Broadway Bares: Happy Endings

     I won't lie.  I had something to prove with Broadway Bares this year.  I've been doing my thing as a choreographer for a while now, but for some reason people haven't been thinking of me as a performer recently.  I'd go to auditions, deliver on the floor, but just haven't been getting gigs in that capacity.  So I challenged myself to throw down and show that I still 'got it.'  Mission accomplished.

     

     I performed in the "Pied Piper" number choreographed by the incomparable Peter Gregus.  In it, Marty Lawson played the piper who beckoned all his punk-rock, kilt-wearing mates to join him in a throw down testosterone-laden aggressive 'jig.'  We DESTROYED the number.  There were kilts, there was stripping, there were men dancing down.  I have never danced harder or been more naked at Broadway Bares, and I loved every minute of it.  And I'm so grateful for these incredible shots captured by Kevin Thomas Garcia and Matthew Murphy, returning photographer gods that every year document the insanity that is the evening.  

     In addition to my performing duties, I once more assisted mega-talent Michael Lee Scott.  After our collaboration on "Broadway Bares: Beach Burlesque", it was pure joy to get in the studio with him and help out with his number.  For "Happy Endings", he created the "Goldilocks" strip.  Andy Mills played the hapless twink who stumbled into the den of the bears.  And WHAT bears!  Finally, a Broadway Bares tribute to hairy men.  It was a blast welcoming a new crowd into the community!  Pictures of the "Goldilocks" strip below.  Woof!

Official recap of Broadway Bares: Happy Endings HERE.
Talented Photographers KEVIN THOMAS GARCIA and MATTHEW MURPHY.

Assistant Directed Broadway Bares: Beach Burlesque!

     I love BCEFA.  I'm just going to say it.  It is an incredible cause that is close to my heart, and in true Broadway fashion they know how to put on one damn good show.  Last summer I assistant directed BROADWAY BARES: MASTERPIECE for Josh Rhodes and Lee Wilkins.  And the show was utterly fabulous.  Imagine my surprise when I got an email out of the blue asking me to assist again!  This time, though, I got to be much more hands-on.

     BROADWAY BARES: BEACH BURLESQUE was a 'touring' company.  Instead of the mainstage show at Roseland with a cast of over 200, this version was intimate.  26 dancers.  Fire Island.  Fun in the sun.  MICHAEL LEE SCOTT directed and I assisted.  The beauty of BEACH BURLESQUE is that all the performers got to be in multiple numbers.  And because it was a smaller show with a smaller staff, I got to have more responsibility and really show what I could do!  I assisted Michael in creating choreography for the opening number "Burlesque is Back", the Elvis strip "A Little Less Conversation", a beachy strip with naked bathing beauties to Madonna's "Rain", and a cowboy fantasia "A Big Man."  I also got to lead my own rehearsal in restaging the iconic "Humpty" number originally choreographed by the badass DENIS JONES.  Oh, and transitions.  All the little bits and pieces that kept the show flowing along.

     The entire experience was incredible.  The cast were amazing performers and awesome human beings.  The production team and BCEFA liasons were phenomenal.  It was my first experience of Fire Island and it was just magic.  Oh, and in addition to assisting, I strapped on my performer shoes and strutted my stuff with all the rest.  What a dream team!

     You can check out the official recap HERE with a synopsis and photos from the show.

     Oh yeah, and this happened.  Still got it.

Dance (212) Teaser

It premieres September 19th, but the teaser episode and dancer profiles are now live.

I've been documenting my projects for a few months now and it's amazing to see the individual dances in the context of a larger whole. I've been productive. Made some cool things. And now they're about to be released to a larger audience. Psyched.

"Dance elevates...everything. When there are no more words, that's when people move."

-Dance (212), me

Not too shabby first soundbite!

SOUNDS OF OUD Production Stills

One of the things I'm currently wrestling with is having one foot in both the performing and choreography worlds. Both demand a fair amount of attention and for most of the spring I've been planning my audition schedule around choreography commitments. Not going out for certain projects because they conflict with a summer gig. It's been hard balancing the two. That's why "Sounds of Oud" was such a fun film to work on. It was a dramatic short where I was hired as an actor but because of the nature of the story I did a fair amount of choreography work as well. My talents in one world contributed to my work in another. Love that synergy!

