A Skeleton Of What Should Have Been
April 30, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
I spent an hour and a half writing a deeply contemplative entry about the paradoxical fact that the insane world of dance helps me keep my sanity and the effects that being deprived of the capability of giving my...
Thinking about the body…
April 25, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Thinking about the body, about movement, about states of being. Where am i now? In a chair at my desk. Tea from mug still warm on my tongue. Unanswered bills, scattered lists of things to do. How does this dance of paper shuffling go? This is a state of being... observing, not trying, simply noticing.
I babysat today. Smiley, happy boy, so full of movement, eight months old. He's trying to find his crawl. Only managing some spasmotic Twister moves. Still able to truck along somehow, not very fast. Very interested in pulling himself up to standing though not really strong enough to do it without help. Neuron pathways still forming, coordination on its way.
photo courtesy new york weill medical center archives
Nora Chipaumire: Body and Soul podcast
April 25, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Acclaimed dancer-choreographer Nora Chipaumire--recipient of a 2007 New York Dance and Performance ("Bessie") Award--joins me to discuss her vision and mission as a Zimbabwe-born contemporary dance artist of Shona heritage. She previews her April 30-May 1 solo season at Dance Theater Workshop.
BIO
Nora Chipaumire was born in Mutare, Zimbabwe during the Chimurenga Chechipiri, or second war of liberation. A self-exiled artist now based in New York, she investigates the collaborative process within cultural, political, economic, and technological identities of African contemporary life. Her work is transnational, unafraid, and eager to burn cultural, creative, and geographic boundaries. She creates provocative and politically relevant multimedia dance work, illuminating the struggles of human identity in an increasingly borderless world. Her work is inspired by art from her native country such as shona sculpture and chimurenga music--art that results from the often violent convergence of rural, urban, African, non-African, cultural, economic, colonial, and technological ideas. A visionary African contemporary dance artist, her work speaks to the human condition with power, authority, and urgency.
Nora Chipaumire is a recipient of a 2007 New York Dance and Performance (aka "Bessie") Award. She is also a Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) 2007-08 Choreographic Fellow. She is a recipient of National Dance Project (NDP) Tour Support in 2007-08. She also received a Jerome Travel and Study Grant to participate in the JANT-BI Diaspora Project in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal in May and August 2007. Nora was honored with the Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Award from Wesleyan University Center for the Arts on March 10, 2007. She is featured in the documentary "Movement (R)evolution" and is the subject of the documentary-in-progress, "Nora Chipaumire: A Physical Biography," directed by Alla Kovgan and David Hinton, supported by a 2007 EMPAC DANCE MOViES Commission.
A graduate of the law school of the University of Zimbabwe, Chipaumire received her MA in Dance and MFA in Choreography and Performance from Mills College in Oakland, CA. She has shown her work widely and danced with a variety companies in the US and abroad. Most notably, she is a member of Jawole Willa Jo Zollar's world-renowned Urban Bush Women.
UPCOMING EVENTS
"Chimurenga" at Dance Theater Workshop, April 30-May 3 (7:30pm).
Coffee and Pre-Show Talk, April 30 at 6:30, with Charmaine WaTalk, April 30, with Brian McCormick
Student Matinee, May 2, at Noon
LINK
Dance Theater Workshop
http://www.dancetheaterworkshop.org
Urban Bush Women
http://www.urbanbushwomen.org/
Body and Soul is the official podcast of InfiniteBody dance blog at
http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Subscribe through iTunes or at
http://magickaleva.hipcast.com/rss/bodyandsoul.xml.
(c)2008, Eva Yaa Asantewaa
My Dances Dance Me
April 24, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot
photo from Cynthia's Polar Adventure
I build dances about the body and its languages. I pursue its eloquence, subtleties and intelligence while investigating the various ways we, as humans, communicate or might communicate. I look for the awkward and unusual to see who lives there, what lives there and what they are saying. My dances twist and grow in obscure ways, with surprising torques and redirections, as if they are trying to trick me.
I strive to not ‘know’ what the dance is about as I am making it, but instead to let movement and images surface from the subconscious, to bubble forth from improvisational states and daydreams. My artistic practice is about getting out of the way, getting lost, wandering. It’s about finding the venue for the subconscious. Much like a tree grows toward light I am striving to follow an organic path that is led by my guts and instincts, not my head and what I think you want to see or hear. But don’t be scared. I’m not interested in pushing your buttons or showing you my dark side. I’m really interested in the whimsical beauty in life, the way we talk and play with our bodies, I want to bring back our five-year-old playfulness and wonder with life.
