Cassandra Anne Ream

Cassandra Anne Ream’s programs provide video learning to children and adults to study the precision of movement. The mission behind the courses & digital portfolio is to make advanced education accessible at a price most people can afford. www.Cassandraanneream.com, https:www.instagram.com/cassdandraanneream, https:www.facebook.com/cassandraanneream

DanceTalks with Cassandra Anne Ream: Full Transcript

Hosted by Andrea Cody, Director of Dance Houston. Originally released February 15, 2021. This transcript was generated automatically and may contain small errors.

Episode summary (SEO)

Performing arts specialist and educator Cassandra Ream joins host Andrea on DanceTalks from Dance Houston to talk about building an online dance education for children and young adults. Cassandra began dancing at two, trained at Steps on Broadway, Alvin Ailey, San Diego Ballet and Edge Performing Arts Center, and has owned two performing arts schools. She explains how her video courses teach contemporary, jazz fusion, musical theater and contemporary pointe choreography to dancers seven and up, how her digital portfolio of about 75 routines helps schools prepare performances, and why practicing at home and believing in your own potential matter so much. Recorded December 17, 2020.

Key takeaways

Home practice builds dancers. Cassandra says her most important training happened at home, with daily stretching and self-practice when she couldn’t get to class.
Online courses widen access. Each course has about 24 videos, four one-minute routines, a warm-up and mindfulness practices, at a price most families can afford.
Contemporary dance is authentic expression. For Cassandra, contemporary is the language and personality of the choreographer and the emotion behind the work.
Parents set the values. No industry, company or trend should compromise the values and boundaries parents set for their child’s well-being.
Commit daily and notice small wins. Her advice for soloists: show up whether or not you feel like dancing, and celebrate the little victories.

Transcript

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability: filler words and repeats were removed.

[0:00] Early training

Andrea: Hello and welcome to DanceTalks. Today is December 17, 2020. I’m your host, Andrea, and my guest today is Cassandra Ream. Cassandra is a performing arts specialist and educator. Cassandra, welcome to DanceTalks.

Cassandra Ream: Thank you so much, Andrea.

Andrea: Thanks for being here. I’m excited to learn more about you. Can you tell us from the beginning how you first learned to dance and developed your skills?

Cassandra Ream: I have an incredible mother who enrolled me at the very young age of two, and from there it was a joy ride. I traveled a lot when I was younger, so I was able to work with many different teachers and specialists. But I believe my most important training happened at home, with a lot of daily stretching and self-practice. I didn’t have the luxury of going to class every day, so creating that opportunity for myself at home was wonderful.

In my younger years I studied in summer programs such as Steps on Broadway, the internationally acclaimed Alvin Ailey, and San Diego Ballet, as well as the Edge Performing Arts scholarship program. I worked closely with Mandy Moore, Terry Beeman and Dee Hillier, who were the catalysts for my career as a professional choreographer and educator.

Andrea: Amazing. Thank you, Cassandra’s mom, for making all those opportunities available. You really went coast to coast.

Cassandra Ream: I sure did. We lived in Montana and Ohio, and then I studied extensively in California and New York.

[1:40] The online courses

Andrea: Tell us about your courses.

Cassandra Ream: The online courses I developed are designed so children and young adults can access more movement and opportunity in their dance education. Video learning lets students study the precision of movement, learn at their own pace and dance as often as they wish. The mission behind the courses and the digital portfolio was to make advanced education accessible at a price most people can afford.

Andrea: Where can people find you online?

Cassandra Ream: On my website.

Andrea: We’ll put that link in the show notes. How did you get into the arts as an academic pursuit?

Cassandra Ream: Arts education had a profound impact on my well-being growing up. It let me explore mental, physical and emotional intelligence, and I believe there is nothing greater than investing in exploring your own potential. That led me to become an educator and artist.

Andrea: Will you share how your course works and the kinds of lessons you provide?

Cassandra Ream: Each course offers about 24 videos, broken down across four choreography routines of about a minute each. The genres are contemporary, jazz fusion and musical theater, and some of the more advanced courses include contemporary pointe. Each course comes with a warm-up and mindful practices for a positive frame of mind.

Andrea: Will you give us your definition of contemporary dance?

Cassandra Ream: For me, contemporary dance is an expression of authenticity. It’s the language and personality of the choreographer. Contemporary really identifies with whatever emotion the person who created the work is feeling.

[4:00] Creative process

Andrea: What’s your creative process like?

Cassandra Ream: It varies by project. As an educator, my process is to help people recognize their own brilliance, believe in themselves and learn about their infinite potential. As a choreographer, my process is to listen to your heart. I know that sounds cheesy, but wherever the passion is, you’re bound to tap into something brilliant and authentic. I enjoy exploring new pathways of movement and feeling limitless in my creative process.

Andrea: How else are you sharing this work? You told me about a blog and a book.

Cassandra Ream: I write a blog about breaking through mental barriers and persevering past limiting behaviors we’ve adopted, habitual patterns we may not even realize we’re in. I believe we’re all infinitely brilliant and have an incredible amount of potential if we give ourselves permission to learn what we’re capable of. I’m working on publishing a book on that subject in 2021, and producing more courses so students have more access to the online curriculum.

Andrea: How do you think your program makes your students feel?

Cassandra Ream: The courses help students identify with their self-worth and take ownership of their own creative process. I believe that to create anything, we first must become it. Learning about your potential and capabilities is the foundation of a life of opportunity and success, so I hope the courses give each student the confidence to create their own opportunities.

Andrea: What’s the youngest age you had in mind when you created these courses?

