Blog
Mountain Dancing
July 7, 2010
A week in the Eastern Sierra for our workshop provided a profound lung full of fresh mountain air. The three days of yoga and cliff dancing fueled by Table Nector's organic food went smoothly and provided challenge and beauty for all. Mark Stuver, Anje Lockhart and Rachael Lincoln did a great job teaching with me and the support team of Hans Florine and Thomas Cavanagh was FAST and eagle-eyed about safety. There were many break though moments for the students as they learned what they were capable of dancing on vertical granite. I am already looking forward to next year's workshop and hope many of your who haven't yet had that pleasure, consider putting it on your early summer schedule.
Off to the Eastern Sierra and...
June 25th, 2010
It's just past the summer solstice and time for the Eastern Sierra Workshop (second annual). We will be dining on Table Nector's ( http://www.tablenectar.com/ ) organic gourmet cuisine while doing yoga and dancing on cliffs! I look forward to waking up to the smell of sage, fir and pine, to those first few sips of hot tea and to watching the students become adept at our unique style of dance. This year's group looks like a good one including two mother-daughter teams and a board member. Back at home, I have just been appointed the chair of Dance USA's council for dance companies with budgets under $750,000 and onto their board of directors. I am thrilled by these new challenges and look forward to getting more involved in the national conversation about dance-related policy and advocacy.
Composer on the wall and a grant
June 9th, 2010
What a sight! Dana Leong, (http://www.danaleong.com/) the commissioned composer for our new work IdEgo standing out sideways on the wall of our studio for the first time, playing his trombone! With some sweat appearing on this forehead, he impressed me with his adventurous and positive spirit and his ability to breath that deeply in a harness. Todd Laby, who will be creating the new set, measured and imagined what he will need to create a "station" on the wall for Dana his cello, and his trombone. In other news, we are happy to report that we were awarded a San Francisco Foundation grant for general support for the year. The funds will help us in a wide array of goals from marketing and development to rehearsal pay for the dancers. Thank you SF Foundation!
Talking to India and excited about the Sierra
May 27th, 2010
We are having on-going phone meetings now with the US Embassy in New Delhi as we try to arrange a two to three city tour for the end of the year. Details such as media outlets, crowd management and rigging logistics are on the table. It is a fun thing to work on, though we feel for our partners in Delhi where it is 108 degrees Fahrenheit . On another note, there are still spots open for our Sierra Workshop. Check out the video in our gallery from last year's workshop. Oh and the food, the food....by Table Nectar makes it over the top!
Oakland Museum Re-Opening
May 5th, 2010
Last Weekend four members of the company performed for the celebration of the re-opening of the Oakland Museum. After an opening Ohlone blessing ritual, Barbara Lee and Ron Delums were on hand to make opening comments. While the wall posed challenges because it was not tall, Todd Laby created "loft enhancers" that enabled us to remain fluid and uninjured in our dancing. One turstee said after, "I was expecting to be wowed and entertained, which I was, but I wasn't expecting to be moved. I am not really one to be moved by dance." The performance also marked a first for the company. Melecio and Damara performed the duet in which they also sing. This marks the first time the company has performed amplified song on the outside of a building.
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