climate. I have to give a huge shout out to the core staff (Amy, Jen, Jonathon, Damian and Chris) who worked tirelessly all summer to prepare for the Covid fall. Thank you!
In the middle of all of this, the department entered great and small reckonings in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent galvanizing of the global movement for more social justice. Space prohibits me from recounting all of the work we had already begun, developed and are continuing on this front, but please look to other parts of our website for more on how we are doing the work because, as I said elsewhere, it has everything to do with dance.
Once we had clarity on the university’s plans for reopening, the faculty, lecturers and GTAs stepped up to design and redesign the fall according to the constantly shifting landscape of policies, desires and accommodations. As we pondered how to celebrate the return to campus, despite our exhaustion, I looked to the faculty, staff and GTAs to plan a Zoom Department Gathering full of fun facts about instructors, a trivia contest, heartening messages and dash of disco. Special shout out to KJ Dye for our impromptu dance break!
And….were back! Distanced. Masked. In studios, in tents and online. With limitations that often fuel frustration but sometimes breed inspiration. My fingers are crossed that the university is able to maintain safety thresholds so we can continue with our Covid-alternate fall.
To write this welcome message, I looked back to my 5-year vision that I discussed with the department back in January. Although we’ve had some major challenges, I’m undaunted about our prospects for the future. During that talk, I mentioned that I was voted Most Outstanding Cheerleader in 8th grade. I can’t find my old uniform, but I’ll still try to keep the cheerleader in my chair/leadership service to you.
This is an easy task as the amazing work of people in our community continues. In this issue of InForm, we welcome to the faculty world-renowned artist and scholar, Momar Ndiaye, who brings a remarkable range of expertise to our program. We are delighted to have him with us and look forward to the new directions for our aesthetic practices and future collaborations with a variety of interdisciplinary partners. For Candace Feck, retirement means embarking on a five-year intensive research project to help preserve Ohio’s abounding dance history. Karen Eliot also attends to the documenting of performance along with critical engagement and reflective meaning-making through her work with students writing about performances at the Wexner Center for the Arts. As you read about the work of these Ohio State Dance people, I’m sure you will be just as impressed as I am.
So, even though my crystal ball is in the shop and I can’t predict the future, I know that no matter what happens and via whatever mode we are presently working, we will get through this together.
Welcome home!
Looking back, moving forward…
Dr. Nadine
