This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

KODACHROME, A Chance for Dance

By: Mymy Dinh and Nicole Mones

A simple conversation with close friends who share a common passion can create an atmosphere full of ideas. In the winter of 2008, a close knit of friends, did just that as they tried to expose dance through workshops. The idea grew more rapidly than they could have imagined. This created a chance for individuals to sharpen their dancing abilities or just to experience dance! This chance was a series of learning workshops called KODACHROME. Eirol Bernardino and Jessica Millete initially created the concept of sharing choreography hoping to spread the love of dance to all willing learners. Her Campus VCU correspondents Mymy Dinh and Nicole Mones had the great opportunity to have a sit down interview with the Virginia Senior Staff to shed light on the history and production of KODACHROME.

The dedicated Senior Staff consists of Eirol (Executive Director), Jessica (Director of Events), Elijah Trinidad (Creative Director), Richelle Alagaban (Administrative Director), and Harvey Samaco (Director of Finance). Little did they know, the idea to expand throughout the whole state of Virginia would soon become reality.

Where did the name KODACHROME come from?

Jessica Millete (JM): I first approached Elijah after class asking for titles to call the workshop series. He asked what I wanted to get out of the workshops and I replied I wanted to expose dance and talent here in Virginia. Afterwards, we looked up the word ‘expose’ and all these photography terms showed up. We stumbled across the word KODACHROME and it just flowed. KODACHROME is the most colorful film made by Kodak. In order for the film to be developed it first needs to be exposed and tied it back to dance and have it as a cohesive concept. So it became, “KODACHROME, exposing the true colors of dance.”

Other than exposing dance, what other reasons are you doing this for?

Eirol Bernardino (EB): I am more behind the scenes and want to see it grow. I still dance but people make sacrifices because if we don’t do this who will?

Elijah Trinad (ET): Our first main goal was to take the dance classes that we would put together and learn choreography from each other.

JM: Another main goal was to reach out to bigger names in the dance community from the West Coast. The problem was how could we take classes from them if they were all the way in California and we were here? Oh, we’ll bring them over here! Let’s start this! But internal affairs gets complicated.

What kind of big names did you want to bring over here?

JM: Shaun Evaristo, Keone Madrid, Mariel Martin, and Lyle Beniga. They were part of the drive — we wanted to have what they had, but what we ended up having is different.

EB: We didn’t even plan it to be this big!

JM: I just wanted to keep KODACHROME in Virginia but then Eirol suggested spreading out of the state.

ET: We actually worked with West Coast dancers: Ellen Kim, Miguel Almario (originally from the East Coast), Gigi Torres, Cheryl Koo, and Jillian Meyers.

*What universities host KODACHROME Virginia workshops?

JM: VCU, ODU, GMU, CNU, JMU, W&M, UVA and VT.

*When and where do you hold these workshops?

JM: It’s once a month at any of the universities aforementioned.

*Where was the first state KODACHROME expanded to?

EB: North Carolina.

*What do you see is the biggest difference in KODACHROME from when it started to now?

JM: I think the number of people it has reached and affected. When I start hearing really deep reviews about KODACHROME like, “I found family through KODACHROME”, “I found a reason to dance again from 10 years ago through KODACHROME”, it makes me realize that even though we have grown in number, our message still remains the same.

ET: You can’t write that shit. It’s all organic, what they’re feeling.

JM: In our last workshop, held here at VCU, one of the choreographers, Natalia Ramos, asked everyone before they danced to lay down and think of a moment that changed their lives. After 10 seconds, she told everyone to get up and the whole mood changed. She said, “Don’t you feel different now? Now use that, fill it up, and dance with that emotion.” It was super deep and everyone was in the zone. In the individual groups, people were on the verge of crying.

*Do you need prior dance experience to attend the workshops?

JM: No, not at all! A perfect example would be Mike Keltner. When I first met him, he had only been dancing for 3 months. Then after a few months or so, he ended up wanting to major in dance. He has taught many KODACHROME workshops, now he’s pursuing it as a career.

EB: I was actually his first teacher at the first workshop held at VCU. For a lot of people who attend these workshops, it’s their first time dancing.

JM: This past weekend we had almost 80 people attend the workshop and almost 20 of them were first timers. Even high school students were present.

*So KODACHROME is open to all ages?

JM: Yes! We even had 4 and 8 year olds take one of our workshops, with parental consent of course.

EB: We’ve had people from different countries participate from Russia and Panama.

ET: We even have adults in their 30’s who have their own families attend.

It’s like they’re reliving their dance spirit from their golden days!

ET: Yeah! Some are jazz or ballroom dancers.

Richelle Alagaban (RA): They’re usually from the studios that we hold the workshops at.

*Did you want to focus on one style of dance?

JM: Oh, no! We are open to all genres. We’ve even had contemporary teachers but usually it’s a mix of genres.

