Frozen, but Fluid

Alana Kirzner; Photo by Amelia Golden

Amid the snow and ice of the last day of February, a day brimming of inspired artistry unfolded with ACD that melted the frozen feelings of a long winter. Inspired by my niece, Alana Kirzner, a stunning dancer with a fierce energy and supermodel look, I loosely wrote a script for a new film short. Amelia Golden, filmmaker and collaborator with ACD, joined our project for a day of artistic discovery in NYC, beginning at Ripley Grier Studios in NYC, and ending at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx.

Alana brought it all to the table with her technical finesse and dramatic edge, portraying a character that oddly came to life once the costume pieces were donned. A spirit came alive; however, when this black, velvet dress and shrug, hung on a pipe in my basement to air out and de-wrinkle after I brought it home form the thrift store. It was then, in the dark shadows, that it swayed side to side, ever so gently, that I could see a mysterious woman from the turn-of-the century living in it, or could it also be the spirit of Madeline from the famous children’s book? No matter the origin, Alana awakened her own spirit to flesh out the character she became that day, both indoor in the studio, and outdoor at the Botanical Gardens, where we choreographed a frosty frenzy of quick-study exhibitions on the snowy, wooded paths. We ended at the gorgeous Haupt Conservatory at the Chandelier Orchid exhibit, where we warmed it up for a supreme finale among the fertile plant-life and blossoming flowers… we were loose, fluid and filled with a taste of Spring in the air! Stay tuned for our new film–coming soon!!

Film shoot day with Amelia and Alana

Treasures of 2014

A year’s worth of creating, polishing and processing new work has come to a humbling end. Placing these fine collectibles into this year’s treasure trunk has me joyfully reminiscing about the many months of studio sweat, theater dust and reams of film footage.

Goddess Danu and Birds Over Lower Lough Erne, a commissioned work by composer, Claudia Howard Queen, began my journey into 2014 and sent me into Celtic motion. Ryan Schmidt rose to a mystical, new level when she danced her fairy good performance in Brooklyn at Triskelion Arts, where we also had a sneak-peak of several of our film shorts, in collaboration with filmmaker, Amelia Golden.

Next was the KoDaFe Dance festival in NYC at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, where Milan Misko and Nana Tsuda performed Descendence, a touching duet about how our ancestry links us to our life’s journey. This was ACD’s 2nd invitation working with the IKADA Contemporary Dance Company.

I was honored to have been able to work with the extraordinarily talented Chris Jackson again,  for the creation of the new solo, Flight, and our new film short, Sea Chapter. Composer, Tamara Wilcox added her musical talent to Chris’s solo with her inspiring piano composition. ACD is proud to now have two scores of Tamara’s in our repertoire. Returning to Triskelion Arts again, Chris gave the most soulful performance of Flight, effortlessly moving through the space, as I wiped away my tears from the front row. We waded our way through the waters of Silver Sands State Park,  making our companion film short to the solo, capturing beautiful scenery, including breathtaking views of the sun setting over the calm ocean waves.

Flipping through the short films I’ve done, with collaborators Benjamin Moss and Amelia Golden, I was aching to be able to work this compendium of films into a production where we could share what we’ve done in a proper screening room. After a brief search to find a venue for my vision, I was able to secure a night at the Producers Club in NYC this December, where we included our documentary, Except at Night: The Making of a Dance, giving the audience insider information into my process of making a dance. The whole evening, entitled, Behind the Lens, tied all the frames together, giving a glimpse of the past five years of seeing things from the camera’s point of view. It was a thrill to know that some of the dancers involved were sitting in the seats, as so many over the years have scattered over the globe. I was lucky to have been able to raise my glass and toast with a few of them afterward, as we celebrated some of our greatest shared treasures.

Benjamin Moss Filmmaker

Amelia Golden Filmmaker

Claudia Howard Queen Composer

Tamara Wilcox Composer

Sea Chapter: A New Balancing Act

Chris Jackson

Through my adventures at Silver Sands State Park in Milford, CT, I was awestruck by the sheer beauty of Mother Nature’s creation, nestled so close to my home. I had thought that at some point, the setting  would surely be a gorgeous backdrop for a short film. Well, this past October, during a tumultuous Mercury retrograde period, I  knew it was time to sieze the moment. I knew immediately that Chris Jackson, a dancer with whom I’ve worked, off and on for twelve years, would be my prime candidate to place his footprint upon my film, and on the cool sands of the beach. Amelia Golden joined us again for this new chapter at the sea where we were to begin.

