Tuesday, October 21st at 7PM
THROW at The Chocolate Factory Theater
featuring: Lenora Champagne & David Thomson
FREE, with drinks for cheap
THROW is a work-in-progress series. Find out more here
The Chocolate Factory Theater presents THROW, curated by Sarah Maxfield Tuesday, October 21st at 7PM THROW at The Chocolate Factory Theater featuring: Lenora Champagne & David Thomson FREE, with drinks for cheap THROW is a work-in-progress series. Find out more here
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In celebration of Yewande's life, SMAPA will host a FREE West African Dance Class Wednesday, October 22nd from 7:45-8:45. All are welcomed!!! FROM SMAPA FAMILY: We lost a gifted African Dancer, Teacher and friend... Yewande Kelly Johnson you will be missed. Yewande Kelly Johnson had been in the field for over 25 years and served as the Founder/ Artistic Director of the Iwa Lewa Heritage Ensemble which 'presents dance, music and story from Africa and the Diaspora.’ Her performing focus was African and Caribbean dance, but she was also a student of the Savoy Style Lindy Hop/ Swing. Yewande’s emphasis on the contexts of her dances, as well as the historical and cultural perspectives inspired many to partake in the 'richness and brilliance of African Dance.' Considered a Master Teacher of African Dance she also taught students of all ages all over the tri-state area, including Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA), where she was loved and regaled for her "patience, sense of humor and sweet spirit,” according to teachers and students. Founder/ Director, Sharron Miller shared, "As recently as four weeks ago, Yewande completed her 8th year teaching the students of our Prime Time Summer Arts program. She touched the lives of hundreds of children by sharing not only the dances, but also the traditions and the history of the art form. She truly made a difference and will be sorely missed!" Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA) has donated to The American Cancer Society on behalf of Yewande’s life and legacy. If Yewande has touched you, please consider making a donation. This weekend (October 17-19), Christal Brown’s four-movement evening-length work inspired by the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali, The Opulence of Integrity opens at The Kumble Theater. Opulence is performed by an all-male cast and incorporates elements of boxing, hip-hop, martial arts, modern dance, text by Ali and an original score by Farai Malianga. Michael Randazzo of The Brooklyn Eagle offers the following: "The performance opens with Ali’s relationship with Malcolm X—whom the former Cassius Clay met while training for his 1964 title fight against reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston—depicting their relationship as a catalyst for the black power movement. Brown then explores Ali’s transformation from successful boxer into a world-renowned personality, the result of being sentenced to five years in prison and fined $10,000 for refusing to serve in the Vietnam War. The series’ final movement documents Ali’s comeback, when he recaptured the heavyweight title and the public’s imagination for his masterful victories over Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and George Foreman." In an interview, Brown responded to some questions about the making of Opulence and more. Charmaine: Where did the idea to make this work “inspired” by Muhammad Ali come from? Christal: I was originally approached by the late Fred Ho to create choreography for his album entitled “The Sweet Science Suite.” After premiering a draft of that work at the Guggenheim Works in Process in November of 2011, Fred and I developed our own versions of the work. In developing The Opulence of Integrity I began to look at Ali not as inspiration but as a lens. I believe his life mirrors the struggle of so many men of color who have divine aspirations of greatness, but human shortcomings keep them from achieving their purpose. Ali was driven by a force that he could not explain or harness. That indomitable spirit is what the work is about. Charmaine: What tools, if any, did you use in preparing your dancers during the process? Christal: The process of creating Opulence began in 2011 with a solo called No Vietnamese Ever Called Me Nigger. While working with Dante Brown at Bates Dance Festival to create this solo I often referenced my father who lost both his legs in the Vietnam War. The stories I shared with Dante became part of the framework for the larger story. My personal life had a direct connection to the causes Ali was fighting for. I then began to ask Dante and subsequent artist who entered the process to find a personal connection to an aspect or experience in Ali's