May 2014 D.C. Area Dance Events Guide

Wayne McGregor | Random Dance

WEEKEND ONE May 1-4

5/1-5/3, Wayne McGregor | Random Dance

Kennedy Center

“Random Dance brings their multimedia work FAR, with score by Ben Frost and jaw-dropping visuals, including a computerized pin board of 3,200 LED lights.”

https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=DODSG

5/3-5/4, JOMDC Companies in Concert

5/3 at 6:30pm & 5/4 at 4pm DanceFusion Jazz Project, Jazz Factor, Raqs Jameel & Vibe Tribe!

5/3 at 8:30pm & 5/4 at 2pm Groove Elements, Soles of Steel & Rhythmix!

Atlas Performing Arts Center

“Join Joy of Motion Dance Center as they celebrate another season of Dance! Don’t miss this noisy celebration of dance!”

http://atlasarts.org/event-types/dance/

WEEKEND TWO May 5-11

5/6 at 7pm, Master Class: KEIGWIN + COMPANY

Kennedy Center

“The Explore the Arts master class series gives you an opportunity to take classes led by some of the most talented and creative artists in the world of dance.”

https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=EOEDP

5/7-5/8, National Symphony Orchestra: NEW MOVES: symphony + dance: Thomas Wilkins, conductor; KEIGWIN + COMPANY / From Schuman to Bernstein

Kennedy Center

“Enjoy selections from Bernstein's On the Town and On the Waterfront with KEIGWIN + COMPANY in new choreography by Larry Keigwin, plus Schuman's New England Triptych and a new concerto with Sue Heineman, principal bassoon.”

https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NOAMA

5/9-10 at 8pm, John Jasperse presents From once between

American Dance Institute

“From once between is a new evening-length work by Jasperse in collaboration with composer Jonathan Bepler.”

http://www.americandance.org/performance/

5/9-5/10 at 8pm, Sean Dorsey Dance presented by Dance Place

Joe’s Movement Emporium

“The Secret History Of Love reveals the underground ways that LGBT people managed to survive and find love in decades past, despite tremendous obstacles. 1920’s speakeasies, wartime love affairs, police raids and steamy underground cabarets explode onstage in this powerful work by transgender trailblazer Sean Dorsey.”

http://www.danceplace.org/dance-performances/sean-dorsey-dance/

5/10-5/11, National Symphony Orchestra: NEW MOVES: symphony + dance: Thomas Wilkins, conductor; New Ballet Ensemble / From Gershwin to Ellington

Kennedy Center

https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NOAMB

5/11 at 6pm, Ballet Company M presents their Spring Concert

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

“Ballet Company M presents their Spring Concert! Come out to see acclaimed works from Swan Lake, La Bayadere, as well as original choreography by their members.”

http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/events/2013/ballet-company-m-spring-concert

WEEKEND THREE May 12-18

5/12-5/13, National Symphony Orchestra: NEW MOVES: symphony + dance: Thomas Wilkins, conductor; New Ballet Ensemble / From Gershwin to Ellington

Kennedy Center

https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NOAMB

5/16-5/17, National Symphony Orchestra: NEW MOVES: symphony + dance: Thomas Wilkins, conductor; Jessica Lang Dance; with Leila Josefowicz, violin / From Adams to Copland

Kennedy Center

https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NOAMC

5/16-17 at 8pm, Tere O’Connor presents Bleed

American Dance Institute

“With each piece lending its own unique dancers, ideas, and approaches, Bleed forms a serendipitous new choreographic language.”

http://www.americandance.org/performance/ 

5/17 at 2pm, Connect the Dots Dance Company presents Sleeping Beauty

Atlas Performing Arts Center

”The performance will feature a ballet workshop, a ballet performance and a ballet craft.”

http://atlasarts.org/event-types/dance/

5/17 at 8pm & 5/18 at 4pm, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion: Live! The Realest MC, presented by Dance Place

Ira Aldridge Theater, Howard University

“Live! The Realest MC, is a new ensemble dance work inspired by the duality of Pinocchio’s plight to be a “real boy.” The piece investigates gender roles in the black community and societal perspectives on the quest for acceptance in the world of hip-hop celebrity.”

http://www.danceplace.org/dance-performances/kyle-abrahamabraham-in-motion-live-the-realest-mc/

WEEKEND FOUR May 19-25

5/23 at 7:30pm, The American Embassy of Dance presents: For the Love of Tap

Atlas Performing Arts Center

“Join American Embassy of Dance as we commemorate the 35th Anniversary of National Tap Dance Day, with performances by local artists and dancers from across the Nation.”

http://atlasarts.org/event-types/dance/

WEEKEND FIVE May 26-31

5/28 at 8pm, Modern Moves, in partnership with Dance Place

Reston Community Center

“Three of D.C.'s most prominent choreographers - Daniel Burkholder, Daniel Phoenix Singh and Erica Rebollar - come together to create an eclectic evening of thrilling and fascinating modern dance.”

