Project Bandaloop http://projectbandaloop.org/bandaloop.rss Project Bandaloop honors nature, community, and the human spirit through dance. Under the artistic direction of Amelia Rudolph, the company creates a blend of dance, sport, ritual, and environmental awareness. en 2009 120 Untitled Resource http://projectbandaloop.org/duplicate-of-excited-about-september.html It is the morning before we open on the Old Post Office here in Washington DC on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yesterday's rehearsal found dancers and riggers using every ounce of their cool-headedness and skill to handle the gusts of 30MPH winds that were snarling our ropes on the turrets of the eighth-floor roof. Tonight we are expecting the wind to calm, a good crowd, and a magical performance. We have been getting great coverage in the press here. Yesterday's Post ran this article. http://tinyurl.com/chrmfer

]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 05:28:21 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/duplicate-of-excited-about-september.html Project Bandaloop Almost Ready for the Kennedy Center Show http://projectbandaloop.org/almost-ready-for-the-kennedy-center-show.html We are in our last week of studio rehearsals for the upcoming May 11th performance on the historic Old Post Office in DC. Dana Leong has now joined us in our studio and hearing him live brings a whole new level to our excitement and anticipation.  I have been working with him on his harnessed on-wall movement and he is extraordinarily willing and able in his learning and skills.

]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:56:32 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/almost-ready-for-the-kennedy-center-show.html Project Bandaloop Kennedy Center and Teaching http://projectbandaloop.org/kennedy-center-and-teaching.html We have begun our rehearsals for the Kennedy Center's Look Both Ways: Street Arts Across America Festival where we will be presenting Bound(less). We are performing on the Old Post Office which means lots of innovation within the piece. We are thrilled to have Dana Leong  playing with us live again. Back here in Oakland, we have a free National Dance Week event at our studio on the Friday the 20th of April and a workshop to follow on the weekend so check the schedule for details.

]]> Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:17:40 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/kennedy-center-and-teaching.html Project Bandaloop Mexico City Scouting http://projectbandaloop.org/mexico-city-scouting.html A glorious warm sunny day in which to stand on roof tops looking out across the city, though last evening a thunder storm. I am inspired by the vibrant arts community here and by the architecture. Driving in yesterday from the airport, while stopped at a light a performer painted silver climbed a ladder to juggle fire and the dark sky behind him lit up with a dozen lightning bolts-an image to start my artistic journey here.

]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:06:26 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/mexico-city-scouting.html Project Bandaloop Too Sunny http://projectbandaloop.org/too-sunny.html Well, this is the second 70 degree day this week and while I am happy to go out and enjoy some of it, I worry about the Sierra and the snow pack that leads to much needed water. In dance mode, I am in the second half of a Mellon Foundation funded program at ODC called the Sandbox Series working with dancers I have never worked with with the goal of experimentation on the ground. It is a joy and I look forward to bringing a newly revived creative spark back to my own dancers! We begin rehearsals for the Kennedy Center next month!

]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:40:02 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/too-sunny.html Project Bandaloop Opera House Via Ferrata http://projectbandaloop.org/opera-house-via-ferrata.html


A Via ferrata is a mountain route fixed with cables,allowing a person access to amazing places that would otherwise be unsafe. Yesterday, Thomas and I were allowed access to a "via ferrata" on the roof of the San Francisco Opera House. We climbed up several ladders, some quite tall getting all the way on top of the fly loft to check the rigging potential. Looking out over the city and the gilded roof of city hall sparkling in the unseasonably bright sun, we both acknowledged that we have a wonderful job. Stay tuned to see if this potential plays out in the form of site-reactive performance in the next few months!

