tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74064786183432322862024-03-21T16:04:04.616-07:00DeAngelo DanceNotes on dance and culture from Director/Choreographer Ann Marie DeAngeloDEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-70819701096523398202017-12-07T06:02:00.000-08:002017-12-07T06:02:15.884-08:00Actors Fund's/Career Transition for Dancers Gala 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Actors Fund's Career Transition for Dancers Gala 2017</b></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">This was Year #2 for Career Transition for Dancers' annual fundraiser, which I produced and directed, being held at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom in New York City.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or rather, The Actors Funds’s Career Transition for Dancers Jubilee Gala (a mouthful!). No theme this year, but an internal one of the c<i>oming together</i> of two wonderful organizations that continue to do great work for the performing arts and entertainment communities. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martine Van Hamel in the evening's welcome!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">The Host was Bebe Neuwirth! She is the founder of the Dancers' Resource program at the Actors Fund.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Neuwirth</td></tr>
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<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: medium;">—I’m thrilled to be here tonight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is going to be a very starry, exciting night.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not only are you going to see several heart-stopping performances by some astonishing dancers, but we are also honoring three extraordinary individuals that are generous supporters and wonderful friends of CTFD and The Actors Fund.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">TV personality Kelly Ripa presented the CTFD Award to Carrie Ann Inaba for her unique contributions to dance in entertainment.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrie Ann Inaba, Ann Marie DeAngelo, Kelly Ripa (l. to r.)</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon presented the CTFD Award to Robert Fairchild for his extraordinary work in ballet and on Broadway.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christopher Wheeldon, Ann Marie DeAngelo, Robert Fairchild (l. to r.)</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Director Rob Marshall and Jon DeLuca presented the CTFD Award to Catherine Zeta-Jones</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> for her multi-talents in dance, on stage and in film.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katherine Zeta-Jones, Jon DeLuca, Rob Marshall (l. to r.)</td></tr>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: small;">2017 Participating Talent</span></b></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Former Cirquedu Soleil artist Sara Joel performed an extravagantly unexpected pole dance to music of Kristy MacColl — <i>In These Shoes</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That sure got people into the room in order to start the show! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara Joel</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Jacques D’Amboise’s National Dance Institute danced a spunky piece called <i>The Rent Party</i> with music by Fats Waller, “This Joint is Jumpin'!” It was choreographed by Artistic Director Ellen Weinstein.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Dance Institute</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: small;"> Next came f</span></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">ormer ABT ballerina Martine Van Hamel in a special tribute to the act of transitioning —</span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: medium;">It’s not the dancing that is hard to give up, but it is the Art of performing that is hard to replace....</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martine Van Hamel</td></tr>
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<i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: medium;">The Cobbler and the Ballerina </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">is an </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">excerpt from a piece that will be presented on Capezio’s 130th anniversary show at the Smith Center in Las Vegas on May 14, 2018.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> Choreography was by Ann Marie DeAngelo. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Dancers Mary LaCroix and Barrington Lohr performed, and they were also recipients of the Caroline Newhouse grants this year.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary LaCroix and Barrington Lohr</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary LaCroix and Barrington Lohr</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Performing a Fred-and-Ginger-like tap duo were Sara Brians and Randy Skinner, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">to “Begin the Beguine” — a repeat of their performance on our 2013 Gala at City Center.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "times new roman";">Rounding out the first half of the program was Jamal Story’s <i>What To Say — Notes on Echo and Narcissus</i>, in a riveting aerial piece with partner Kylie Shea.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Opening Part Two was Buglisi Dance Theatre in </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: medium;">Requiem — </i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">an excerpt from this stunning full work created in 2001.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Catch it next time the company performs in NYC!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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Josh Prince’s Broadway Dance Lab danced his very entertaining piece <i>Housework.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>The music is from “Free to Be….You and Me” by Sheldon Harnick, performed by Carol Channing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadway Dance Lab</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">We were lucky to have Bob Fosse’s </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: medium;">Steam Heat</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> staged by Fosse veteran Dana Moore, courtesy of the Verdon Fosse Legacy LLC.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Last but not least was the spectacular DNA — Denys Drozdyuk and Antonia Skobina </span>— <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">who performed this past year on Jennifer Lopez’s <i>World of Dance</i>.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">The number called <i>Irresistible</i>, to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” brought down the house…it was a good closer to a great evening!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">I've always been a huge fan of Michael Douglas!</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Marie DeAngelo and Michael Douglas</td></tr>
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</style>DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-73935184882021369232017-09-11T20:04:00.001-07:002017-09-11T20:05:54.238-07:00Ann Marie DeAngelo - An American in LanQi<b>LANQI: Re-choreographing a New Musical</b><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">A last minute call and quick decision landed me on my way to Beijing in the smoldering hot month of July 2017, to re-stage choreography for a new musical, <i>Xanadu: Dream City</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I had worked on the show earlier in the year and had thought one of my assistants would have been able to do the job. But, all were contacted too late.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>On Hainan Airlines I upgraded and was happy to get a good nights sleep….so I thought.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A woman named Han met me at the airport and escorted me to The Courtyard—the creative playground where we had put the show together before. She informed me that my flight to Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia was at 8 p.m. and I wondered why the span of time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Later to learn that Muge could have gotten me a 6 a.m. flight...oh well.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I sent a text to Don Frantz (the New York producer) and he invited me to his place, thinking better to spend a day in central Beijing than out in the country at The Courtyard. Han escorted me and we spent the day visiting the Art District there (photos above). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVWgKUgKekpBOFu5N9Ha-Lvbk9l0wZQj4P0sfjxM4swpvNT0hB-1_vum5WTLBAvH6pk2a1mN93r7U0AxsgsZXUBYOFLOqPmMrZH-_hTy1EvVVRgC65WoSSD56kzZ7j9w1Yx7mloaWty0/s1600/Xilinot+Airport+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVWgKUgKekpBOFu5N9Ha-Lvbk9l0wZQj4P0sfjxM4swpvNT0hB-1_vum5WTLBAvH6pk2a1mN93r7U0AxsgsZXUBYOFLOqPmMrZH-_hTy1EvVVRgC65WoSSD56kzZ7j9w1Yx7mloaWty0/s320/Xilinot+Airport+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Han later dropped me off at the airport, checking in about 6 p.m.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That little bit of sleep on the plane did not prepare me for what was to come….a delayed flight leaving at 1 a.m.—arriving at 2 p.m.—getting to the hotel by 2:30— to sleep by 3 a.m. for a 5:30 wake up to leave for a 3-hour ride to LanQi at 6 a.m.— in order to make morning rehearsals.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I was trying to figure out what day it was….I left the US on Monday night and would arrive at rehearsals in LanQi on Thursday morning!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Welcome to a rocky ride….</span></span><br />
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Our rehearsal in the Lobby of The Courtyard (video):</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhghHE5W6GeILikRFZ0mHIotD3fsW4E-NKZdIsIt2j8sVrdV1cKWyx0UGvkLu3k1HaisIIgM0KJK_j6EP028iA0-nZ9FMhyphenhyphenGtf8GL3aufCdU_67R1owGUAwfJ10Iq8PBBrbT-uDE6SxRM/s1600/Lobby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhghHE5W6GeILikRFZ0mHIotD3fsW4E-NKZdIsIt2j8sVrdV1cKWyx0UGvkLu3k1HaisIIgM0KJK_j6EP028iA0-nZ9FMhyphenhyphenGtf8GL3aufCdU_67R1owGUAwfJ10Iq8PBBrbT-uDE6SxRM/s320/Lobby.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lobby</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WdTOcwAhu_ykzAC-jngr8bHRQchHJvpAHYihmy6vlJduXkCddv8RYkP05rSxmfLmo40rJwyXYD1YPJxVEnsmW0MFzvG4_V4YzkARHmqpOImsN2iuNFxRw64onSP-ZlW1dIwMkC1a_v8/s1600/Me+in+rehearsal+%252B+Don.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="533" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WdTOcwAhu_ykzAC-jngr8bHRQchHJvpAHYihmy6vlJduXkCddv8RYkP05rSxmfLmo40rJwyXYD1YPJxVEnsmW0MFzvG4_V4YzkARHmqpOImsN2iuNFxRw64onSP-ZlW1dIwMkC1a_v8/s640/Me+in+rehearsal+%252B+Don.jpg" width="640" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMzHfa06MWOZK7qqAPi6XlX-XVQrBEmfNIAwrQH49CxV7NjuiIhyphenhyphenCt4nSpMy8lxMUVmJGxRnGii9IVNEZcOY_xSJMymtr07_bUZfnnKQBSozErXystnjyXIfI8BQogjrEMrpZaNuudng/s1600/Me-Young+Dancers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMzHfa06MWOZK7qqAPi6XlX-XVQrBEmfNIAwrQH49CxV7NjuiIhyphenhyphenCt4nSpMy8lxMUVmJGxRnGii9IVNEZcOY_xSJMymtr07_bUZfnnKQBSozErXystnjyXIfI8BQogjrEMrpZaNuudng/s320/Me-Young+Dancers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KOFEMfPrBCd56oZZi1AYQmzijjaUEICiIdA2asK5jVjG2gDxzKSH7CZDDOjLouaigJt-M1jKH3G07jwWdff2kqiGgRKdEqMIuJDQHfWi2lPC5PKK4HW23SoSOqWK43c495ej7dtZwdo/s1600/Ge+watching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="800" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KOFEMfPrBCd56oZZi1AYQmzijjaUEICiIdA2asK5jVjG2gDxzKSH7CZDDOjLouaigJt-M1jKH3G07jwWdff2kqiGgRKdEqMIuJDQHfWi2lPC5PKK4HW23SoSOqWK43c495ej7dtZwdo/s200/Ge+watching.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Ge (Chinese Executive Producer) watching rehearsals...</td></tr>
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(left) Me with young Dancers from local Mongolian Song Dance Company in LanQi<br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Favorite Foods: milk cheese, whipped yogurt with fried rice, flavored peanuts:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcVw1UbGJLVYUPEHwhqhKDUiITTRFzJDYY6k2SoDEeL_cJwLMJop-droJD9ivyHmFeLfQSSchnzAspC5m7Gn3HmT6jb9RRbnJqUSD2MbH7bKoTbX11xe06SvdmtruoSVVa6iuyYiO0Uc/s1600/Peanut+Dish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcVw1UbGJLVYUPEHwhqhKDUiITTRFzJDYY6k2SoDEeL_cJwLMJop-droJD9ivyHmFeLfQSSchnzAspC5m7Gn3HmT6jb9RRbnJqUSD2MbH7bKoTbX11xe06SvdmtruoSVVa6iuyYiO0Uc/s200/Peanut+Dish.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW2c9BLKGERhue2DhGM0jTa04eAfiyhc0wAyw2ntQfNGjswEqkpuWW6ORTHxooIS9-hO9BGFaFrlQapuA_KG1oAg5i53k84hXQXRlhbPBwECWtkvr_L3zX-pJ_E8Jmnv3l0qnMijKEHQ/s1600/Milk+Cheese+%2528Muge%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW2c9BLKGERhue2DhGM0jTa04eAfiyhc0wAyw2ntQfNGjswEqkpuWW6ORTHxooIS9-hO9BGFaFrlQapuA_KG1oAg5i53k84hXQXRlhbPBwECWtkvr_L3zX-pJ_E8Jmnv3l0qnMijKEHQ/s200/Milk+Cheese+%2528Muge%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFsLR2BKfq1HWaCLbykWDTqexTLxEVEFKvhNn_Dzz1LTDyHC0PNwn4jIygsdpwFXsB8znzu_jdOmG01r6RmPFaNGR1CPTkMQ7QuhYM8NOjoijvOhzqRbeVa42cQjCEOzQ4Yh1CDNa0rk/s1600/Yogurt+Dish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFsLR2BKfq1HWaCLbykWDTqexTLxEVEFKvhNn_Dzz1LTDyHC0PNwn4jIygsdpwFXsB8znzu_jdOmG01r6RmPFaNGR1CPTkMQ7QuhYM8NOjoijvOhzqRbeVa42cQjCEOzQ4Yh1CDNa0rk/s200/Yogurt+Dish.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Below: Buying Buddha beads with Kirby Ward</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsti0CaoAinWChQUxuO_FQ_7tZCEHRRUvmTodw84UMaj7miCarOKZXWxZn5TC4b0-lFuDmeLrE6SUpaS0V2we8hdZS883xHO7UxLETlUsmCruGJ3IXfH1L2DRmY8awh5TAVJIMZiyvHU/s1600/Bead+Store.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzd8qfxzbOCj3CuZ-UPZvimQQIwFBUURGKPLUBEYjpUw9xVuAwEXErYvqZsqnqb6YfnhU1BivwbZppwtjUIeiIMA2bWm0a4F4KzFOa7TjaRLomrIngY3sLYycWU6kwB8DASwKXTLItHE/s1600/Buddah+Beads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzd8qfxzbOCj3CuZ-UPZvimQQIwFBUURGKPLUBEYjpUw9xVuAwEXErYvqZsqnqb6YfnhU1BivwbZppwtjUIeiIMA2bWm0a4F4KzFOa7TjaRLomrIngY3sLYycWU6kwB8DASwKXTLItHE/s320/Buddah+Beads.JPG" width="240" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsti0CaoAinWChQUxuO_FQ_7tZCEHRRUvmTodw84UMaj7miCarOKZXWxZn5TC4b0-lFuDmeLrE6SUpaS0V2we8hdZS883xHO7UxLETlUsmCruGJ3IXfH1L2DRmY8awh5TAVJIMZiyvHU/s320/Bead+Store.JPG" width="240" /></div>
