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Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

My Country Tis of Thee


Last week's Presidential debate left a lot to be desired. To start, my ovaries were completely ignored. Call those little organs self-centered, but they've been the center piece of this election season for the past 10 months, and when we finally get to a debate? Ignored.

On the bright side, the event did focus on the economy, healthcare and education - all extremely important issues. It's just too bad the President didn't bring his A game. Mitt Romney stood on stage with his perfectly quaft salt and pepper #JustForMen ad hair (word to twitter), and told lie after lie with the straightest face, a well executed argument and delivery. Meanwhile, the President struggled to be as clear, concise and confident as his opponent, even when spouting proven facts. If I were an uninformed undecided, based on that presentation alone, I would lean toward Mitt. My Country.

My country is in an interesting place. In this two party political system, one side has created a pretty political puppet - a talking head, while the other side is failing to present itself as consistent, persistent and confident in its choices.

My country is a place where those with power and privilege bank on the uneducated staying uneducated, and prey on people's fears and prejudices.

My country is a place where we can elect a president who runs on the platforms of hope, change, and "yes we can!" - but quickly forget that WE includes I, and change does not occur overnight.

Monday, September 24, 2012

INSPIRIT Recommends: The T: Dance, Watch, Reflect



MAVERICK DANCE EXPERIENCE presents:
The T: Dance, Watch, Reflect is an experimental venue for selected artists to have their finished work fully produced and presented in a safe place for constructive feedback in support of advancing their creative process. It is an evening of possibilities, risk taking and sharing. Enter the experience, alter your perspective.

DANCE: Storytelling Made Visceral
WATCH: Artistry In Motion
REFLECT: Share Your Thoughts

- JOIN THE COLLABORATIVE CONSCIOUSNESS -

Presenting Artists:
Maverick Dance Experience, Marcus Lavan Braggs, Michael Cerwinski, Eve Chan, Jessica DiMauro, Lorena Egan, Kristen Klein

Location: Baruch Performing Arts Center
25th Street Between 3rd Ave. and Lexington Ave., NYC

Box Office: (646) 342-4083

PURCHASE TICKETS  

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

INSPIRIT Recommends: 5 Star Chick








Performance artist Denae Hannah explores contemporary images of black womanhood in Five Star Chick.

Through dance and theater, Ms. Hannah shines a satirical spotlight on the role models, stereotypes and aspirations of black women as depicted by popular hip hop music and culture.

Delivered in five vignettes, this thirty-minute solo follows the main character, Ms. Five Star, as she strives to achieve the apex of five star womanhood by getting a good education and job, dating the right men, and “snagging that baller” – all with a nice booty and “everything did.”

Denae Hannah explains, “Black women and women of color are too often portrayed as stereotyped characters in popular hip hop culture. However, the effects on the women and girls who come to identify themselves as these human caricatures must be examined more closely and honestly. I know I’ll be the first to talk about how women are degraded in the music video but still drop it like it’s hot when the song comes on! Five Star Chick is raw, real and provocative. It’s both an introspective and over-the-top journey about a woman trying to live up to the image she sees projected upon herself by pop culture.

Ms. Hannah will also present the work of guest choreographer Monique Roberts. Ms. Roberts will show a solo entitled Contrary Divestment and a duet entitled Labyrinth.

Each night will feature a guest moderator.