What do you know?  I'm in this one!  Come see me :-)

https://www.restoncommunitycenter.com/centerstage-modern-moves.shtml 

5/29-6/1, Step Afrika! presents Green Is The New Black, presented by Dance Place

The Catholic University of America Hartke Theatre

“What if we could take the energy of stepping, harness it and reuse it to power devices and communities? Green is the New Black is a new work created by Step Afrika! that will explore, through the use of piezoelectric technology, our capacity to capture the “power” created through stepping and convert that power into electrical energy.”

http://www.danceplace.org/dance-performances/step-afrika/

5/30-5/31 at 8pm, Christopher K. Morgan presents By The Inch

American Dance Institute

“CKM&A concludes their season in their artistic home at ADI with an evening of mixed repertory that features two world premieres and a special anniversary reconstruction.”

http://www.americandance.org/performance/

Best Thing about Touring: Gratitude.

One of the best things about touring, or heading to a new theater to dance is the little rituals each space has.  You have your rituals, your company has its own rituals and then the space has its own set.  It's very moving.  Rituals ground you, prepare you for what's next, and make you realize WHY, why you are there.

I recently closed a show at The Dance Center of Columbia College, Chicago with Mordine and Company Dance Theatre.  It was a trip that I couldn't have made without the support of family, friends and acquaintances who helped me so generously through my fundraising campaign.  So it makes it all the more meaningful for me to complete this little ritual...



I made it, I made it, I made it.  And now I'm there, on the wall, next to the names of all those dancers who came before me and struggled to get there just as hard as I did.

*ahhhh*

Heavy moment, and so lovely.

Thank you.

Working on Multiple Dances

Getting work done!  While I'm hanging out in Chicago for the next 2 weeks, I'm often between rehearsals.  The big Mordine and Company show is next weekend at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago and it's shaping up very well.  We're performing with members of Mucca Pazza, and having musicians in the room while we dance is creating much electricity.

In the mean time I'm (of course) working on the next piece I'm setting on The Collective in Baltimore for their performance on 11/16-17 at The Theater Project.  I've just finished editing the music and re-recording a couple of monologue tracks (my 2nd favorite thing to do).

If you want to see how fast I can talk and how tongue-tied I might get while dancing, come to this show!

http://www.collective-dance.com/performances.html

NOW, if you want to dance with me while I'm in Chicago, come to Company Class with Mordine and Company at Extensions Friday, 9/26 10-11:30 for $10.  I'm teaching an advanced modern class focusing on easy, easy hips.  We'll open them up and see what we get.

Then come see me dance, of course.

And if you're a Northwestern University student, I'm teaching a Laban-based Composition Masterclass on Sunday, Oct. 6th in the ballroom of the Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center.

Summer SHORTS Aug. 9

My first performance as a new resident of the east coast is coming up!

I'll be performing in the show Summer SHORTS with The Collective in Baltimore, MD on August 9th.
This is The Collective's annual show filled with short performances by company members (limited to 5 dancers and five minutes) along side guest artists Christopher K. Morgan & Artists and DishiBem Contemporary Dance Group.  It's the perfect little dance version of hors d'oeuvres.  Small, varied and a taste of what modern dance has to offer.  They'll be serious, funny, fast, ponderous, strange, ordinary, and certainly different than your typical friday night fare.

I'll be performing in 2 pieces.  One of my own and one as a dancer for someone else.  A nice little introduction to my new dancing family and community.

If you'd like to join me, or spread the word, Summer Shorts will be:
Friday, August 9, 2013 at 8pm
Creative Alliance at the Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224

Tickets are $15/adults, $10/students, seniors , and CA members
call 410-276-1651 or purchase online at www.creativealliance.org

All At Once

So this weekend I'm seeing myself onstage.  I'm sure I'll give you a glowing review after the weekend.

