I’ll be choreographing for Dance New Amsterdam’s latest Performance Project workshop. It
will be an Intermediate level workshop.
Rehearsal dates from October 5-30, 2008.
Times TBA but mostly Sundays and weekday evenings.
Performances October 31-November 2, 2008.
I seemed to have been drawn to dance as a child before it occurred to me that I too could dance. I always loved watching the big MGM musicals and I distinctly remember being absolutely mesmerized by Cyd Charisse. Her movement was so sharp and clean…its hard to believe that the quality of her dancing was so apparent to me.
It shouldn’t seem so earth-shaking a concept. But every time I take this new class, I get literal double takes from all my comrades at the dance studio. Not totally sure why. I love trying something completely out of my comfort zone. That is how I ended up working with quite a few different choreographers. Qi-gong and yoga and movie musicals were not my specialty but I like to believe that a dancer can dance just about anything. I had been admiring the hip hop class from afar (a good sign that I’m about to jump into something new is when I hang outside the doorway for a few weeks.) I got past the twinge of concern about all the strange looks I might get and actually got a friend to join me and we are having a grand old time (which is the point, remember?) But, man, I get a lot of looks. Join me next time, scaredy cats!
Now this is cool cross-programming:
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), America ’s foremost cultural ambassador, will appear as a special guest on the Tuesday, April 1 broadcast of “Dancing with the Stars†to help kick off their nationwide 50th anniversary celebration. AAADT will be featured as a part of “Macy’s Stars of Dance,†a weekly part of the “Dancing with the Stars Results Show†presenting some of the best choreographers and performers from different styles of dance.  The Company, whose popularity is unrivaled, honors the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition, inspiring and uniting people of all backgrounds around the world.
…
On the broadcast, AAADT will perform an excerpt of Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece, Revelations.
“a type of dance that is usually performed by boys or men, most commonly by gay men. It was originated from the style and charisma of the majorettes.”
I admit to secretly watching ESPN2’s cheer competitions out of morbid fascination. So imagine my shock of discovering this little dance trend. (BTW, am I completely behind the times? Did everyone else know about this already?)
Anyhow, voilá:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-QRjkmLEuE
Hat tip to Single Ma
I know I haven’t been posting often but I’d like to think its because I’m too busy dancing.
The latest:
I have a new class at Dance New Amsterdam–I now teach Sundays at 4:30. Int/Adv Simonson Technique.
Performance Project Performance Oct 26, 27, & 28.
I’ll be performing for Ricardo Gomez at th 92nd Street Y on November 11.
I have no words. Too cool:
http://nymag.com/shopping/bestbets/38919/index6.htmlÂ
DNA Performance Project
September 27 - October 28
Performances
Friday, October 26 8pm
Saturday, October 27 8pm
Sunday, October 28 3pm
click here for performance info
Faculty
(left to right)
Dalia Carella
Open Level Belly Dance Near Eastern Contemporary
Rachel Feinerman
Intermediate/Advanced Simonson
Isabel Gotzkowsky
Intermediate Modern
Katiti King
Slow Intermediate/Intermediate Simonson
Nia Love
Open Level Modern/Roots
Project Includes
Opportunity to work with a choreographer of your choice
in creating a NEW work
3 weeks of rehearsals with 8 hours per week
One week that includes spacing, technical rehearsal, and dress rehearsal
3 fully produced performances in DNA’s 135 seat theater
Fee
$400 members
$450 non-members
Individual Payment Plans available through Jessica Yokas, Programs Coordinator, in the Administrative Offices or email jyokas@dnadance.org
How to Apply
1. Complete an application. You can pick one up on the workshop bulletin board, across from Studio 1 at DNA.
2. Take class with the choreographer with whom you wish to work, and hand the choreographer your completed application form prior to taking class.
3. DNA will contact you regarding your application.
Cancellations/Refunds
Full refund minus a 10% processing fee only if the cancellation is made 1 week prior to the beginning of the course. As of 1 week prior to the beginning of the course, no refunds will be given.