Chris and I began our time together in NYC, rehearsing the material for this new solo. The music, by Tamara Wilcox (she supplied the score from our film short, Woodland Aire), and David Darling, gave us the perfect feeling for the style and approach to the movement. We magically finished the piece in two rehearsals, with the last being the most powerful in a large, open studio at the Dance Theater of Harlem, where Chris also teaches. Somehow the annals of DTH ancestry in our midst, moved our spirits to whip the piece into shape and finish it in a couple short hours that day.

The next task was having Amelia and Chris come up to Milford for the day, so we could shoot interiors and exteriors for the film. Using the material from Chris’s new solo, we mixed up our time shooting his dance, and other off-beat shots inside the building of Connecticut Dance Conservatory. After wrapping up the indoor work, we convened at the beach, where the sun was slowly descending, and the wind was whipping at our faces. Minute by minute the lighting was changing, so I had Chris follow my direction quickly, and Amelia remained steady behind the lens, capturing footage that later proved to be invaluable.

At Silver Sands State Park

This majestic tree, standing all alone was tantamount in the unfolding of the meaning of this project of ours at the sea. Each of us knew internally what that tree represented for us, and so we left exhausted, cold, but exhilarated at the prospect of what this film could later become.

A couple weeks later, we archived Chris’s solo at the Triskelion Arts Center in Brooklyn, where he performed at the highest level of his game, and brought tears to my eyes. His performance will be coming soon to Vimeo, and you’ll see what I mean when you see him dance his most soulful, and genuine performance to date. In December, look for our new film short, Sea Chapter, at ACD’s screening night at the Producer’s Club on 12/17. More on that coming soon! Until then, enjoy these scenes from our shoot, including some from the last nice weather days of the year, at the beach!

Chris at CT Dance Conservatory

Chris with an Open Heart

Chris at Silver Sands State Park

Amelia, Chris & Mitzi

Chris & Mitzi

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.

Bending Over Backward to Make a New Solo

Ryan Schmidt bending over backward for her art!

Ryan Schmidt always bends over backward to get the job done whenever I work with her.  In our new solo, she displays a little from column A and a little from column B– the Chinese Food menu of dance movement, minus the fortune cookie! Before knowing of the horrendous aftermath of the Oklahoma tornadoes, I had chosen this piece, I Saw a Dust Devil This Morning, from Maria Schneider’s, Winter Morning Walks, to choreograph a new solo. With Maria’s composition based on the poetry of Ted Kooser, and featuring Dawn Upshaw’s sweet soprano voice, and the The Australian Chamber Orchestra, I embarked upon this rhythmically challenging gem from this masterpiece album, with complete serendipity.

As with most projects I do, there’s a feeling that something is totally meant to be. I am honored to be dedicating this new work to those that have survived, and those who have fallen from the great tragedies  of the tornadoes this Spring. With this expertly written score, I was blessed to have been able to create movement based on the poem, which paints imagery about the plains, and the little dust devils that swirled around the fields. It was with Ted Kooser’s words that Maria created a musical tapestry that so related to the author’s imagery from his roots of Nebraska.

I felt a bit of Agnes de Mille come out in me while making this, fittingly from the musical, Oklahoma! Maybe she was channeling through me in my rehearsals. When the winds came sweepin down the plains, unfortunately an enormous draft was felt by many. Thank goodness we have our art to keep us bending over backward to tell our stories. Come join us at Baryshnikov Arts Center this Tuesday where Ryan will be in the spotlight in her studio performance of Dust Devil.

Ryan Schmidt

“A Dress in the Stream”

People always want to know what things mean in art. I think the questioning is part of what makes us part of the fabric of the art. If it were all spelled out for us, then how could we really be partaking in the wholeness of art? Que?? I think there’s no way to define what a real piece of art is, other than your own interpretation. So, in that vein I give you, A Dress in the Stream.   

Ok, maybe I can give you a clue, and perhaps let you go from there. Please know that this only came to me after the piece was done, not before:

A Dress in the Stream

There was doubt she would finish, but maybe not first…
Though she tried with all her heart and might…
Amidst a floating dream, her heart burst with passionate excitement…
A stream that once rippled with hope, and promise…
     was now just a memory…
Time was plenty, back when dresses were fancy, and kids played on rocks…

Thirsting for nature, she laid by the water’s edge,
     waiting for a sign from God…
She was young, and porcelain white…
A restless beauty ready to conquer the world…

Her art sought her out, and she sought her art,
     in the space between the ocean and the gravel…

She was all dressed up, with nowhere to go…
     but walked with confidence, that there would be a place for her…
even in the cold, wintry mix of snow and ice… 

She always found her crevice of peace…

Bubbling up with joy, she ecstatically danced
     into a spiraling-round of remembrance…
She was alive and free…
Her shoulders soft and her luscious, brown hair flowing…
Her fancy, pink dress held her emotions close to her body…

