Hello! My name is Cal Shin, and I am a '27 planning to double-major in Economics and Philosophy. Outside of academics and blogging, you can find me drawing (perhaps even designing for The Dartmouth), hosting my radio show as a proud deejay at WebDCR, perusing the Free Market, or hanging out with friends. Ultimately, I am an artist and a storyteller. I hope you enjoy reading about my Dartmouth experience; the journey has just begun!
Getting involved in the performing arts as a student is easy, and you don't need any experience!
Auditions for a variety of performing arts groups, ranging from theatre companies to a cappella and anything in between, are open to everyone during the first 2-3 weeks of classes in the fall. I would not have thought of myself as a theatre kid, but I decided to audition for a staged reading the day after the first day of classes. The audition process was really simple: I had to read for a character I wanted to audition for, and then I was asked to read for a few other characters.
We had a month to rehearse. So, how did rehearsals work?
There were three different types of rehearsals: group readings, in which people in a certain scene gathered together to read a specific scene of a play; character work, in which every cast member met with the directors one-on-one to work on monologues; and choreography. Because our play was about a group of dancers, there was some choreography involved.
Choreography rehearsal!
As someone who has never danced before, I was initially nervous about the amount of dance experience required, since the play consisted of characters with a significant amount of dance experience. However, the movement director ensured that the choreography was simple, easy to learn, and comfortable for everyone.
All of our hard work paid off during our performance. Our initial performance date was completely sold out, so we ended up opening our dress rehearsal to audience members as well! I personally had a blast throughout the whole process.
Dress rehearsal!
I was initially surprised when I got a character other than the one I had chosen to audition for. Looking back, however, I am glad I got the character I did. Playing her was honestly extremely empowering.
Entering a new environment miles away from home, knowing little to no people at first, can feel daunting. However, Dartmouth's support systems, particularly through the First Generation Office (FGO), have been nothing short of incredible.
A key part of my Dartmouth experience so far has been my time on Sheba, one of many dance groups on campus! Read on to learn more about dance on campus!
Dartmouth's Winter Carnival is a beloved tradition that brings the community together to celebrate winter with a wide range of fun activities, from thrilling ski races to unique events like the Polar Plunge and ice sculpture carving.
