Two blogs that talk about what our students are doing over the break!
Best, Luc.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Good morning everyone!
Its been a while since some of us have talked so I think its about time I check up with you all. I'm sending a huge mass e-mail this time around so that everyone can get a general update and after this we can start to make the e-mails a little more personal ;)
So what's been going on here in NYC? Well....the first month was fairly un-eventful....sort of. When I first got here I tried to cram a bunch of things in to the first week. I went to Ikea and bought what I needed for my room, the next day it arrived and it took me about 5 hours to put my bed together. It was not very fun by myself, but it was great to have a bed of my own within the first week.
I also went to a few open interviews in the first week. Nothing really came out of them except the initial interview. I did take a day where I just walked from 14th street up to 70th and then took a train up to 86th and walked up to 110th just dropping off my resume at any restaurants I thought looked like a fun place to work. Nothing came from that day either.
Finally, after about three weeks, I went to an open call for California Pizza Kitchen. They seemed to really like me, but after going through the entire interview process (3 different interviews) I waited about a week and then called to check if the position was still available. They were still doing interviews but told me that I scored "very low" on my personal appearance. Screw that. I'm cute and they missed out :)
But thank god that didn't come through because now I have a job that I think I will really like. My friend Mari (from college) moved out here in June and got a job working at Planet Hollywood in Times Square. I ran in to her at an audition last week and she told me to come apply. I dropped my application off on Friday morning and went back Friday afternoon for an interview and was hired on the spot. I start my training on Tuesday and I can't wait. I think I'll start to feel more like a real person who is actually living in the city now.
The down side, I was only offered a job if I would work all of the upcoming holiday's. So I won't be home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years. I will however, be taking a trip home at the end of January and in to February. Probably about a two/three week stay, but I'll keep you updated with more details.
So that's the work end of things, lets get to the dance end of things. I bought a 10-class card at a studio here called Peridance. Peridance has a very wide range of classes and has the only Gaga classes in the entire city. Not Gaga like the Lady, but Gaga like the dance technique created years ago in Israel. I have't taken a Gaga class yet, but I still have 7 of my 10 class cards left.
I've been taking class from this guy named Price Mousset. He's a frenchman who teaches a contemporary class (very So You Think You Can Dance). I went because I heard that he was choreographing an off-broadway show and needed men. He wasn't going to hold an audition, he was just going to "watch" the guys in class and see if he would want to work with any of them. At the first class he complimented me during the run of the phrase at the end of class, and then asked for my headshot and resume. I was very excited about the opportunity, but unfortunately nothing came from it. But, I keep going to his class so maybe something will come to me in the future.
I am however, dancing with The Bang Group. The Bang Group is the company that created Nut/Cracked (if any of you saw me do Nut/Cracked in Milwaukee). Before I even left, I e-mailed David (the choreographer) and told him I'd be in the city and free to rehearse if he needed any more dancers. He said yes and I've been having a blast. They are a very funny, witty, quick, smart group of people who are very welcoming. I even did a little gig for them the first week I was here. They needed someone to work the box office for a show so I signed up and got a quick $100. Rehearsals are twice a week (and paid), so it isn't that big of a commitment.
So I mentioned that I ran in to Mari at an audition so lemme tell ya about that. The audition was for Ella Rosewood Dance Company. Some of you may know her. She went to school in Madison and has recently danced a show of 6 solo's. One choreographed by Li Chao-Ping, Janet Lilly, Luc Vanier, Heidi Latsky, and a few other names. It was nice to be auditioning for someone who seemed so connected to Milwaukee.
Anyway, I got the job! I'm now a member of the Ella Rosewood Dance Company for the 2011-2012 season. These rehearsals are not paid, but I will be performing around NYC for the next year. Hopefully some people will see the shows and maybe I'll get some more work out of it. Rehearsals for this project haven't started yet. The first rehearsal is this coming Friday and I'm looking forward to seeing which other dancers she chose and what the work is going to be like.
I think that is about all the updating I can do right now. I think you all should update me on your life and lets get a conversation going! I hope you are doing great and I can't wait to hear from you all!