]]> Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:31:34 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/opera-house-via-ferrata.html Project Bandaloop Nice Piece on Move TV http://projectbandaloop.org/nice-piece-on-move-tv.html I have for years done my best to practice mindfulness, often poorly. By following the Tich Nhat Hanh inspired busy-life method of taking deep breaths at red lights and when the phone rings-I try to remind myself to stop thinking ahead. Looks like I was inspired by this kind of thinking when I was interviewed by Move TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkL4DYtVDUU

]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:08:50 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/nice-piece-on-move-tv.html Project Bandaloop New Year New Ideas http://projectbandaloop.org/new-year-new-ideas1.html Though the economy still is dragging its toes, head droopy, there are some exciting things on the horizon for all of us. We are preparing for an exciting performance as part of the Kennedy Center's first ever street theater festival in May, teaching lots of classes (sign up now!) and thinking about creative ways to bring dance to the people. If you have ever wanted to work with me or Rachael, you can audition at ODC this Sunday! We both were awarded Sandbox grants which allow us play time with up to six paid dancers of our choosing (who we have never worked with). How fun!

]]> Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:21:17 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/new-year-new-ideas1.html Project Bandaloop Profiled on Huffington's/AOL "You've Got" http://projectbandaloop.org/we-are-todays-huffintonsaol-youve-got.html Nice piece on the home page of AOL/Huffington's "You've Got", a segment that highlights people, stories and at times performing arts groups! Most of the footage is from our performance last year in India. I was interviewed in our home studio in Oakland. Go to aol.com and click on the link. There is still room in our December workshop, so go to our teaching page and sign up now! Remember, your end of year donations can be made by clicking the donate button on our home page. Now more than ever we need your support so we can keep on performing for free to the public in Oakland and nation-wide!

]]> Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:01:32 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/we-are-todays-huffintonsaol-youve-got.html Project Bandaloop Teaching and Brainstorming http://projectbandaloop.org/teaching-and-brainstorming.html Ongoing weekly classes are in full swing in the studio in Oakland. We plan to do more in the new year, so check the site and sign up early as they often sell out. We are also brainstorming about reaching out to the elite  surfing community to offer cross training-stay tuned.If you have a small group of athletes/youth/disabled movers looking for inspiration off the ground, send us a line. we want to share!

]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:05:12 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/teaching-and-brainstorming.html Project Bandaloop Angels in the Night http://projectbandaloop.org/angels-in-the-night.html Back from our performance in Miami on the new Frank Gehry designed New World Center as part of Sleepless Night Miami Beach. The performance was like a mountain climbing experience because it rained a couple of times during the performance. Rain is not often much of an issue as long as it is not heavy, but in this instance we were on a glass building. Imagine trying to push off a vertical ice rink and you get the picture. I came close to pulling the plug mid show, but when I polled the dancrers as they came off the wall, on their way to enter again, their faces were alight and they seemed excited, not fearfull of the challenge. Dana Leong too played his electric cello right through the downpours. We drew the festival's biggest crowd of several thousand and enjoyed both a front page photo and a lovely review in the Miami Herald, not to mention daily swims in the Atlantic. www.miami.com-angels-night-article.

]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:04:29 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/angels-in-the-night.html Project Bandaloop Sir Branson Bandalooping http://projectbandaloop.org/sir-branson-bandalooping.html Driving through the New Mexico desert toward the surreal architecture of the Virgin Galactic Spaceport listening to 80s hits, we already felt we had fallen into a Jim Jarmusch film gone sci-fi. Choreographing Richard Branson and his children into the piece on the glass curtain wall of the newly christened Spaceport confirmed that this might have in fact happened.We had a blast-no pun intended.http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/project-bandaloop/

]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:17:41 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/sir-branson-bandalooping.html Project Bandaloop Busy Fall http://projectbandaloop.org/busy-fall.html  

After a great run in the Bay Area with our home season, and then a warm Birmingham response to the work there, we are back home preparing for our upcoming weekly classes, a secret private gig in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico and our early November Miami performance of Bound(less). Phew, a wonderfully busy fall. Thanks to all of you who supported us 8,000 strong at our San Francisco and Oakland shows!. You can still send comments about Bound(less) to (415) SFLOOP1 (735-6671).

