Mystical Horizons

 

When the curtain came down on the New York International Ballet Competition this past year, I felt a fissure starting in the core of the dance world, but that wasn’t the only news that rocked its foundation. What about the disbanding of the Trey McIntyre Project, or the bankruptcy and closure of Dance New Amsterdam? I realize you need to know when to fold ’em, but I also realize in the midst of all the hardship, there’s sometimes reason to hold onto your hand, even though it may seem inane to the outside world.

I just witnessed a pond that dried up at a National State Park, but fresh new flowers, and plants were growing on its surface. Somewhere there’s  the possibility of new life, but only after a long pause, silence or drought, do we get to reap the rewards of Mother Nature’s grand plan. As an artist, I feel part of the crack and part of the stem of a flower, all at once. The cosmic timing of producing, is always met with news of a death or some tragic press release, but we always continue to march on, and jump back into the studio.

Such was the case with“Goddess Danu & Birds Over Lower Lough Erne.”  This new solo set on Ryan Schmidt, was commissioned by award winning composer, Claudia Howard Queen, who envisioned this work after a mystical trip to Ireland. During my time at Western Michigan University, I met Claudia, who was a visiting artist  at the time. I was completely blown away by her abilities as a percussionist, and her symbiotic way of folding music into the dance. She allowed dancers to experience movement through the rhythms and timbre of the music, like no other accompanist I have known. With her ideas of healing through music and dance, and the inspiring themes of Celtic mysticism, it was easy to say yes  to this commission. 

So as fairies, folklore, Selkes and goddesses enveloped my space, I connected to part of my roots, and drifted into a place that felt oddly familiar. With footage of birds flying over an Irish waterway, and music by Claudia Howard Queen, this multi-media piece will surely take you to mystical horizons. We look forward to our premiere at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, where we will also be sharing the collaborative works of filmmaker, Amelia Golden. Please read about our event here, and for now… I think I’ll hold onto my hand!

Claudia Howard Queen Composer

Amelia Golden, filmmaker

Drinks up! Pause and Reflect!

Dragon’s Egg Residency

2013 was a wild one, but I know I am not alone here in thinking that. If we can say that we put on ballet slippers and got to the barre, then we are well deserving of a drink. In this political climate of unrest and economic uncertainty, we as artists have to pause, and allow ourselves some space and time to reflect on what once was easy to do. With dancers being injured, and workloads lightening up due to lack of jobs, then just a long barre is sometimes very satisfying in the scheme of things. So, if you are wondering where you are as a dancer, keep yourself front and center, as the back of the room simply won’t do, and it ain’t over yet, ok kids? These are my sentiments as I witnessed too many dancers down on their luck this year. Remember, “you’re still a contenda…”

Grab who you can when you can, and just start something before you miss out on opportunity. Dancers could be moving away, injured, or even getting married, so hurry up and enlist their talents before it’s too late. I started out 2013 in a new way by deciding to make a film short– not a film about the process of making a dance, but a film in and of itself. A Dress in the Stream,  was made in a day of inspiration and risk taking. I loved the process of relying on instinct, and the talents of Amelia Golden, my videographer/filmmaker, and my dancer, Annie Heinemann, to take me to uncharted territory. Annie was soon to begin a new, full-time dance teaching job, so time was of the essence. Grab her now before she gets too busy (she also became a new Mom!). Thank God for a paycheck and the benes! Annie proved to be the delightful diva of my dance imagination. The shoreline of CT and the indoor shots from the sleek dance studio in Guilford, were the perfect mix of elements for our innovative film. Take a look again here if you haven’t seen it.

Next up was Julie Fiorenza, recreating the solo I set on her about her adoption from Korea, My Room.  A Korean Dance Festival to present this most personal solo?? How apropos!! Julie pulled her technique to a new level this year, as I watched in a pool of tears. She got some more mileage from this solo and I couldn’t be more proud of her. To Korea with love– another toast!

I found my greatest joy this year in a new CD, Winter Morning Walks. My dear friend, Maria Schneider, went to extreme heights to create this new masterpiece.  Three new pieces were born from this gem of a work, and I am so pleased to have been able to sink into the music. Dust Devil, danced by Ryan Schmidt, was a hot, little solo which morphed into a new short film, Playing House, another in collaboration with Amelia Golden at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. See if you can find the symbolism in her engagement in this piece!