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More images from the experience:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByoHCpvwSvoQkPOSooupfQT0NBQqXDYdiHnzVv9slJWI2HEiRW6apY8IBPKB0AzmV1dkt49ARMb0V2aU-YpZ664Ni0kqrRWAPHYFOWvtnVRicI1f3MD8cp7LF8FfTwuPcqhCNvXVIsrQ/s1600/Horse+Head+Fiddle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByoHCpvwSvoQkPOSooupfQT0NBQqXDYdiHnzVv9slJWI2HEiRW6apY8IBPKB0AzmV1dkt49ARMb0V2aU-YpZ664Ni0kqrRWAPHYFOWvtnVRicI1f3MD8cp7LF8FfTwuPcqhCNvXVIsrQ/s320/Horse+Head+Fiddle.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horse head fiddle</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnJReH4WaWsYAsTCz-0jpBc0foikhNJtB1jU0ZZ5OBcHU-IPIizc2nDTRdbxSYfnUjvqWGEBd3YF2X2uw2wKks-haAOsh2Vljz79Bos7fyzjNWqd-yMHdsz6Fs-1oDq1kOYB05Ldmzys/s1600/Grasslands1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnJReH4WaWsYAsTCz-0jpBc0foikhNJtB1jU0ZZ5OBcHU-IPIizc2nDTRdbxSYfnUjvqWGEBd3YF2X2uw2wKks-haAOsh2Vljz79Bos7fyzjNWqd-yMHdsz6Fs-1oDq1kOYB05Ldmzys/s200/Grasslands1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grasslands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Nsbd2lHpbMy9JtnRSHGizntHdW7emfviq7fqohN-4oRo2AIHjSTOS9u3sr3pBtH6g0P2Ld0L5225g-DVtgBHY95yAUrSBIhLfUsS9wdq-z_ZBfX8nzXRqOD82XJ54QaAC5e6SYwy2c/s1600/Wild+HOrses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="640" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Nsbd2lHpbMy9JtnRSHGizntHdW7emfviq7fqohN-4oRo2AIHjSTOS9u3sr3pBtH6g0P2Ld0L5225g-DVtgBHY95yAUrSBIhLfUsS9wdq-z_ZBfX8nzXRqOD82XJ54QaAC5e6SYwy2c/s400/Wild+HOrses.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild horses on grasslands that looked like miles of mowed lawn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP4uPMyyKowrKb_OSmUnyrmV_fOFjQ74wjS6scpOxKb5k5LtdtZruMVgw7bsepIaHrrK4MWkBY-gEJTv-mvWJtvKvxtDMjostidf9mGrfkZ-xTaRATNIqiJaC-QsZ11wmkOR4HPHMwJM/s1600/Xanadu+Site.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP4uPMyyKowrKb_OSmUnyrmV_fOFjQ74wjS6scpOxKb5k5LtdtZruMVgw7bsepIaHrrK4MWkBY-gEJTv-mvWJtvKvxtDMjostidf9mGrfkZ-xTaRATNIqiJaC-QsZ11wmkOR4HPHMwJM/s640/Xanadu+Site.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xanadu site, where the original city Kublai Kahn created was located</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Taking this rock from the sacred grasslands spot possibly got us in trouble....maybe....</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Shortly after as we stared to drive down the grasslands hill, grungy men who we at first thought were tourists paying for a horse ride on the grasslands....turned out to be bandits. They approached us on horseback...stopping our car and surrounding our car with more of them....not letting us drive down the hill. A tedious 2 hours began....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlmaiOIlaeKkWPHfKLs88Aqpuasrt-Fh5E51yU3cIsZ6Q3Mp8rYdPFEF8nZYobx1L_jyj5enu7SvL3txMBRq22ueJqUr7g6Ke2gaXOcS2zy3CPhTuKeETXST2DNEhlCiXLT9MNQDLCBI/s1600/Bandits5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1253" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlmaiOIlaeKkWPHfKLs88Aqpuasrt-Fh5E51yU3cIsZ6Q3Mp8rYdPFEF8nZYobx1L_jyj5enu7SvL3txMBRq22ueJqUr7g6Ke2gaXOcS2zy3CPhTuKeETXST2DNEhlCiXLT9MNQDLCBI/s320/Bandits5.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2zxR9h3DJG4mGWCeANHS3IiZ_SvuWI83sAJR8GF-CWnXYDg-pNgD89zqfqVNNUYEiiaoBO9eR_smUwPP4SEJryUUOMGHEhB0kumrlxG7tYsDgfpOxBFgM0QJO0u-WcczD3Vt-9vhioE/s1600/Bandits8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="486" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2zxR9h3DJG4mGWCeANHS3IiZ_SvuWI83sAJR8GF-CWnXYDg-pNgD89zqfqVNNUYEiiaoBO9eR_smUwPP4SEJryUUOMGHEhB0kumrlxG7tYsDgfpOxBFgM0QJO0u-WcczD3Vt-9vhioE/s400/Bandits8.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccJfm_XecuLw26w_SUQQajO8OzyKNHYBR-HXujzM0LZlkKIVqAxCWr9rYg7pRYj8J5QC75CHB6wOFJsNOItcK5H0Yre5sqAqxUFqq5gqdE4O9NpBrM2rvklaEgFRHyqD_-s2JGRVY2Gc/s1600/Bandits7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="994" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccJfm_XecuLw26w_SUQQajO8OzyKNHYBR-HXujzM0LZlkKIVqAxCWr9rYg7pRYj8J5QC75CHB6wOFJsNOItcK5H0Yre5sqAqxUFqq5gqdE4O9NpBrM2rvklaEgFRHyqD_-s2JGRVY2Gc/s400/Bandits7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">Afterwards, with the brave Mongolian driver who tried for 2 hours to befriend them, negotiate with them for money they wanted. Finally with lack of progress, I made a call to our producer who in turn got an official to get them to leave.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;"> We survived!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uD6DFzsE-F1Q7b9KyzZIogQzm2RyqJrLDDrqTsMif5EYrgpEAFqafPBP2C54TuB0iFo3XSidPtNfIA9SlEUrg0WlToMIh8auEP0CiJsaarMeIK8E6-2n6eziZ1BA7yFzzB_6UFd7XEU/s1600/Me+%2526+Driver%253ASinger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uD6DFzsE-F1Q7b9KyzZIogQzm2RyqJrLDDrqTsMif5EYrgpEAFqafPBP2C54TuB0iFo3XSidPtNfIA9SlEUrg0WlToMIh8auEP0CiJsaarMeIK8E6-2n6eziZ1BA7yFzzB_6UFd7XEU/s320/Me+%2526+Driver%253ASinger.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Bei Zi Miao </b>(The Prince Temple)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHNNNpvdFGtl0pNVgvyH5NBOdeyg-yyb5dE1o9XqLoxvlBBXQbMqv66Fn8GMbdAqlu0kCWpGocccAuxheJoRvsctVUFCVU7SBEMvZDaVk0AWrXYh7qcDsGQ1_CCSuvx_D7hEzEAihGEA/s1600/Jola+place1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHNNNpvdFGtl0pNVgvyH5NBOdeyg-yyb5dE1o9XqLoxvlBBXQbMqv66Fn8GMbdAqlu0kCWpGocccAuxheJoRvsctVUFCVU7SBEMvZDaVk0AWrXYh7qcDsGQ1_CCSuvx_D7hEzEAihGEA/s320/Jola+place1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz_arMB_V_j3WmJfMMVWHHnj4KNu1wBEPC_gJ4uBcAvgBzcVjSfpHR806XPuxR7BROGavMjCaqX1JLIhEN_5kPhLi7w3FWoNyZxicjRnI411k3m8eXbch7f4KU3mlkll4qsdfj0v0t-o/s1600/Jola+place2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz_arMB_V_j3WmJfMMVWHHnj4KNu1wBEPC_gJ4uBcAvgBzcVjSfpHR806XPuxR7BROGavMjCaqX1JLIhEN_5kPhLi7w3FWoNyZxicjRnI411k3m8eXbch7f4KU3mlkll4qsdfj0v0t-o/s400/Jola+place2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: small;">The theater in LanQi with great sky!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhTOotOymAX7rpmQ9cSEuiWF96XI17S8d88CNNcChCzaQll6cI0ynBH3TvTdEexSrCME9hfl-H8tojDxeD7Vzoa13o8SFSkUqNDKZcQYGLULspdW5ZLx4izPGxwFFttEABFhEAMSmbyg/s1600/Theater+-+great+Sky.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhTOotOymAX7rpmQ9cSEuiWF96XI17S8d88CNNcChCzaQll6cI0ynBH3TvTdEexSrCME9hfl-H8tojDxeD7Vzoa13o8SFSkUqNDKZcQYGLULspdW5ZLx4izPGxwFFttEABFhEAMSmbyg/s640/Theater+-+great+Sky.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-4490886198957105552017-08-03T20:05:00.000-07:002017-09-11T20:08:48.116-07:00Xanadu: Dream City, a New Musical in China<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Xanadu: Dream City</i> - A New Musical about Kublai Kahn</b><br />
<i>“A fascinating and relevant story reflecting today's political, sociological and economic climate.”</i><br />
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<span class="s1">Greetings from China, where I am working on a new musical!</span><br />
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<span class="s1">The last time I was in China was for the Shanghai Expo2010, where a new musical was being created called <i>The Promise</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-style: normal;"> </span>We worked in Hohut, Inner Mongolia, for several weeks where I was choreographing on the local song and dance company, an unusual opportunity for a former American ballerina. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal;">Returning to China in 2017 was not like any other time. The flight was easy and quick. We landed and I felt rested and ready to work. Actually, there was some delays at the airport—but no matter. When I got to the artist complex, it was almost midnight. We were going have to wait until the morning, but the Director did knock on my door and welcome me. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal;">He was Tony Stimac, founder of Musical Theatre Works, among many other accomplishments.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal;"> </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>THE COURTYARD COMPOUND:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Creating on-site (Feb/March 2017)</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign above my door.</td></tr>
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I unpacked and fell into bed wanting to be ready for the next day, and it seemed that the moment I close my eyes I was surrounded by a cacophony of wildly loud barking dogs.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No, it wasn’t a dream— they were right outside my room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Really?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The noise in New York is one thing you expect and block out, but here in Beijing—a few rings from the center of the city, practically country—noise was unexpected. They didn’t stop the whole night, and around four in the morning they were joined by more music from cackling hens and roosters.</div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "times new roman";">Ge Jian built this complex….with housing, rehearsal rooms, dinner areas, offices, our theater, scenic and costume shops, and a television studio. Horses were there for the show as well as a film documentary, which like our musical had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kublai_Khan">Kublai Kahn</a> as its subject. The howling dogs I learned were greyhounds for the film.</span>We stayed on the complex that housed and fed the talent, and had an adjacent TV studio for the documentary which was being created at the same time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1">Though I came as a “choreographer,” the sign over my door said “Producer” (photo above)—a misleading title I have been trying to get away from for years.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the courtyard grounds</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I met my assistants and interpreters for the project </span></span><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">(photo below).<span style="color: red;"> </span>My interpreter spoke perfect English—a dancer and teacher/choreographer herself who had spent two years at NYU. She was sharp and talented, and wonderful in the assist. </span></span>The other was Zhu, who I had requested from New York—my muse from the musical <i>The Promise</i> in 2010. He is one of the most extraordinary dancers I’ve ever seen, and now he was transitioning into choreography.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was so excited and grateful that our producer Don Frantz (photo) found him— a needle in a haystack.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My assistants Zhu and Jai</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast and the Big Eating Room for other meals</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Studio where we worked</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Meeting the dancers was next, an Inner Mongolian song-and-dance company from Xilinhot (Z-eye-lynn-hott).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Imagine that, heading into a new project with dancers I’ve never met—from a country where we don't speak the same language—to learn contemporary American choreography for musical theater, something they’ve never seen. This would have been an impossible (an uncomfortable) task for a creator who was less risk-taking then me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It seemed to be a challenge, indeed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yet, I found it to be a wonderful collaborative experience that unfolded beautifully.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of rehearsal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another moment from rehearsal day #1</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"></span>I was particularly impressed with the male dancers who took part in a jumping competition outside our studio!</div>
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<b>The Creative Process </b></div>
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1. Solo dancer improvisation</div>
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2. Four dancers in opening number solos<br />
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3. Men stepping in opening number<br />
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4. Women stepping<br />
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5. The Opening Number (tech rehearsal)</div>
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6. “Paper Money” (tech rehearsal)<span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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7. “Heart as Big as Grasslands”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> (</span>studio rehearsal) </div>
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8. “Horsemen at Sea” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> (</span>tech rehearsal)</div>
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My assistants Zhu and Jai did terrific work. Here’s Zhu rehearsing the opening step of “Horsemen at Sea”:</div>
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<span class="s1">And Jai with a ribbon dance sequence, teaching 4-8’s:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span>More photos!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Kublai Kahn (Sundor)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOiwL3HBG0kuWl-F-xBlPzhNghlBwCfaV_GXwaMWy9473ycyMfRdVznORS_Efeod-fqhdVQqwNw-SBDeDuPLJMTlveb39JEGI4GhGIkLGGhDNxhkKFC8fdLD1dJD7h7AYzFN4H7Zx79c/s1600/Jola%253AChabi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOiwL3HBG0kuWl-F-xBlPzhNghlBwCfaV_GXwaMWy9473ycyMfRdVznORS_Efeod-fqhdVQqwNw-SBDeDuPLJMTlveb39JEGI4GhGIkLGGhDNxhkKFC8fdLD1dJD7h7AYzFN4H7Zx79c/s320/Jola%253AChabi.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Chabi (Jola)</span><br />
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Video rehearsal clip: A most amazing voice!</div>
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<b>Props and Costumes</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsLD5vRCPl2QiGNELfHIoEvYuJ4zMimvfe3rV3i915DGKJp0xHOG1te1GoZfbC2VURlP2SadrDf4PlSl5qI6hdQNbciUSNK7m6TcYh4LYI12skdjf933lfK2MLFJx1bkpXufe5r57_M0/s1600/The+Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsLD5vRCPl2QiGNELfHIoEvYuJ4zMimvfe3rV3i915DGKJp0xHOG1te1GoZfbC2VURlP2SadrDf4PlSl5qI6hdQNbciUSNK7m6TcYh4LYI12skdjf933lfK2MLFJx1bkpXufe5r57_M0/s320/The+Boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building the goldola</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOv91HgETLeaW30dfwknZ5lPU9SKo6RKicU56_6SPQomSSeuGzwsCUMubm6M6YVzJMZKYHR4P3q_Pxkl3P4zGrFfbtwQNuFM9HrOuTH2OOXuOCAjMSnZ7KEWWLDEMv1rkQTGOSyao2M/s1600/Paper+Money+Costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLOv91HgETLeaW30dfwknZ5lPU9SKo6RKicU56_6SPQomSSeuGzwsCUMubm6M6YVzJMZKYHR4P3q_Pxkl3P4zGrFfbtwQNuFM9HrOuTH2OOXuOCAjMSnZ7KEWWLDEMv1rkQTGOSyao2M/s320/Paper+Money+Costume.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paper money costume</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfMXeMszykp-N4MqkLBOjKpXylWbg4FgJT8g2bFTSxpm-K9lRq9TPCCYDGd99LE_mWO1PA97Yyb467xcoMBkk99LNoXnmzTD-S4sFrknWUy_LDCX6ZzXz5HhyLVtybzmdL3SoZCvJVoI/s1600/With+Don+%2526+Ge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfMXeMszykp-N4MqkLBOjKpXylWbg4FgJT8g2bFTSxpm-K9lRq9TPCCYDGd99LE_mWO1PA97Yyb467xcoMBkk99LNoXnmzTD-S4sFrknWUy_LDCX6ZzXz5HhyLVtybzmdL3SoZCvJVoI/s320/With+Don+%2526+Ge.jpg" title="With Chinese Executive Producer Ge Jian (left) and New York Producer Don Frantz." width="320" /></a></div>