life and bring the connection into the work. In addition, we watched documentaries on Ali, read through biographies, and talked at length about the commonalities we found within finding purpose in our own lives, striving for greatness, and falling victim to our own humanities. Charmaine: There is an all-male cast, was this intentional because of the “boxer” Ali, or were there other parts of his life that may have included women that were not intended for this work? Christal: When I was initially approached about the idea of Ali I was asked to use an all-male cast. Having had an all-female company for 10 years the idea was intriguing. But as I began looking at every aspect of Ali's life I began to see that women were his weakness. I decided to bring this to light in movement two, "Larger than Life." In movement two the audience gets a brief glimpse into Ali's “kryptonite” and how his weakness has the power to change him from extraordinary to ordinary. Charmaine: What about the “social activist,” “public martyr,” and “human being,” that you mention in other interviews, for example, where do these titles fit, or not in your work? Christal: All of these titles are relevant to the work. Opulence looks at Ali as a parallel figure to Malcom X during the black power movement and a voice for the people. His denouement of the Vietnam War caused him public humiliation and separation from his title, spiritual teachers, and colleagues. But throughout his life of triumphs, failures and illness he has remained true to himself as a vessel of opulence and integrity. In addition to the physicality of the work, Ali's words are given life by three speakers who use Ali's quotes to contextualize each movement. Charmaine: What, if anything, has changed since Opulence premiered? Christal: Since the beginning the intention has changed from singular to multiple narratives. The work is about Ali and everyone who lives a life of great purpose and does not feel the need to shirk or conform in order to reach their goals. Charmaine: What do you hope audiences walk away with? Christal: I want the audience to walk away knowing something about Ali that they didn't know before entering the theater and to be inspired to live a life of opulent integrity. In the choreographer’s note from the program, Brown adds: “For me, The Opulence of Integrity is an exploration of the homogeneous inner struggle for identity as it pertains to men of color in the United States. Using the life and legacy of Muhhamad Ali as an archetype, I have been able to take an intimate look at the trappings that continually prohibit freedom. This work is dedicated to my father, brother, and uncle who fought but did not win and to my son who's battle has yet begun. Born branded by history, burdened by responsibility and inspired towards greatness requires a committed heart and an opulence of integrity.” Find out more here Christal Brown (choreographer, educator, performer, writer and activist) is a native of Kinston, North Carolina, and received her BFA in dance and minor in business from the University of NC at Greensboro. Upon graduation, Brown went on to tour nationally with Chuck Davis' African-American Dance Ensemble and internationally with Andrea E. Woods/Souloworks. Immediately following those experiences, Brown performed with and managed Gesel Mason Performance Projects while apprenticing with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in Takoma Park, Maryland. Upon relocating to New York Brown, apprenticed with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company before finding a home with Urban Bush Women, where she spent three seasons as a principal performer, community specialist and apprentice program coordinator. Aside from performing, Brown is the Founding Artistic Director of INSPIRIT, a performance ensemble and educational conglomerate dedicated to bringing female choreographers together to collaborate and show new work, expanding the views of women of all ages, and being a constant source of inspiration to its audience as well as members. Founded in 2000, INSPIRIT has been honored to show work at Aaron Davis Hall, St. Mark's Church, Joyce Soho, The Lincoln Theater of Washington, D.C., and various other venues across the country. Combining her athleticism, creativity, love for people, and knack for teaching, Brown continues to teach and create works that redefine the art of dance and the structure of the field. Brown is currently Assistant Professor of Dance at Middlebury College in Vermont, and has also been a resident artist of Dance New Amsterdam, Movement Research, and Tribeca Performing Arts Center. www.christalbrown.com www.projectbecoming.org Dean Moss The Kitchen October 16-25 After three years in the making, the