Love from NYC,
Andrew
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hi, from NOLA!!
Hi Everyone!
I'm down in New Orleans, LA currently beginning my second week. I have come down here for a cultural experience involving the people of Katrina. Katrina happened about 5 years ago, but from the looks of the 9th Ward, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It is an area of our country that is being neglected and needs to be fixed. When I first thought about coming down here, I knew it was going to be a difficult experience but I never imagined it to be this difficult. From the first day we were here it's been an emotional roller coaster going from seeing the houses still there from the aftermath to talking with the people who stayed here through the storm and the ones who came back. I've found that home and community are an important aspect of their everyday lives here. People normally sit on their porches and talk with neighbors or anyone passing by. Since Katrina, this is not as prevalent because of the lack of people returning and because of those who unfortunately did not survive the storm. From those that I have talked to already, they all seem to have a very positive outlook on life and they know things will continue to get better even though it's a constant struggle.
That's all for now! I will be posting more later this week hopefully!!
-Danielle
I'm down in New Orleans, LA currently beginning my second week. I have come down here for a cultural experience involving the people of Katrina. Katrina happened about 5 years ago, but from the looks of the 9th Ward, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It is an area of our country that is being neglected and needs to be fixed. When I first thought about coming down here, I knew it was going to be a difficult experience but I never imagined it to be this difficult. From the first day we were here it's been an emotional roller coaster going from seeing the houses still there from the aftermath to talking with the people who stayed here through the storm and the ones who came back. I've found that home and community are an important aspect of their everyday lives here. People normally sit on their porches and talk with neighbors or anyone passing by. Since Katrina, this is not as prevalent because of the lack of people returning and because of those who unfortunately did not survive the storm. From those that I have talked to already, they all seem to have a very positive outlook on life and they know things will continue to get better even though it's a constant struggle.
That's all for now! I will be posting more later this week hopefully!!
-Danielle
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
1st Annual Dance Award is a success!
On December 12th - right after the 12th performance of New Dancemakers / In the Flesh - Some 70 students, Alumns and faculty spent two hours together at the UWM Fireside Lounge to host a send-off party for the current crop of UWM Dance Graduates.
Katie and Karen were funny and personable in their roles as MCs and were instrumental in putting the successful event together. Kayla Premeau was also recognize as a force behind the event and all that goes on in the dance department! Bravo to all who came and made the event a success!
We started the evening with some alumni updates from all around the country... a lot of insights there!
The seniors put on a very funny skit using faculty idiosyncrasies as a backdrop for a dysfunctional faculty meeting... (see video below :)
Some pictures and videos were presented to great hooplah...
Some mock awards were handed out. (see list below)
And Finally Ed Burgess, Chair of the Dance Department announced the pieces from New Dancemakers who would be representing the Dance Department at the Regional ACDF at Saint-Olaf later in the Spring semester: Mary-Elizabeth Fenn's "It's not about Her" with dancers: Molly Mingey, Bonnie Watson, Megan Burki, Kimberly Rhyme, and Brenna Marlin. And Molly Mingey's "Excuse Me?" with dancers: Hilary Anderson, Annette Grefig, Jose Luis, and Nadia Marie Whitley. An alternate piece was also chosen in case with "A Round About Way, to Show You Today, This Little Dance" by Lindsey Krygowski with dancers: Olivia Gonzales and Tasha Holifield.
AWARDS!