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With Chinese Executive Producer Ge Jian (left) and New York Producer Don Frantz</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYRLcAWxcOlOvdrsr0TGgoTnrpKbcBtjk4VOAmBnKEoWgpuEWYtUUE-mpv_jxbDMMnoCxRIVMxGiX7N0zICMBKjAmj-tB7qijOvmqhbYmD9Tr07SnBiTTtD5oVzHjaVXF0_v6DTyA6Kc/s1600/With+Everyone%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYRLcAWxcOlOvdrsr0TGgoTnrpKbcBtjk4VOAmBnKEoWgpuEWYtUUE-mpv_jxbDMMnoCxRIVMxGiX7N0zICMBKjAmj-tB7qijOvmqhbYmD9Tr07SnBiTTtD5oVzHjaVXF0_v6DTyA6Kc/s400/With+Everyone%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">With dancers and creative team</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I got the best acupuncture on a day off!</span><b> </b><b> </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the hospital</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJFrC5iCJ6fKiHEUKecoDPDirhucM5DrFeC6Uc8i52B-DLUrpuWsOoEZO57Dmp2dQNC8v6ARMevKCjK6IFOLYO_HIlwbOMLCsH3waUv6O_kl0zjqNrfuZ9kst5S20z251udhjeDuQ49k/s1600/Acupuncture+Dr.+Wang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJFrC5iCJ6fKiHEUKecoDPDirhucM5DrFeC6Uc8i52B-DLUrpuWsOoEZO57Dmp2dQNC8v6ARMevKCjK6IFOLYO_HIlwbOMLCsH3waUv6O_kl0zjqNrfuZ9kst5S20z251udhjeDuQ49k/s320/Acupuncture+Dr.+Wang.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Dr. Wang</td></tr>
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We even had a horse at the top of the show!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8gnBUtDdgA_hOAhtUX3ZNkBHpuBcAAx6fv8gFGcxzYbbPD2GqrhY70xfoUusSDUqRndQReG0pHh0l1L2-wivZjNhFcjWnonhK3uh0AJIsaAYCU7NgDV_4MUpAobB1z3zYVWo4hbhFBQ/s1600/Horse+Photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8gnBUtDdgA_hOAhtUX3ZNkBHpuBcAAx6fv8gFGcxzYbbPD2GqrhY70xfoUusSDUqRndQReG0pHh0l1L2-wivZjNhFcjWnonhK3uh0AJIsaAYCU7NgDV_4MUpAobB1z3zYVWo4hbhFBQ/s320/Horse+Photo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</style>DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-91975824929636171862016-10-10T09:33:00.000-07:002016-10-10T13:39:18.761-07:00CTFD GALA 9/26/16, Marriott Marquis in NYC<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Career Transition for Dancers Gala 2016</b></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span><span class="s1">Celebrating the first year of CTFD integrating into the Actors Fund was a grand evening paying tribute to dance and dancers. In this transformative year, the dichotomy of disconnect rang true: past meets future, and the light of dawn shining bright!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP6IjPS2hp6S7eLO6PxIuYGz5YRcncs3dAgMQpCgToBZy3OhRE-NVgCloWHcgATgi4-Nrk8JD-0fRQw5KHHzfCFeAjgN8ghNKA8B1qQYS1rpNuFt7Sx9Fzz_nBMZGAY6WsV9vjt3tKdY/s1600/TommyCFTD1247+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP6IjPS2hp6S7eLO6PxIuYGz5YRcncs3dAgMQpCgToBZy3OhRE-NVgCloWHcgATgi4-Nrk8JD-0fRQw5KHHzfCFeAjgN8ghNKA8B1qQYS1rpNuFt7Sx9Fzz_nBMZGAY6WsV9vjt3tKdY/s400/TommyCFTD1247+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
Announcer (Mary Jo Mecca):<br />
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WELCOME TO CAREER TRANSITION FOR DANCERS 31st Anniversary Jubilee!<br />
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<i>To kick off our evening please welcome ten time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune!</i><br />
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Tommy sang the perfect opening song about the nature of being an entertainer called “I Love It” He then made a stunning exit - walking down the stairs on center right through the audience. His pianist in the back, Michael Biagi.<br />
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Next:<br />
The first honorary Chairwoman of Career Transition for Dancers made an unexpected appearance to welcome the merging of the two organizations - she was met onstage by Tony Award winner (and Hamilton choreographer) Andy Blankenbuehler, who was there to present one of the annual CTFD Awards to Joe Lanteri.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s400/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy Blankenbuehler and Agnes deMille aka Lynn Cohen</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyYcTU5E94A2F4f_gjq04yCmA6pGhZhq6nVodVG4jL8jZClxwNXgByxi-kkXMEr95aEkCFJqU__jthVU6582joY17TD-t3UiK_zJBw-yfNd-NKrIwMcQ9SmsHD2k1pEtUVRwA-QXxVx8/s1600/Andy%253AAgnes1+CFTD1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></a></div>
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Said Agnes:<i> I’m sure you all remember when I showed up for your 2013 gala - the year CTFD received the Tony Honor. Now, that was really a big deal! But an even bigger deal is that finally the organization has returned to the Actors Fund, where it should have never left! I mean, this is where I started it in the first place. Sure, it did great work on its own, but we can do even better work together. I always loved making up new steps, so congratulations on your next step!</i><br />
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(below) Mark Stuart Dance Theatre in "Libertango" performed a spectacular duet! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie Verazin and Mark Stuart</td></tr>
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<span class="s1">Mark received a grant from CTFD years ago, and initiated the next segment of the program which was about former dancers sharing stories of their careers, their transitions into other areas of the dance field, and thanking the organization for support. It was led by Dax Valdes (sitting on a chair in the audience in the dark): </span><br />
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<span class="s1">DAX (a al Zac from "A Chorus Line"):</span>
<span class="s1">"Former dancers please come out on stage, former dancers to the stage please! So, tell me a little about your transition, Tony you start...." </span><br />
<span class="s1">Tony: <i> Moving from dancer to director to festival producer, I've promoted the best tap dancers in the field. Now, I love seeing the next generation of dancers find their own unique voices....</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmeDrAia9vVigwWGPAJEJp8oazRyN_NxgSH6kHv3CUl7ueCLRR3g2UY9WsLNyacALX0gMxu5bG-Do5Hv-ddqXPKsKjWeg8e3xf78mGyLxao0ZsTXCpAXf7fNUa0FRUmrVe8dlCRH7seM/s1600/TonyW1+CFTD574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmeDrAia9vVigwWGPAJEJp8oazRyN_NxgSH6kHv3CUl7ueCLRR3g2UY9WsLNyacALX0gMxu5bG-Do5Hv-ddqXPKsKjWeg8e3xf78mGyLxao0ZsTXCpAXf7fNUa0FRUmrVe8dlCRH7seM/s640/TonyW1+CFTD574.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony Waag and American Tap Dance Foundation<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ1gO1tmQizuEuSrFZgFE50XqhwhDDdyVQiiFImbNJrVIf6B-S1h6O8p1Hohy-PKHIR5D1TlV01MobmJquFraeeyUiB0Gl32I97hhxDQIkmrRSt4pdUqeKfZD2euk9W64FbqLep9t9lM/s1600/BalletNY1+CFTD602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ1gO1tmQizuEuSrFZgFE50XqhwhDDdyVQiiFImbNJrVIf6B-S1h6O8p1Hohy-PKHIR5D1TlV01MobmJquFraeeyUiB0Gl32I97hhxDQIkmrRSt4pdUqeKfZD2euk9W64FbqLep9t9lM/s400/BalletNY1+CFTD602.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coreen Danahar and Gregory deSantis<i> </i><br />
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<b><span class="s1">BALLET NY - </span>Judith Fugate and Medhi Bahiri Artistic Directors </b></div>
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<i>When Medhi and I transitioned from performers to directors we needed to educate ourselves in management skills, marketing strategies and fundraising plans, among other aspects of the </i></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>position. </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4yQOBuPT1-nArrwITXxNB9pPXmrLuzx3Q3V5d7kzSaeJPHcuew03MLgYCNrpsiZ6TtAhWKxIWw6AHb5NtjWfNyyrqgr-QbD8yhwzLXQb59ErnQbykNVtjCBmw6hzgbPTw9k0F-0fV0E/s1600/Box1CFTD633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4yQOBuPT1-nArrwITXxNB9pPXmrLuzx3Q3V5d7kzSaeJPHcuew03MLgYCNrpsiZ6TtAhWKxIWw6AHb5NtjWfNyyrqgr-QbD8yhwzLXQb59ErnQbykNVtjCBmw6hzgbPTw9k0F-0fV0E/s400/Box1CFTD633.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tina LaForgia and Patric Palkens</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOOE-uoBleTEigIjln2uFojH6yPcBwWMkpEIix3kqHc8ArOJ_ronkL-diPFL98UHmAQSdpqsqH63j8xwMnHysUZOrirShlcqnSx732vvrJ4EmMQW4zxdZZC7UmTDK30VRN9hrL2Shs9M/s1600/Box2+Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOOE-uoBleTEigIjln2uFojH6yPcBwWMkpEIix3kqHc8ArOJ_ronkL-diPFL98UHmAQSdpqsqH63j8xwMnHysUZOrirShlcqnSx732vvrJ4EmMQW4zxdZZC7UmTDK30VRN9hrL2Shs9M/s400/Box2+Edit.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
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<b>Cincinnati Ballet:</b><br />
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Tina LaForgia and Patric Palkens from Cincinnati Ballet danced a wonderful contemporary duet choreographed by Gabriel Gaffney Smith called "Untitled" (he also composed the music). Stay tuned to hear more about these talented artists!</div>
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Dax then said to Tina and Patric after the duet - in keeping with the theme:</div>
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<span class="s1">"...as you are both mid-career...there is no better time than now for you to learn about CTFD and what we have to offer dancers here at the Actors Fund. Joanna Rush, you're next!"</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfSKjTBr7wOA6s1RXIWO2v13GGNuA7nU_vvWACYH7Zo84oILxlScL_3unGHnaaM4DkNkz_pD8i3yj70fDJMluU-Hc2V0zEbB_j2pMiw93JXVVxUpdIEA3JeAMLLnC1-kN63SJsek78n8/s1600/Joanna2+Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfSKjTBr7wOA6s1RXIWO2v13GGNuA7nU_vvWACYH7Zo84oILxlScL_3unGHnaaM4DkNkz_pD8i3yj70fDJMluU-Hc2V0zEbB_j2pMiw93JXVVxUpdIEA3JeAMLLnC1-kN63SJsek78n8/s400/Joanna2+Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joanna Rush (center)</td></tr>
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Joanna Rush shared her story in a well-crafted piece of choreography by Sara Brians - that was cleverly set to her text...<br />
<i>"When I was in first grade I wanted to be a priest. I wanted to make the world a better place. But then I found out that girls weren’t allowed to be priests. So, naturally enough, I decided I wanted to be a Rockette. <span class="s1">A counselor named Patch, showed me that there was such a thing as “parallel careers.” </span></i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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David Parsons gave a heart-felt moment and duet as a tribute to former CTFD Executive Director and long time dancer and dance supporter, Alex Dube. The photo is the end of the piece which gave the feeling of....just like dance, the temporal and ephemeral nature of life.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
"Finding Center" with music by Randy Newman<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQdzx8tlt-ZQY96GH5DwP8qoeOvafxN9IWK7lI0bk6jAHAlAqDDhW5OyteoMPJnFSdEW5UkD6ATd-3KKzGVnEBnQvP2CEJwtL7Tg4JNug5eqC5Hcf-rYPI-0jjAiewM-spj3FwEKV3K0/s1600/Parsons1+CFTD1040+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQdzx8tlt-ZQY96GH5DwP8qoeOvafxN9IWK7lI0bk6jAHAlAqDDhW5OyteoMPJnFSdEW5UkD6ATd-3KKzGVnEBnQvP2CEJwtL7Tg4JNug5eqC5Hcf-rYPI-0jjAiewM-spj3FwEKV3K0/s400/Parsons1+CFTD1040+copy.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elena Damario and Ian Spring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MGUI3CFoa8vMnGw-N6_-kSljqWiV5GK8yoe_bNSgJWFzZG0uPqntH1b9HZbrxRs7P7Os5DGIBmv2LX-ebfL08BSq1aPp_O8kdHm3hirKTEMTRAotDE8YQvRgPgpLIXrpRDGRhhDLOeA/s1600/Nathalie2CFTD2099+copy+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MGUI3CFoa8vMnGw-N6_-kSljqWiV5GK8yoe_bNSgJWFzZG0uPqntH1b9HZbrxRs7P7Os5DGIBmv2LX-ebfL08BSq1aPp_O8kdHm3hirKTEMTRAotDE8YQvRgPgpLIXrpRDGRhhDLOeA/s200/Nathalie2CFTD2099+copy+%25281%2529.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathalie Enterline</td></tr>
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After the Auction and Dinner moving into part two of the show, Executive Director of the Actors Fund, Joe Benincasa shared a few words an then introduced our next performer:</div>
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<span class="s1"><i>And now, it is my great pleasure to introduce the phenomenal, world-renowned </i></span><i><span class="s1">Nathalie Enterline!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="s1"><br /></span></i>
Nathalie performed a solo called MY WAY - sung by Frank Sinatra. The dance started with a charming mime bit as Charlie Chaplin with a fast change moment into a dazzling and spectacular baton twirling dance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkiwPh0O7Rn4OMxCHOpvAdW-YBtLejwlg2Qkrg6PFa1CIwbL1n7rwYlkf7yAJ51jByZBxn8owjbEL1wxFPeFxDv03F_CgD0E2DmFeqmn7USSDMkOJxkiWPx8UFHpe6UF4SEmQOElEZ1I/s320/Nathalie1CFTD1864+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathalie as Chaplin</td></tr>
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<div class="p2">
The Manson Trio excerpt from Bob Fosse’s “Pippin” had three Fosse experts in Bebe Neuwirth, David Warren Gibson and Pam Sousa holding the power, and demonstrating the brilliance of subtly…you have to be really good to be subtle!</div>
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Announcer:<br />
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"Ladies and gentlemen, Desmond Richardson, one of the great modern dancers of this time!"<br />
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"Imprint Maya" by Dwight Rhoden </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeQMmeostjdKnGeM-cvooueIg_f2GhqiKHUKlwcXk8oFGL0-U9EFOGp0ATmc3dLR-mImyABS5-JvihnxjxoqFVcsT16n1n12swa07knqF5oa4850UoR8nzDPcFO0D38_balQUfwMejNc/s1600/Desmond+Edit+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeQMmeostjdKnGeM-cvooueIg_f2GhqiKHUKlwcXk8oFGL0-U9EFOGp0ATmc3dLR-mImyABS5-JvihnxjxoqFVcsT16n1n12swa07knqF5oa4850UoR8nzDPcFO0D38_balQUfwMejNc/s400/Desmond+Edit+copy.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desmond Richardson</td></tr>
