Dance is going on...

So I'm sitting here at the studio and all four studio's are still going. In Studio 1 Rose is rehearsing for Anthology, in Studio 2 David is work shopping movement for an upcoming show called LIFT, in 3 T.P. is rehearsing for a film called "Step Sister" and in Studio 4 Barry is rehearsing his dance for KORU. The studio is actually closed but there is dancing still going on. Amazing the dedication that dancers have.

This weekend I was going to take off...I even typed in my phone "TAKE WEEKEND OFF", well that didn't happen. Friday I went to work as usual at 3pm then left to go to Philips Arena to rehearse with 100 and something dancers for a GA Lottery event. There we were on the basket ball court working out steps and spacing it's strange working with that many dancers specially when you're talking over a microphone. The next day was the same. Went to the Philips at 10am and started right where we had left off. It'm working with Steven Jones, Quincey Lamar, and CiCi Kelley three of Atlanta's heavy hitters in the dance community. I have to say I love working with these people. They are talented, professional, and respectful. We work really well together. We stayed there til 2pm then I headed to grab a bite to eat and then went home and crashed for a bit. Luckily I did get some work done around my place, as in unpacking some boxes and hanging some things on the wall. Then at 9:30p I headed out for snacks and games with Suchita and the gang at Michael's house. Many laughs had, as well as some yelling and argueing because some people, who shall remain nameless, were not neccesarily playing farely. But none the less we had fun. The next day I had a couple of meetings then headed over to the studio to have a meeting with the choreographers of KORU. The meeting went well and so far the show seems like a good one. The Dames Aflame were holding an audition for new girls and I got to see a little of that, there was some good talent there, specially the young and ever so cute Candace Maxwell who did exceptionally well.

So here I am at the studio and getting ready to go home realizing that dance is alive and well around me.

All movement.

I've been inspired. Tonight in my class I realized something. I create movement. No matter what style set to what music if any at all, I create movement. I can see dance in anything. The simplest of gesture to the largest dive roll, we are surrounded by movement. Before my class tonight Beth Lewis of Pilobolus was showing us a video of a commercial they did where they all rolled in as Pilobolus will and formed the bones of an upper arm and forearm with a hand. I mean it looked so real. So amazing. All movement. By the way they are coming to town March 25th at the Ferst Center. I will definitely be there since I haven't seen them live in years. In class I started to make the combination and it flowed out of me and into the air and settled in my students bodies. All movement. After my class I was watching Kevin Tyson's A-Town Funk class and they were hitting it so hard and loving it. All movement. I then watched some of Barry Thomas' tap rehearsal for KORU and it was dynamic, gonna be a fantastic moment in the show. All movement. Then I watched some of Rose Sheilds' rehearsal and she had non contemporary dancers doing contemporary movement and they look really good. All movement. The studio has so much going on right now. So much creation. Tonight I'm checking out video's on YouTube and ran up on Alonso Kings Lines Ballet which is based in San Francisco and let me say that they are amazing. I got to see them about three years ago when our own Kathryne Van Asche was doing their summer intensive program. She was beautiful in the show and the whole show was amazing. The particular piece I was watching on Youtube was a duet set to live African singing where the traditionally dress singers sat on stage while the dance happened. The female dancer had the extension of the God's and the male dance was languid and had beautiful movement quality as well. The dance was a continuous string of slow moving leg extensions, sensitive and wary plies that intertwined the two dancers arms as if they were passing through one another. There were moments where the dancers would separate then come together again as if they could not breath without the other. The choreography show extreme control, beautiful vulnerability, intense strength, intimate connection, immense trust and sensuality. Incredible and all movement.

All in a week and a day...

Life is interesting. Sounds so cliche' but at times that's all I can say. It amazes be the resilience of people. The self critism that we possess. The ability we have to move through things. The ability we have to get stuck in a rut and be fearful of using our ability to move through things. As I sit here listening to Mae West singing I am aware that I've experienced all of the above in the past week...one of the longest weeks of my life. For no particular reason was it the longest but just felt that way. Could be for the fact that I haven't had a true day off in almost two weeks. In that time as well, I've become aware of two people in my circle that have cancer and dealing with both living with it and dying from it. I remember when I was a kid I knew noone with this disease, it was something that other people had it was so foreign. I guess that's part of life as well. If you live long enough you are bound to have people close to you get diseases. Never knew I'd still be around at 46. Recently I've hear somone say "Im such an idiot". I get it but feel it's sad if people really do feel that way about themselves and when you say it, it's just like someone else saying it. I used to beat up on myself alot and it got me nowhere except for in a deep pit of self pitty. I do much bretter these days without the boxing gloves and a mirror. I've alos seen pople this week after having been in a rut of fear, uncertainty, sadness, who's lives in one day have turned around and given them new perspective and hope. Love that.

Today I had the final rehearsal for the Drum Cafe Atlanta gig and it was a bit frustrating. People late and people not knowing what they are doing. Dressing...undressing. Time constraints. Worry. Crying baby. Pounding drums. It was karazee but just when I took my fists and drew them to my eyes and rub in frustration, fear, anger, confusion...I looked up and saw another take a deep breath with eyes closed and exhale. "Thank god I'm not alone" is what I thought. After that my mood lightened and I moved on in gratitude and the rehearsal ended nicely. Went about my day at work making phone calls, returning emails, researching instructors, contacting dancers for Trey McEntyre Project colaboration, setting rehearsal schedule for that same project, etc. Taught class...Latin Jazz which I love. I think I was born with several drops of latin blood in me although you can't tell with my lilly white complexion. Stayed at the studio and finished up some stuff I was working on. Watched an excerpt from Hysterica Dance Company's last performance "CRUST", odd, alluring, sensual, psychotic...all the things I love and nothing that I did not expect from my loves Kitty McNamee and Ryan Heffington check them out. I truly love dance and sharing that love of dance with other people who love dance. Speaking of dance, more thoughts are coming for Anthology, the show dance/art show curated byt Zerina Serulle and Beth del Nero at studio/ninehundred. My collaboration with Travis Barron will be more art than dance.