An incomprehensible mystery was about to unfold…
So she sat on the stone wall, by the stream, waiting for an answer…
She danced in many shoes, and swayed in the moonlight,
     gently rocking side-to-side…
          wishing and wondering…
wondering and wishing…

An infinite place of wisdom rose up within her,
     as tears welled up from the depths of her heart…

Images danced in her head and spun her into a pretty, little bow…
She tried to capture that time in her hand,
but it faded into a smoky mist…
There went her close-up, and fancy dress, and time for playing on rocks…
She felt light pouring over her, warming her soul…
In complete resolve, she watched the time go by in the stream…
     taking with it, all that rippled from her past…

******************************************************************

I thank Amelia Golden for being the brains behind the camera and the wizard behind the curtain. She brought her creative juices to the shoot, and carried equipment, costumes, lighting, and  lots of enthusiasm, for which I am forever grateful! We had a lot of fun editing in Starbucks! Much love and appreciation to Annie Heinemann… a beauty who knows no bounds! Enjoy this film, and let me know your thoughts as they float down the stream…

A Picture Perfect Day

Hollywood glamour meets modern dance, meets short-film… was this what I intended? Well, it was what happened last weekend. Put together one fine dancer, a talented filmmaker, and a choreographer– add to it a bunch of fancy dresses, props, a dance studio, and Guilford, CT’s most beautiful outdoor settings— blend it all together on high, and out comes what will be our next short dance film. Annie Church could’ve been Gloria Swanson’s stunt double in Sunset Boulevard, if she were alive then. Behind the lens, Amelia Golden captured the essence of the day with perfect timing, grace and artistry. The shoot in Guilford at the New Haven Ballet Studio, had us in rare form. I joked with Annie throughout the day, “Mr. De Mille, I’m ready for my close-up,” as images of cameo appearances from the Golden Hollywood era, danced into my mind.

With bits and pieces of a theme in tow, but nothing really set, we got down, dirty, and even messy with mud, in our attempts to capture ideas about: all dressed up with nowhere to go. The idea stemmed from conversations with artists who struggle with their art. So many polished, poised, and prepared to take the next step, only to find… there’s no next step.  Underneath it all, we are bare naked, with nothing other than ourselves. We watch as our dreams float away, and then somehow find resolve in the beauty of nature… nothing to expect other than the rippling, calm of a water in the estuary of life! Coming soon to a theater near YouTube!!

Annie in “A Dress in the Stream”

Photos by Amelia Golden

James in a Jiffy

Photo by Amelia Golden

Another Jiffy Mix dance was made in our series of short-time frame works. This one was set on James A. Pierce,III, at the Baryshnikov Arts Center just last month. Behind the lens was film maker, Amelia Golden, capturing the the 2 hours and 20 minutes worth of on-the-spot choreography. We had only the music, a hat, and a few costume pieces to go on. The theme was left up to interpretation, although somehow, with composer Nicole Renaud’s music as part of our collage, we knew there’d be a “French flavor” to it.

James gets me. That’s why it went so well. He understands what I give him, and knows what I want to see. His sensitivity to the movement and quick assessment of emotional content, exemplifies his level of excellence. Thanks to photographer, Cathryn Lynne, for adding to our rich, artistic experience. I always love when she’s in the room snapping away. Both she and Amelia have dance backgrounds… could I ask for more?

With a handful of films under her belt with ACD, Amelia set out to make Jeu d’ Esprit just as special as her prior works. We worked at my table for hours looking at footage and editing down to a few distilled minutes. Amelia knows how to tweak, and create quality within the context of a short project, never compromising her vision. Cathryn is much the same way with her photography, and James is that way with his dancing! Three great masters at work! I am so blessed to have a team of pros to join me on this universal path! See both the archive solo, Avec Moi, and the piece about the process of our solo, Jeu d’ Esprit. 

Photos below by Cathryn Lynne.

Another Jiffy Mix

James featured in new solo, “Avec Moi”

It’s not too often that you get a chance to focus on making a solo on a world class dancer at Baryshnikov Arts Center in NYC. James A. Pierce, III, a seasoned dancer with Adams Company Dance, as well as a cast member in The  Lion King on Broadway, and former Graham and Ailey II dancer, will fulfill another quest for a Jiffy Mix dance this Tuesday, October 9th. I have from 3:00-6:00 to create a new solo, during which time filmmaker, Amelia Golden, will shoot a new short film based on the solo entitled “Avec Moi,” with her own twist on the event.

Time constraints have everything to do with getting things done. I know it’s twisted, but Jiffy Mix dances, with all the pressure to get things done fast, are exciting to work on. James will be adding his own flair and flourishes to the day, I’m sure. He is the consummate professional, and no matter what, we will have fun! We are looking forward to Cathryn Lundgren joining in for a photo shoot. Avec moi, you never know what you are getting!