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<span class="s1">In between we had a moment pause to promote a work created about Sono Osato's career. It was called "Sono's Journey" choreographed by Melissa Thodos of Thodos Dance Chicago. We say a promo video of the work and each guest received a full copy. Sono (at 97 years old) attended the event - still kicking and in great spirits!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, known in the business as a "triple threat" and founder of the Dancer's Resource, closed the evening singing a very moving rendition of "Mr. Bojangles" accompanied by Scott Cady.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLfMUvK4ygjWi_BCvkXDokY0Kw1hyphenhyphenAhdCZ89mlwHDHFJ_W9bFdnpOOhW04dOTuf4t1DN5YlDFmX-b8-rCAkOF9Q_a6RZuSwQQ7rYh3w3yY0pTvvtpHoxOUqzDfU6Tvalmt12jOSGnRP0/s1600/Bebe+1+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLfMUvK4ygjWi_BCvkXDokY0Kw1hyphenhyphenAhdCZ89mlwHDHFJ_W9bFdnpOOhW04dOTuf4t1DN5YlDFmX-b8-rCAkOF9Q_a6RZuSwQQ7rYh3w3yY0pTvvtpHoxOUqzDfU6Tvalmt12jOSGnRP0/s320/Bebe+1+Edited.jpg" width="288" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLfMUvK4ygjWi_BCvkXDokY0Kw1hyphenhyphenAhdCZ89mlwHDHFJ_W9bFdnpOOhW04dOTuf4t1DN5YlDFmX-b8-rCAkOF9Q_a6RZuSwQQ7rYh3w3yY0pTvvtpHoxOUqzDfU6Tvalmt12jOSGnRP0/s1600/Bebe+1+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YoBNlueaxWcFxj29GHopPCNitxkwgoRROWmGwNa0RaGH-eGZr_GttmCkX8rGd5JkQ7sjSkXYC-wxK4rb7zT_Q6L4q5ZXYUOlP9bpS_jOXpfh6JZzKL7BfozX2V_nqRrlt7GFAQKy16k/s1600/Bebe2+Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YoBNlueaxWcFxj29GHopPCNitxkwgoRROWmGwNa0RaGH-eGZr_GttmCkX8rGd5JkQ7sjSkXYC-wxK4rb7zT_Q6L4q5ZXYUOlP9bpS_jOXpfh6JZzKL7BfozX2V_nqRrlt7GFAQKy16k/s320/Bebe2+Edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkARIqoUhwMrxaZMmLmUnVjZm0wLcYWTCUQjrwaH120Kyy0cy_xrE7AtV-5s9DuEXC6ScJ6DcGZDhqsck0mj2du4qoqHKe6_5r9RdPGLumllekU0SpK_R7vuVEpQWNOPbx4wp3ry_y44Y/s1600/Duet+Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkARIqoUhwMrxaZMmLmUnVjZm0wLcYWTCUQjrwaH120Kyy0cy_xrE7AtV-5s9DuEXC6ScJ6DcGZDhqsck0mj2du4qoqHKe6_5r9RdPGLumllekU0SpK_R7vuVEpQWNOPbx4wp3ry_y44Y/s200/Duet+Edit.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antonia Skobina and Denys Drozdyuk<br />
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I forgot to mention, that before Bebe's last number there were two testimonials from Melanie LaPatin and George de la Pena tellings us of their amazing noteworthy accomplishments as dancers and what they are doing today (still noteworthy!) </div>
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And, as a segue into their speeches were Ballroom sensations Antonia and Denys in Aretha Franklin's "Respect" (I was watching backstage SL)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEmq3_XfFhzEntMZCo1VKzZwnMd1w7_5WcoeqjQEqtShsdHr_xmsoOjwyNI1wbVfnx0fWypXEx4EX3x-ArlGXnKZVyZdzwtFe5b6OBhPebcT54cs-egSlOoHwgTGJz8nGBOO67ejvYdM/s1600/Dustin%2521CFTD182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEmq3_XfFhzEntMZCo1VKzZwnMd1w7_5WcoeqjQEqtShsdHr_xmsoOjwyNI1wbVfnx0fWypXEx4EX3x-ArlGXnKZVyZdzwtFe5b6OBhPebcT54cs-egSlOoHwgTGJz8nGBOO67ejvYdM/s400/Dustin%2521CFTD182.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
OK, so now for the fabulous PRE-SHOW!<br />
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The Pre-Show was planned improvisation....with:<br />
Dustin Hubel on Hoops (left)<br />
Melanie LaPatin Ballroom dancers<br />
Silva Dance Company<br />
Francoise Voranger and Hybrid<br />
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Movement Company<br />
Schedule 40 Performers that included:<br />
Anthony 'Grasshopper' Mitchell, Zoob Fernandez, Fibi Eyewalker, Rowen Sadlier, and Annette Ellis<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjejs8v8HUDz0aNWV7XtBtToq4EzyIbI_xOv8bDX5BGuny9cQsK1uF8mjoTFX7BbIJ71B-vYLns42lVoP7ZJDhakHLJRYf4orEJxrC6_sRASHm9eyOqkfg2SapwlbSfi-eQkcpqfp_qOY/s1600/Pre-Francoise+Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjejs8v8HUDz0aNWV7XtBtToq4EzyIbI_xOv8bDX5BGuny9cQsK1uF8mjoTFX7BbIJ71B-vYLns42lVoP7ZJDhakHLJRYf4orEJxrC6_sRASHm9eyOqkfg2SapwlbSfi-eQkcpqfp_qOY/s640/Pre-Francoise+Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francoise Voranger in pose on Pole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dustin Hubel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Marie DeAngelo giving direction to Francoise Voranger</td></tr>
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DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-6539663668268707832015-10-13T05:30:00.001-07:002015-10-13T05:30:12.243-07:00CTFD Gala 2015<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyoeSzOP7pN33QV24WQLUDFYC7GGDck3OnF7eB3ZhWRmparPoTcY_8dZ1qf4bIapi8EyuKksrvRzdtA2w7N_Q8x7SHGnKAlzh19aJhnP5KeSINznBGm9iVpRH_cXPmvbDIeR98JC2KNw/s1600/Amd+Glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyoeSzOP7pN33QV24WQLUDFYC7GGDck3OnF7eB3ZhWRmparPoTcY_8dZ1qf4bIapi8EyuKksrvRzdtA2w7N_Q8x7SHGnKAlzh19aJhnP5KeSINznBGm9iVpRH_cXPmvbDIeR98JC2KNw/s320/Amd+Glasses.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Marie DeAngelo (AMD)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Marker Felt'; line-height: 20px;">" That rare event—a beautifully paced fundraiser with genuine glamour and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Marker Felt'; line-height: 20px;">excitement</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Marker Felt'; line-height: 20px;">. "</span><br />
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CTFD Gala 2015 was the perfect amalgamate (amalgamate: to combine, merge, unite, fuse, blend, meld) an eclectic variety of American dance reflecting something new in how the talents and choreographic voices intertwined, and were woven <i>energetically</i>. The evening was also an intimate invitation into our dancer journey.<br />
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<span class="s2">“We are at a point in time when the past meets the future...” </span><br />
<span class="s2"> -- Ann Marie DeAngelo</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbArcQrphZ4dKkKfMrGMeSzMEiQwJJ_vnpZcdnF7hMuKlUS795agmBGtGKRPu4htX0_XP2SMXmRtvZs3xlvHIQ_zByguJNIFobkicG3hepGptqvo_qQjfozn2Md1pyjkUcku8QtVzRKk/s1600/Peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbArcQrphZ4dKkKfMrGMeSzMEiQwJJ_vnpZcdnF7hMuKlUS795agmBGtGKRPu4htX0_XP2SMXmRtvZs3xlvHIQ_zByguJNIFobkicG3hepGptqvo_qQjfozn2Md1pyjkUcku8QtVzRKk/s200/Peter.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Campbell<br />
<i>"These bagpipes are noisy and so are your cell phones, so please turn them off...."</i></td></tr>
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<b>American Dance Collage</b></div>
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The unexpected array of talent in this opening number not only pointed to the future, but kicked off an exciting blend of American dance styles....opening the door for more to follow.</div>
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<span class="s2">Written by Ann Marie DeAngelo and Kathleen Fitzgerald</span></div>
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<span class="s2">The poetry performed by actor/musicians, Thomas Campbell and Peter Campbell </span></div>
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<span class="s2">T’was 1776 they say, America’s real birthday</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Tho culture young we did make TV, Talkies, and the art of Broadway </span></div>
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<span class="s2">But Dance did advance - certainly by our hand</span></div>
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<span class="s2">As a need to be Free, it grew with variety...</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><i>Come with me and see!</i> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw2CD4BidONH-3K__wiveJeKkoPEXHF97Tuh1fVS4QEM7gKMkcxl0SVXq2K60nmD7nXzJwslCnI0fw-JIskZrC9g-y-MK4XcOiuOAZo07dnD4-QY_uxxgSnfqMwwAMoMabymwF1tg4oo/s1600/Hoedown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw2CD4BidONH-3K__wiveJeKkoPEXHF97Tuh1fVS4QEM7gKMkcxl0SVXq2K60nmD7nXzJwslCnI0fw-JIskZrC9g-y-MK4XcOiuOAZo07dnD4-QY_uxxgSnfqMwwAMoMabymwF1tg4oo/s320/Hoedown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Repertory Ballet<br />
Choreography by Douglas Martin<br />
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Boots were worn for the 1st Hoedown, drills danced tight and neat </div>
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<span class="s2">Caller by the fiddle was clad in spurs, cryin’ Allemande left - <i>talk now with your feet</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsf6bbr6FvFQIxLvx9aWa7oL_AxbRmzRL1b_VQdm0HNpH6RGogAtRalzIEW97Ab4SE5aimCtJSMRb5hS9tDISqi6HuaKtWJ2Oa-kWIaft-JG1ztN6hQmrv7qmtEWXJReKZqgtm8i1Ses/s1600/KL%253AMattia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsf6bbr6FvFQIxLvx9aWa7oL_AxbRmzRL1b_VQdm0HNpH6RGogAtRalzIEW97Ab4SE5aimCtJSMRb5hS9tDISqi6HuaKtWJ2Oa-kWIaft-JG1ztN6hQmrv7qmtEWXJReKZqgtm8i1Ses/s200/KL%253AMattia1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen Moscato and Mattia Pallozzi<br />
Choreography by Ann Marie DeAngelo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAQcx4iERwDI5eIg1H9vF7729iwIlcLy8D1IGjHsKLugmATqSPOsm9NEBqxcgetQkwGpKViN0JNxEn0h04HqA0JIJ7c3Mc0yDgIfrokdFweEOrnAaL_bgyiucT4H8BUNgK0CCABSy8gw/s1600/KL%253AMattiaSit+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAQcx4iERwDI5eIg1H9vF7729iwIlcLy8D1IGjHsKLugmATqSPOsm9NEBqxcgetQkwGpKViN0JNxEn0h04HqA0JIJ7c3Mc0yDgIfrokdFweEOrnAaL_bgyiucT4H8BUNgK0CCABSy8gw/s320/KL%253AMattiaSit+.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen Moscato and Mattia Pallozzi</td></tr>
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<span class="s2">From Europe we took it, made it our own dancers and dances fresh and homegrown</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Though Ballet <b><i>came</i></b> from France, we shaped it and gave it another chance </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZMZskJZ8inE-6WXUOFic2FRKr2S8Ioyi6vmPDQsTSr9H0X4OSv71DvB3k8RdQjoBe1ByFEM3lkGlAjhqqtzj8IPWNwt4UmZCmbm0qY9zFlnFpFyJ9HJm9bLjk_UxzHB-x5P7F3K1w1A/s1600/Mary%253ABarryMod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZMZskJZ8inE-6WXUOFic2FRKr2S8Ioyi6vmPDQsTSr9H0X4OSv71DvB3k8RdQjoBe1ByFEM3lkGlAjhqqtzj8IPWNwt4UmZCmbm0qY9zFlnFpFyJ9HJm9bLjk_UxzHB-x5P7F3K1w1A/s320/Mary%253ABarryMod.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary LaCroix and Barry Lohr<br />
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<span class="s2">T’was Isadora who paved the way for the Moderns to be born</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Ruth or Ted or Martha, Alwin, Alvin or Jose - who holds high the Torch today? </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_VcKXr4Gxc8Wfa_J88gQhck8uJwh8JXXPA4XZZpKHbZ2rvQlaj_FgHlctv47u2_xqM_BU-Js-6sJTaqbvxQKfJKr_ukEAiskMJdHw1EciSRlnuiwNfEdfKrKTnme6J0GredFD_1kaug/s1600/P%253ATAMJ.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_VcKXr4Gxc8Wfa_J88gQhck8uJwh8JXXPA4XZZpKHbZ2rvQlaj_FgHlctv47u2_xqM_BU-Js-6sJTaqbvxQKfJKr_ukEAiskMJdHw1EciSRlnuiwNfEdfKrKTnme6J0GredFD_1kaug/s200/P%253ATAMJ.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas, Peter, Jason (AMD) in rehearsal<br />
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Then came pounding feet, Blacks and Cloggers in the street</div>
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<span class="s2">at Five Points they </span><br />
<span class="s2">battledout/anew/form battledout/anew/form, battledout/anew/form, </span></div>
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<span class="s2">and American Tap was born</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmChHY3e_xOAU47EUwILzYW2rHWoWFGcSBOgiDkdWtzVS89Oi6khLV69fbLqheXdblU3I7p7zJvA9uwU4CGopqdDrzqN-wkx4m7LL1bJ9nNt2vbQfEGn7iUVew-59jBKQr6IvIHSDwkM8/s1600/Jason2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmChHY3e_xOAU47EUwILzYW2rHWoWFGcSBOgiDkdWtzVS89Oi6khLV69fbLqheXdblU3I7p7zJvA9uwU4CGopqdDrzqN-wkx4m7LL1bJ9nNt2vbQfEGn7iUVew-59jBKQr6IvIHSDwkM8/s320/Jason2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Samuels Smith<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jazz Roots Dance Company<br />
Choreography by Sue Samuels<br />
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5 and a 6 and a 7 and a 8 -- the sound of Jazz blew open the gate<br />
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<span class="s2">Smooth as silk, sexy sweet -- <i>Jaaazzzz </i>dance - Soooo sleek...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richie (in air) Bounce (on ground) with Thomas and Peter<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoKL5-3XH-TwIWtDXghI9rRGivli8Yl-0wKMu0HkEiwawPD3dviU20_L2euez7c_k9PoyQyhdHICfFHDDokBWiLQppLc-KiHioVuK6Uty0sXdlDKf1gCuKCrcxJtDc29VFn-OfUf02wE/s1600/P%253AT+Bounce.Richie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoKL5-3XH-TwIWtDXghI9rRGivli8Yl-0wKMu0HkEiwawPD3dviU20_L2euez7c_k9PoyQyhdHICfFHDDokBWiLQppLc-KiHioVuK6Uty0sXdlDKf1gCuKCrcxJtDc29VFn-OfUf02wE/s200/P%253AT+Bounce.Richie.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ephrat "Bounce" Asheria and Richard McQuire<br />
with Thomas and Peter<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p4">
From the Break came the back-beat, in the ghetto revolution for peace </div>
<div class="p4">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
as the poets, markers, dancers made<br />
“Hip hop”a global pheat</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvra566oUv9533IhPpuEX1zPt542QwQhzSNJqwptJ2J-EKpjPPdV3xAB9O4_J4B2OpN9PuoAQHg4fefyg1TxGJwQQotc5RyMjSvyiByxg6kPDB1foXLGP3toym7esX8VL4bfbaofFTGJo/s1600/NDI+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvra566oUv9533IhPpuEX1zPt542QwQhzSNJqwptJ2J-EKpjPPdV3xAB9O4_J4B2OpN9PuoAQHg4fefyg1TxGJwQQotc5RyMjSvyiByxg6kPDB1foXLGP3toym7esX8VL4bfbaofFTGJo/s400/NDI+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Dance Institute<br />
Choreography by Mary Kennedy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
Host Cynthia Gregory<b> </b>then presented the Career Transition for Dancer Awards to philanthropists Andrew Faas, Irene and Fred Shen, and Misty Widelitz</div>
<div class="p3">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdEk_U6ozAS-yc1acj_D8REUf1OxYoFawvKHtGFeJg4nZMeeohlvI-LY9MnwjaY3HE2CKtklGRn7-DMYgmwtMhzxfUB4jKB_xT0fm1JdHIXOi35k7Uc1pMdBsCOtZnKMcMegYNSxmZEo/s1600/Cynthia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdEk_U6ozAS-yc1acj_D8REUf1OxYoFawvKHtGFeJg4nZMeeohlvI-LY9MnwjaY3HE2CKtklGRn7-DMYgmwtMhzxfUB4jKB_xT0fm1JdHIXOi35k7Uc1pMdBsCOtZnKMcMegYNSxmZEo/s320/Cynthia2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cynthia Gregory<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p3">