The next of the pieces from Winter Morning Walks  were created at a residency at the Dragon’s Egg in Ledyard, CT. Barn Birds and Solstice Morning were made in one-long day’s worth of sweating. The heat of the summer resonated with me, I guess… and so we danced all day and left with two new works in our back pockets. Cheers to the dancers, So Jung Cheon, Chris Jackson, Milan Misko, and Ryan Schmidt. Our day in the woods, was one never to be forgotten. We set a film short about our day there (Amelia behind the lens again),  to an original piece by my colleague, Tamara Wilcox. Thanks to her special contribution, we can share with you, Woodland Aire. 

Alas, the conclusion of my year of choreographing came with our new duet, Trickle Down. With having lost a few good friends and family members this year, I can only say that there was influence from above to make this new piece. Milan Misko and his wife, Nana Tsuda Misko, took ownership of this touching new dance, made in a few short rehearsals– another Jiffy Mix! The two of them pulled the piece together with grace and strength. I will be toasting again to them when we premiere the piece in 2014.

Cheers to the dancers for their tenacity, hard work, and their kinetic sensibilities. I am so blessed to have seen them grow through the ages and take charge of their craft. Also, cheers to those who can say they didn’t work, but who are on the fringes awaiting their next move. It’s only because of all of us that art exists at all. And, last but not least, cheers to Cathryn Lundgren, my genius behind the lens. I thank her royally for her passionate vision and for the great promo reel she made for ACD this year.  So, drinks up…  pause and reflect on a year well spent!

A Dress In The Stream – Annie Heinemann

A Dress In The Stream – Annie Heinemann

My Room – Julie Fiorenza

Dust Devil – Ryan Schmidt

Dust Devil – Ryan Schmidt

Dust Devil – Ryan Schmidt

Playing House – Ryan Schmidt

Playing House – Ryan Schmidt

Playing House – Ryan Schmidt

Dragon’s Egg

Ryan Schmidt, Chris Jackson

Barn Birds

Barn Birds

Barn Birds

Solstice Morning

Solstice Morning

Solstice Morning

Solstice Morning

Solstice Morning

Trickle Down – Milan Misko & Nana Tsuda Misko

Trickle Down – Milan Misko and Nana Tsuda Misko

Trickle Down – Milan Misko and Nana Tsuda Misko

Amelia Golden, filmmaker

Cathryn Lundgren

Tamara Wilcox Composer

A Dynamic Duo

Nana & Milan Misko

Between the Baryshnikov Arts Center and the DANY, a new duet was created within a few rehearsals by a dynamic husband and wife team. Milan Misko is a tremendous force as a dancer, and you’ll surely recognize him from past works. His wife, Nana Tsuda Misko, is new to my process, but you could’ve fooled me. She was right there with every move and picked up very fast on my style. The two of them were so helpful in ironing out the kinks with the lifts, and were so resourceful in working out the minutiae of how to get from point A to point B. The nuts and bolts of the dance were hammered out in no time, but the real stuff of the piece was still simmering.

Trickle Down came from the idea of how we continue to march on in life, no matter how hard it gets. We are the great vessels from which our daily life’s laundry resides. There has been much loss in all of our lives, and especially this year with so many of us. We, as dancers, filter all this loss — from our recent history, to our ancestral ties — and as it continues to trickle down  into every fiber of our being, we find it necessary to express it in our movement. It seemed that we downloaded this idea into the blueprint of this work, realizing all its potential only when we were in the last minutes of our taping, just a couple weeks ago. It was a cold studio that last day at the DANY, and we were not altogether sweating, but the heat was rising, and the passion was growing. Alas, the final run-thrus were hot, and the dancers gave it their all.

I hope that you’ll take a peek into our gallery of pictures to see these two amazing dancers at work. Cathryn Lundgren blessed us with her presence again, utilizing all of her skills as a masterful dance photographer, as well as her keen eye behind the video camera. As for the final performance, stay tuned… you haven’t seen the last of this dynamic duo! It’s scheduled to — trickle down — soon.

A Day in the Woods

Woodland Aire

On a hot, steamy day in June, the seeds were planted for our new film short, “Woodland Aire.” The one-day residency at the Dragon’s Egg in Ledyard, CT, provided the perfect backdrop for what became our fancy-free tribute to the great outdoors. Combining the natural elements of the artsy environment, along with rehearsal footage from our two new dances we created that day, this spry piece is my personal Godspell.

