Interview: Director And Choreographer, Amy Marie McCleary of SWING! at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

BWW: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of being both the director and choreographer of a show?

AMM: With a show like Swing - which is all music, I feel like it's supremely easy to direct and choreograph. I love being able to make smooth transitions between the more "traditional" story songs and the songs which are just danced. For these production I treat my choreography from a very directorial point of view - what is the character is feeling? What movement helps tell the story? And I truly wanted many of the numbers to just feel like people social dancing in the 1930's and 40's - everyone was lindy hopping away and everyone has their own style. I made it clear to my dancers that I was going to give them the basic swing steps and then I really wanted them to make it their own.

I think with a strong dance show it can become very "dance recital" and I tried to avoid that by keeping my director-mind engaged. The big disadvantages have to do with time management - when I'm in charge of staging everything I have very long rehearsal days so I can get to everything. When I work with a partner we get to divide and conquer. I also love having a partner to bounce ideas off of. It's always great to collaborate. In this case I had a wonderful assistant choreographer who I was able to connect with about concept and choreographic patterns.

BWW: Swing music and fashions had a bit of a revival a while back with bands like Big Bad VooDoo Daddy and Squirrel Nut Zippers. What do you think is swing's appeal to a younger audience?

AMM: My interest in swing dancing actually picked up during that time period. I was personally very attracted to anything form the 30's and 40's. My own grandparents came of age in that time period - so perhaps that's why I was drawn to it. I loved looking at pictures of them dressed to go dancing. Everything seemed a bit more put together back then. In what people wore and how they dressed. I love the style of the whole era. And the music is just magical. It makes me want to move in a way that modern songs just don't - the variety of instrumentation and the rhythmic styles just speak to me as a dancer.

BWW: How do you encourage your performers to maintain the intense energy, pace and enthusiasm required of such a dance-heavy show?

AMM: Walking into any rehearsal period, my number one goal is to create a positive and flexible working environment. I also love creating on the spot - frequently I come up with my best ideas within the rehearsal process and I feel like that sense of spontaneity makes the entire cast know that the show is one we create together. I always try and speak to my dancers strengths and make sure they are given moments they enjoy and feel suited to their own particularly style.

Also - every number has a backstory. The audience may not get it - but if my dancer knows she's been in love with her partner for years and he is finally just noticing her affections and returning them - well, that's going to give her a reason to dance beyond just giving her steps. Dancers are also the hardest working people I know. Most of us adore doing heavy dance shows because it allows us to so what we love.

BWW: What is your favorite number in the show and why?

AMM: That's like asking me to choose my favorite child!! I have so many favorites - every performer has their own unique storyline and path throughout the show, so we have many different looks and feels within the production. I adore "Bli-Blip" which is a song performed primarily in jazz "scatting". It's hilarious and vocally impressive. "Cry Me A River" has been a favorite of mine since college - I love a good torch song. We also put a really fun spin on it. "Throw That Girl Around" has six powerhouse dancers showing you many different styles of partner dancing which is jaw-dropping. And "Sing Sing Sing" may be one of the most joyous songs ever composed - it's impossible NOT to dance to it.

Tickets and more information about the show can be found at the Dutch Apple homepage.