Excitement came from a seminal artist of our time Misty Copeland, who represented American Ballet Theater (she's come a long way to say the least since she danced one of my ballets in ABT II.) I was surprised she was even available, and though had asked her if she'd do a classical pas, am glad she offered up a contemporary solo by ABT star Marcelo Gomes. She was extraordinary in this classic paring with violinist Charles Yang.</div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s2"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqLHGkfG5OOZYbsOVUjVnmBbv614WTA4a_uLUxn4O_mzRENgCmixe_64_wUMB1e52brI0pJePJvwqbeWB7sTE2uoRxejwcyD7Tc1D6gbHwRCQgK2fyowiuNFHXkVjw_vDW23uLLiHVeI/s1600/Misty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqLHGkfG5OOZYbsOVUjVnmBbv614WTA4a_uLUxn4O_mzRENgCmixe_64_wUMB1e52brI0pJePJvwqbeWB7sTE2uoRxejwcyD7Tc1D6gbHwRCQgK2fyowiuNFHXkVjw_vDW23uLLiHVeI/s320/Misty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Paganini</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWulsv7SR81xsiXUxXBkbrSKaSjLGzF5LrcScBZjNpy00-gDjHqNXKp2DEBYx_SBPCdgq2tCiFMrtqNc9g9_8S5SiJ1Z7NHgqvu_XEQSvaTs4sD0zKzafGrwz87BBHG4Nv7zJxWg0lEU/s1600/Robbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWulsv7SR81xsiXUxXBkbrSKaSjLGzF5LrcScBZjNpy00-gDjHqNXKp2DEBYx_SBPCdgq2tCiFMrtqNc9g9_8S5SiJ1Z7NHgqvu_XEQSvaTs4sD0zKzafGrwz87BBHG4Nv7zJxWg0lEU/s320/Robbie.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Ballin’ The Jack</b></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2">Another seminal artist (two on one program!) was New York City Ballet's Robert Fairchild. And currently starring on Broadway in <i>American in Paris</i> for which he has received many accolades. This solo with choreography after Gene Kelly was unadulterated American dance. </span></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2">Innovation followed from </span>New York Song Dance Company (below) with tap/theater choreography by Noah Racey....an original (hard to use that word these days) representation blending the old and new.</div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s2"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfyRBHJpPQcyIImN53-FTFxMfpOPUvdKnYjpBrnL6_r-XUcuoI_84r3BQgWsO1dSpEE96gdPsGYVQpkSkMOsWVQaur3A9Nj9YO0VTLf70dUyMyUGppoAVTV4U9xlyT_ay-TKCtBSYdnc/s1600/NYSong%253ADance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfyRBHJpPQcyIImN53-FTFxMfpOPUvdKnYjpBrnL6_r-XUcuoI_84r3BQgWsO1dSpEE96gdPsGYVQpkSkMOsWVQaur3A9Nj9YO0VTLf70dUyMyUGppoAVTV4U9xlyT_ay-TKCtBSYdnc/s320/NYSong%253ADance.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I've Got You Under My Skin</b><br />
<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy_zIALwSlmaUtiCCu7JM6PMgH8UE9xwsAam_AjWSR5jwLcBPynH_4YLcRjO2CWUri-wwZ2mbjRUsXvrfbOfbqFQdfVXUtvCRFDSbO7eEHEhahcVYcI-K8rN9pV5HoBAtgU5bhIcs8cQ/s1600/Caught.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy_zIALwSlmaUtiCCu7JM6PMgH8UE9xwsAam_AjWSR5jwLcBPynH_4YLcRjO2CWUri-wwZ2mbjRUsXvrfbOfbqFQdfVXUtvCRFDSbO7eEHEhahcVYcI-K8rN9pV5HoBAtgU5bhIcs8cQ/s320/Caught.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elena D'Amario<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p3">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYwFgqXdLGyHTMoJXwwTNFZNP_N5odidDvTJDfo9_bm-EW8WlqWKakNzobESkJnKS9omPNd7RmFwC2wAF2J6TNlWQ2lkhSpfhrcRQ3I-sWaT2U1dTLY6o4zyFWmt87c8cpNXEkHRejbE/s1600/Jazz3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYwFgqXdLGyHTMoJXwwTNFZNP_N5odidDvTJDfo9_bm-EW8WlqWKakNzobESkJnKS9omPNd7RmFwC2wAF2J6TNlWQ2lkhSpfhrcRQ3I-sWaT2U1dTLY6o4zyFWmt87c8cpNXEkHRejbE/s400/Jazz3.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Neuwirth and Company</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s2">Next came the well-known modern American "classic" dance and show-stopper by David Parsons. </span><span class="s2">CAUGHT!</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>Another American classic in Bob Fosse (and Ann Reinking's version) with the memorable "All That Jazz" from <i>Chicago. </i>It is great to see the real deal, authentic members of the Fosse “tribe” executing to simple and absolute perfection those classic Fosse moves! Chita Rivera was in the audience - another classic!<br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4xmW-KaicxHLtDjjCYmnvCZJn0vqF2gQQRHp2HOmE3veVQTXzzHxPAS9ZfrL658WIM7GaJIVj3Bip1lWYT82s8RFswxALZKe6D1dJmmXEImkye2_AD-uulP9HXTUmg2iI1yQRECYc34/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4xmW-KaicxHLtDjjCYmnvCZJn0vqF2gQQRHp2HOmE3veVQTXzzHxPAS9ZfrL658WIM7GaJIVj3Bip1lWYT82s8RFswxALZKe6D1dJmmXEImkye2_AD-uulP9HXTUmg2iI1yQRECYc34/s320/IMG_5946.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Brad Fields and my book cover, Produce Yourself!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The segment following was an insight - reflecting on why everyone was gathered, and a moment in time to express a sentiment that all dancers share when the next step is unclear. And thanking the thousands who have donated their time and talents for this cause.....also my testament to keep an organization such as this alive...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzn8gakPXobnEUGEErZAnAX3ELmpBPUJl7zaaAN8Zc7Ehf1zbthwxn_vzxKlA92kVxx_otkbJH4b3RZgOWZHU-i2BMqCmqIMTXY8TBzaIZDsFsHFioKsni_arv2UDMzNpi4jVsILsY2c/s1600/Mary%253ABarry+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzn8gakPXobnEUGEErZAnAX3ELmpBPUJl7zaaAN8Zc7Ehf1zbthwxn_vzxKlA92kVxx_otkbJH4b3RZgOWZHU-i2BMqCmqIMTXY8TBzaIZDsFsHFioKsni_arv2UDMzNpi4jVsILsY2c/s320/Mary%253ABarry+dance.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary LaCroix and Barry Lohr<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7HLLz2DzVwhtJAfhPRTx3dCxK8ojEtXDoZmzCsgTbCge-5zXkH5exPEKTjhs1UZNw81yI1YHZtr8RZAPy4FbY4ySXfKElCtAtdKMyQybZfY-43DKeMFZMu_au8beV4u2A9b4iUpZuBY/s1600/AM+daning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7HLLz2DzVwhtJAfhPRTx3dCxK8ojEtXDoZmzCsgTbCge-5zXkH5exPEKTjhs1UZNw81yI1YHZtr8RZAPy4FbY4ySXfKElCtAtdKMyQybZfY-43DKeMFZMu_au8beV4u2A9b4iUpZuBY/s320/AM+daning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"Dancers are fearless, dancers live positivity, dancers have an unwavering commitment to the dance-god, dancers are not afraid to put their soul's on display and share something larger than all of us. But we become vulnerable when we can't see a life outside the studio or on stage....truth is, we never really stop being dancers, the dancer stays alive in us always...like the mythical Phoenix which you can't kill...offering a message of hope and vision for the future be it for dancers, an organization or anyone."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s2">Kids point to the future... in </span>Ballet Tech’s Kids Dance: KYDZNY (2014)</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuoj6MZlGUaQd0jjL_ViCTv8xe-8ZcIts0baBhelcPOpKUdqLBAq259RLj0MdXUy7UdeASXKlKFJvI5MK968D8tBwoAkbJ6hvSkHc3d7ighHggpNY2aHmVo5ANfMP8mzn51MZjrKY3-c/s1600/Feld2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuoj6MZlGUaQd0jjL_ViCTv8xe-8ZcIts0baBhelcPOpKUdqLBAq259RLj0MdXUy7UdeASXKlKFJvI5MK968D8tBwoAkbJ6hvSkHc3d7ighHggpNY2aHmVo5ANfMP8mzn51MZjrKY3-c/s320/Feld2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choreography by Eliot Feld</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ycx21iUm2KxqatpYx_IX5Yty4t3xdGFhXA7c5LUioGpiKdCuD3hu-QgvB_tETnpdNw4hWupXkdIRyuj5rdV55QHYY9jEKTtK30mymNEuaomy7V5X8lgnAb8suK1K2vhbdi97Wo59t1c/s1600/MD%253ACJZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Ycx21iUm2KxqatpYx_IX5Yty4t3xdGFhXA7c5LUioGpiKdCuD3hu-QgvB_tETnpdNw4hWupXkdIRyuj5rdV55QHYY9jEKTtK30mymNEuaomy7V5X8lgnAb8suK1K2vhbdi97Wo59t1c/s320/MD%253ACJZ.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They arrived 10 minutes before presenting the Rolex Award to Shirley MacLaine. I rushed them upstairs to our Production room - quickly giving them their staging, and script. Moments later I was on stage in the testimonial segment. After they came off stage from speaking Michael cornered me in the wing...."Yeah I know, I'm like a chicken without a head...there one moment, here the next...." He laughed "We were thinking the exact same thing watching you upstairs -- on stage just moments after you had met with us!"<br />
<br />
"Wish we could see her now - here's Shirley MacLaine!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And Shirley was revealed center stage to the band playing "If They Could See Me Now" from <i>Sweet Charity. </i>The audience simply stood up!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FouieEuKhZWKD1UDZpOyvaqRTdZ491uOq9n4eeNS9ax_RUuk_QPYXhm_-ZSksKZdAJiV4nic57B422PEkx8m1GxVBjVwk8KOGHkcnjC0S9zpJuyrSXWZKiPUKFrHKjFtc7293s0o8aw/s1600/Shirley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FouieEuKhZWKD1UDZpOyvaqRTdZ491uOq9n4eeNS9ax_RUuk_QPYXhm_-ZSksKZdAJiV4nic57B422PEkx8m1GxVBjVwk8KOGHkcnjC0S9zpJuyrSXWZKiPUKFrHKjFtc7293s0o8aw/s320/Shirley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="p7">
<span class="s2"><br /></span>
<br />
<span class="s2"><br /></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrUyuo-mcSuDE97OVtiHxow0WGRfMYbTsiy8I8r0cvhezrLeC5_5iJ170FEw_nbvv-JNswTvvuORssVGbl7AW0WnXjpBkoU_CywK-bUz_ArspqqgbKOn7BvAoH2i4MJ1WrYx-nrnh6ng/s1600/Shirley2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrUyuo-mcSuDE97OVtiHxow0WGRfMYbTsiy8I8r0cvhezrLeC5_5iJ170FEw_nbvv-JNswTvvuORssVGbl7AW0WnXjpBkoU_CywK-bUz_ArspqqgbKOn7BvAoH2i4MJ1WrYx-nrnh6ng/s200/Shirley2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley MacLaine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1">"Oh my, this is the best night I’ve spent in 600,000 years, and the best show I’ve seen in 600,000 years! </span><br />
<div class="p1">
....I have to say that dancers are the athletes of the gods...there’s nothing more successful than hiring a dancer for anything...we’re organized, we’re on time, we basically know who to be afraid of, we listen, we are content to wait, we are team players. That is what I think has sustained me all these years...which I think I will never forget nor will I not compliment the Art itself and what it took as a young kid to go every day and to be wedded to the idea of physical expression. <br />
I sort of think the Art of dancing is the human beings attempt to preserve his or her imagination against time."</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyT1nofLyg1I5yik_xaXgK1uHq-8z2aMbvTjdYJ8gviqEHUTWyFCiJedEibBk5JgQoN8qvV0ov3owS5mPD5BZuChM4TFZN4dItgxqFmNyzmOYo2Qknix2t6TJa9hgTzQzZ8SahConlxk/s1600/AMD+Shirley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyT1nofLyg1I5yik_xaXgK1uHq-8z2aMbvTjdYJ8gviqEHUTWyFCiJedEibBk5JgQoN8qvV0ov3owS5mPD5BZuChM4TFZN4dItgxqFmNyzmOYo2Qknix2t6TJa9hgTzQzZ8SahConlxk/s200/AMD+Shirley.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">......dinner at the Hilton after a long day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="p7">
A classic Cha Cha to perfection danced with a sexy, sweet flavor by Arthur Murray....</div>
<div class="p4">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHBTPJUfuLkPBFgPogJ30Bt8VfeK35LU7TU9AI0Qp6K2p1q8tNrL56aU0Z0PG6uaPZeHK3rTnGHwoEPff0s151SXV_1jeDuLr5r-G7m9sjExsw-p63AmhLQ3oXy_8yy4sRdOA0UuOLko/s1600/ArthurMurray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHBTPJUfuLkPBFgPogJ30Bt8VfeK35LU7TU9AI0Qp6K2p1q8tNrL56aU0Z0PG6uaPZeHK3rTnGHwoEPff0s151SXV_1jeDuLr5r-G7m9sjExsw-p63AmhLQ3oXy_8yy4sRdOA0UuOLko/s320/ArthurMurray.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alena Sentyabreva and Christopher Gerges</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
An evening to remember!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR9K9AuMCLvk_42Lp3QqAZ6Np-Ix1h4113POhj19Y_CYm5EmgheMVPDfgbJ-UDzAOK5hvvgEt0sx7-JAEdHOvcYSCt5DTZSg1tNxQCJ-GZfFbojygPYR9X7axtHX6SY-NuCTDXesFGfo/s1600/Bows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR9K9AuMCLvk_42Lp3QqAZ6Np-Ix1h4113POhj19Y_CYm5EmgheMVPDfgbJ-UDzAOK5hvvgEt0sx7-JAEdHOvcYSCt5DTZSg1tNxQCJ-GZfFbojygPYR9X7axtHX6SY-NuCTDXesFGfo/s400/Bows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuoVx73aO0vMywKLDyUQv6zcb2CD4-TeXlWVbeRJzqj9mOUTgkDdgO4cOF0CU3Hky9Rff-NRsmb3HwdPnEko2SUGWwMtR1sDqaDpRNokOjWFUa7x7TrkxsC0MrDuSlq-azwXHQ6BkKF4/s1600/Bow+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuoVx73aO0vMywKLDyUQv6zcb2CD4-TeXlWVbeRJzqj9mOUTgkDdgO4cOF0CU3Hky9Rff-NRsmb3HwdPnEko2SUGWwMtR1sDqaDpRNokOjWFUa7x7TrkxsC0MrDuSlq-azwXHQ6BkKF4/s320/Bow+close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Review Quotes:</b></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i></i></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.theaterscene.net/dance/career-transition-for-dancers-30th-anniversary/joel-benjamin/</span><br />
<span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i>"Ann Marie DeAngelo, the longtime producer and director has outdone herself this year with a smooth and satisfying program, balancing entertaining dance numbers with just the right amount of speechifying .... a gala that out-gala-ed the previous ones"</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i> "... choreographed with simplicity and style by the fearless leader of the event, Ms. DeAngelo"</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i>"Ms. DeAngelo guided and rehearsed ... in some of her lyrical choreography..."</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i>"...a great show... the lobby buzz was tellingly loud and positive." !!</i></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
</div>
<div class="p5">
</div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"></span>Broadway World:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p4">
<span class="s2"></span>
</div>
<div class="p6">
<span class="s1"><i>"The spectacular show produced and directed by Ann Maria DeAngelo opened with a cast of 80 presenting an <b>American Dance Collage" </b></i></span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span>
<span class="s1">"....a fast-paced production...."</span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span>
<span class="s1"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><b>IN REHEARSAL</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAd2VhZC2xK3bNmu-vtBcYScpRFsQ7ao3WV9jBDt6YCcoe3m6kM-6Et2BnAmE99QhW150bYeEkIO5T22gvVsiKcQoyefTvLwkYSguVy8KlgIUEx84Zg5RXTUUbJvziwxK_So3mPW07qA/s1600/Mattia+Jete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAd2VhZC2xK3bNmu-vtBcYScpRFsQ7ao3WV9jBDt6YCcoe3m6kM-6Et2BnAmE99QhW150bYeEkIO5T22gvVsiKcQoyefTvLwkYSguVy8KlgIUEx84Zg5RXTUUbJvziwxK_So3mPW07qA/s320/Mattia+Jete.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mattia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjne7kRxctHv2L40K9XWO3SPsKxeIKrYwOkkn3mNavFeNbi7E-rdlncRGTjp0lMgcf15vACFc8O3lSUx3ux69yhyphenhypheneUN3lXLOVstzcrrV659LkBa1KnCSoeh53r8i81FCn-vg7BoJMo90xg/s1600/Showing+Donut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjne7kRxctHv2L40K9XWO3SPsKxeIKrYwOkkn3mNavFeNbi7E-rdlncRGTjp0lMgcf15vACFc8O3lSUx3ux69yhyphenhypheneUN3lXLOVstzcrrV659LkBa1KnCSoeh53r8i81FCn-vg7BoJMo90xg/s200/Showing+Donut.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD with KL and Mattia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpUHnilz27NT-Ak4gJtcAuVmUxtjVO_7n5GYKWhaK7_2_jaGy9nf9K8rP_qNZTjX8voP0XIOVtaLRalU-JlYDNc_HA6NYElNetAqjHZSZyLabywZTFe_WK5HEYeIF-khHXzKCwbZ6V6Y/s1600/Dounut+Sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpUHnilz27NT-Ak4gJtcAuVmUxtjVO_7n5GYKWhaK7_2_jaGy9nf9K8rP_qNZTjX8voP0XIOVtaLRalU-JlYDNc_HA6NYElNetAqjHZSZyLabywZTFe_WK5HEYeIF-khHXzKCwbZ6V6Y/s320/Dounut+Sp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD with KL and Mattia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBP-pyykL5b5XzeH3HQcQKqlr93lZQ-_JCu5YKwxve0W-RHgNTt3soh67wNbvyYRaIndKz7Z7RZbKwkndppsG5sCd3x-LJB4gYxQtgexXzRfs2yP-bget20GYb_WH7USVNqx4TZu4DEY/s1600/MarcelCharles+Yang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBP-pyykL5b5XzeH3HQcQKqlr93lZQ-_JCu5YKwxve0W-RHgNTt3soh67wNbvyYRaIndKz7Z7RZbKwkndppsG5sCd3x-LJB4gYxQtgexXzRfs2yP-bget20GYb_WH7USVNqx4TZu4DEY/s200/MarcelCharles+Yang.