Audition
January 31, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
I have auditions for Joffery Ballets summer intensive tomorrow! I’m super nervous. I have never auditioned for a big name ballet company before, and I really want to be good enough.It’s a 4 and a half hour drive to the nearest city where they are auditioning so I have to get up at 5 in the morning to get their in time. I hope I am not to tired when I get there, but I’m sure I will be so nervous and full of adrenaline that I will make it through.
Wish me Luck! I’m going to need it!
30 Dances in Vermont 27- Side of the road
January 31, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Driving back to DC from Vermont I took a break by the side of the road to get to 30 Dances before I left the state
30 Dances in Vermont 26- Brandon
January 31, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
I love this little town that I drove through on the way to Mt Holyoke every weekend to rehearse with Cynthia.
Brian Rogers: Body and Soul podcast
January 30, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Brian Rogers talks about The Chocolate Factory--an influential multidisciplinary arts space and gallery in Long Island City, Queens--and about his new full-evening work "redevelop (death valley)."
Brian Rogers, a graduate of Bennington College, is the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Chocolate Factory Theater. His works for the company include "2 Husbands" (2007), a collaboration with playwright Ken Urban; "GUN PLAY" (2006); and "AUDIT" (2004). Brian curates The Chocolate Factory's Visiting Artist Program and has collaborated as a sound, video and performance artist on numerous projects. He is also Director of Operations for Dance Theater Workshop and curator of the newly-renovated cabaret space at Queens Theatre in the Park.
See "redevelop (death valley)" on Thursday-Saturday, February 12-28 and Monday, February 24, all at 8pm. Further information at http://www.chocolatefactorytheater.org. Ticketing at http://www.chocolatefactorytheater.org or at 212-352-3101.
InfiniteBody blog: http://infinitebody.blogspot.com
(c)2009, Eva Yaa Asantewaa
mariosacruise 2009-01-28 21:24:00
January 28, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
This is my son Antwan in a beautiful setting representing a moment of the wave. As he stand on the beach the cloud pattern reflects in the smooth water from a retreating tide . The sand also holds the waters pattern and the shallow pool tide that remains reflects the sky in another color pallet. Froth from a surf calls your eye to the ocean mother. We were near San Diego so I checked out the port there for cruising out of. very beautiful.
Dance of Words – The Muse Behind the Curtain
January 28, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Hi all!
I hope you can join us for our event this Friday night. We are co-hosting an event at The Lab at Belmar with Lighthouse Writers Workshop. It is a chance to speak to the writers and choreographers that are helping create our latest show, Love. a joint venture.
Here is some basic info -
dance of words –the muse behind the curtain
Friday, January 30
6:30–7:30pm
The Lab at Belmar
404 S. Upham Street, Lakewood
FREE to the public
6:30–7:30pm
The Lab at Belmar
404 S. Upham Street, Lakewood
FREE to the public
Panelists
Garrett Ammon, BNC Artistic Director
Michael Henry, founder and Executive Director of Lighthouse Writers Workshop
Mark Godden, internationally renowned choreographer
Chris Ransick, Denver’s Poet Laureate
Garrett Ammon, BNC Artistic Director
Michael Henry, founder and Executive Director of Lighthouse Writers Workshop
Mark Godden, internationally renowned choreographer
Chris Ransick, Denver’s Poet Laureate
Love. a joint venture. is the collaboration of a lifetime! Choreographers paired with poets to create amazing, inspiring new dance.
Before you see the show, we invite you to go behind the curtain with four of the show’s creators. Enjoy readings, videos and rousing discussions in a relaxed setting with complimentary wine. You’ll see Love. in a whole new way.
Come learn about the process and then see the show. Love. a joint venture. open February 6th at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Get tickets on the website today!
And remember! Dance of Words is a free event!
Roster Artists Jonah Bokaer and Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at the Attakkalari India Biennial 2009
January 28, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Pentacle Roster Artists Jonah Bokaer and the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble will both be performing at the Attakkalaria India Biennial 2009.
Jonah Bokaer: CHARADE
Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
Both companies will perform on Monday, February 9, 2009. Performance Details.
Karen O’Connor writes of the festival “The wide range of cultural styles and genres include Indian classical and folk traditions used by Nrityagram Dance Ensemble to performances with marshal art dance styles as in The Cosmic Dance of Siva. Jonah Bokaer from the US will also use contemporary dance with digital art form.” Read more…
The Attakkalari India Biennial serves as platform in South Asia for individual and fresh voices in contemporary movement arts. It is a forum for the exchange of expertise in dance, design and research. Global movement arts with a special focus on works that incorporate new and emerging technologies in digital arts and interactivity will be showcased by artists from countries across the world — Burkina Faso to Finland. Japan to USA.
