I started a few new things last week, and I'm looking forward to how they'll go this week too.
First, Circus Arts at the Actors Gym. It's a seven week introductory course to all things circus: last week we learned the basics of unicycling and Spanish web (that's the big rope with a hand loop). We also worked on basic tumbling, so it was nice to work on my handstands. I can't wait to see everything else that we learn. I already think that I want to sign up for aerial arts in the fall. I've wanted to learn silks since I was 14!
This class just makes me feel awesome. I don't know any of the other students, and the subject matter is definitely out of my comfort zone. I'm also surprised at how weak it made me feel, so hopefully I'll gain more upper body strength. It's a challenge all around.
Another new experience: working with a new choreographer on new work. We met at 6 am on Thursday to start drafting a new piece...and before then we had barely even had a conversation.
I woke up at 4:30, prepared for the day (breakfast, making lunch, walking the dog) and was on the red line at 5:15. At six, we entered the rehearsal space, quiet and empty. After warming up individually for half an hour, he started teaching me some phrases. After that, he had me improvise to 3 contrasting pieces of music--for about 15 or 20 minutes straight! Then we worked on some partner work (note to self: when lifting a 175 lb man, do not use your back!), and solo character work.
I thought I would have been more self-conscious, especially during the improv. Here I was, coming into an empty room with someone that I barely know and basically exposing myself and my emotions. In retrospect, I could have let loose a bit more in my improv, but considering the circumstances I think I did well. Well enough that he wants to see me again this week!
Not sure when that show will be, but I know I am going to really enjoy the process of working with someone who is creating work on ME. He really works with the dancer's strengths, but is still pushing me to move in new ways too. I also like the idea of waking up before most of the city and being productive. It's very soothing to be in a big empty space with wood floors to roll on, white walls just begging for creation.
It's a good thing that I am going to be changing my work schedule soon. After that 6 am rehearsal, I went of to my office job until 5, and then had rehearsal again from 8:30-10:30. I love it, but I was so exhausted after that.
I'm looking forward to a lot of changes and challenges for the rest of the year.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
A new door opens
So much is happening right now, it's hard to keep up with myself.
First, an update on the Crash audition:
I'll cut to the chase--I didn't get the job (they weren't necessarily hiring, but were looking for apprentices, possible company members, and guest artists). BUT, I did make it past the cut and to the end of the audition! I think this shows that I have been improving, that in my last few auditions I didn't get cut after the first round.
Regardless of being cut, the audition was a lot of fun. We started with a jazz combination that involved a little bit of dance-acro. Then, they had a "bonus round" and asked us to all walk across the room on our hands, or at least try. I took two steps! Last, we learned a hip hop combination. I was actually pretty proud of myself, even though I probably looked ridiculous, because I have NEVER studied hip hop. EVER. So I plan on taking some classes sometime soon.
I also keep forgetting that some talent agents from Lily's Talent were there, so if they were interested in me, I guess they'll call...not getting my hopes us for that.
I'm at work so I will have to end this post here, but I promise to update about my circus class and new project very soon.
First, an update on the Crash audition:
I'll cut to the chase--I didn't get the job (they weren't necessarily hiring, but were looking for apprentices, possible company members, and guest artists). BUT, I did make it past the cut and to the end of the audition! I think this shows that I have been improving, that in my last few auditions I didn't get cut after the first round.
Regardless of being cut, the audition was a lot of fun. We started with a jazz combination that involved a little bit of dance-acro. Then, they had a "bonus round" and asked us to all walk across the room on our hands, or at least try. I took two steps! Last, we learned a hip hop combination. I was actually pretty proud of myself, even though I probably looked ridiculous, because I have NEVER studied hip hop. EVER. So I plan on taking some classes sometime soon.
I also keep forgetting that some talent agents from Lily's Talent were there, so if they were interested in me, I guess they'll call...not getting my hopes us for that.