Precursur
April 19, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
The petitioning for signatures week is finally over. It was an experience and I am thankful its over. So the permanent job hunt ensues and along the way I have accepted another temp job, this time as a data entry clerk/ receptionist. This is a more long term assignment, it should last about 2 or 3 months. But I intend to continue interviewing while still working at this job.Tonight is the Spring Concert for the GMU Dance Company held in Harris Theatre. I am excited because Karen Dunn, my college roommate and fellow dance alum will be attending with my boyfriend and I. I am also looking forward to the alumni gathering beforehand at Damon's Grill on campus. I can't wait to see what the dancers have choreographed for the concert tonight.
I must hurry today because I have to prepare for rehearsal with Jenn Ruhl Kubilis. Only three weeks until my college graduation, and also our audition for the upcoming Dance Place Performance.
Neta Pulvermacher: Body and Soul podcast
April 18, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
New York-based choreographer Neta Pulvermacher, who teaches at the University of Florida, joined me to talk about her plans for this year's big student field trip to New York--the Second Annual UF/NYC Dance Xchange (May 3-10, 2008)--and also share a preview of other exciting upcoming projects.
BIO
Neta Pulvermacher is the founder and project director of the UF/NYC Dance Xchange. She was born and raised in Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, Israel. She graduated from Juilliard in 1985 and holds an MFA from the ADF/Hollins University. She founded The Neta Dance Company in 1987 and since then has choreographed over 65 works for her company and for numerous ballet and modern companies. Her company tours throughout the US as well as in Europe and Israel. Neta is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Florida. She has choreographed for director, Mira Nair’s feature film, The Namesake, which was released in March of 2007. Most recently she was invited to the MANCC at FSU to work with the Limón Dance Company. She is the founder and producer of the A.W.A.R.D. Show! which now takes place in New York, Florida and Utah. Recent commissions include: Matte Asher Dance Company in Israel, Frank Sinatra High School for the Arts, Klor Music and Dance Center in Israel, Roger Williams University, and others. She is the proud mother of Alon. Upcoming projects: "Lady Justice Rides the Wagon" (a site Specific Work with real NY women judges) at City Hall Park and a New York season which will include the premiere of the full length "Air" in fall 2008.
LINKS
The Neta Dance Company and The 2008 A.W.A.R.D. Show
http://www.netacompany.org
Joyce SoHo
http://www.joyce.org
University of Florida College of Fine Arts, Scool of Theatre and Dance
http://arts.ufl.edu/theatreanddance/
Body and Soul is the official podcast of InfiniteBody dance blog at
http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Subscribe through iTunes or at
http://magickaleva.hipcast.com/rss/bodyandsoul.xml.
(c)2008, Eva Yaa Asantewaa
This material may not be reproduced in any way, either in part or in its entirety, without the expressed written permission of Eva Yaa Asantewaa.
Tribute to Tudor
April 11, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
As I've mentioned several times before, this year is Antony Tudor's centenary. Here's another newspaper tribute to Tudor, partially focusing on a two-day conference about Tudor and mourning the absence from the conference of Airi Hynninen, notator and former assistant to Tudor:http://www.nysun.com/arts/tribute-tudor
Regina Nejman: Body and Soul podcast
April 10, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Brazil-born/New York-based Regina Nejman will bring "Reveal" to the Merce Cunningham Studio, May 1-4. This new dance-theater piece explores the meaning of privacy in today's technology-driven world, delving into the relationship between privacy and technology, and the impact of this relationship on everyday life.
BIO
Regina Nejman has been creating her own choreography since 1993. She formed Regina Nejman and Company in 1997. Recipient of the Outstanding Choreography Award at the 2005 New York International Fringe Festival for the premiere of "The Velocity of Things," Regina and her company have been steadily touring Brazil for the past two years, where the company has been received with standing ovations. Regina is a 2007/08 Artist in Residence at Joyce SoHo and has been awarded a Dance Theater Workshop Outer/Space residency for next summer. She has received commissions from Princeton University, The Yard and The New Jersey City University, and her work has been presented at Jacob's Pilow Dance Festival, Symphony Space, Joyce SoHo, The New York Film Academy, The New York International Fringe Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project and Merce Cunningham Studio.
EVENTS
Visit an open rehearsal of "Reveal" with Regina Nejman and Dancers on Friday Apr 18 (12–2pm) at Joyce SoHo. Regina invites audience feedback and will dialogue with the audience on the issue of privacy. Free admission with reservation at 646-792-8377.
See "Reveal" at Merce Cunningham Studio, 55 Bethune Street (11th Floor), Manhattan, May 1-2 (9pm), May 3-4 (8pm). Information and reservations at 212-714-9116.