Rehearsal Schedule
Dalia Carella (Open Level Belly Dance Near Eastern Contemporary)
Fridays · September 28, October 12, 19 · 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Sunday · September 30 · 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Tuesdays · October 2, 9, 16 · 7:30 - 10:00 PM
Thursdays · October 4, 18 · 8:45 - 10:45 PM
Monday · October 22 · 8:45 - 10:15 PM
SPACING: Saturday · October 20 · 1:00 - 2:00 PM
TECH: Tuesday · October 23 · 9:00 - 10:30 PM
Rachel Feinerman (Intermediate/Advanced Simonson)
Sundays · September 30, October 7, 14, 21 · 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Tuesday · October 2 · 7:45 - 10:45 PM
Wednesdays · October 10, 17 · 4:15 - 6:15 PM
Thursdays · October 11, 18 · 7:45 - 10:45 PM
Tuesday · October 23 · 7:45 - 10:45 PM
SPACING: Saturday · October 20 · 2:00 - 3:00 PM
TECH: Wednesday · October 24 · 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Isabel Gotzkowsky (Intermediate Modern)
Thursdays · September 27, October 4, 11 · 7:45 - 10 PM
Saturdays · September 29, October 6, 13 · 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Sunday · October 7 · 3:00 - 5:30 PM
Monday · October 15, 22 · 8:30 - 10:30 PM
Sunday · October 21 · 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday· October 24 · 8:45 - 10:00 PM
SPACING: Saturday · October 20 · 10:00 - 11:00 AM
TECH: Wednesday · October 24 · 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Katiti King (Slow Intermediate/Intermediate Simonson)
Mondays · October 1, 8, 15 · 7:45 - 10:45 PM
Saturdays · September 29, October 6, 13 · 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Thursdays · October 4, 11, 18 · 8:30 - 10:30 PM
Monday · October 22 · 7:45 - 10:45 PM
SPACING: Saturday · October 20 · 12:00 - 1:00 PM
TECH: Tuesday · October 23 · 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Nia Love (Open Level Modern/Roots)
Tuesdays · October 2, 9, 16 · 3:30 - 5:30 PM
Thursdays · October 4, 11, 18 · 3:30 - 6:30 PM
Fridays · October 5, 12, 19 · 12:00 - 3:00 PM
Tuesday · October 23 · 3:30 - 5:30 PM
SPACING: Saturday · October 20 · 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
TECH: Tuesday · October 23 · 7:30 - 9:00 PM
So I finished up the Laurie De Vito show in June (we completely sold out–thanks to everyone who came!) and I immediately started working on a new quartet for the New York Summer Dance Intensive concert at Dance New Amsterdam. Most of my friends have been waiting for me to choreograph another piece for a while now. Well it seems that deadlines do seem to make the difference. So in a month’s time I’ve finished my new piece When Push Calms to Rise. I’m not dancing in it but the lovely Gail Accardi, Yukiko Sassa Sato, Alissa Wall, and Sarah Wilkins are. It is this weekend Saturday July 28th @ 8 PM & Sunday July 29th @ 3 PM at Dance New Amsterdam and it features the work of Alex Beller, Ezra Caldwell, and Oliver Steele–all excellent and entertaining choreographers. I am considered the “special guest.”
For tickets, directions and such, click here: http://dnadance.org/performances.htmlÂ
Well we can’t possibly ignore the latest offstage dance-drama regarding Elizabeth Streb and Terry Dean Bartlett. For those who need a refresher:
Article 2
My perspective on all this? Its difficult to say. Personally, I am obsessive regarding the health of my dancers and students. I willingly change choreography if someone has an injury or if there is no way for them to physically do the movement–in fact its called “Choose Your Own Adventure” in my class. Just make your way through that section and everyone join up at a certain part. Even in my own choreography, I never make dancers do the things that only my body and its weird construction/flexibility can do. In fact, I believe its the duty of a choreographer to step outside of choreography based on your capabilities to make sure you are creating movement for the sake of the piece. (Another class motto: Just because we can do it doesn’t mean we should.) Now, there is a time and place for extreme physicality given that everyone has signed on. No one who joins Streb is under any illusion that they are doing tai chi. The real question is Terry’s firing due to the supposed embarrassment he’s caused the company. I’ve met Terry casually and seen him perform and overall he seems like a genuinely nice guy. Obviously he could not have risen to be the associate artistic director without the respect and appreciation of Elizabeth Streb so his supposed, months-long behavioral issues seem a little far-fetched. So my opinion, I think that if Streb had not had all these big projects on the horizon it wouldn’t have been a big deal. I don’t think she would have worried about embarrassment within the modern dance world. But, off-Broadway? Money at stake? That’s when people suddenly worry about their reputations and start to run over anyone who gets in their way. I have no proof. These are just me thoughts.
Subbing This Week @ DNA
No class 8/31 or 9/1
I’ll be choreographing for Dance New Amsterdam’s latest Performance Project…