The Big Easy

Improvising

Twice a year I travel to New Orleans to work with students at The Studio School of Dance & NOLA Dance Project. The first trip is to set solos on students who will be competing, auditioning for summer dance intensives, or applying to colleges or companies. The second trip is to be part of the studio’s summer dance intensives.

This March, I also travelled to New Orleans, lovingly known as “The Big Easy”, to set a new work on these students. We culminated our time together with a film shoot in a big green field. I asked these young students to improvise, and gave them some prompt work to do so.

Improvisation is not simple. There are several methods & practices. While there is enough material to teach an entire year long (or longer!) course, it is imperative that it be taught with proper credit and historical context. Give the students something to hold onto!

My ultimate favorite form of improvisation to teach young improvisers is from the Cunningham method - called “Field Dance”. How appropriate, then, to have finished our time in a big green field!

Dripping

“Do you need a prompt from me?”

“No, thanks”. They were just fine using their imaginations for improvising - rivaled in size only by the massive trees surrounding us, dripping reliably toward the earth while simultaneously reaching eternally to the sky. I had the opportunity of shooting some footage with movers from ELLEvate Dance Company, based in New Orleans, LA. I only asked them to move in response to the breeze.

I so enjoy filming movers and creating footage that provides viewers a perspective they can’t otherwise access. It’s great for capturing dance works, behind-the-scenes footage, or the depth and ability of individual movers. This sort of footage makes the content stand out, it is striking. It captures you and invites you into the fold.

We could all use a bit more of that in our lives.

Systole

Dual-Purpose Trip

I travelled to Austin, TX for a dual-purpose trip. The main goal was to be the original cast member of a resetting of Alluvial Bed, a work by Katherine Duke on Texas State University dance faculty. There’s a moment on stage in this piece when I feel more myself than ever before.

The second goal of the trip was to act as videographer for the production. What a joy to be recognized, amidst all my toil & play in video, as someone who could accurately capture a production.

Please click here for a sample of a little something I put together. You should note, the dancers weren’t in costume and several cast members are missing.

Jane Carney

Jane & Grace

Jane & Grace have a unique bond. There’s alot of history there. There’s a lot of water under their bridge. It’s a sturdy bridge.

Jane is a budding choreographer, and both humans move magically together. When they asked if I’d film a new duet for them, it was a pleasure to oblige. They have both been students of mine before Grace went off to study dance at Marymount Manhattan. Jane will follow and start her collegiate dance studies next year.

Sharing space with them, even if behind the camera, makes me feel a little more full than I was before.

If you’d like to see the full video, you can click here.

Berkshire Pulse

It’s About Sensation

Every summer I have the distinct opportunity of working with any number of dance studios on their summer intensives and summer dance camps! Sometimes, I even help studios design their programming, putting them in touch with the right artists and curating the themes, key take-aways, and final products.

Last summer I worked with Berkshire Pulse students for 2 weeks, and taught contemporary technique. We culminated the intensive with a film shoot after building a piece based on sensation.

I love teaching students how to feel things while they’re moving. It’s important to me as a performer and choreographer that the audience have a memorable experience, and that starts with the mover. If you don’t feel something - neither will they!