Tonight I was going to start editing but I feel the need to rest. So I will. I look forward to tomorrow and what it has in store. I can't believe those words actually come out of my mouth or in this case from the tips of my fingers with nails that need clipping. But they do...and now I go clip and sleep.

One heart, one celeb, lot's of laughs...

Two days of go go go. Yesterday started off with a bang litterally. Banging on drums that is. Had rehearsal for Drum Cafe Atlanta out at their home base in Scottsdale, GA and when I say out there I mean it. I get there late after taking an out of the way iMap route and find the dancers just arriving as well. Kisses all around and away we go into the drum barn and upstairs. At the top of the stairs is a door that opens into a wood covered room which will serve as our rehearsal space for the following three hours. I have to say it was one of the most efficient rehearsals I've ever had. Everyone was focused and we got alot done BUT...by the end of the rehearsal I was ready to not hear a drum for a hot minute. I mean I love percussion and all but the space was a bit small for my rock n roll tainted ears. I think I have a bit of hearing damage from all those years of touring and dancing onstage with huge stacks of speakers blaring. Left the rehearsal and headed to get a bite to eat. Got back to my place around 5:30p and started doing stuff I needed to get done around the apt. It's been a month and a bit and I'm still not all the way moved in. Frustrating. Anyway, got some of it done and then headed downtown to meet Aris and visit some friends at The Pulse dance convention. I love it when dancer folks from my L.A. life come into town cause it's wonderful to be around their energy. So familiar and comforting. Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Cris Judd, Wade Robson, Gil (with the last name I've never been able to pronounce much less spell) and Tyce Diorio. I've known some of these guys for 20 years. Amazing talents, fun people, beautiful souls. It also makes me a bit off center when I leave them. Almost like leaving home in a way. I miss that creative energy. The showcase was nice and I have to say that Rhythm Dance Center and Project 7 did wonderfully. I also ran into my dance teacher from when I was about 16-17 Tracy Soloman and that was a trip. Her girls from Dothan School of Dance did a fantastic job as well.

Today I filled in for Jennifer (Happy Birthday) at work so had to be to the studio at 11:30a and stayed til three. Later in the day I got to see a couple rehearsals for the show and can tell KORU is going to be a good one. Whitney's piece, set to a cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" is interesting and has nice flow to it and Ray's piece, although just started, has a beautifully diverse group of dancers and within the first 4/8's I can tell it's going to say alot. Left work and headed toward Grant Park to see The D.A.I.R. Project perform "Barriers" but with a late start and murderous traffic, ended up aborting mission to turn around and go home. I had another invitation by Suchita to go to the Laughing Skull located in the Vortex Midtown to see Jennifer Coolidge who played Stifler's mom in "American Pie" do stand-up. She was hilarious. We went backstage after and got to meet her and talk a bit. She was so cool and gorgeous. AND funny. She said she's thinking about moving to Atlanta and I hope she does cause she'd be super fun to hang out with. Also there was Reggie Aqui whom I haven't seen in forever and it was nice to hug his neck and catch up a bit. After the show we headed over to Apre Diem for a bite. I had the most amazing pasta I've ever had. Penne Aru....I can't remember the name of it but it was incredible. Suchita, David and I hung out for a good 2.5 hours lounging on the couches and taking in the atmosphere. Apre Diem is really a nice place to relax. There was a fantastic DJ as well.

So now I'm home and ready to end this day. I wish there was more days in a weekend. Specially when I have things to do on the first two days it would be nice to have another just to rest. But, I am not complaining. I am grateful for the full life I have. I remember back some years in L.A. when I was like "what the hell am I gonna do today" I couldn't figure out how to fill 24 hours. Now I'd like 30 hours in a day...WELL... at least on weekends.

In progress, not perfection...

In the studio with BCD members Jena Kovash and Stephanie Johnson as well as another beautifully gifted dancer Rose Shields. The dance is set to three tracks from the Venetian Snares soundtrack for "My Downfall". All synthesized string instruments, very kinetic and dramatic. I have to say the piece is flowing very slowly mostly in part to me not having choreographed contemporary movement in a while. I am enjoying the process though and trying to trust what's happening. The dancers seem to enjoy it so that pleases me. Still working on a title because my idea and music changed after the first rehearsal. Keep you posted on that one.

Continuing work on Drum Cafe Atlanta Flashmob happening in DC this next week. Incorporating contemporary movement with African dance has been amazing. I'm working with six dancers two of which are African dancers. I am trying to weave their movement in amongst the contemporary movement as well as have the contemporary dancers learn some African dance moves and the African dancers learn contemporary moves. Drum Cafe Atlanta is run by Jo-Ann and Alain Eagle. They use the act of drumming to transform, inspire and motivate corporations to work together and think outside the box. I have to say dancing to live drums creates an entirely different energy in my body and pushes the dancers in a different way than when using a CD or iPod. They are such lovely and positive people as well and the energy that is created in the room is inspiring to me.

Work is underway on KORU as well. Lot's of students signing up to be a part of Dance 101's next show, the third directed by me. Ideas are formulating in my head as to how I want to go about creating this new show. I researched hours of music and am starting to compile the walk-in and intermission soundtracks. I'm using sounds of Vaudeville acts from the early 1900's. From Mae West to Jelly Roll Morton. The texture of the music of that era is amazing. Such richness in it's simplicity. Something you don't find these days in music. Looking forward to the unfurling of KORU in the weeks to come.