ET: It’s different each time and that’s why we encourage our dancers to come out to every workshop that we hold. It’s like adding a new tool on your utility belt.

*How would you convince someone to attend a KODACHROME workshop who is unsure of going?

Harvey Samaco (HS): I would first ask them what they like about dancing, what their knowledge of dance is currently. We tend to speak through KODACHROME as a family. It’s more than just a dance workshop itself. You try to better yourself through dance, networking, and making connections with different people which then leads to a second family that you can go to. It’s something to look forward to and this is just through one field of dance. We try to spread that family vibe through KODACHROME.

ET: A lot of communities say they lack the unity and that’s what they find in these workshops.

*Where would you want to see KODACHROME in 5 years?

JM: In five years, I want to see three stable dance regions on the East Coast but continue to expand.

EB: KODACHROME is the growing platform that will allow one to continue onto bigger things if they want to pursue a dance career. Also, I want to see innovations happen within the workshops. New traditions and new ideas that will help KODACHROME grow.

How long do you plan on having KODACHROME go on for?

JM: For as long as it can go!

For more information visit:

kodachromeva.com

kodachromeva.tumblr.com

twitter.com/kodachromeva

youtube.com/kodachrometv

vimeo.com/kodachromeva

A simple conversation with close friends who share a common passion can create an atmosphere full of ideas. In the winter of 2008, a close knit of friends did just that as they tried to expose dance
through workshops. The idea grew more rapidly than they could have imagined. This created a chance for individuals to sharpen their dancing abilities or just to experience dance! This chance was a series of learning workshops called KODACHROME. Eirol Bernardino and Jessica Millete initially created the concept of sharing choreography hoping to spread the love of dance to all willing learners. Her Campus VCU correspondents Mymy Dinh and Nicole Mones had the great opportunity to have a sit down interview with the Virginia Senior Staff to shed light on the history and production of KODACHROME.

What exactly is KODACHROME?
Jessica Millete (JM): “The purpose of KODACHROME is to provide, expose, and support a network for those who garner an interest for dance across the Eastern region of the United States. “

What universities host KODACHROME Virginia workshops?

JM: VCU, ODU, GMU, CNU, JMU, W&M, UVA and VT.

When and where do you hold these workshops?

JM: It’s once a month at any of the universities aforementioned.

Where was the first KODACHROME workshop held?
JM: The first workshop was held here at Virginia Commonwealth University in January 2009.

Where was the first state KODACHROME expanded to?

Eirol Bernardino (EB): North Carolina.

Do you need prior dance experience to attend the workshops?

JM: No, not at all! A perfect example would be Mike Keltner. When I first met him, he had only been dancing for 3 months. Then after a few months or so, he ended up wanting to major in dance. He has taught many KODACHROME workshops, now he’s pursuing it as a career.

EB: I was actually his first teacher at the first workshop held at VCU. For a lot of people who attend these workshops, it’s their first time dancing.

JM: This past weekend we had almost 80 people attend the workshop and almost 20 of them were first timers. Even high school students were present.

So KODACHROME is open to all ages?

JM: Yes! We even had 4 and 8 year olds take one of our workshops, with parental consent of course.

EB: We’ve had people from different countries participate from Russia and Panama.

ET: We even have adults in their 30’s who have their own families attend.

It’s like they’re reliving their dance spirit from their golden days!

ET: Yeah! Some are jazz or ballroom dancers.

Richelle Alagaban (RA): They’re usually from the studios that we hold the workshops at.

Did you want to focus on one style of dance?

JM: Oh, no! We are open to all genres. We’ve even had contemporary teachers but usually it’s a mix of genres.

Elijah Trinidad (ET): It’s different each time and that’s why we encourage our dancers to come out to every workshop that we hold. It’s like adding a new tool on your utility belt.

What do you see is the biggest difference in KODACHROME from when it started to now?

ET: You can’t write that shit. It’s all organic, what they’re feeling.

How would you convince someone to attend a KODACHROME workshop who is unsure of going?

Harvey Samaco (HS): I would first ask them what they like about dancing, what their knowledge of dance is currently. We tend to speak through KODACHROME as a family. It’s more than just a dance workshop itself. You try to better yourself through dance, networking, and making connections with different people which then leads to a second family that you can go to. It’s something to look forward to and this is just through one field of dance. We try to spread that family vibe through KODACHROME.

ET: A lot of communities say they lack the unity and that’s what they find in these workshops.

Where would you want to see KODACHROME in 5 years?

JM: In five years, I want to see three stable dance regions on the East Coast but continue to expand.

EB: KODACHROME is the growing platform that will allow one to continue onto bigger things if they want to pursue a dance career. Also, I want to see innovations happen within the workshops. New traditions and new ideas that will help KODACHROME grow.

For more information visit: