Band of Gypsies 2-The Race: Production Photos

The uber-talented Nicholas Ziegler captured some fantastic moments during the tech rehearsal. I love when the physical pictures I create inspire some breathtaking images from a fellow artist. Movement captured into a preserved moment. Another person's creative perspective illuminating thoughts in my own. It's cool. Collaboration is fun!

Band of Gypsies 2-The Race

Here's the ROUGH edit of my number. What I was able to capture with just my dinky camera during tech and the one show. Hopefully I'll be able to fill in the holes and get better footage with actual videographer footage down the line, but I love the piece so much I didn't want to wait. So sharing the unpolished version with the world...

Band of Gypsies 2!

Well, it's time. Debuting a new piece tonight. This was a MAJOR challenge and pushed me as an artist in the best of ways. I've never choreographed a piece for dancers with a cast this size before (7!). I've never collaborated with a composer and worked with original music before. I've never had to deal with the logistics of scheduling and getting space for a dance of this size. And the counting and rhythms of this number...well, when I post it eventually you'll understand.

Thanks to Katrina Phillip for spearheading this showcase. Thanks to AJ Hughes, Adam Lendermon, Stanley Martin, Alfie Parker Jr., Zachary Denison, Jose Luaces, and Mark Donaldson for giving me their time, bodies, and sweat. Thanks to Kevin Boursiquot for allowing me to create with his intricate and evocative music. We've worked together, created something beautiful, and tonight we release it into the world. I'm so proud of the product and can't wait to share it!

Band of Gypsies 2

www.bandofgypsies.net

Manhattan Movement Arts Center

May 4

7:30

Band of Gypsies 2 class combo-Bei Mir Bist du Schon

As part of the fundraising drive to make the second BAND OF GYPSIES choreo-showcase happen, some of the presenting choreographers volunteered to teach a 'pay what you can' class. I saved the date, publicized the class, worked up a fantastic combo...and got screwed by auditions. It as one of those rare busy days where great calls happen in the morning and afternoon so the men and women trade off. Everyone was auditioning and no one came to play. But I shall persevere! I gave myself a warmup and then put myself on tape with a brand-spanking-new combo! And edited it. And put it online. And got some amazing response. People who asked if they could dance for me. People who reposted it to their facebook feeds. I released it into the world and it opened a few doors. So while the class was a 'teaching' fail, it was definitely a choreographic success!

Additionally, in looking back at it, I can see definite growth as both a performer and a choreographer. I am a stronger dancer that I was a year ago and I think a more interesting/refined choreographer. It's absolutely a process and I'm grateful for the journey and for the little milestones that show there is progress in the right direction! Enjoy the vid.

Picking up steam

So I haven't posted in a bit, and mainly that's a result of laziness on my part. But in the midst of that laziness is a professional whirlwind of opportunity and fun upcoming projects. It finally feels like I'm starting to hit my stride as a performer/choreographer and I'm loving how those two worlds intersect and feed off each other. A few developments...

I danced in the R.Evolucion Latina Choreographer's Festival. Performed in 5 numbers from some amazing up and coming choreographers and got to check out the layout and tech capacity of Manhattan Movement Arts Center. A good thing to because...

I've been accepted into two choreography showcases for May. I will be debuting new pieces for both the Band of Gypsies 2 showcase (where I've been paired with a composer to create an original number based on original music) and The Choreographer's Canvas. Yay for forced getting into the studio and rounding up dancers and making some fantastic art!

I was also asked to assist on Broadway Bares 21. Had some pre-pro meetings already and this year's show is going to be especially beautiful. I'm really looking forward to getting down and dirty on this project.

In a HUGE choreographic leap, I took the first steps in developing my own work. I had inspiration for a show strike me and after mulling it over for a bit, I submitted a proposal to the author of the work I want to base it on. My first time applying for rights. I truly believe in the concept (which is strikingly original) and if I can acquire the right to adapt it from a 'new media' source, it'd be absolutely amazing. Fingers crossed.

Finally, I've been offered the chance to direct/choreograph a summerstock show. No details on this until contracts are signed, but it's crazy exhilarating to be the head honcho on a project. Also terrifying. That show's all on me. But I think I'm taking the plunge. The project is super-cool and I can't wait to talk about it in the near future.

I just wanted to update this blog because it's been a while and there's a lot going on. Refining my class/warmup, acting in theater, shooting short films/webseries. A little editing. Hopefully more fun video to post in the near future. But mainly there's movement on the professional front and it's exciting to report. New art coming your way soon! Can't wait to get in the studio again...

Official video-Sunday Interlude, NYC

It's my first post in a bit. I've been busy doing the 'performer' thing instead of the 'choreographer' thing. Working on a holiday show at Walt Disney World is giving me the chance to stretch some underused dancer muscles and build up the bank account. Unfortunately, it's not giving me the chance to really work on my own combos. I've decided to use the time to overhaul my marketing materials so that come 2011 I can submit a polished package. New reel(s), new website, and new seamless edits of my work.

I finally got the videographer's footage from the Band of Gypsies showcase and have been playing around with my imovie program. It's amazing the difference an abrupt transition or a bad crop job can make in the flow of a video! Putting this version together was my own personal trial-by-fire class in film editing and I learned so much. Good thing too, because I have the feeling I'll be doing many more of these in the future. So here it is at last, the best representation of this duet I can come up with based on the footage I have at my disposal. I love this piece and, if given the chance to set it again, will do my best to get HD footage. It really makes a difference. Until then, I present...

Sunday Interlude Pics

The shots from the Band of Gypsies concert finally came out and there are a few stunning ones that really capture some gorgeous moments in the piece. Just thought I'd share.

Band of Gypsies-Sunday Interlude, NYC

I can't begin to say how proud I am of this number. Band of Gypsies marked my NYC debut as a solo choreographer presenting my work. It was also the first time I've been able to choreograph for dancers. The process really stretched me as an artist and I loved every minute of it.

I first approached Chip Abbott and Tiffany Ocvirk about dancing for me and when they agreed I was totally thrilled. I've been in class and auditions with them for a while and both are truly incredible performers. We had a number of rehearsals and I constructed the piece around their abilities. Then, four days before the concert, Chip was forced to pull out of the number. I was booked solid for the next couple days with other projects (In Between Men shooting, Andy B. intensive). We scrambled to find a cover and lucked out with the unbelievable Cort Larson, a friend of Chip's. I was unfamiliar with his work, but when he came in and learned the entire piece in one rehearsal I knew that he would be totally fantastic.

I couldn't have done this one without so many great people in my corner. Thanks to Katrina Philip for bringing Band of Gypsies together and asking me to be a part of it without knowing my work as a choreographer. Thanks to Chip for creating and being an amazing assistant/videographer when he couldn't be in the show. And thanks to Cort and Tiffany, my radiant dancers. You made this everything I wanted to be.

PS-This is a rough edit with my personal footage. Official videographer video coming in the future.

************UPDATE*************

This is the new and improved official edit.

Debuting a new piece!

You can catch my choreography live! On August 30 and 31st I'll be presenting a beautiful number at the choreographic showcase Band of Gypsies. Katrina Phillip is putting together an evening of dances by choreographers who are also performers on the elite musical theater circuit. I'm currently in rehearsals for my number "Sunday Interlude, NYC" with the lovely Tiffany Ocvirk and Chip Abbott and I can't even begin to describe how thrilled I am with the way things are shaping up. Come see it in person at St. Luke's on 46th between 8th and 9th ave. August 30-1 at 8. More information at http://www.bandofgypsies.net and on facebook here.