very engaging Dean Moss premieres johnbrown described as a “Wry Meditation on the Legacy of White Abolitionist John Brown…[which] coincides with 155th Anniversary of Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry,” [and] features live performances by Kacie Chang, Julia Cumming (from the bands Sunflower Bean and Supercute!), Cassie Mey, Sari Nordman, Asher Woodworth, and Moss, with video performances of an original script commissioned from Thomas Bradshaw by Tymberly Canale, Aaron Hodges, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Pete Simpson. Also featured is sound and music by Stephen Vitiello, an original song by Cumming, lighting by Vincent Vigilante, costumes by Roxana Ramseur and integrates a number of teenaged production assistants. For jonbrown, Moss “…draws upon his own personal history as the son of civil rights activists to…” to tell this story. The work is presented in seven semi-autonomous segments titled after individual articles of John Brown’s Provisional Constitution of 1858, and “…melds an immersive audio/visual design and rigorous physicality with a disruptive impressionistic performance structure. It excavates contentious birthrights born of “our peculiar institution,” while simultaneously exploring the gendered and generational processes at play in their perception,” according to the release. Find out more here Jonathan Royse Windham Dixon Place October 3-18 In Windham's Creatures of Habit, which “…draws its inspiration from slapstick comedy, children's stories, game shows and existential drama…seven dancers…find themselves in an absurd, yet strangely familiar universe,” notes the release. Find out more here Fall For Dance Festival New York City Center October 8-19 For their 11th annual season, City Center's Fall For Dance Festival boasts five programs with performances by Aakash Odedra Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Australian Ballet, Black Grace, Sébastien Ramirez & Honji Wang, Rennie Harris Puremovement and so many more. Find out more here Mark Dendy Projects Abrons Arts Center October 9–26 Dendy presents Labyrinth, a new dance-play, described as “…a tragicomic, autobiographically inspired retelling of the Theseus myth…set in present-day New York City and performed by a cast of four in multiple roles,” notes the release. Find out more here Lar Lubovitch Dance Company (LLDC) The Joyce Theater October 15-19 LLDC will premiere two works based on ancient myths, on one program titled ANCIENT TALES: The Black Rose (world premiere) and Artemis in Athens (new production). Find out more here Luis Lara Malvacias/3rd Class Citizen Danspace Project October 16-18 Danspace Project brings Venezuelan-born choreographer and multidisciplinary artist Malvacías’ latest work (T) under Malvacías/3RDClass Citizen, a constantly evolving collective. Find out more here Jumatatu Poe with Saori Tsukada & Nikki Appino's Club Diamond JACK October 16-18 Poe premieres his new solo, Android Tears on a double bill with Club Diamond, a brief new work-in-progress by Saori Tsukada and Nikki Appino. Find out more here Beijing Dance Theater BAM October 15-18 Chinese choreographer Wang Yuanyuan and Beijing Dance Theater return to BAM in Wild Grass, an evening-length work inspired by the poems of Lu Xun, one of the most iconic left-wing writers in Chinese literature. Find out more here The Symptoms Peak Performances/The Alexander Kasser Theater October 16-19 This performance collective from Hungary makes its U.S. debut with Apropos which “…ponders the critical questions of aging. When will I lose my virginity? Will I find work I love? How do I balance work with parenthood? Do I have enough money to retire? How long will I keep my looks? Will I ever have sex again?...” according to the release. Find out more here L.A. Dance Project BAM Oct 16-18 Benjamin Millepied, choreographer, dancer, and newly appointed director of the Paris Opera Ballet, makes the New York City debut of his company, L.A. Dance Project with works by Millepied, Justin Peck, and William Forsythe. Find out more here Nai-Ni Chen Aljira October 17 In Not Alone, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company returns “…to expand on its collaboration with Aljira in a unique dialogue between the visual and performing arts…” according to the release. Find out more here Pablo Mayor-Folklore Urbano and Daniel Fetecua-Pajarillo Pinta’o Dance Company Turtle Bay Music School October 17 As part of the Amalgama Music and Dance Project, Colombian artists Mayor and Fetecua come together to “… explore the possibilities of contemporary choreography and original music based on the traditions of their native country…” according to the release. Find out more here Kathryn Posin Dance Company 92nd Street Y