I'm at work so I will have to end this post here, but I promise to update about my circus class and new project very soon.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Moving forward
Yesterday we closed the Matter Dance show, "Step into the Ring." I had a blast with this project. I met so many cool, new people that I hope to see again for class, upcoming projects, or just hanging out. The cast was HUGE!
I think the best part about this show for me was that it pushed me to perform works outside of my comfort zone. I tend to dance in a very melting, curvy, organic fashion. For "Ring," I danced musical theatre-style tap and jazz numbers, donned my heels for a Russian character dance, and was in a piece by Chicago Dance Crash members that had me cartwheeling, handstanding, and doing my best impression of hip hop. That's a far cry from my normal modern dance!
I normally feel a sense of loss after a show closes. Post-partum. I never know if I'm going to see these great people again, I'm probably never going to perform these pieces again, and also--what do I do with my days now that I'm not rehearsing for this show anymore?
Well, I solved at least the "what do I do with my time" part. I'm going forward, no break.
Today, I am auditioning for Chicago Dance Crash. They're looking for company members and guest artists, so we'll see what happens.
Tomorrow: We start a new piece for IDC's show.
Wednesday: I start my "Circus Arts" class at the Actors Gym.
Thursday: I'm meeting a choreographer to "play." Basically, get to know each other through movement. At 6 am!
And of course, classes and other IDC rehearsals on top of all that.
As one of my co-workers said, I don't like to see blank spaces on my calendar. Especially since my husband is gone for the next 7 weeks (he's in a Shakespeare festival in Michigan), I am keeping myself very occupied. I can't miss him too much if I'm never home! Honestly, even when he was here, we were both so busy that we only saw each other for a couple hours a day. So far, it's not so different. Except that I sleep alone.
And...we're off!
I think the best part about this show for me was that it pushed me to perform works outside of my comfort zone. I tend to dance in a very melting, curvy, organic fashion. For "Ring," I danced musical theatre-style tap and jazz numbers, donned my heels for a Russian character dance, and was in a piece by Chicago Dance Crash members that had me cartwheeling, handstanding, and doing my best impression of hip hop. That's a far cry from my normal modern dance!
I normally feel a sense of loss after a show closes. Post-partum. I never know if I'm going to see these great people again, I'm probably never going to perform these pieces again, and also--what do I do with my days now that I'm not rehearsing for this show anymore?
Well, I solved at least the "what do I do with my time" part. I'm going forward, no break.
Today, I am auditioning for Chicago Dance Crash. They're looking for company members and guest artists, so we'll see what happens.
Tomorrow: We start a new piece for IDC's show.
Wednesday: I start my "Circus Arts" class at the Actors Gym.
Thursday: I'm meeting a choreographer to "play." Basically, get to know each other through movement. At 6 am!
And of course, classes and other IDC rehearsals on top of all that.
As one of my co-workers said, I don't like to see blank spaces on my calendar. Especially since my husband is gone for the next 7 weeks (he's in a Shakespeare festival in Michigan), I am keeping myself very occupied. I can't miss him too much if I'm never home! Honestly, even when he was here, we were both so busy that we only saw each other for a couple hours a day. So far, it's not so different. Except that I sleep alone.
And...we're off!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
GI Alliance on Tour!
The tour to Livonia. I was counting down the days for the trip, not sure if I was so excited about another performance opportunity or just a chance to get out of town. Definitely performing...plus, getting to spend about 12 hours being very close with my fellow dancers.
We left on Thursday. I work from 9-2 at the office, then commute for 45 minutes to Visceral Dance studio on the west side of town for rehearsal with members of Dance Crash for the Matter show. Left rehearsal less than half-way through, after an hour and a half. Commute for an hour to GI Alliance director's house to load into the tour van--shiny white and new with foam covers on the seat belts. However, before leaving, a handful of us held a last minute rehearsal for emergency changes to one piece (we were informed that morning that one dancer would not be joining us). Just after 6, all 11 of us are in our seats and ready to go. We all knew it would be about a six-hour trip, but I think we expected to be in bed by midnight.