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcelo Gomes in rehearsal for Misty with Charles Yang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu301e2sQUCDCFFxvwkP6SIHZr7QgnMwxg9hBeDgp5r8fBpGcwvHbGQM26Oh-3ZmWBCF8O7V2dh9iRxxezE6RdnYrqgjHzDmErzsMBjHfQPnmU7G1JUYzg6fLORZRUc4bxVN8I4tEQXk/s1600/Amd+Mary%253ABarry+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu301e2sQUCDCFFxvwkP6SIHZr7QgnMwxg9hBeDgp5r8fBpGcwvHbGQM26Oh-3ZmWBCF8O7V2dh9iRxxezE6RdnYrqgjHzDmErzsMBjHfQPnmU7G1JUYzg6fLORZRUc4bxVN8I4tEQXk/s320/Amd+Mary%253ABarry+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD with Mary and Barry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtaNxTKFgZAWD1MpMIF3AH-SqWJoW6veFhSsdlWZMYwzqeQJly5-4YD4CkeBgSN-l0eat7Y30BUpCybqLlKDsKXpusehyphenhyphenqiQxgkWeMq-s6vSng2mE1HP7fS9srgsp97WgQuf4IdhpvMc/s1600/Am%253AMattia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtaNxTKFgZAWD1MpMIF3AH-SqWJoW6veFhSsdlWZMYwzqeQJly5-4YD4CkeBgSN-l0eat7Y30BUpCybqLlKDsKXpusehyphenhyphenqiQxgkWeMq-s6vSng2mE1HP7fS9srgsp97WgQuf4IdhpvMc/s200/Am%253AMattia.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD and Mattia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKd9lEUaTr43RI2bg3Y-3aQ5C50fc_6JZm6c4XdwFGrZRYB7bL5mZKQP4V-io-tj0KpbnMYvsrtz7x1FDLjWZ5TUkzGuCxJa8WsbAV8rsN_wXDP-3ciLotBnTV2I13REL2b0-dYGByag/s1600/Mattia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKd9lEUaTr43RI2bg3Y-3aQ5C50fc_6JZm6c4XdwFGrZRYB7bL5mZKQP4V-io-tj0KpbnMYvsrtz7x1FDLjWZ5TUkzGuCxJa8WsbAV8rsN_wXDP-3ciLotBnTV2I13REL2b0-dYGByag/s400/Mattia1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mattia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwADDpCrcgwi7b2rPcv7AgJ1VMdnrrTYk1i24bb1oUbpCdX3gYT543gAQMSLdv-1F64ew9diGXgOOErVFzJwVh3qRnINGETYj_6CC9_gP4UcVgwH8w4a0U0ISiUR7kchzJNW3EVxOzPAg/s1600/AM+Moves2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwADDpCrcgwi7b2rPcv7AgJ1VMdnrrTYk1i24bb1oUbpCdX3gYT543gAQMSLdv-1F64ew9diGXgOOErVFzJwVh3qRnINGETYj_6CC9_gP4UcVgwH8w4a0U0ISiUR7kchzJNW3EVxOzPAg/s320/AM+Moves2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD and Mary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlOrsmOtYdfkho7BDtEQILsHhcTplm1gosaf5fqKVnnYkKmXbRu4na9jIsMintdYEbOcpr8xtdSPG22HJeOIVmTiUbIOIsfJAatq1v7D7wZhR70YRKzGRY4qKFcgSs7uEEKsXHJaTM0o/s1600/AM+w%253AJoffrey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlOrsmOtYdfkho7BDtEQILsHhcTplm1gosaf5fqKVnnYkKmXbRu4na9jIsMintdYEbOcpr8xtdSPG22HJeOIVmTiUbIOIsfJAatq1v7D7wZhR70YRKzGRY4qKFcgSs7uEEKsXHJaTM0o/s320/AM+w%253AJoffrey.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD and Joffrey Concert Group</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISKZOPIY03PoK7ZbQajjGIMjSiD2112pxaFP3MBUqHgv_psjql5fnf7OOnUSbvuA6tplyXO2Io1Sh8ZVCXOqrcjfx_25yuDUHPlVeIgEecPvnf2FIJsgr91NqD_weLbag4h_SwMsE-eI/s1600/AM%253ACyn%253APogie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISKZOPIY03PoK7ZbQajjGIMjSiD2112pxaFP3MBUqHgv_psjql5fnf7OOnUSbvuA6tplyXO2Io1Sh8ZVCXOqrcjfx_25yuDUHPlVeIgEecPvnf2FIJsgr91NqD_weLbag4h_SwMsE-eI/s320/AM%253ACyn%253APogie.JPG" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD, Cynthia, Maria </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZdQV7IivCF7Q_wHfIQMZospLrG679xdbmKCczVxYYOaPBypEGNnD6wf6ZrXzK3Bozc-xvhHjB5h5ZJ9AF5XEKknkDvO94qtmwpStMWYKqeUgdX35Y9GK2pGBofWh5mMMyS4TNg2ruUY/s1600/AMD%253AMary1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZdQV7IivCF7Q_wHfIQMZospLrG679xdbmKCczVxYYOaPBypEGNnD6wf6ZrXzK3Bozc-xvhHjB5h5ZJ9AF5XEKknkDvO94qtmwpStMWYKqeUgdX35Y9GK2pGBofWh5mMMyS4TNg2ruUY/s320/AMD%253AMary1.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD and Mary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9WNorrWRFRuCEF4Mr4CVd0_tizFAUHongbGI0h38DioUrbmlYlNoKGWg3N4bxZnrnq41vJj39wlEJP8KSatCyT6XRZWeqKCdaGo5xsY_RuSl2oeWaV50QCOIImwbs6LcoDZd-2-wSv8/s1600/M%253AB+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9WNorrWRFRuCEF4Mr4CVd0_tizFAUHongbGI0h38DioUrbmlYlNoKGWg3N4bxZnrnq41vJj39wlEJP8KSatCyT6XRZWeqKCdaGo5xsY_RuSl2oeWaV50QCOIImwbs6LcoDZd-2-wSv8/s320/M%253AB+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary and Barry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musical Director Jim Morgan and Sue Samuels</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 Count Phrase "1"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary and Barry during Modern text</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">NOTE: Performance photos curtesy of Richard Termine. Rehearsal photos Steven Speliotis, and studio shots John Hoenig.</span></div>
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DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-58980120733501525292013-10-27T14:25:00.002-07:002013-10-27T14:25:28.158-07:00Broadway & Beyond 2013<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>BROADWAY & BEYOND</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">“The art of Broadway is American entertainment. <i>Broadway & Beyond </i>not only brings to light the magic of theater, but the universal scope of dance in America today.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1"> - Ann Marie DeAng</span><span class="s2">elo</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As I was conceiving the show for the Career Transition for Dancers gala 2013, I thought to create a theatrical evening that in and of itself it was a piece of theater - that at the same time promoted different aspects of dance and theater. Using the character of Agnes deMille as root-thread served as a springboard for the acts of different styles and genres to unfold. </span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span class="s1">Chairman Emeritus Cynthia Gregory (below, left) was on hand to introduce Agnes as the first Chairman. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cynthia Gregory</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s3"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Lynn Cohen as Agnes </span></span></td></tr>
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<i>“...I just had to show up after receiving this great Tony Honor - if it weren’t for me, this organization wouldn’t even exist....” </i><br />
<i>--Agnes</i><span class="s1"> </span><span class="s3"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span>The Show started with a we-are-not-ready-to-start-yet-opening number with a fast-paced video projection amalgamation of iconic Broadway, dance and culturally historic moments in time created by VJ Eric Dunlap. And yes, I am at the center directing everyone to move on specific counts - in awe of Kevin Baron’s flip. The artists in the number then appeared later in the show. </div>
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This segued into PARALLEL EXIT in their “Tap Lights” piece - a clever pollination of tap and an unexpected light show.</div>
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Earlier in the year I went to see a rehearsal for Rosie's Theater Kids for one of their concerts and Rosie O'Donnell was rehearsing "Heart" from <i>Damn Yankees</i> with them. I asked their Artistic Director, Lori Klinger, if they might be free to perform the piece on our show. You ask, but you never know who is available and willing to perform for a cause. She was and they were great!<br />
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<i style="text-align: center;">“...I didn’t do Swans - I love Swans, but I don’t do Swans! Ah Ballet, my first love..."</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Repertory Ballet with the young talents of Karen
Moscato and Mattia Pallozzi, performing the Balcony pas de deux from <i>Romeo & Juliet</i></td></tr>
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“At the Ballet” from <i>A Chorus Line - </i>with Christiane Noll, Kelly Bishop and Hollie Howard performing this beautiful song - was dedicated to Marvin Hamlisch. Marvin so graciously contributed a new song for the 20th Anniversary of CTFD which he played live on stage. I had the good fortune to not only work with him, but also to choreograph to his music. He was a great lover of dance and dancers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_fJrfSHjjMbF0lFF6UsQrpqqbIzRL6lQmOOPgNRRS5LXH-Zb736SGTKdh9q3HQvibQDz4NpYWg-biYeoOU3Cd9wS5TQZYay5XHtbXro96IL8n5aa08Jb5Sd5HnqNXfBbU7TmUiO2XeI/s1600/Dog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_fJrfSHjjMbF0lFF6UsQrpqqbIzRL6lQmOOPgNRRS5LXH-Zb736SGTKdh9q3HQvibQDz4NpYWg-biYeoOU3Cd9wS5TQZYay5XHtbXro96IL8n5aa08Jb5Sd5HnqNXfBbU7TmUiO2XeI/s320/Dog1.jpg" width="320" /></a> While Agnes ranted about "What’s new," and how she was amongst the "pioneers who transformed Broadway," she introduced the next three contemporary Broadway choreographers. The first was a piece by Josh Prince called “The Dog Piece” (I think). I first saw it when he created it for DanceBreak - might have been his first piece, and it hadn’t been done since. I always thought it was cute and clever and the audience did indeed enjoy it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR5pyqirVWr26XHZe2N-SZ0QylsrlhMBSOpZNr5rb-qCwjREo_ITxWvFCRe6NrVfg7LbfM-OsjWG4RsJgUDU02uxyLDBZZDjKOMijPUgJSCeOVfnhwB2zAP1Ra5h_I0_PJ_MYhchByyg/s1600/Dog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOR5pyqirVWr26XHZe2N-SZ0QylsrlhMBSOpZNr5rb-qCwjREo_ITxWvFCRe6NrVfg7LbfM-OsjWG4RsJgUDU02uxyLDBZZDjKOMijPUgJSCeOVfnhwB2zAP1Ra5h_I0_PJ_MYhchByyg/s200/Dog2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">Broadway Dance Lab</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGw1Z5eC7ZVZYsj_4CbvxsKHvxQnQD5Kzqj2irFDKmA85QhzslrF1dLddQoYZbcmYwTC4wYL8tvinTHctB1MiIu_ivNRPHLpLc4YBkFkzRo_DGc54DWvbRL0JaqfilvhbuR54aOe2HZA/s1600/Dog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGw1Z5eC7ZVZYsj_4CbvxsKHvxQnQD5Kzqj2irFDKmA85QhzslrF1dLddQoYZbcmYwTC4wYL8tvinTHctB1MiIu_ivNRPHLpLc4YBkFkzRo_DGc54DWvbRL0JaqfilvhbuR54aOe2HZA/s200/Dog5.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
The premise: “Imagine if you will that you are walking down the street and you pass pet store - and instead of Dogs in the window there are Men”!</div>
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More theater choreographers to come!</div>
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Then came a lovely Fred &; Ginger duet by Randy Skinner to Cole Porter’s “Beguine the Beguine” (above). He is such a marvelous dancer, and was partnered by Sara Brians. It was the first time we used Tap Mics that hook onto a belt around the waist and connect to the show - sounded great!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the Town</i> by Josh Bergasse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the Town</i> by Josh Bergasse</td></tr>
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The "Smash" choreographer, Joshua Bergasse, re-created a fun and ambitious number from “On the Town”<i> -- Subway Ride/Dream Coney Island... -</i>- which was filled with drama and what you expect from Broadway dance. Stupidly we thought that this complex piece of Bernstein could have been played live by our 16 piece band, conducted by musical director Jim Morgan. What were we thinking with only one rehearsal?<br />
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Fortunately a decent tape was found and all worked beautifully...</div>
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<span class="s1">Benois de la Danse winner David Dawson contributed his work called “On the Nature of Daylight” with stars of the Semperoper Ballet....Nataliya Sologub and Raphael Coumes-Marque. A sensitive and stunning work of the highest order, and a highlight of the evening. David is one of the few choreographers today who knows how to use space, i.e. “choreo (steps) orgraphy” (the relationship of steps to space).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">Jason Samuels Smith, Jimmy Tate and Dule Hill</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1">A TRIBUTE TO DANNY DANIELS <i>A Class Act </i> was an excerpt from “The Tap Dance Kid” for which Danny Daniels received a Tony Award. It was staged by his son DJ Giagni (a past Tony nominee) and a wonder expression of “classic” Tap on the program. Find Danny Daniels on-line for info about his extensive, prolific, and ground-breaking career -- as both dancer and choreographer! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W7EG-zV86j5G3zcpiplLRZaHqKD0MD-7bolnr9ngu8mOA0QQq-iRkFx2LwSwykSHJf13wzldGUg19zoVxsgZggRv97WFM2Jo6box9iALScS2QCtftKpmCWeThEMOE6YEGbJNWM0l-5Q/s1600/Dule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W7EG-zV86j5G3zcpiplLRZaHqKD0MD-7bolnr9ngu8mOA0QQq-iRkFx2LwSwykSHJf13wzldGUg19zoVxsgZggRv97WFM2Jo6box9iALScS2QCtftKpmCWeThEMOE6YEGbJNWM0l-5Q/s320/Dule.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHgXZq031BfMB2QEY6bYsYRRSkQOpIzKdjQlLqNEm_-MkUxf17GCPvpxM7Kw-aCm6dGyVau4THBO0eySVPOBlQmTPeHcy9ppHGyZec2rzetUM3pZ_u2OhCIBp7DmfhccsRoj0JSnkcg4/s1600/Jason2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHgXZq031BfMB2QEY6bYsYRRSkQOpIzKdjQlLqNEm_-MkUxf17GCPvpxM7Kw-aCm6dGyVau4THBO0eySVPOBlQmTPeHcy9ppHGyZec2rzetUM3pZ_u2OhCIBp7DmfhccsRoj0JSnkcg4/s320/Jason2.jpg" width="220" /></a><span class="s1"></span><br />
Jason Samuels Smith, Jimmy Tate and Dule Hill all worked with this legendary choreographer, but at different times:</div>
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<span class="s1">Dule Hill </span><span class="s1"><span class="s1">(left) </span>was a Tap Dance Kid in the original show, and</span><br />
Jason Samuels Smith (right) worked with Danny Daniels in a brilliant film called <i>Tap Heat</i>.</div>
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THE LAST TIME I CRY with singer Orfeh and highly skilled dancer/acrobat performers Francoise Voranger (founder Hybrid Movement Company), Viktor Franyo and Uys duBuisson. The music was orchestrated by Steven Jamail and conducted by our Musical director Jim Morgan. The piece was originally a duet that was performed in Moscow in May for the "Benois de la Danse" Gala (having been a choreographer nominee in 2006). Viktor unexpectedly hurt himself a couple weeks before the show and I had to quickly come up with another interpretation of the song. Fortunately Uys was free and stepped in making the relationship story have more intensity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv80_fhHWMhDCIgNE6_Snj6T2KdsBqUTXPZDoJmZeIG2kjjCWqDmvSSUaQZMeP-JGB12TZoDhTTV6s1cSWabJ3XKIc2L7ffKgMrrddar27OYit-LxPkuCG3CollJp9PLOWjwhFPUKUbjc/s1600/Last+Time+I+Cry+Lift+w:Viktor+(Uys+in+back).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv80_fhHWMhDCIgNE6_Snj6T2KdsBqUTXPZDoJmZeIG2kjjCWqDmvSSUaQZMeP-JGB12TZoDhTTV6s1cSWabJ3XKIc2L7ffKgMrrddar27OYit-LxPkuCG3CollJp9PLOWjwhFPUKUbjc/s320/Last+Time+I+Cry+Lift+w:Viktor+(Uys+in+back).jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viktor and Francoise, Uys on Skateboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francoise and Uys with Orfeh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu6-ggO9jFg5TeAe-9qXyH4zmMhJmawPIfqzWnNLIehZEOe9imJg6-w7Yq9XbBtj8p-xce8wDIB_Xzt9BmAPJQ4T0ivPM_Eh3tiXb8MN9OWFoJNtauJVIk2Vn14StBpUzfxKCONki5VQ/s1600/With+Francoise+&+Viktor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu6-ggO9jFg5TeAe-9qXyH4zmMhJmawPIfqzWnNLIehZEOe9imJg6-w7Yq9XbBtj8p-xce8wDIB_Xzt9BmAPJQ4T0ivPM_Eh3tiXb8MN9OWFoJNtauJVIk2Vn14StBpUzfxKCONki5VQ/s320/With+Francoise+&+Viktor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francoise and Viktor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFirhCOKq9xtzMCSvKXtRyGiZ5kjt5CRKKGkspcwMFEnU7T5tFEh9zP7zwWxZUGSBl2J1KYYInr2rCLhME0pBLnT50Ywxhdcp_stQSSAUa1WMU27jT-hNZvtTHJzEsPzomQSOfYrdfWkA/s1600/Last+Time+I+Cry+w:Orfeh+(Francoise+&+Viktor).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFirhCOKq9xtzMCSvKXtRyGiZ5kjt5CRKKGkspcwMFEnU7T5tFEh9zP7zwWxZUGSBl2J1KYYInr2rCLhME0pBLnT50Ywxhdcp_stQSSAUa1WMU27jT-hNZvtTHJzEsPzomQSOfYrdfWkA/s320/Last+Time+I+Cry+w:Orfeh+(Francoise+&+Viktor).jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francoise and Viktor with Orfeh</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Other performances came from Jayson "B-Boy Mouse" Vasquez, Noah Racey's New York Song & Dance Company, Andrea McArdle, and more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jayson “B-Boy Mouse” Vesquez in a mini-lecture on the 4 elements of Hip Hop (the Beat, the Rhyme, Marking, and the Dance)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">An unorthodox Barbershop Quartet with Parallel Exit</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea McArdle</td></tr>