October 17 -19 The Kathryn Posin Dance Company will appear at the Harkness Dance Center in a series of performances titled "Voices of Bulgaria and America," with longtime collaborator Momchil Mladenov, bringing together American and Bulgarian artistry in a shared vision. Find out more here The EmergeLAB@BAX BAX October 17-18 Alums of the EmergeNYC program at the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics will be presented in this “…non-curated, non-hierarchical space for artistic development, where the artists determine their own frameworks and processes for experimentation and growth,” according to BAX. Find out more here Moving Men Dixon Place October 17-18 Raja Feather Kelly and Christopher Ralph will present works on this long-running dance series where male choreographers are given the space to explore. Find out more here Heidi Latsky's GIMP Project The New York Academy of Medicine October 18 Lisa Bufano—a visual artist who was a bilateral amputee, commissioned choreographer Latsky to create a solo dance work for her. Find out more here 651ARTS – Panel: "Body Rock…" October 18 Brooklyn Museum The panel discussion - Body Rock: The Politics of Black Female Identity on “Stage” will include moderator, playwright and Medger Evers College professor Nina Angela Mercer, plus panelists Reverend Desiree Allen; theater director Charlotte Braithwaite; and Digital Advertising Creative Director, Shannon Washington. Find out more here FROM ARTHUR AVILES (Artistic Director of The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance)
Good afternoon Bronx Dance coalition dance teachers, Cheryl Seeley is the new Director of Educational Programs at St. Peter's Church. They run an after school arts program, Cephas Arts, for 1st through 6th graders from a local public school. They are contacting us because they are currently seeking someone to teach dance to the children who attend their program. If you are interested in the teaching position please contact us at 718 918 2110 as soon as possible for they need would like to start this coming Monday Oct 20th They follow the New York City public school calendar and offer classes in dance, music and art on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00pm until 5:00pm beginning in October. They enroll 15-20 children; they are broken up into small groups and receive instruction in all of the classes. The pay scale for instructors is $60 for a two classes. The two classes are one right after the other. Mon 3pm to 4pm 1st group 7 to 10 students Mon 4pm to 5pm 2nd group 7 to 10 students Wed 3pm to 4pm 1st group 7 to 10 students Wed 4pm to 5pm 2nd group 7 to 10 students Looking forward to hearing from you real soon,. Peace, Arthur Aviles Job Vacancy Notice
Job Title: Professor - Program Administration (Chair - Department of Dance) Job ID: 11611 Location: Full-Time - Regular/Temporary: Regular FACULTY VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT The Department of Dance seeks a Department Chair that is an inspirational visionary, expediter, proven leader, entrepreneur, writer, artist, organizer, facilitator, and developer of partnerships. Thanks to a generous donation to Hunter College, the individual selected for this position will have the opportunity to expand the Program in Dance into a full-fledged academic department. This will entail building upon the existing BA program, integrating the MA in Dance Education/Certification Program, and developing a new MFA Program. Qualified candidates must have a broad familiarity with and an ability to foster meaningful connections to the NYC professional dance and dance teaching communities and understand the range of dance programming possible in a liberal arts college. The candidate must further demonstrate a proven commitment to dance learning in both PreK-12 and higher education, and prepare Hunter dance students for a high level of artistry and professional success as performers, choreographers, dance educators, and dance scholars. Duties include: - Providing the strategic vision for the continuous improvement of programs, services, and operations - Teaching undergraduate and graduate level classes - Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships including supporters, donors, friends and patrons - Facilitating working environment of consensus and collaboration - Overseeing staff, budget, facilities, and ongoing program evaluation - Representing the Department of Dance within the college and community with attention to maintaining the Hunter Brand - Recruiting and nurturing the next generation of dance artists, educators, and scholars QUALIFICATIONS Ph.D. or MFA degree in area(s) of experience (preferred) or equivalent commensurate with ability and experience. Qualified