Michigan is in Eastern time. When I hit the pillow, the clock read 1:45.
I was definitely selfish, the first one to pick out a bed and plop down, ready to sleep. Not everyone got a bed right away. Judging by the two Greyhound buses full of pubescent hockey players that showed up when we did, we weren't even sure if the hotel had any open rooms. Luckily our host company, locals Allure Dance Company, was very generous and provided another room. No one had to sleep on the floor. I thought that was pretty fancy for my first tour.
For some reason, the 3 ladies in my room decided to entrust me and my little phone to set an alarm for the entire room. 6:45 am came and went, and we awoke to our director knocking on the door at 7:15. We were due in the van to go to tech at 7:30. Apparently, I set the alarm for PM. Obviously, no showers were had, breakfast ended up at the bottom of my dance bag (apple, English muffin), and coffee was consumed en route.
8:00: Tech rehearsal scheduled to start. We arrive at the high school, and students were still laying the floor. During the course of the day, we learned that the high school students held an important role that day. Or making that day run off-schedule. Not sure which.
It felt awesome to stand on a stage in an auditorium that holds about 300 people, with real light equipment, real wings (what a luxury!!)...I realized that I haven't performed on a real stage in 5 years. Not since No Small Parts was on the main stage at UF. After all of my pieces teched, I sat in the empty auditorium with the rest of the company, listing to our director call light cues. So much goes into making the performance, not just the dancers and the choreography. I really started to appreciate the 15 year old boys and girls that were working backstage (one whose job was to apparently to hold onto a set of ropes for the entire show as if to prevent them from flying away).
After tech, Allure arrived for their tech. For GIA: lunch and showers.
We came back to the theatre at our scheduled time to start a 3:00 dress run. Allure was still in tech...until about 4. No harm, I may have even appreciated the extra warm-up time. Dress rehearsal was over by 6, then we ran to get a quick dinner before company warm-up at 7. We were still on degages when the house manager shooed us off stage, but Bill (Allure's co-director)did a great job and I amazingly felt ready for performance.
Waiting in the wings, dancing goof-ball moves with my friends before morphing into a balletic swan, seeing my friend who could barely walk during rehearsal due to injury give a champ's performance on stage, feeling so much energy and emotion pouring out of my fingers, my gut, my eyes... truly an awesome experience.
I love to perform. It doesn't matter how many mishaps during rehearsal, how little sleep we got, how imperfect the stage, or that the audience was only 50 people in such a large auditorium. Those 50 people saw a great performance, we gave them everything that we had.
I missed my husband, my dog and my cat, and I was told I tried to snuggle with my bedmate...but it's so worth it.
This is what I do. And this is why I do it.
We left on Thursday. I work from 9-2 at the office, then commute for 45 minutes to Visceral Dance studio on the west side of town for rehearsal with members of Dance Crash for the Matter show. Left rehearsal less than half-way through, after an hour and a half. Commute for an hour to GI Alliance director's house to load into the tour van--shiny white and new with foam covers on the seat belts. However, before leaving, a handful of us held a last minute rehearsal for emergency changes to one piece (we were informed that morning that one dancer would not be joining us). Just after 6, all 11 of us are in our seats and ready to go. We all knew it would be about a six-hour trip, but I think we expected to be in bed by midnight.
Michigan is in Eastern time. When I hit the pillow, the clock read 1:45.
I was definitely selfish, the first one to pick out a bed and plop down, ready to sleep. Not everyone got a bed right away. Judging by the two Greyhound buses full of pubescent hockey players that showed up when we did, we weren't even sure if the hotel had any open rooms. Luckily our host company, locals Allure Dance Company, was very generous and provided another room. No one had to sleep on the floor. I thought that was pretty fancy for my first tour.
For some reason, the 3 ladies in my room decided to entrust me and my little phone to set an alarm for the entire room. 6:45 am came and went, and we awoke to our director knocking on the door at 7:15. We were due in the van to go to tech at 7:30. Apparently, I set the alarm for PM. Obviously, no showers were had, breakfast ended up at the bottom of my dance bag (apple, English muffin), and coffee was consumed en route.