]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:33:17 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/busy-fall.html Project Bandaloop Oakland over, Birmingham Alabama on http://projectbandaloop.org/oakland-over-birmingham-alabama-on.html Big thanks to our Bay Area, and specifically Oakland community for the big turn out and positive support last week for Bound(less)! We had more than 7,000 people see the show over three nights. Thank you! We are now in rehearsals in Birmingham at the Alys Stephens Center and things are going smoothly. We are performing inside and out here and have built some site-specific work inside using the unique qualities of the space. The community here is very warm and supportive especially the staff at the center.

]]> Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:20:20 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/oakland-over-birmingham-alabama-on.html Project Bandaloop Opening Night http://projectbandaloop.org/opening-night.html Well, the day has come after years of planning and months of rehearsing. We are opening Bound(less) on the Great Wall in Oakland tonight at 8:30.

Dress rehearsal last night was enjoyed by a small crowd that gathered including a few cars and taxis stopping, with hazards on, to view the dancing and hear the

music. I hope you all will come down and see the performance tonight, Friday or Saturday. Remember to bring warmth, even a blanket, along with your reclining chair!

]]> Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:55:02 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/opening-night.html Project Bandaloop Countdown to the big show http://projectbandaloop.org/countdown-to-the-big-show.html We are loading in lights, staging and sound and running through technical rehearsals in preparation for opening night on the 15th. Yesterday, during rehearsal I realized that this is first. We are performing on a building in the manner we perform on tour, right here in our own hometown. Full theatrical production, live music, the works. I am so excited to share this with our local community. A homeless man named Harold, who has been watching us rehearse on-and-off since June said with a big smile, "I can't wait until Thursday. I have been waiting for this for months."

]]> Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:08:54 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/countdown-to-the-big-show.html Project Bandaloop Here we go, the Home Season is ON! http://projectbandaloop.org/here-we-go-the-home-season-is-on.html We will be presenting two pieces today above the Mint Plaza of Market at 5th in SF at 5pm. Come by and enjoy an unusual Happy Hour with us. Photos from last nights intimate talk and film showing at ODC cnan be found on our facebook page. If you missed yesterday's SF Chronicle feature article, you can find it on line at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/08/DDKF1KVJ0M.DTL

]]> Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:28:08 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/here-we-go-the-home-season-is-on.html Project Bandaloop What Happens When the Power Goes Out? http://projectbandaloop.org/what-happens-when-the-power-goes-off.html Just back from Vermont where I experienced the power of nature-and particularly that of water from Hurricane Irene, I am reminded how tiny we are in the face of that kind of force. Art making feels more important to me as a part of life, not less, when I am reminded of our insignificance. We do what we can and what we are moved to do. The experience also resonated with a theme in the upcoming performance, "Bound(less)".  In a section about who we can be in the electronic universe, the dancer asks, "but who are we when the power goes out?"

]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:15:34 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/what-happens-when-the-power-goes-off.html Project Bandaloop Excited about September http://projectbandaloop.org/excited-about-september.html The dancers' cores are even stronger than usual from all the rehearsing in August. The piece " Bound(less") is coming together and we are all excited to share it in September. Composer Dana Leong came out from New York and watched developments to the piece and practiced playing from a high point on the Great Wall. I am now in Vermont, resting before the big push, swimming in the lake, hiking in the Green Mountains and coordinating with the California team.

]]> Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:37:07 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/excited-about-september.html Project Bandaloop Rehearsing Bound(less) http://projectbandaloop.org/rehearsing-boundless.html Rehearsing for Bound(less) on the Great Wall. Look at the schedule page for open rehearsal times and come on down.  The new set piece by Todd Laby

is exciting to work on and the group work is coming along nicely. Looks like we are going to have a street part after our show on the 16th and 17th. How fun.

]]> Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:42:43 -0700 http://projectbandaloop.org/rehearsing-boundless.html Project Bandaloop