By Ana Jaramillo Lake Forest High School senior Chloe Fournier performed Rhythms of Passion: A Tap Dance Experience at Gorton Center on Oct. 6. Her own production, the event explored a genre that was popular back in the days of Fred Astaire but which is no longer on most people’s radar. Lake Forest Love caught up with Fournier recently:
Why did you first get involved with dance?
My first dance classes took place at my preschool, Kinderhaven, in Maryland. A lady would come in and teach us ballet and then, after a couple of weeks, do our hair and provide costumes, and have us perform for our parents. Both my parents were working away from the house at the time, and this was an easy way to keep us occupied for a couple more hours of the day.
Chloe Fournier points to the stage adorned with her image before the production at Gorton.
Since then, dance is one of the few sports I have stuck with. I have never enjoyed running or having to kick a ball; the movement dance demands, feels to me, much more refined and purposeful.
What did you learn from your key dance mentor or mentors growing up?
I learned a lot about the importance of punctuality and accountability. We have a saying at LFDA that, “If you are early, you are on time. If you are on time, you are late, and if you are late, you are fired”. That mentality really instilled in me a sense of punctuality and preparedness that has been present in all aspects of my life since. In terms of accountability, I remember long talks at the end of rehearsals, halfway through the season, about our attendance, and how my teammates were not going to their other classes. I was determined to make sure that was not me. Since then, I have barely missed school or dance, and I always come prepared to bring my best self.
What stories can you share that show why dance is so important to you?
Dance means a lot to me and creates a large part of my identity. Outside of school, it takes up most of my time. But it is not just me that my dancing brings joy to. Every year Lake Forest Dance Academy does something called Holiday Tour, where we go and dance at different nursing homes. I have a very special relationship with my grandparents, so dancing for people who remind me of them is fulfilling. I love to see that joy on their faces when we perform or hear the stories about how they used to dance back in the day. Any performance where you make the audience feel something makes all of the time and effort worth it.
"The biggest lesson I have learned is perseverance," said Chloe Fournier (shown above practicing her moves) about creating her own production.
When I was a freshman in high school, my biggest goal was to be moved up to our highest-level performance company. All of the older girls who I had looked up to for years were in that company, and I wanted to be as well. So when I finally got in I cried. I was so happy. That whole next year I worked tirelessly to make sure that I performed my best and proved I was meant to be there. It was not until our performance at the town tree lighting in front of thousands of people that it felt real.
I also help assistant teach intro level classes at my studio, which is very rewarding. I love working with kids and being a part of their journey. What inspired you to make your own production?
I always enjoyed doing Girl Scouts as a kid, and when my mom became troop leader it became more than a childhood activity. My mom and I were in New York on a trip with Lake Forest Dance Academy when we realized that my Gold Award should revolve around dance. From there the idea of Rhythms of Passion came about. As a tap dancer I have experienced a lot of frustration at competitions. Tap never scores well at competition and is truly a labor of love. I got the idea for the show’s concept from a dance concert I participated in sophomore year with LFDA called Move. There we performed one of my favorite dances ever to Praying by Kesha. It was a showcase of all different studios and styles, except tap. That inspired the inclusion of multiple groups and studios. At Move I loved getting to see all the different talent that was in the area that I didn't even know existed. It was inspiring.
What was the biggest challenge of building the production?
Communication and pitching this idea was really challenging. It took a lot of work and time to get the project approved by the Girl Scouts. Finding a venue and studios to participate proved a challenge. Not a lot of people responded at first when I emailed my cold pitch, because they had no idea who I was or what I was talking about. I had to learn how to perfect my elevator pitch and use my connections at LFDA to get people to trust me. What is the biggest lesson you have learned during the creation of this production?
The biggest lesson I have learned is perseverance. This project has been over a year long process. With that long of a time comes frustration when things move slowly or feel like they are not moving at all. But I am so happy I did not just give up last winter when I did not have a venue and no one was answering my emails because otherwise I would not be here today. Why tap dancing?
I have been competitively tap dancing longer than I have any other style. I remember I joined the other performance companies because I felt left out as one of the only girls who solely did tap dance. And as much as I love all the other styles I do, tap dancing holds a very special place in my heart. I do not want any other little girl to feel like only doing tap dance is not enough, because it is. It is so special. Tap teaches you to be a musician and learn so much about your body.
Would you continue to bring dance to your future endeavors?
I am a senior right now, so I am hoping to double major in dance along with biology at whichever institution I end up going to. I love to dance and love the structure it brings to my life, so I want to make sure that dance is always present in my life even as I leave high school. Read a story about Fournier’s Gorton Center production here.
留言