The air was hot, and the mosquitoes were in abundance, but we jumped for joy, picked flowers, ran around sculptures and promenaded, a’ la’ Maaaartha! Hackneyed? Yes, but maybe now it’s considered retro cool!

Tamara Wilcox

The music for our piece was written by Tamara Wilcox, Assistant Professor and Music Director in the Department of Dance at The College at Brockport. We had worked together at Eastern Michigan University, where she impressed me with her extraordinary skills as an accompanist, music editor, and composer.  We continued working together when I went onto Western Michigan University, where she went to bat for me, handling all my musical needs. She saved me on so many occasions, and I am forever grateful to her for those crazy Michigan years! I am also grateful for our collaboration on “Woodland Aire,” where she hit the nail on the head with her exquisite, original piano score.

Amelia Golden Filmmaker

Thanks to Amelia Golden, yet again, for capturing the images from our day. She caught our free-spirited nature, finding all the nooks and angles that tell a story so well.

Ryan, Sophie, Chris and Milan danced so beautifully, and connected their energies in the most seamless way, as if we had been rehearsing for months!

The wilderness gave us all what we needed that day, for sure… a chance to dance and play in the fresh air of the woods, without a   care in the world!

Ryan Schmidt, Chris Jackson, Milan Misko, Sophie Cheon

Run, Don’t Walk… to Get This CD!!

Maria Schneider is at it again!! Her new CD,“Winter Morning Walks,”  is simply sensational!! I let out an incredulous gasp after hearing this music. I can’t believe how gorgeous it is. Oh, but I really can. Why? It’s Maria!! She and the extraordinary soprano, Dawn Upshaw, had me welling up with tears in the parking lot of a grocery store, where I listened to this unprecedented CD for the first time in my car. Run, don’t walk!… to buy this important, beautifully packaged piece of art, featuring Ms. Upshaw with The Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Maria’s compositions written to  poems by Ted Kooser, and Carlos Drummond De Andrade.

To my knowledge, no one as ever tackled such an enormous feat of bringing together poetry, with two world-class Chamber Orchestras, and a virtuoso soprano. An amalgam of “must hear” music– this new album will have you memorizing musical lines, dancing in your seat, and  feeling deep emotion at your core. I know this is a hackneyed phrase, but Maria paints an emotional landscape with her scores, and lifts you into the music, sometimes gently, and sometimes with a wind gust that’ll knock you into Tuesday! You’ll see what I mean when you hear songs that sing about everything that reminds you about life in the plains, to songs that reverberate with charm and sweetness, but with a twist of psychological thrill. Dawn has a gloriously rich and buttery tone — not overdone with operatic flourish, but beautifully endearing, where your ear hears expression, not high notes, or trilly vibrato.

Maria never chooses the easy way out. Though considered a jazz composer, Maria departed from her band for this project, except for bringing along three of her regulars– geniuses in their own right — Scott Robinson, Frank Kimbrough, and Jay Anderson, to write new music for these chamber orchestras — a challenging task that she embraced with laser vision, and executed with the utmost professionalism. She’s not jazz fusion, and you cannot coin a term for her with this, other than genius at large! It’s just her blend of thought, timbre, passion, color and off-the-charts technique! Listen on track #9, “How Important It Must Be,” at 3:04, and you will hear a chord that will have the hair standing up on your arms.That’s just one example of how this music carves a deep impression into your soul.

Adams Company Dance was blessed to choreograph three works to Maria Schneider’s music from her previous albums. It’s sometimes the space between the notes that bring me to a vision for movement. In Winter Morning Walks, I am taken not only into the space between the notes, but the space of imagination with the words, the strings, the plucking of the wires of the grand piano, the swelling, the crescendos and the quiet harmonies of chords, so beautifully crafted together, it’ll remind you of a baby being put to sleep in a crib. It’s unquantifiable how good this is, and I assure you, it will leave an indelible mark on your heart! It takes my breath away! I can’t wait to get into the studio with this new CD — of course, I’ll be running to get there, not walking! Thank you for creating this great masterpiece, Maria!

Check out this quote from NPR:

“Lyrical, flowing, intimately expressive, with all the elements of words, music, voice and instruments in a seamless blend, this is music to fall in love with the first time — then immediately want to hear again.” –John Montanari, NPR (New England Public Radio)