A unique ten-day international festival in India.
Dance/USA Winter Forum- This Weekend!
January 28, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Have you ever wondered what other organizations deal with in regards to employee turnover rates, health insurance premiums, salaries, etc. in this trying financial time? Do you know what a health screening can do for you or your dancers? Do you just need a community who can support in how your organization is run? YES?!? Attend this weekend's Dance?USA winter forum. It promises to be an inspiring and enriching series of meetings in New York City! Additionally there are special discounted rates for dancers!Here is the write-up and links to further information.
Upcoming Winter Forum
Human Resources and Organizational Performance
January 30-31, 2009 in New York City
PRICE AND REGISTRATION - Reduced prices! “I fear that our organizations do not give the needs of administrative staff nearly enough attention. Let’s take the lead and raise the bar on human resource development in the arts!” - Rachel Moore, Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre.
Who Should Attend: Managing directors, artistic directors, human resource managers, operations managers, administrative staff of all sized companies, presenters, agents, service organization directors, choreographers and dancers are all invited and welcome to attend!
Location: 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center, directionsRead more about our generous hosts.
Schedule for Friday January 30, 2009: *Subject to change
TIME/EVENT DESCRIPTION
8:30-9:30am Join us for a free breakfast!
9:30am Opening Remarks by Andrea Snyder, Executive Director of Dance/USA
9:45am Kristin Giantris, Vice President of the Northeast Region, Finance Fund will discuss the financial dynamics of various-sized dance companies and review the impact recessions have on arts organizations.
10:15am Human Resources lawyer, Kathleen McKenna of Proskauer Rose LLP, will tell true stories about human resources and economic crisis.
11:00-11:30am Dr. Richard Gibbs and Heather Southwick of the Task Force on Dancer Health will give an update on the Screening Project.
11:30am-12:00pm John Munger, Dance/USA’s Director of Research will present research on human resource issues during economic challenges regarding turnover rates, budget adjustments and compensation levels of Executive Directors, Artistic Directors and dancers of dance companies.
12:00-5:45pm Council Meetings (including free lunch)
6:00-9:00pm Networking and socializing reception. Free and open to all Winter Forum participants and the New York City dance community.Dance/USA is grateful to DeWitt Stern Group for their generous sponsorship of the Networking Reception. Thank you to the NYC host committee for their help with this reception.
Schedule for Saturday January 31, 2009: *Subject to change
TIME/EVENT DESCRIPTION
8:30-9:30am Join us for a free breakfast!
9:00-9:30am Introduction to Engaging Dance Audiences, Arts Policy Recommendations in the New Administration, and the Dance/USA 2009 Annual Conference.
9:30-10:30am Agenda setting - Name topics and issues concerning human resources and organizational performance that you most want to explore on a deeper level during the rest of the day. Led by facilitator Heidi Nobantu Saul.
10:30-4:00pm Breakout sessions. Discover who shares the same issues and expand your network; Engage in dynamic discussion; Share ideas and what you are learning in the field;
Identify opportunities through taking ownership of what most interests you;
Read more about the discussion.
4:00-5:30pm Plenary Conclusion, Closing Circle
Hope to see you there!
Chris @ NYU Arts Colloquium
January 25, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
On Monday January 26, Chris Elam will participate in an arts colloquium at New York University’s John Brademas Center. The event, “Moving Forward: A Renewed Role for American Arts and Artists in the Global Age” explores how the Art and Artifacts Indemnity Act can be expanded to renew support for visual and performing arts on a national level. Chris joins fellow participants from many leading arts and cultural affairs organizations for a day of presentations and discussion on this issue, which will result in a proposal sent to congress.
Click here for more info.
First performance of “Peter”, Pilobolus, new pointe shoes, and Legally Blonde the Musical
January 24, 2009 · Posted in dance bloggers · Comment
Peter and The WolfWe performed PATW for the first time on Thursday after only a few months of rehearsing once a week. Yikes. Luckily it was for little kids, the majority of whom wouldn't know the difference anyway. It went well in the long run, there were just some annoying little things that happened that definitely could have been worked out in rehearsals that were longer, more intense, and more often.
I had fun, and I think the audiences did too, so that's the important part. We perform again this week before premiering it at a local theatre as our "real" performance later this season. I'm sort of nervous that I'll mess up the solo I learned less than a week ago, even though it's pretty simple and easy to fake even if I do. This is, however, not something I particularly look forward to. Four months till Nutcracker auditions!
