While both Dance studio’s and Drama rooms are here to create performers, the dance studios mirrors, barres, and set classrooms encourage correction, precision, and perfection and the drama rooms open seating, posters, and tv welcome more creating and interaction.  Showing, the goal for each performer is totally different. 

If you were to walk into a dance studio as a non dancer you would be immediately intimidated by the girls and boys looking at the mirrors doing something that you would think is perfect over and over again because their teacher said they forgot a pointed foot, or their leg wasn’t fully extended. Or maybe you walk past a ballet class and you see girls and boys lined up at a barre getting corrected for their posture. Now you might see this and think “They’re doing too much” but in reality most of the time we are not doing enough. Perfection in every step is expected, and we want to work hard to achieve it. As dancers, we constantly watch ourselves in the mirror and make corrections until we get it right.  Now imagine you walked into a drama class and while there is a mirror, that’s not the first you notice. The posters on the wall, scattered students reading scripts, and going over scenes immediately create a different space. As drama students we are encouraged to dig deep in our character, find out what their intention is and interact with other students rather than making our movements look the same. Both places are designed to create performers, but each one has different goals, lessons, and expectations for their performers. 

This differentiation is not an accident. The dance studio is built toward discipline and precision and a drama class is to share expression and collaboration. Their designs, walls, and floors tell you what really matters in a space before a single word is said. When we walk into the dance studio the mirrors immediately tell us to look at ourselves, when we walk into the drama room we are told to look at each other. 

The ceiling to floor mirrors all down the wall make it impossible for dancers to ignore or miss imperfections. We are constantly watching and comparing ourselves to make corrections. The bright overhead lights spotlights all of our movements which is important to make sure everybody is together and correct. Even the big empty space with floors made of marley has a purpose. Marley is a material that helps dancers jump, turn, and travel across the floor so much easier. 

In the drama room, the space encourages us to look past the room we are in. The open scattered seating helps you see each scene come to life. We have to listen to the people we are acting with, act with the character’s intentions, and communicate with the audience. Instead of practicing the same scene the same way over and over we are challenged to make changes and take risks. This open space gives us room to experiment and take on new challenges. 

Even though they are designed to make different performers, both performers are performing for one thing: the audience.  As performers our job is to entertain the audience, to tell them a story. Though a dancer may wear tights and a drama kid might wear hats they both dress and transform into a character to perform a show, whether that be through movements or through words.

Being a part of both worlds has shown me neither performer is “Better” than the other, they are just simply training for different things. Dance has shown us to look at ourselves and notice how I can improve so I can achieve perfection whether it be for yourself or your group. And drama shows us to look at others and see how you connect with other people while trying to convey a story. Both spaces teach valuable lessons that you wouldn’t be able to fully grasp in a “normal” classroom setting. 

Overall these two spaces show us that the space does so much more than give us a place to rehearse; they help us become the kind of performer we are meant to be. I have learned that no matter which kind of performer you are you can learn from the other and grow even more toward your goal whatever that may be.