Cassandra Ream: The courses feature my former dancers, and they start at seven years old. The beginner and intermediate courses are great for any child or adult with minimal dance experience. They get to emulate dancers of a similar age in the videos, whose routines have been rehearsed to precision.

Andrea: Wonderful. So seven and up. How does this work reflect who you are as a person and as an artist?

Cassandra Ream: I believe there are no limits on what someone can produce or become, so the mission behind the work is to explore that potential through the physical, mental and emotional state. Second, coming from a place of authenticity, I think it’s important to produce work and ideas that are innovative and haven’t been done before.

Andrea: So it’s very self-expressive and reflective. Do you have a motto?

Cassandra Ream: I believe that in order to create anything in life, we first must become it. That means learning about your creative potential and listening to your passions, which begin with noticing the change you wish to see in the world and what you could contribute to make it better.

Andrea: How do you define success?

Cassandra Ream: Success is many things, but first it’s a deep appreciation for who you are and how you can change what you wish to see in the world, mostly through your passionate pursuits.

[9:34] 2020 and reaching a wider audience

Andrea: How have you developed yourself as a professional in 2020?

Cassandra Ream: Organizing my digital portfolio was a big step, and making it accessible not only to a local community but to a global one, which I’m very grateful for.

Andrea: It is a beautiful portfolio, really breathtaking. Have you made any connections that came out of the blue?

Cassandra Ream: Absolutely. A lot of the students interested in the courses are focused on maintaining their technique and stamina so that when COVID has passed, they can go back to pursuing a dance career. I’ve also noticed private schools and charter schools are very interested in the coursework. In times like these, with so many restrictions, art is one of the most profound outlets. Finding a form of expression is paramount to health and wellness.

Andrea: Amen. Where in the world are you?

Cassandra Ream: I’m in Tahoe, California. It’s a magical wonderland full of snow right now, the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived. I came up here to write my manuscript and get away from the crowds, and I fell in love with the landscape. I plan to dive deeper into the dance community here.

[12:00] Advice for parents

Andrea: Would you like to give any advice to parents of kids seven and up, from all your experience seeing them as little artists?

Cassandra Ream: I’ve owned two performing arts schools and worked in the industry for over 20 years. My one piece of advice: remember that no industry, company or trend should ever compromise the values and boundaries you set for the quality of your child’s life. Stay strong in what you believe in for your child’s well-being, because you will always be their greatest teacher.

Andrea: How can people learn more from you?

Cassandra Ream: Everything is on my website, and you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

Andrea: Are you available for private lessons or sessions?

Cassandra Ream: Absolutely. I offer private group sessions on Zoom, one-on-one training and coaching. And I have a digital portfolio of choreography for people interested in learning full routines.

Andrea: So if I were a school, I could browse your choreography and you would set it on the students?

Cassandra Ream: Yes. With COVID, it’s a great way to prepare for a digital performance or, someday, a live one. The digital portfolio has about 75 routines in different genres. I edit the video down so they can learn a full-length routine from it, and then they can hire me, or not, to clean it and offer professional advice before a performance.

[14:00] Staying creative in isolation

Andrea: I heard Hollywood may be getting an exemption from the stay-at-home orders. I wonder if that will include dance in some way.

Cassandra Ream: That would be wonderful. People really need a creative outlet.

Andrea: Dancing seems almost the polar opposite of staying home, social distancing and wearing extra layers.

Cassandra Ream: Dancers are so expressive, and we feed off each other’s energy and the atmosphere in a room. Being isolated with all these limits can make us feel restricted, but there’s no need to feel that way. We can still pursue what we love, prepare for the future and remember that tomorrow is so much brighter than today.

Andrea: You obviously have the right attitude. Do you have advice on the logistics, how to do that day to day?

Cassandra Ream: It comes down to self-worth, self-love and listening to what fuels you and takes care of your health. When I was younger I danced a lot at home, because I couldn’t always go to class every day like other children. Giving myself permission to enjoy dancing even when I couldn’t go to class was liberating. Today is not forever. If you love to dance, keep your endurance and stamina strong by dancing at home for yourself, so that when classes and performances come back, we haven’t lost anything. We’ve only gained.

Andrea: What is your practice for doing solos at home?

Cassandra Ream: Daily commitment. Whether or not you feel like dancing, commit to your goals and show up. The daily rehearsal of life goes on, and so should your practice and investment in yourself. For a soloist, I’d say persevere past the challenges, believe you’re capable, practice, practice, practice, and notice the little victories and small triumphs.

[17:30] What’s next

Andrea: What’s on your horizon?

Cassandra Ream: I’m finishing building more courses. There are 24 courses, I’ve done three, and I’m finishing up about double that. I’m also finishing the book.

Andrea: Do you have a name for it yet?

Cassandra Ream: That’s still top secret.

Andrea: Do tell us when you know. We’ll be watching to see what Cassandra Ream is up to. Would you like to share some words of encouragement?

Cassandra Ream: The greatest investment any of us can make is building a quality relationship with ourselves. That means exploring what you’re passionate about, because that’s where we discover the greatest self we have to offer and contribute to the world.

Andrea: Let’s close with this: what’s an activity you recommend we do right now?

Cassandra Ream: I’m always energized by the outdoors, so I highly recommend getting outside. This morning I took a walk in a snowstorm, and it felt wonderful. Get outside, breathe in fresh air, remember that’s your greatest asset, and be grateful for all the good things happening in your life.

Andrea: My guest today is Cassandra Ream. Cassandra, thank you for being a part of DanceTalks.