From a young age, “improv” has been a scary word for me. It was hardly ever taught, and usually discouraged because it can be distracting during choreography sessions (which is fair). However, I still struggle when the choreographer at an audition says, “and then you’re going to improv for 100 counts of 8 - show me what you’ve got!” All of a sudden, 25 years of extensive training leaves my body and I freeze. When I teach and utilize moments of improvisation in my choreography

This year I got to do the one thing I never knew I wanted to do, and the most important thing in my career thus far: I sat behind the table as a creative component, and contributed to casting a show I was working on. Now I’ve been behind the table a few times as an assistant choreographer (observing), which taught me a lot to begin with. I’ve also had many a conversation with people who talk about the benefits of being a reader, assisting a casting director, and other ways to