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Andrea McArdle, the first "Annie" on Broadway, sang “Tomorrow.” It was a beautiful voice and memorable moment.<br />
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<span class="s1">Noah Racey and his New York Song & Dance company were a great highlight closing the show.</span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">Noah Racey and his New York Song & Dance company</span></td></tr>
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<b>The Rolex Dance Award 2013 went to the legendary Ann-Margret!</b><br />
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.....and the equally legendary Liza Minnelli was on hand to present the prestigious Award to her!</div>
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After....<br />
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Maya almost got to be in the Opening number (counts and cues to the left for our stellar stage manager Lori Rosecranz-Wekselblatt) but she had a hard time memorizing her entrance and exit...<br />
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<span class="s1"><b>THANK YOU one and all for coming, and to all the Talent who volunteered their Time and Talents for a cause we all believe in!</b></span></div>
DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-56276779014091937872011-11-16T00:27:00.000-08:002011-11-29T09:24:38.150-08:00A Halloween Thriller: Producing Art as Entertainment<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniXWXqmdAQ8cj7Ycu52odMP1C8kag1HMmBbBePMU3hn1FCdRikyf-TOS5AVMWhNtyQisk2mKwu2UAdh2lqgCB44Ub8CAHp6A2DAUler72A7z4UfDbfGCCEz0OoY_TxW2s4eSjL6mkhd8/s1600/Ann+Marie+%2526+Peter+Martins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniXWXqmdAQ8cj7Ycu52odMP1C8kag1HMmBbBePMU3hn1FCdRikyf-TOS5AVMWhNtyQisk2mKwu2UAdh2lqgCB44Ub8CAHp6A2DAUler72A7z4UfDbfGCCEz0OoY_TxW2s4eSjL6mkhd8/s200/Ann+Marie+%2526+Peter+Martins.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Marie DeAngelo & Peter Martins</td></tr></tbody></table> People kept asking me this year the question “Why was this the best gala/show ever”? Then at the dinner, when Peter Martins said....”You do what no one else can do, how do you do it?” - that got me wondering....what exactly it is that I do?!<br /><br />I think the show stayed true to its self-invented theme, and it had a typical DeAngelo fast-pace flow. What I do each year in terms of eclectic programing remains the same. My vision is a mix of styles and genres - in a marriage of the old and the new. Because of such wide diversity and the best of the best in each form, the show is fresh. My formula takes variety to a new level by strategically arranging each piece and pinning them against each other. Or, positioning them in an unexpected way, that creates an “element of surprise”. The element of surprise is key to engaging audiences and to successful theater. This formula I use whether in one of my own ballets, directing a show by someone else or in these single even evenings. For gala shows, it starts In the selection process......the pieces are either excerpts from larger works (a Lynne Taylor-Corbett duet from <i>Dracula</i>); commissioned works (Mark Stuart’s to the Ne-Yo song); new innovative work (Noah Racey’s NY Song & Dance), evolutionary work (drumming and break-dance with The Street Beats Group); unexpected classics back-to-back such as National Dance Institute (NDI) in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” following a Bob Fosse number from <i>Pippin</i> with Bebe Neuwirth - “Magic To Do”. Or placing the self-controlled classic of <i>Giselle</i> before an outrageous Lypsinka. The novelty of Pucci's “Surfing” number was a non sequitur, after the creepy dramatic impact of Bell Witch. And, ultimately the synthesis happens in less than 90 min. With 20 years of creating shows (as an artistic director and choreographer), it now takes place in my head (and on 100 drafts on paper). I believe that 'amalgamation' is the choreographic voice of the future (distinct voices no longer exist). Individual voices become more distinct when positioned together because the voice of the collective is always stronger. My internal message stays the same: “it is only through our differences that we discover our sameness”. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ultimately, I CARE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ0bHJN3Jl85Vx1Is0LdCtylVvpierwmfN4xtLbHOO4AXG3M-K5pLFGysJMoFTXVflPTKhLoHgiRm8hBFt6x7Bh4ImMF5GjBPkyKt3gkW1gCZzGQn_WdzlU_A6MR3WGkCxmWkFFw3onk/s1600/Magic+to+Do.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ0bHJN3Jl85Vx1Is0LdCtylVvpierwmfN4xtLbHOO4AXG3M-K5pLFGysJMoFTXVflPTKhLoHgiRm8hBFt6x7Bh4ImMF5GjBPkyKt3gkW1gCZzGQn_WdzlU_A6MR3WGkCxmWkFFw3onk/s400/Magic+to+Do.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bebe Neuwirth (center) </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Review:</div>A Halloween Thriller<br />Career Transition For Dancers<br />October 31, 2011 at City Center in NYC<br />Directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The show began with Bebe Neuwirth singing the lead in “Magic To Do” from Bob Fosse’s <i>Pippin</i>. A perfect Fosse-esque opener, staged by David Warren Gibson. This segued into NDI romping to Michael Jackson’s <i>Thriller</i>, choreographed by the Mary Kennedy, who did a fantastic job with 90 kids on and off stage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">National Dance Institute</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdmLmSFlWw1VyeMbD6HFhcxYxTXM-hsn-V5hVmf-ifNZrH5w6h-yTcTfCpMbePmhMqsBqd8x1akgdTDG-z_cBamM-ynvpQ1AwvDBhrrdk5ctUEr_7F2xTu7SaUVA9joreRyER_UOx-oI/s1600/Thriller+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdmLmSFlWw1VyeMbD6HFhcxYxTXM-hsn-V5hVmf-ifNZrH5w6h-yTcTfCpMbePmhMqsBqd8x1akgdTDG-z_cBamM-ynvpQ1AwvDBhrrdk5ctUEr_7F2xTu7SaUVA9joreRyER_UOx-oI/s320/Thriller+1.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg64OpAAc2lexuttOotm0weftWOUZ7JqneWhLebavawimMZtVAa6xWJ2EC7UlQWIG4_HVCoAnDcUjV3_GJ1v-Gbln2LimMhO35p-DzG7iALHeKLylGCnvA4C2zrv33UKBFSEjYQYQCnEs/s1600/Dracula+2+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg64OpAAc2lexuttOotm0weftWOUZ7JqneWhLebavawimMZtVAa6xWJ2EC7UlQWIG4_HVCoAnDcUjV3_GJ1v-Gbln2LimMhO35p-DzG7iALHeKLylGCnvA4C2zrv33UKBFSEjYQYQCnEs/s200/Dracula+2+edited.JPG" width="132" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dracula</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2inOoBS2fadDMZHRqsx72hUBA5OmE2NDgvCMMMCHNEkRqalXLvrbeeThlQnEflUWsoUGEwDLLCZpt1GLDKgbF59nTbJjuc746uReVv7lZy8ilyxhhRR83onycE7fGl1_gUqplA7qbEo/s1600/Chita2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Then our illustrious host for the evening Chita Rivera, gave out the Career Transition For Dancers annual Awards, before she introduced an excerpt (last duet) from Lynne Taylor-Corbett's <i>Dracula, </i>that was<i> </i>performed by Carolina Ballet. It had just the right bite to it! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Chita</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2inOoBS2fadDMZHRqsx72hUBA5OmE2NDgvCMMMCHNEkRqalXLvrbeeThlQnEflUWsoUGEwDLLCZpt1GLDKgbF59nTbJjuc746uReVv7lZy8ilyxhhRR83onycE7fGl1_gUqplA7qbEo/s1600/Chita2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2inOoBS2fadDMZHRqsx72hUBA5OmE2NDgvCMMMCHNEkRqalXLvrbeeThlQnEflUWsoUGEwDLLCZpt1GLDKgbF59nTbJjuc746uReVv7lZy8ilyxhhRR83onycE7fGl1_gUqplA7qbEo/s320/Chita2.jpg" width="280" /></a>By the way, Chita changed from the evening gown she wore in the beginning, to this costume for her last entrance and evenings "thank you's".<br /><br />What would the evening be like without tap-dancing Skeletons -- who came as an interlude between <i>Dracula </i>and <i>Bell Witch</i>, in order to cover up the fact that the stage hands had to strike the bed used in <i>Dracula</i>! <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLfuef7St-8Jn45MVdwjxbKIqB4wzcTLxIpJ2wrTvB5WgcSfKRhAvlQeFu-YOuHTINFxN7dhDAVjNXsdoZhHYPX_aO8cAJIu22jxoln8V-PxQ-Ls2c2xw64OC6PExiCD37GEvjrx4AGg/s1600/Skeletons+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLfuef7St-8Jn45MVdwjxbKIqB4wzcTLxIpJ2wrTvB5WgcSfKRhAvlQeFu-YOuHTINFxN7dhDAVjNXsdoZhHYPX_aO8cAJIu22jxoln8V-PxQ-Ls2c2xw64OC6PExiCD37GEvjrx4AGg/s320/Skeletons+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tap City Youth Ensemble</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><i>Bell Witch moments....</i><i> </i><br /><br /><i></i><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTNUimgExlerb4bWAt7j2aD3N5eYjucBAy4vm14zfN95VTh6_u-FKM-83ISua0ygkqYS79lMLP9Z6o3iGqAGm27DEzxCasR-r9H4LKPeTIQKdm89rAZEIcbih4louqhhgYaqboqlf12M/s1600/Lynn+Cohen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTNUimgExlerb4bWAt7j2aD3N5eYjucBAy4vm14zfN95VTh6_u-FKM-83ISua0ygkqYS79lMLP9Z6o3iGqAGm27DEzxCasR-r9H4LKPeTIQKdm89rAZEIcbih4louqhhgYaqboqlf12M/s320/Lynn+Cohen.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynn Cohen </td></tr></tbody></table>The next number was my <i>Bell</i> <i>Witch</i> that was a 4 1/2 min. theatrical re-creation based on my original one-act Bell Witch ghost story. Starting with a wandering EYE projected on the upstage Cyc, Actress Lynn Cohen (as the ghost remembering), spewed venom with her words.....”Yes I killed John Bell....he buried me alive.....imagine what it feels like to wake up with dirt in your mouth!”. Dancers Adam Hundt (as John Bell) being attacked by the ever-attacking Oriada Islami (as the ghost in action), was up for the kill.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OTTQ8nu2d-NG89qdk2IsXtJca9agNbMb1ye_wE6rrB-_1CPcFxuFTMdNLl0PM21ay9qiOy8XhZh9b-AoYTRPjF3uPa8-Av4XkObg0-kGgDJmDCOcAM4neDmtJfPr9z67gZX-HyBWrRE/s320/Bell+Witch+4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriada Islami (as the Bell Witch) Adam Hundt as John Bell</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OTTQ8nu2d-NG89qdk2IsXtJca9agNbMb1ye_wE6rrB-_1CPcFxuFTMdNLl0PM21ay9qiOy8XhZh9b-AoYTRPjF3uPa8-Av4XkObg0-kGgDJmDCOcAM4neDmtJfPr9z67gZX-HyBWrRE/s1600/Bell+Witch+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY3oefU0hIY1_hmr46vaMT0SFF_dSd-dlK3CFWdpmkHjVqbOz_PybW4wlqZ_K3ej5ndAesQRxZhq9hyphenhyphenpZ2E-UIkCPInUQt9mxRYHobOwh1S5RKahaC9ipRXWlcF5PcKnUZllAHwG-dXY/s1600/The+Bell+Witch2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY3oefU0hIY1_hmr46vaMT0SFF_dSd-dlK3CFWdpmkHjVqbOz_PybW4wlqZ_K3ej5ndAesQRxZhq9hyphenhyphenpZ2E-UIkCPInUQt9mxRYHobOwh1S5RKahaC9ipRXWlcF5PcKnUZllAHwG-dXY/s400/The+Bell+Witch2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kill....</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb-nugQXTwyqX6IaAfBY9QhKp9jmbUICKX-w8CnXHGfPH1cfoJ_saADkPb2ze3_EPhysVP-ngAzc-SDCCDtHDPXvUa45mzQHF87qCD08CxF7CMB3v60XCE0071yi_rjiAsW4T7q6QsyM/s1600/Surfing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb-nugQXTwyqX6IaAfBY9QhKp9jmbUICKX-w8CnXHGfPH1cfoJ_saADkPb2ze3_EPhysVP-ngAzc-SDCCDtHDPXvUa45mzQHF87qCD08CxF7CMB3v60XCE0071yi_rjiAsW4T7q6QsyM/s320/Surfing+2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />So what do people in California do for Halloween” said the voice over. Coming out of the stage left wing was Peter Pucci’s SURFING number (photo left) from his larger work called Pucci Sport.<br /><br />It was great fun. And Eric Dunlap who did our video projections rushed backstage between projections to be in the number! Then came Douglas Martin's piece (right below) with "America Repertory Ballet" - a very story story-ballet.... <br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI4RjCLhcP3A3AKfwKKrNRX-6XrT0e30EHN20Qh5XR2SibLeEbnrsc9MINOfbYgKVUd9o0BHlwhxNGlApLLYh5oBU1VBob3cTe1Gfi0iHT8VIRKr2wByRnqYgWgQG4fhHEkcvYnAxAe8/s1600/ARB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI4RjCLhcP3A3AKfwKKrNRX-6XrT0e30EHN20Qh5XR2SibLeEbnrsc9MINOfbYgKVUd9o0BHlwhxNGlApLLYh5oBU1VBob3cTe1Gfi0iHT8VIRKr2wByRnqYgWgQG4fhHEkcvYnAxAe8/s200/ARB.JPG" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An old modern classic that suit the occasion - Mary’s Wigmans’ 1926 <i>Hexentanz</i>, was interpreted by Betsy Fisher (photo right) who came all the way from Hawaii to perform!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOIgvN4JPOAUJjxmdABCQMSv4nSVGrGK0B4zbTm-hoZ-mGHnny4rKu5f3p8TsXZQPcvs1Kz17-0AS6Mewg25KH7-ut3hsmWIizJJqWkA1x2x_dnMqN-n5e4P30cCscn_RqmnRv3GDJkk/s1600/Hexentanz+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOIgvN4JPOAUJjxmdABCQMSv4nSVGrGK0B4zbTm-hoZ-mGHnny4rKu5f3p8TsXZQPcvs1Kz17-0AS6Mewg25KH7-ut3hsmWIizJJqWkA1x2x_dnMqN-n5e4P30cCscn_RqmnRv3GDJkk/s200/Hexentanz+edited.JPG" width="198" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RTpRVdIV4niHu0YuAi_1nS5-0XcKPQKMuTsDBGJJhrRDI50pmBl2gRyULgxVgzRpYH-OD_2CtCYwZlvCo266nOoFytVhpXiT2ddxoPNON5Z9u3u4lz4_h-zqQnM5YU_f2UBWz9RtxVg/s1600/Raven+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RTpRVdIV4niHu0YuAi_1nS5-0XcKPQKMuTsDBGJJhrRDI50pmBl2gRyULgxVgzRpYH-OD_2CtCYwZlvCo266nOoFytVhpXiT2ddxoPNON5Z9u3u4lz4_h-zqQnM5YU_f2UBWz9RtxVg/s400/Raven+edited.JPG" width="400" /></a>Another story-ballet followed called “The Raven” (photo below) by choreographer David Fernandez (edited from a longer version) that was very Poe. It was danced by members of New York City Ballet. Well, Chuck Askegard just retired, but Daniel Ulbricht who was the Raven, with Savannah Lowery are still members. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLSIqTpNsV_QxI_OhXPvXtskCUmosObjo0mRaq0LluJYis01oKadm0h8XN0oKU0kQ27fIJTDdodqJxV5CEMxSxJBbnUr1qG7AoANXvFgdSCIqmrFBRYdopYpM9EYvWzsGcBptmf3dWP8/s1600/NY+Song+%2526+Dance+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLSIqTpNsV_QxI_OhXPvXtskCUmosObjo0mRaq0LluJYis01oKadm0h8XN0oKU0kQ27fIJTDdodqJxV5CEMxSxJBbnUr1qG7AoANXvFgdSCIqmrFBRYdopYpM9EYvWzsGcBptmf3dWP8/s400/NY+Song+%2526+Dance+edited.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Song & Dance Company</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The hit of the evening was an innovative Tap number (above) with body-percussion by Noah Racey's New York Song and Dance Co. - performed to Cole Porter's “Under My Skin” - and sung by Melinda Sullivan (former SYTYCD contestant).