Pilobolus
Last night I attended Pilobolus Dance Theater's Dance St. Lou
is performance. They performed 5 pieces: Lanterna Magica, Pseudopodia, Darkness and Light, Ocellus, and Megawatt.After the first two pieces, I was really impressed. The company manages to use partnering in groups and duos without looking like cheerleaders or an orgy. The can use props without them getting in the way and they actually help move the dance forward, both artistically and literally. It was gymnastic and acrobatic without losing its choreographic and "dance-y" quality.
And then came Darkness And Light. Now, I'm not exactly sure what this was. Not only did I not understand it, I didn't understand how the images came to appear on the screen at the front of the stage that hid all action taking place behind it. They either projected things on to the screen on shown lights behind then screen while using their bodies to make shapes. The symbolism and images were also hard to understand. I've compiled a list of things this piece might have shown/been about:
- Jellyfish
- Genitalia
- Wasps
- Aurora Borealis
- Electric currents
- Creatures devouring their young
- Evolution
- Birth
- Mutants
- Butterflies
- Stoplights
- A vortex of some sort
- Black holes
- Puppetry
- Shadow monsters
Ocellus was really good at showing off the strength and control of the male dancers in the company. But, however immature this is, I was still distracted by the whole "They're dancing in thongs and nothing else and that guy has his face on the other guys crotch" aspect of the dance. It was a really cool historic piece, but also sort of awkward.
My favorite of the night was Megawatt. It was the type of spazzy and weird that I like. Not too overly spazzy and weird in a pretentious artistic way, more in a fun eclectic way. They threw themselves on the floor, crawled around on their backs, had convulsions, and did some crazy crazy partnering and lifts. My one complaint was that there were so many really awesome things going on at the same time that I wasn't sure where to look. The standouts (and the people that I finally settled on watching) were Jenny Mendez and Christopher Whitney, who did some amazing partnering. This piece was almost reminiscent on Cedar Lake's DECADANCE, only on speed. It was sort of psycho and really strange, and I loved it.
All in all, it was a great show, and it got me really excited for Dance St. Louis's '09-'10 season, which includes Complexions (WOO HOO!), Joffrey, River North Chicago, Aszure Barton, Ballet Folklorico, and Moscow Festival ballet.
New Pointe Shoes
Today I got new shoes. Again. This time my fitting only lasted a little less than an hour and a half, so that's more than an hour shorter than my last one.
After trying on 3 or 4 size/width/shank combinations of Capezio Glisses, Grishko Elites, Grishko 2007s, Gaynors and Fuzis, along with Celia Kerches, Sanshas, Freeds, other Grishkos, various Blochs, and probably 3 or 4 other shoes, I finally decided on Capezio Glisses in a 10 M.
They're really soft (which I like) but the boxes are sort of more... resilient(?)... than other softer (and fast dying) shoes that I've tried on. The shanks are really nicely molding to my feet without me doing anything to them whatsoever, and even though the vamp is just a tiny little bit longer than I would normally like, but because they're so soft, I don't think I'll have and trouble getting over the box or rolling through demi-pointe. This is all good, but I'm sort of chronically pessimistic about new pointe shoes just because so, so many pairs have not worked for me in the past. Eventually I will find something. I hope.
So, will these be the magical pointe shoes of wonder that finally work on Selly's feet? Will she ultimately regret buying a completely new pair of shoes a day before she has to perform on pointe? Stay tuned for these answers, and more!
Legally Blonde
I walked in to Legally Blonde with
Omigod You Guys already stuck in my head. I walked out not being able to stop thinking about the "Today for you, tomorrow for me" song from RENT. How does that work again?I really loved this show. I was sort of hoping I would get to see Laura Bell Bundy perform today, just for the star factor, since the actress normally playing Elle broke her toe and is still recovering. Instead, we got MTV's Search For The New Elle Woods contestant Lauren Ashley Zakrin. I actually liked her performance a lot.
The music and dancing were great, even while slightly off at times. I'm a huge fan of the story and the witty/snarky dialogue and lyrics, which the cast successfully pulled off. I was also hugely impressed that both dogs in the show were rescued from shelters and trained to "act" (can dogs act?) in the musical instead of being "hired".
Overall the show was very cutesy and entertaining. The dancing was awesome, especially from some of the guys. You can definitely who's taken ballet before, though. It was fun and I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone.
Stay on your toes,
Selly
Selly