8:00: Tech rehearsal scheduled to start. We arrive at the high school, and students were still laying the floor. During the course of the day, we learned that the high school students held an important role that day. Or making that day run off-schedule. Not sure which.
It felt awesome to stand on a stage in an auditorium that holds about 300 people, with real light equipment, real wings (what a luxury!!)...I realized that I haven't performed on a real stage in 5 years. Not since No Small Parts was on the main stage at UF. After all of my pieces teched, I sat in the empty auditorium with the rest of the company, listing to our director call light cues. So much goes into making the performance, not just the dancers and the choreography. I really started to appreciate the 15 year old boys and girls that were working backstage (one whose job was to apparently to hold onto a set of ropes for the entire show as if to prevent them from flying away).
After tech, Allure arrived for their tech. For GIA: lunch and showers.
We came back to the theatre at our scheduled time to start a 3:00 dress run. Allure was still in tech...until about 4. No harm, I may have even appreciated the extra warm-up time. Dress rehearsal was over by 6, then we ran to get a quick dinner before company warm-up at 7. We were still on degages when the house manager shooed us off stage, but Bill (Allure's co-director)did a great job and I amazingly felt ready for performance.
Waiting in the wings, dancing goof-ball moves with my friends before morphing into a balletic swan, seeing my friend who could barely walk during rehearsal due to injury give a champ's performance on stage, feeling so much energy and emotion pouring out of my fingers, my gut, my eyes... truly an awesome experience.
I love to perform. It doesn't matter how many mishaps during rehearsal, how little sleep we got, how imperfect the stage, or that the audience was only 50 people in such a large auditorium. Those 50 people saw a great performance, we gave them everything that we had.
I missed my husband, my dog and my cat, and I was told I tried to snuggle with my bedmate...but it's so worth it.
This is what I do. And this is why I do it.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
If you are a loyal reader, first tell me who you are, and second...I apologize for not keeping you up-to-date.
It's been a very busy month. GI Alliance had two weekends of performances, plus an appearance in Rebound Dance Festival last week. Now, we are going on tour to Michigan! We're leaving today to drive to Livonia, on the outskirts of Detroit, to perform with Allure Dance Company. We'll probably get in at around 1 am...and then we have tech at 8! It'll be a long couple of days, but it's completely worth it.
I can't wait--this is my first "real" tour. We've even rented a van! The only down side is that we are coming right back to Chicago on Saturday.
Sunday I have rehearsal all day, from 10 to 7, for Matter Dance and IDC.
Matter's show, "Step into the Ring" is only a couple weeks away. I'm looking forward to seeing the show in rehearsal, if I have a chance. Since it's one, continuous evening-length show (all the pieces are linked together in some fashion) and one of my characters reappears 3 times...I may not have a moment to watch. So you, friend, will have to tell me how it is.
I have much more to talk about, but I'll save that for next time.
It's been a very busy month. GI Alliance had two weekends of performances, plus an appearance in Rebound Dance Festival last week. Now, we are going on tour to Michigan! We're leaving today to drive to Livonia, on the outskirts of Detroit, to perform with Allure Dance Company. We'll probably get in at around 1 am...and then we have tech at 8! It'll be a long couple of days, but it's completely worth it.
I can't wait--this is my first "real" tour. We've even rented a van! The only down side is that we are coming right back to Chicago on Saturday.
Sunday I have rehearsal all day, from 10 to 7, for Matter Dance and IDC.
Matter's show, "Step into the Ring" is only a couple weeks away. I'm looking forward to seeing the show in rehearsal, if I have a chance. Since it's one, continuous evening-length show (all the pieces are linked together in some fashion) and one of my characters reappears 3 times...I may not have a moment to watch. So you, friend, will have to tell me how it is.
I have much more to talk about, but I'll save that for next time.
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