candidates should have a minimum of five years of administrative experience; five years of teaching experience in K-12 or higher education settings; seven years of professional performing experience; a record of professionally produced choreography; a record of program development; evidence of published curriculum, assessments, and/or standards. COMPENSATION Salary commensurate with experience. CUNY offers a competitive compensation and benefits package to its faculty, covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development. HOW TO APPLY From our job posting system, select "Apply Now", create or log in to an account, and provide the requested information. All items to be uploaded must be combined in a single document. If you are viewing this posting from outside our system, access the employment page on our web site and search for this vacancy using the Job ID provided. Candidates should provide a CV reflecting recognized achievement in multiple areas such as: Performance, Choreography, Teaching (higher education community, K-12), Program Development, and Dance/Arts Administration/Management, cover letter; statement of leadership philosophy; and three references. CLOSING DATE The committee will begin reviewing applications on October 27, 2014. The search will remain open until the position is filled. JOB SEARCH CATEGORY CUNY Job Posting: Faculty EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY We are committed to enhancing our diverse academic community by actively encouraging people with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women to apply. We take pride in our pluralistic community and continue to seek excellence through diversity and inclusion. EO/AA Employer. We welcome you to join us for our fourth season as the resident dance company at Passage Theatre. This incredible opening program to our 2014-2015 season
offers two exciting premieres. HIDDEN PORTALS a stunning premiere choreographed by accomplished choreographer and DanceSpora artistic director Heidi Cruz-Austin, traverses contemporary views of self love and companionship while underscoring her signature sinuous choreography. BARLOC (warrior of hope and love) is a zestful premiere by novel dancer/choreographer Felicia Cruz. Known for her emotive tones, through this work, she evokes the basic instinct to preserve life and the will to survive. 3 SHOWS!! Saturday November 15th 3pm Saturday November 15th 8pm Sunday November 16th 3pm Mill Hill Playhouse 205 E Front St Trenton, NJ Tickets: adults $20 / students $15 For addtl info, call 609 451-0488 For tickets, visit www.dancespora.org GET TICKETSALSO ...DanceSpora will be performing excerpts from our upcoming premieres at the eclectic, new, world music/arts/culture party Juju Crossing in collaboration with ART ALL DAY Nov 8th at the Conservatory Mansion! As Asantewaa says, the dancer/choreographer/activist Forté-Saunders "...graciously granted permission for me to post her words here in hope of inspiring further exploration and dialogue." From Asanteewaa: "The following statement, written by dancer-choreographer Marjani Forté-Saunders, was presented for conversation at the most recent Movement Research town hall meeting, held at Eden's Expressway on October 6. Saunders was in California to receive a 2014 Princess Grace Foundation-USA fellowship award in choreography and could not attend the meeting. Her statement was read for her, and a brief--and, in my opinion, tentative--discussion ensued." Read more at Asantewaa's blog InfiniteBody Facilitation by Karen Bernard, Founder and Director of New Dance Alliance and Guest Feedback Givers:
Tuesdays 6-9 PM October 21-December 30 10 Sessions $250 Limited space available To register, email info@newdancealliance.com and to secure your place, mail check made payable to New Dance Alliance at 182 Duane Street, New York, NY 10013. Join and share the LiftOff Workshop Facebook event here! LiftOff is an NDA program offering residencies and workshops in which performing artists develop creative and business aspects of their work. For more information see: newdancealliance.org/liftoff. |
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AuthorI am a performer, historian, consultant and dance writer. I am a Empire State College's online program Center for Distance Learning. I am also a former faculty member at The Ailey School and the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University dance major program, Hunter College, Sarah Lawrence College (Guest), Kean University and The Joffrey Ballet School's Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program. I write on dance for The Amsterdam News, Dance Magazine and various publications. Click below to read more about me at my home page - "About Me." |