Q&A with Taylor Rodman

Dance alumna Taylor Rodman (B.F.A. '16) shares her favorite things about studying at Boston Conservatory.

What is your favorite lunch spot in the Fenway area?

If I have some extra time, my absolute favorite is El Pelon! As a Texas girl with a love for Mexican food, El Pelon is the closest I can get to some classic guacamole here in Boston.

Who inspires you?

I am very inspired by children; I love how they view the world through lenses of joy, curiosity, abandon, and humor. I think they are amazing role models for artists.

What do you think is most exciting about the merger with Berklee?

The potential for further and frequent collaborations with students from Berklee. I am lucky that I have been able to dabble in collaborations over the last four years, but I hope that the merger can encourage more.

What is one collaboration that you have had at the Conservatory that you would not have expected to have?

My junior year at the Conservatory, I choreographed a piece and had my boyfriend (a Berklee grad) create the music. He sat in on all of my rehearsals and made the music while he watched us create the piece. It was fascinating to see the translation of movement into music. The finished product turned out better than I could have predicted, and I have used his expertise on all of my projects ever since.

What has been your favorite class at the Conservatory?

Either Release Technique or Improv in Performance. Both challenge me to retrain my approach to movement. I love taking classes that force you to approach something differently. That’s how I feel in these classes, and I look forward to them every week.

What is your favorite thing to do in Boston?

My favorite place is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I have fallen in love with the courtyard and peaceful, picturesque atmosphere. Anytime I need a place to think, dream, or relax, you can find me there.

What advice would you give a new student?

Don’t be afraid of failure! So much of finding out who you are as a person and artist is about trial and error, and failure plays a huge role in that. I see my failures as successes because each one has propelled me down the path that I am meant to be on.