I'll be performing with Mordine and Company at Stage 773 Feb. 28-March 3.  You can even get $5 off tickets for Thursday and Sunday HERE.  We've got guest artists, an oldie and a newie that I took part in creating.  Those of you who know my moves will see my signature style in there.  :-)

I'm all a twitter about it because it'll be my first big performance in Chicago and I collect performances in different cities like Girl Scout badges.  It's a little like collecting states you've driven through, or countries you've vacationed in, but with career benefits.  You get bragging rights, but you also get a little more clout in the dance world because if you've danced in one more city, it means that someone wanted you to dance there.  It's a little ego stroke for you and a little reputation builder for your resume.

Now, I'm not touring with Petronio or anything 'cause that's not in the cards for me... but I do the best with what I've got and dammit, I'm proud of it.

It's the Day of the Show, Y'all!

OMG, it's here, it's here!
Winterdances 2013 at UW-Milwaukee's Peck School of the Arts!
http://www4.uwm.edu/psoa/dance/performances/winterdances.cfm

I'm nervous because it's my students and I'm like a mama gritting my teeth and hoping my baby up there doesn't fall down and hurt her tushie.

Yes, I'm talking both about my students and my piece.  I want both of them to soar and fly.

There's this strange little thing that happens when you choreograph on your students that's different than choreographing on a company.  When you choreograph on a company, it's their job to make it look good.  When you choreograph on your students, they must work like the dickens to make the piece succeed, but you are also watching them blossom.  You're at once greedy about the conquering triumph of your piece as well as nurturing towards the growth of your little charges (little... well, they are college students).  This is the teeter-totter I'm on today.  I've got to find the right balance of my first instinct: "don't fuck it up" and my second: "fly, little birdie".  Let's be honest, I'm a little more of a martinet than a mother.

I also have to find a little humility about the piece as well.  I happened to give almost every step in my piece over to my students to create.  This was nerve-wracking.  I was determined to give them as much ownership of it as I comfortably could (picture me with my tight little pincers grasping my choreography with a vice grip telling them "this is yours, make it your own, go ahead, create this entire section by yourselves") as a test to myself and to see how much I could let go of while still steering the ship.  I didn't give as much control as I could have, but "baby steps, baby steps", right?.

It really will be all about them today... as much as I want to hold onto it.

Good luck my little birdies!!!  (And don't fuck it up).

Space-Time

COME SEE MY NEW PIECE! Space-Time created on UW-Milwaukee dancers for UW-Milwaukee's Winterdances 2013
January 24-27, 2013 in the Mainstage Theatre, 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211
7:30pm Thurs-Sat; 2pm Sun

Featuring choreography from fourth New Work Award winner Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner, exploring Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings;” Dance Faculty Luc Vanier choreographing to Bela Bartok’s “The Miraculous Mandarin” performed live by Kamil Tokarski and alumn Johanna Schilling; Katie Sopoci-Drake presents “Space Time"; Simone Ferro reconstructing “Magnetic Field” with ex-Pilobolus company member Edwin Olvera and Milwaukee Ballet choreographer Petr Zahradnícek represents "Fall to Rise" both from FALL(ing).

About Space-Time
The title section of a larger suite of dances, Space-Time explores the notion of Rudolf von Laban’s theories on Flow and its relationship to the 4th dimension known as space-time, the movement of celestial bodies, human relationships and the surprising connections we found between them. 

This final group work, which was developed with and tailored to the UWM dance students, is focused on representing the motion and energy of four dimensions within a three-dimensional perspective.  We’ve played with detailed material that collapses down on itself and is constantly being drawn back in to the body versus free-flowing material that wants to reach out, larger, and wants to drift away.  How these scientific inspirations seem to mimic human interaction is no coincidence.  Take an image from your memory of a group of people and how they physically reacted during a time of excitement or sorrow, of triumph or defeat. Then watch our little creation and see what happens. 

Life as a Modern Dancer

READ ALL ABOUT IT:
Yours Truly has been featured in the blog Life as a Modern Dancer, A Blog with a Mission and Passion to Support Future Generations of Dancers with Their Career Paths and Dreams.  Read all about I got to where I am today (scintillating, right?) and stay to read other inspiring stories of Modern Dancers from around the country.

Here's an excerpt:
"There is this unspoken rule within the modern dance world that once you’re into your 30s, you should be moving into the role of choreographer or collaborator. I’m still learning and growing as a dancer and a choreographer and I still have the time and energy to do both, but the truth is that it gets a little harder to get hired in your 30s. I’ve gotten passed over more than once by directors who have assumed..."