Doors open at 7:30 pm. 
*For mature audiences only
A/C/G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn
2/3 to Hoyt
F/R to Jay Street-Metrotech
On street parking available as well as 3 neighboring ParkFast lots

Less than 20 tickets left on each night!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

INSPIRIT recommends: ADG Dance Festival


Celebrating Past and Present

Honoring dance legends:
Dianne McIntyre 
Elaine Summers 
and
featuring
35 choreographers from near and far

Dianne McIntyre
photo by Larry Coleman
September 6-9, 2012
at
The Ailey Citigroup Theater
The Joan Weill Center for Dance
405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue
New York, NY  10019
     
The festival features work by INSPIRIT alumnae Shani Collins and Laurie Taylor. Current company member Karina Ikezoe will perform in Shani Collins' work. 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Carrie Plew | If You Look For My Heart


Musician and novelist, Ben Arthur released the first video from his album/novel, If You Look for My Heart, which will be released 09/11/12. The video was directed, shot and edited by Matthew Hendershot, and features INSPIRIT dancer Carrie Plew. Visit http://www.benarthur.com/ for updates about his forthcoming project.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

INSPIRIT recommends: MBDance at SummerStage | JJDC at Downtown Dance Festival

This Saturday MBDance premieres at SummerStage, August 11


MBDance will premiere a new piece, "Stand" with composition by Ashley Phillips and choreography by Maria Bauman. Also showing "50 Ways to Say..." catalyzed by the murder of Sean Bell and so many other black men by police officers. With composition by Keith Witty and narration by Chioke I'anson.

PERFORMERS: Kendra Ross, Maria Bauman, Samantha Speis, Chanon Judson, Zoe Rabinowitz, and understudied by Rae Charles






SummerStage is a program of the City Parks Foundation that presents FREE performances of outstanding artistic quality to the communities of NYC. This program also features Kùlú Mèlé African Dance and Drum Ensemble!


---


Jamal Jackson Dance Company at Downtown Dance Festival, August 11 & 12




INSPIRIT company member Karina Ikezoe performs with Jamal Jackson Dance Company at the 31st Downtown Dance Festival produced by Battery Dance Company.


Adjacent to State Street at Pearl Street By Subway: 
1 to South Ferry; 4/5 to Bowling Green; R to Whitehall

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Rainbows in Vermont

INSPIRIT is back in New York City after a week long creative residency at Middlebury College with Christal Brown. The company enjoyed five days of conditioning (yoga, pilates and Liquid Strength, oh my!) while learning repertory and working out ideas for a new evening length work.

We had the opportunity to enjoy the fresh open air looking at picturesque skies, weeping willows, and bunnies playing in the grass. What a blessing to dance all day, learn from one another, and fellowship as a company.

Here we go! Road trip to Vermont!


Back: Remi and Luisa, Front: Rebecca and Allegra


Beautiful mountains in upstate New York.


Gorgeous sunshine and clouds above the barn.


Happy dancers after a long day of rehearsal.
(L to R): Rebecca, Luisa, Allegra, Karina, Remi
[Sydnie taking the photo!]


Rainbow in Vermont, after the storm. 


Spacious dance studio & performance space
at Middlebury.

Taking a breather.
Christal, GJ, Alex, Sydnie, Karina, Rebecca


Bluegrass music at Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven.


Gorgeous sunset over the pond at the vineyard.


Over zealous Giants fan with a shrine on the side
of the highway as we travel back home!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Greetings from the Woods!!


This mini update is coming to you from Silo, PA, where we are on our company retreat. We've been busy training and videotaping for the Liquid Strength instructional DVD. 

First off, We owe a huge thanks to Robin and DanceNOW for this amazing venue! A huge guest house, not to mention great studio spaces, and only a short drive to the grocery. We spend the mornings conditioning with yoga, pilates, plyometrics, and resistance training.  Nothing brings a company closer together than sweating it out...and getting six pack abs! We've also been busy filming the Liquid Strength instructional DVD, so for all of you who have been itching to get your hands on it, the wait is almost over: All the footage has been taken, so its on to the editors and sound coordinators, and then straight to you! 

A lot of great new things are in store for INSPIRIT: upcoming shows, teaching opportunities and new works being set on the company by outside choreographers! You will be hearing from us again as soon as we have more concrete information. 

Check out our Facebook pages and Website for updated info about upcoming shows and company members!!

This is Nancy, signing out! Keep checking the blog for new INSPIRIT information!!