| Anton,Michelle | The I'm tiny but unexpectedly fierce award |
| Bates,Nastassja | The You better watch out world |
| Beneke,Sandy | The I'm as smart as I am nice award |
| Cambra,Alberto | The My life is really just that funny Award |
| Carlsen,Frieda | The I'm prettier than you and I don't like it award |
| Follensbee,Benjamin | The Follensbee Award |
| Gray,Chloe | The I'm tall and I'm proud award |
| Krygowski,Lindsey | The I have a gesture for that award |
| Lauerman,Nicholas | The I'm a rock, I'm an island award |
| Leow,Amy | The Everything is falling out of my purse and I'm still happy and smart award |
| Mathers,Mari | The "oh my gosh really!" award |
| Mingey, Molly | The Beautifully weird award |
| Mudroch,Elizabeth | The Quietly passionate award |
| Mueller,Beth | The Smiling in all circumstances award |
| Pamenter,Nikka | The Slowed down to a run award |
| Rabbitt,Emilie | The two most different majors possible award |
| Robinson,Joshua | The I just woke up so get out of my way award |
| Silva,Monique | The I'm a strong latina woman so step aside award |
| Spadafora,Emily | The I'm not stuck in ballet award |
| Stern,Melissa | The the serious money award |
| Taylor,Sarah | The I know what I want award |
| Tegen,Bridgett | The Forever Gretchen Award |
| Teschendorf,Sarah | The quirk award |
| Vang-Strath,Yeng | The doing it all award |
| Walker,Chelsey | The watch out, I'm a poster girl award |
| Warsh,Stephanie | The You really did it award |
| Zanoni,Andrew | The slow and steady wins the race award |
| Zarzecki,Steven | The my feet ate my moustache award |
| Fenn, Mary-Elizabeth | The if I slowed down you might catch me award |
| Ferrante, Alisa | The If I were here you'd know about it award |
| Pankratz-Solis, Nicole | The "boy this girl can dance award |
| Bannon, Beatrice | The flower power award |
| Adjudication | Mary-Elizabeth Fenn |
| Informal | Molly Mingey |
| Alternate | Lindsey Krygowski |
| Merit awardee | Lindsey Krygowski |
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Iain Court goes to Toronto to work with Igneous
I had the chance to attend one of Igneous' James Cunningham and Suzon Fuks C0-Artistic Directors' lectures last night at the Fireside Lounge. They are giving a series of lectures and workshops throughout the week in many of our classes this week.
Our own Dance Department Production and Lighting Director Iain Court is just back from working with them this weekend at the "Nuit Blanches" (White Nights) Festival in Toronto. He forwarded some reviews and links to the festival's site that I'm posting here for everyone to see - enjoy!
NOW Magazine
"...the Theatre Direct/Abilities Arts Festival show at the Barns, called Mirage, was sensational. Australian dancer James Cunningham, whose left arm is withered, put on a spectacular movement performance, accompanied by compelling electronic music. Standing inside a mesh tent, the ground covered in about an inch of water, Cunningham manipulated a smaller, tent-like structure, while interacting with images reflected onto the mesh and the water. Forty-five minutes of jaw-dropping beauty. For free. A perfect example of why Nuit Blanche rocks."
http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=177042
BlogTO
"My favorite for the night. While we were watching the performance, I said to my friend, "This feels like the first art I've seen tonight." The performance involved two stages. In the first, you were encouraged to engage with three mirror-based perceptual illusions that centred on ideas of symmetry and identity. All of them were genuinely startling and surprising."
http://www.blogto.com/arts/2010/10/nuit_blanche_2010_the_best_and_worst_of_zone_a/
On Nuit Blanche site, they added new pics of white space...
http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/iProjects.aspx?zone=A&rowID=1#0
NOW Magazine
"...the Theatre Direct/Abilities Arts Festival show at the Barns, called Mirage, was sensational. Australian dancer James Cunningham, whose left arm is withered, put on a spectacular movement performance, accompanied by compelling electronic music. Standing inside a mesh tent, the ground covered in about an inch of water, Cunningham manipulated a smaller, tent-like structure, while interacting with images reflected onto the mesh and the water. Forty-five minutes of jaw-dropping beauty. For free. A perfect example of why Nuit Blanche rocks."
http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=177042
BlogTO
"My favorite for the night. While we were watching the performance, I said to my friend, "This feels like the first art I've seen tonight." The performance involved two stages. In the first, you were encouraged to engage with three mirror-based perceptual illusions that centred on ideas of symmetry and identity. All of them were genuinely startling and surprising."
http://www.blogto.com/arts/2010/10/nuit_blanche_2010_the_best_and_worst_of_zone_a/
On Nuit Blanche site, they added new pics of white space...
http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/iProjects.aspx?zone=A&rowID=1#0
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