Choreographing a group of over 30 college students in a musical may seem like a daunting task. But for Lisa Clarson, choreographer of UF’s School of Theatre and Dance’s Kiss Me Kate, it’s just another gig.
“To become a choreographer, you should be a dreamer.” (Photo by Grace Kenny)
A Jacksonville native, Clarson’s professional dance career began when she won the Miss Dance of Florida pageant as a teenager. She used the prize money to fly to New York, and her third day in the city, Clarson was cast in a Broadway show.
She went on to dance in Broadway shows, music videos, award shows, and for 35 years in Las Vegas, a place she called “a dancer paradise.”
But whenever she was dancing, she said she constantly felt something was wrong. From the music to the lighting to the choreography itself, Clarson said she always felt she could do it better herself, and would come up with her own dances and shows. “To become a choreographer,” Clarson said, “you should be a dreamer.”
Clarson since became a choreographer and has produced shows around the world. She got involved with the school after a friend recommended she work on last year’s show, Spring Awakening. Clarson is no stranger to choreographing, but she said the student’s motivation and hope kept her coming back.
“I wouldn’t keep coming here if I didn’t really love their work ethic,” the 63-year-old said. “These kids are fabulous, I can’t say enough about them.”
To work on a show this size, Clarson said she first needs to prepare herself. “I do most of my work before I come in,” she said. “I know this show frontwards and backwards as best as I can before I walk in the door.”
Clarson has choreographed for non-dancers before, and she said the key is to work with, not against, the cast.
“My job also is to not make anybody look bad,” she said. “If you have star quality, I can bring it out in you.”
She does this by teaching students dance basics and working individually with students to see what works for each cast member.
“I’ll find something that looks good on them,” she said. “And as long as they feel it and act it, I’d rather have somebody like that than a great dancer that has no feeling.”
For Diaunte Jenkins, 18, Kiss Me Kate is his first show at UF. “In the beginning I was quite nervous,” the theatre and dance double major said.
When Carlson discovered that Jenkins exceled at jumps and leaps, Jenkins said she immediately put his skills to work.
“Once she figured out I had great height range she’s like, ‘Diaunte I need you to jump here and here and here,’” Jenkins said.
Jenkins, an ensemble member, said his favorite part of the show is the complicated jump sequence Carlson choreographed for him.
“I like that she incorporates everyone, and she doesn’t have specific favorites,” he said. “She sees the potential in everyone.”
Clarson reads her choreography notes before a show rehearsal. (Photo by Grace Kenny)
Clarson proudly watched as a group of students rehearsed a lift and pass sequence onstage. Beaming, she talked about how the difficult the pass was to pull off. “Do you know how many times I couldn’t sling her up there?”
Clarson said she choreographed the big production numbers in the show, which often included the entire cast. She said the student’s enthusiasm to learn make her job easy.
“There’s nothing harder than working with people who won’t try something new,” she said. “And their talent, their hope, is so big.”
As someone who’s worked on a variety of projects, Clarson said she wants students to know how valuable it is to try new things.
“If you want to be in show business, you have to work. But don’t only work what you’re good at, you have to work on things you’re not good at,” she said. “The key to everything is versatility.”
Kiss Me Kate will be performed October 27 through November 5 at the Constans Theatre. Ticket and showtime information can be found through the University Box Office.
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