PROFILE: SEBASTIAN RYDER

User Name

sryder

Name

Sebastian Ryder

Member Since

July 16, 2009

I'm a

Dance Teacher, Theatre Teacher

Hometown

Burlington, VT, Vermont

Ages I Work With

Adults, College, High School

Bio

I run the Co-curricular program at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, VT.   I considerr my specialties choreography for musical theatre ( I have a 30 page booklet on the subject and have taught choreography at the NETCs) and cross curricular opportunities in American Musical Theatre.  For example, a school producing Les Miserable can incorporate other disciplines by studying French history.  We also brought in a doctor who discussed the physical manifestations of syphillis (How Fantine dies) and the course that starvation takes as it intensifies in the body.  Studying this way made the students' performances more realistic as well as imparting significant knowledge on the subject of human anatomy.  I can make cross curricular recommendations for almost any musical.


Educational Background

My BA is from Purchase College (a SUNY school) and is in drama studies. I have a Master of Fine Art in Theatre with a specialization in musical theatre performance from Minnesota State Universtiy/Mankato. I did the "New York thing" from 1983 to 1990. I studied at the Atlantic Theatre Company School with Scott Zigler and William H. Macy. Dance, I studied at Broadway Dance Center. My resume from that time "boasts" two shows in NYC and a fair amount of summer stock.

Number of years teaching

9

Last show you worked on

Rent

Favorite Playwright

It's probably not very imaginative, but Shakespeare and Neil Simon have brought me the most happiness.

Favorite theatrical moment

In the recent production of Assassins, directed by Joe Mantello, immediately after Lee Harvey Oswald shoots JFK and the Zapruder film runs on his chest on the white shirt he's wearing.

Sondheim or Rodgers and Hammerstein?

Sondheim

Interests

I'm a part-time freelance writer. I also choreograph professionally when the opportunity presents itself. I believe musical theatre can be a tremendously significant opportunity to stoke students' other interests. With some imagination on the part of a teacher/director shows can be a springboard to studying almost anything.

Something you should know about me!

When I become a good enough pianist, I'm going to stop directing and just accompany shows.

Accomplishments

I married my childhood sweetheart. I met him in 1973 when he was playing Frank Butler and I was in the chorus in Annie Get Your Gun. I followed him around like a puppy. We didn't see each other for 20 year and eight years ago we got married.

Upcoming Projects

I am just about to hold a second round of auditions for Pirates of Penzance.

School/Organization Name

CVU Drama/Champlain Valley Union High School

Shows You've Worked On

Chicago, Into the Woods, At my high school I have directed Olympus on My Mind, Les Miserable, Leader of the Pack, Hot Mikado, and Rent.

Favorite Websites



sryder
Dance Teacher, Theatre Teacher
Vermont
sryder