Body and Soul is the official podcast of InfiniteBody dance blog at
http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Subscribe through iTunes or at
http://magickaleva.hipcast.com/rss/bodyandsoul.xml.
(c)2008, Eva Yaa Asantewaa
This material may not be reproduced in any way, either in part or in its entirety, without the expressed written permission of Eva Yaa Asantewaa.
Cauterizing Political Platforms
April 7, 2008 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Sadly, my class with Curt Haworth was the last dance class I have taken. My priority of securing an income with a steady full time job has taken front seat to dance class attendance. This is due to the fact that the average dance class in the DC area costs $16. Buying class cards are usually a much better deal, but only if they don't expire and you fully intend to use every last class you bought. $16 becomes $48 a week if I take three dance classes. The creditors are closing in on me and my free-pass-because-I'm-a-student-ride is officially over. In a semi-regular call to transfer more credit into my checking account to pay bills, I was not only denied the money I requested, but my credit was cut back by $2,000. Fair enough because I am really not supposed to be living off credit, but now the desperation to secure employment becomes even more necessary.So in my continuing saga of the job search I have been to three interviews last week and worked two temp jobs. Interestingly enough, last Tuesday I worked as a medical assistant at a dermatology office in Vienna. This involved constantly chasing the doctor from room-to-room to examine the skin of a variety of men and women old enough to be my grandparents and crusted with "barnacles." Despite its reminder to me of a dormant great whale, I assure you that "barnacle" is a medical term and made me laugh a little each time I heard it. Most of the patients were being checked for signs of skin cancer, but possible basil cells were removed in a punch biopsy which I saw and then witnessed the stitches closing the gaping hole. I also had the fantastic opportunity to witness a surgery removing basil cell carcinoma- the most deadly skin cancer. This lasted longer because it involved cutting out a deeper layer, cauterizing the open wound, and then closing with stitches again. This wasn't too disgusting, but I did get worried that I may faint due to the heat in the room. I had happily forgotten about the experience until I went home that evening and decided to help my boyfriend cook hamburgers on the grill and was reminded of the sound of cauterizing flesh. Great experience of a paid workday, but I declined the full time job offer in hopes of finding a less career-track job in a place that I wouldn't be so exposed to the probability of getting warts.
Somewhere down the road, I agreed to interview with a temp agency, Robert Half International, and accepted a temp job for this week. Today was my first day at the temp job that I was informed would involve helping Julien Modica (D) in his campaign to run for U.S. Senate. I have heard about the process of campaigning before so I openly asked my recruiter if this job would involve petitioning for signatures. "No," he replied, "nothing like that." He said it would be organizing the already collected signatures and also doing administrative work including scheduling, typing, and answering phones. With the decent pay that was offered and the party affiliation that Modica is a Democrat, I agreed to help for the week. So guess what i found myself doing at 10AM this morning... petitioning for signatures at George Mason University to get Modica on the ballot for the Democratic Primary on June 10. All of my coworkers were also from the same temp agency and had also received very incorrect information as to what the job would entail. i hated when people in the quad used to be doing political crap and chasing me down, I would often walk far around them or fake a phone call just to get through there as quick as possible and once again I find myself doing a job that I have always been against.
But I just said, "What the hell!? It's a job for the week, and its guaranteed to be a memorable experience." So besides the fact that it was freezing cold and half drizzling wet, I managed to get a good amount of signatures. It definitely helped that I was comfortable at my Alma Mater and ran into many of my friends or old acquaintances that I recognized. But I think I reeled most people in with my cute hair and adorable smile. So Mason was so successful as a place of gathering signatures that we are planning to go back again tomorrow morning and try all over again. We will be there approximately all day, but definitely in the morning and noon time. Please come out and help petition if you are a registered VA voter. It's not a promise to vote for him, it's just giving Modica a chance on the ballot for Senate.
Maybe I'll learn so much in this one week, that I'll be able to run for office and make some positive changes to benefit the dance population. Here are some of the campaign platforms that I would support if I were in office; more dance curriculum in public schools, better foreign policy with Cuba to allow the dance program that Jim Lepore loves, better health care support for independent artists, and capping the tuition rates for college students. I also strongly oppose affirmative action. I think it is outdated and unnecessary- it's basically reverse discrimination and personally all it has done is harm me from getting things I needed to fund a college education like certain financial aid and scholarships.
My mother always told me that God never gives you more than you can handle, so even if I was mislead to get to this place, maybe it will prove to be a valuable and useful experience. And plus at least he is a Democrat.