The shoot had two dance sequences, both fairly freeform but crucial for creating the mood in the scene. One was a romantic partnering of the lovers in the moonlight. The other was a seductive middle-eastern belly dance. I did youtube research and was living at the gym to prepare for the shoot. Here are some production stills so you can see the results yourself!

SOUNDS OF OUD

with Sidney Erik Wright and Al Nazemian

Directed by Ibi Ibrahim

NOOR Productions

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.

Class "It Had Better Be Tonight"-Spice

Here's a new class combo I've been working up. I decided after seeing "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" that it'd be smart to have a little latin flavor in my back pocket. I love some sexy social dancing and this routine gave me the chance to work out some intricate footwork which is always a challenge. That and to just live/sell some dirty spice. I think it's pretty frikkin' hot! Can't wait to stage it on some luscious fiery dancers...

Class Sugar Baby Bounce-Ladies with legs

Starting to feel some real momentum! In honor of a special request to do a ladies combo (and as practice for the upcoming La Cage chorus call) I decided to challenge myself to create a routine outside my comfort zone. I choreographed in heels and was lucky enough to have three ridiculously good dancer friends show up. We stretched, we strengthened, and we tipped. By the end of class, we were all pretty worn out but they obliged me by selling it a couple more times so I could get the number on tape.

I have to say I am incredibly grateful to have a network that is so willing to go on camera and help me out. And that is so talented that they make my insane combos look fantastic. I can't believe I'm actually building up a library of my routines in all different styles so that in the future I can submit to a project and say "oh, by the way, for this number I'm thinking something like..." and throw them a link to MY choreography in an appropriate world for that specific show. I'm really embarking on this journey! And I've got talented people in my corner who want me to succeed! Feels real good. Enjoy my "Sugar Baby Bounce!"

Class "Fascinating Rhythm"-I threw a party and nobody came

So I've started being proactive about pickup class. After my first class (Band of Gypsies-Snuff that Girl) got some great facebook feedback, I had a second. And I got 4 students. From one person to four! Awesome growth. And I taught. And the warm up was fierce. And the combo was fun/sweaty and a bit too much. I was throwing so much choreo out that my friends had trouble keeping up. So I wanted to refine. People had a blast but I wanted to give them the chance to really get a handle on the combo.

I built this routine so that we could talk storytelling and detail. I rented space. I sent out emails. I showed up. No one. Zip. And I was frustrated. The whole point of me teaching was to take ownership of my career and get my work out there. I had a gorgeous studio and no one to work with. So I gave myself class. I went through my entire warmup and stretched out, then I got my camcorder out and taped myself doing the combo. But I was frustrated. And a little over it. And it shows.

Now I know I need to publicize better. I need to make SURE someone is there. But at least I have this combo on tape for a future class. It'll be fun to pull out of my back pocket when I need it. Tricky timing. There are a couple things half-assed in the vid. Some moves are supposed to travel and they're stationary. Legs on kicks should be higher/straighter. The turns at the end are ideally doubles. Whatev, I made something today. It's not perfect, but at least it exists. Today was a rough day but it's still a step in the right direction.

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

Disregard the last 4 counts of 8. They've been made better.

Class "Snuff That Girl"-I taught my first dance class EVER!!!!

Band of Gypsies is a wrap. I am so grateful for everything. There will be a future post with the piece and a recap, but suffice to say there was drama putting the number together but after a hard push and massive dedication from some fantastic dancers, we did it and it was wonderful. And to finish out the program, all the choreographers from the series were invited to teach a class.

I've never taught before. This was the kick in the pants I needed to get my personal warm-up in order and to structure a class. So I did my homework. And I got to the studio. And I had one person show up. And I gave him class. And it was thrilling. Dancing with friends is always fun, and being able to find my way as a teacher in a no pressure situation was exactly what I needed. So this is my first class combo. We're tired and sweaty but we're giving it. Enjoy!

Ghosting Trial #1

This is the first post in a series where I'll play around with the idea of 'ghosting.' Afterimages, disappearances, floating, divergences. The goal is to start out with simple studies and to eventually work towards fully choreographed phrases using the editing effect to heighten the message. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it from getting gimmicky and cliche. We'll see. I look forward to the challenge!