<br /><br /><br />By this point in the show I was feeling that the show was a bit “ballet top-heavy” and not because of my Joffrey Ballet background, but just because....people volunteer time and selections are based on availability. This I told the audience when I was attempting to do a hip hop duet with a dancing Skeleton projection. I thanked everyone for participating and introduced two former dancer/clients who spoke about their experience with Career Transition For Dancers and transition. They were Michael Deane, and Pat Cody (now a Lawyer).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUI1fSCfTGx3hUSBV_88tk2SwUofHriF58HXnfNnmXDtzas_w9wSGIZTqXVdsOfuZ8-pUdWI4fA3Q0xAG-T8NsUNqXQpHumTEYjNe0xO7Pd61ZMensFuylQSouUi_969xYUfh1RZdhtk/s1600/Giselle+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUI1fSCfTGx3hUSBV_88tk2SwUofHriF58HXnfNnmXDtzas_w9wSGIZTqXVdsOfuZ8-pUdWI4fA3Q0xAG-T8NsUNqXQpHumTEYjNe0xO7Pd61ZMensFuylQSouUi_969xYUfh1RZdhtk/s320/Giselle+edited.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The dancers from the Houston Ballet Karina Gonzolas and Connor Walsh did a wonderfully polished version of Act II Giselle. Bravo, hard to do out of context in an evening such as this. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrpI9OXQRWWBs7BCqNpEgFDmKiMyxQA-k9emMV89cqd-YZV-4-bzgntzo4vko3Z-8wKHKcTbSWYT_JxRb6-REuvyi_PU9dAZF-YHO99VIqBlzSFfCqdkrF_9ljfBzhoDObjXFcOa92Lc/s1600/Lypsinka2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrpI9OXQRWWBs7BCqNpEgFDmKiMyxQA-k9emMV89cqd-YZV-4-bzgntzo4vko3Z-8wKHKcTbSWYT_JxRb6-REuvyi_PU9dAZF-YHO99VIqBlzSFfCqdkrF_9ljfBzhoDObjXFcOa92Lc/s200/Lypsinka2.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lypsinka</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuBCQuRQkhQwkrGmuO8bQ0tsyiI-zMVRkfCjVnttYiO2Y2-asqn80g_oh13yl-IwQ3fLLmMiyj08RSDYj9pRTG9WyECHvXij6ifh8Mzk3DCvRDoNS0jur3AIvs7CqRHqqgS9-XcDGzVE/s1600/Mark+Stuart+edited+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuBCQuRQkhQwkrGmuO8bQ0tsyiI-zMVRkfCjVnttYiO2Y2-asqn80g_oh13yl-IwQ3fLLmMiyj08RSDYj9pRTG9WyECHvXij6ifh8Mzk3DCvRDoNS0jur3AIvs7CqRHqqgS9-XcDGzVE/s320/Mark+Stuart+edited+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Stuart Dance Theater</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The one and only Lypsinka was next in her classic “telephone” number, flailing off-stage. This was followed by a new piece by Mark Stuart's company to Ne-Yo’s “Beautiful Monster”. It was the perfect representation of a contemporary/modern-dance hybrid - with his trade-mark lifts - and positioned nicely on the program.</div><br /> Lastly came a very great "Dying Swan" that Paul (below) from the Ballet Trocadero performed - I had not seen it in a while, and it was so brilliantly funny. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyj_4C3Jn3Z5_mbcyVC-vJyijwpQrrlLKSO9pkGMNG6zGp4GpbhWt-opKGcgU19wBNxi_c6FdV5Nkhq6YCiCe_oZlChwXx8ek5ujHCyOWlfNsARiySE7bLay7fhN8FQFQCLhr3SVyfBY/s1600/Dying+Swan+edited+2%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyj_4C3Jn3Z5_mbcyVC-vJyijwpQrrlLKSO9pkGMNG6zGp4GpbhWt-opKGcgU19wBNxi_c6FdV5Nkhq6YCiCe_oZlChwXx8ek5ujHCyOWlfNsARiySE7bLay7fhN8FQFQCLhr3SVyfBY/s200/Dying+Swan+edited+2%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dying Swan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcAUalMChd5EB4H1nh-ZkR1giUojnY0KtDLBbGRMoJXRVke6px5U7XPmPWp29S6owjI-5DOVim2hM8BfjxjY29JevXuFZlKAotu4lDQtyL0S1dQh8fNrmWguvn79ukt5n-AEpKOmPo10/s1600/Street+Beats1+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcAUalMChd5EB4H1nh-ZkR1giUojnY0KtDLBbGRMoJXRVke6px5U7XPmPWp29S6owjI-5DOVim2hM8BfjxjY29JevXuFZlKAotu4lDQtyL0S1dQh8fNrmWguvn79ukt5n-AEpKOmPo10/s320/Street+Beats1+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbHzVOT5JKlxmkU5jpzlMvh3rw7_dn68-PHsrRUxI3OF5cGWbmhEnuTAvWcrceGMjJN6UPeXnlM1rsFZ1m1H5rh0VtrhHAAaHVdPTJz0yBII9FdEierkqVMDWT8UWtTVYcm6b3v_QLfE/s1600/Street+Beats2+edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbHzVOT5JKlxmkU5jpzlMvh3rw7_dn68-PHsrRUxI3OF5cGWbmhEnuTAvWcrceGMjJN6UPeXnlM1rsFZ1m1H5rh0VtrhHAAaHVdPTJz0yBII9FdEierkqVMDWT8UWtTVYcm6b3v_QLfE/s200/Street+Beats2+edited.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9FP9uUnuJZFuHiUgHkMqzns293zWiVfjONhvHhc4O5sriGmAwvEGi6i3ncnOG1x4ew5Ib-IZa9ANqg8I8dbVI2NX-oKFQhBv7HoMLqqo7fE1narR761n7CY46ZlnUOzBs_m9Ov-Ymco/s1600/Street+Beats+3+editedjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9FP9uUnuJZFuHiUgHkMqzns293zWiVfjONhvHhc4O5sriGmAwvEGi6i3ncnOG1x4ew5Ib-IZa9ANqg8I8dbVI2NX-oKFQhBv7HoMLqqo7fE1narR761n7CY46ZlnUOzBs_m9Ov-Ymco/s320/Street+Beats+3+editedjpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Judith Jamison presented the Rolex Award to Nigel Lythgoe, and closing the evening was The Street Beats Group aka Industrial Rhythm (above) providing great urban drumming, and new young phenomenal break-dancers that could spin on their heads and performed old-school/new-time break dancing - like the guys I used to work with in the '80's. It was the perfect end to a wildly-fun evening! Not to mention a Congrats to Career Transition For Dancers for raising $1.1 Million!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ4iyNbioyVhbgACXgznN0IOyv75WMGMdVDmXK9Tq6KD2Qx9KCSgdRsEMK9lfqxHJkTWGnoirUKOpx3EaHLrQd-Zax0eqhebKvrMAm04rqzC6HFhP0Z1dvrqLe7vPAGJVMqSnDQtiTvY/s1600/Ann+Marie+%2526+Nigel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ4iyNbioyVhbgACXgznN0IOyv75WMGMdVDmXK9Tq6KD2Qx9KCSgdRsEMK9lfqxHJkTWGnoirUKOpx3EaHLrQd-Zax0eqhebKvrMAm04rqzC6HFhP0Z1dvrqLe7vPAGJVMqSnDQtiTvY/s400/Ann+Marie+%2526+Nigel+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br />Kudos when Nigel Lythgoe sent compliments during his acceptance speech - "Ann Marie DeAngelo put together a <i>brilliant </i>evening".......he didn't really have to say that!DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-4425294830304111852011-01-02T02:05:00.000-08:002011-01-02T02:05:57.706-08:00Homage to Dancers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Here is the "Homage to Dancers" segment from the 2010 Career Transition for Dancers Gala, which I directed. The script is just a guide to more or less what we all said, in the order we spoke. -AMD</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZajHCxIZ-eGyT7dgbkoIuWNSAj2SMBL1DJhU_7Ped22DGXJqshLLQTYATjgB4RLLijDDuMODhDR29iiE74jShztZq7Fc_MsYFkl2TU-u8IncEnfvGUDeifmSSylMPQg37qzEGxkwIPA/s1600/_AMD+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZajHCxIZ-eGyT7dgbkoIuWNSAj2SMBL1DJhU_7Ped22DGXJqshLLQTYATjgB4RLLijDDuMODhDR29iiE74jShztZq7Fc_MsYFkl2TU-u8IncEnfvGUDeifmSSylMPQg37qzEGxkwIPA/s200/_AMD+2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ann Marie DeAngelo</div><br />
ANN MARIE DeANGELO: I want to thank all the artists performing here tonight for their time, talent and devotion to our dancer cause. As dancers we share a common spirt - that stays alive in us, even when we move on. We also share common struggles - simple things - like finding the courage to actual speak with our voices and not our bodies; how to replace the immediate gratification of performing (no one applauds a phone call). We have lots and lots of challenges even though it is what we did for love. Which reminds me......Last year after this event Marvin Hamlisch called to congratulate me on the show and wanted to use some talent on the program, and I thought it was a prank call because he didn’t say, "So-and-so gave me your number." Then when I realized it wasn’t I got up the courage to say, “You know, <i>A Chorus Line</i> is a brilliant classic and about many things but mostly it’s about dancers trying to get into a show. What about a piece about about the trajectory of what happens after - some dancers stay in the field, some move out of the field, some don’t stop - but whatever we do we never stop being dancers. The dancer stays alive in us always..."<br />
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Here are some dancers and former dancers, CTFD clients and supporters, who will share a few words on feelings about their "Act 2."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V_Eoil9u4UeC3LRaN90a6-a2B_NnNhZDVUS7aq3qJUSQI0UGIdWpEusSr7mr1YfKv72kW-S7RBHVXweWPcbO_vdEXezHgzGBKCMsqtYuxIvRzc6ckQsfeiGveP1IjoC_7W9UG2m_CVw/s1600/David+Warren+GIbson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V_Eoil9u4UeC3LRaN90a6-a2B_NnNhZDVUS7aq3qJUSQI0UGIdWpEusSr7mr1YfKv72kW-S7RBHVXweWPcbO_vdEXezHgzGBKCMsqtYuxIvRzc6ckQsfeiGveP1IjoC_7W9UG2m_CVw/s200/David+Warren+GIbson.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
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DAVID WARREN GIBSON<br />
From our first step to our last breath, dance is a powerful force within us. It encourages us to be “all” that we can be in life. I always come from my power source—my dancer—when starting a new theater project, or when having a gallery opening for my paintings. Thank-you CTFD - the L.A. office for your support—and recognition of this life force.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCGZis5Iy7iSwk6kYv6BCLHYfyOJoV_JqP-lAqLCnpxbdtCpXY59z7663mZ2mu2Lwq51KXz_uQ3id3TW14G8lGbhzYHUOrls9FJA0af0asJJhyVMnieMKBBb0x64S3ftUKYgKE6OXS-I/s1600/Molly+Lynch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCGZis5Iy7iSwk6kYv6BCLHYfyOJoV_JqP-lAqLCnpxbdtCpXY59z7663mZ2mu2Lwq51KXz_uQ3id3TW14G8lGbhzYHUOrls9FJA0af0asJJhyVMnieMKBBb0x64S3ftUKYgKE6OXS-I/s200/Molly+Lynch.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
MOLLY LYNCH<br />
I moved from dancer, to director, to founder of the National Choreography Initiative—that gives opportunities to dancers who stay in the field. And as a teacher at the University of California at Irvine, I supported a study on Career Transition for Dancers that has raised awareness in the college arena. Just passing it on! <br />
<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> TONY WAAG</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2fP849ORzW0jXcMnFOPEKuMWI571Ckz3VIOSSyIrxqHrbIK4NvPwiC1jGJeyyu5lo58cGSD9Xu39WYRrmKtSR0EmLvv6WYGvhKX_0mbZeQUD4144xBwvI43Nr9-ILyyY9wMb2umrzrc/s1600/_Tony+Waag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2fP849ORzW0jXcMnFOPEKuMWI571Ckz3VIOSSyIrxqHrbIK4NvPwiC1jGJeyyu5lo58cGSD9Xu39WYRrmKtSR0EmLvv6WYGvhKX_0mbZeQUD4144xBwvI43Nr9-ILyyY9wMb2umrzrc/s200/_Tony+Waag.jpg" width="133" /></a>A few years ago, Gregory Hines received the CTFD Award. Gregory was an inspiration. When he was on the board of the American Tap Dance Foundation, where I’m Artistic Director, he helped us carry on the legacy of concert tap dance. As teachers or directors, the dancer in us stays alive when we pass on what we know...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> CAROL BRYAN</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznk5CikCT69D6gXb3Dfwmek4OMN4VNl9KvQOjTb8SAZ1L5botkb4J8Ji6i_PRACTT_FnaI_x4rQ5xKtf4TOsKKK4KPgAyFU6HxDuEiqAnEG1LnWSaw40mhL7_3HuNH7FRyhyanQqDffI/s1600/Carol+Bryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznk5CikCT69D6gXb3Dfwmek4OMN4VNl9KvQOjTb8SAZ1L5botkb4J8Ji6i_PRACTT_FnaI_x4rQ5xKtf4TOsKKK4KPgAyFU6HxDuEiqAnEG1LnWSaw40mhL7_3HuNH7FRyhyanQqDffI/s200/Carol+Bryan.jpg" width="133" /></a>My safe space was always in a dance studio, the place that’s mine where I can create and organize and be dedicated to my dreams. CTFD gave me the confidence to create an annual dance festival and educational program for the Stamford Center for the Arts. In turn, I’ve created a safe place that encourages the dreams of our youth.</div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1S3eRaYTMOwmNUzA84PvoYxJMNgXkMK6Qt1ww0HeLj9spR5mVQ4JHy4Xi9SYow4fIULld_hmqc8IFEeCFC9saNzNGnTq9YYHRZiqV8BJqlJNLvDv_iXTvPNE029ngN6HOt0LAX2kINM/s1600/Rick+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1S3eRaYTMOwmNUzA84PvoYxJMNgXkMK6Qt1ww0HeLj9spR5mVQ4JHy4Xi9SYow4fIULld_hmqc8IFEeCFC9saNzNGnTq9YYHRZiqV8BJqlJNLvDv_iXTvPNE029ngN6HOt0LAX2kINM/s200/Rick+Lake.jpg" width="133" /></a>RICK LAKE<br />
I’m Rick Lake, competition ballroom dancer—and hedge fund guy. Ballroom dance brings the joy of dance to everyone—even financial types. I’ve been a supporter of the CTFD gala over the years. What a wonderful way to give back to the world of dance, that brings so much joy to so many.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI1CvhPgbyrYX97KeW2x5P9vb8netWMRhb45r2rZII_9Bzclog6ETJ5Vjt9TJ0GUbbqU6f6c9nEcqHKm40ayXvZA3MFPIk1i1khOgGMJqQ0-YTYVccH9sY5klvLQG_GizdTBfnn5QGFk/s1600/Mikala+Frietas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI1CvhPgbyrYX97KeW2x5P9vb8netWMRhb45r2rZII_9Bzclog6ETJ5Vjt9TJ0GUbbqU6f6c9nEcqHKm40ayXvZA3MFPIk1i1khOgGMJqQ0-YTYVccH9sY5klvLQG_GizdTBfnn5QGFk/s200/Mikala+Frietas.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>MIKALA FRITAS<br />
I learned from CTFD that you don’t have to give it up all at once. You can dance while setting a new direction. Twice, I’ve gone back for CTFD career counseling. Now, I have a successful healing and wellness practice. And I’m still dancing! As a dancer, I understand what people are feeling—and this led to my healing and wellness practice. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuF97uN41KRfJZa4UyZ3mklKm-jROAPPnT48DnqpoI7-k3s_X4-pLK5Xc0ZFaIBHwD1WzZ-QMhO_9imE_EixHY7cU2gSC9Dp_kdVK3-nRFdwnq-rWqV0-EbZVmXtOdt-mNJNG0d1ZSYk/s1600/_Suzie+Jary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuF97uN41KRfJZa4UyZ3mklKm-jROAPPnT48DnqpoI7-k3s_X4-pLK5Xc0ZFaIBHwD1WzZ-QMhO_9imE_EixHY7cU2gSC9Dp_kdVK3-nRFdwnq-rWqV0-EbZVmXtOdt-mNJNG0d1ZSYk/s200/_Suzie+Jary.jpg" width="133" /></a></div> <br />
SUZIE JARY<br />
When I received an educational grant from CTFD, I was still learning choreography on Broadway. I then earned a Master’s degree, and entered the counseling field. It all came full circle when I became a CTFD counselor. Now I travel around the country with CTFD’s National Outreach Program, empowering dancers to choreograph their future—just as I did.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YD0c57mO2mR3AVJMRS4ztJAdutH3JuqPZR25QC7kAN2Qc3RA-GsEQZdImrgjjjK3EvkJbyDmiI_D1iwJChyphenhyphenI5GqvhhmK9A0RqzwnTfLWVIPlengCurjxBHiEGWalZXHXA3A5bkvTNOc/s1600/Mercedes+Ellington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YD0c57mO2mR3AVJMRS4ztJAdutH3JuqPZR25QC7kAN2Qc3RA-GsEQZdImrgjjjK3EvkJbyDmiI_D1iwJChyphenhyphenI5GqvhhmK9A0RqzwnTfLWVIPlengCurjxBHiEGWalZXHXA3A5bkvTNOc/s200/Mercedes+Ellington.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
MERCEDES ELLINGTON<br />
I know CTFD helps dancers when they stop performing, but no one told me to stop! I’m still dancing. Even my dance injuries can have a silver lining. My knee replacement inspired me with the next choreography idea. Actually, dance empowers me to support organizations like the Duke Ellington Foundation, and as a Board member of CTFD for years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtj5euG225LAc46v_IGY6-nlDuqDSM8vqLA5LxI5RJWfB9SQsqOtn0q977G4upMzqgm9mUg99PaABEgkkT1B3t93szOjC-wLlTPRlUWxA9G1RWGDe6GL6JEPdNYQUtGecgiiHN9v0gMU/s1600/Jeff+Edwards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtj5euG225LAc46v_IGY6-nlDuqDSM8vqLA5LxI5RJWfB9SQsqOtn0q977G4upMzqgm9mUg99PaABEgkkT1B3t93szOjC-wLlTPRlUWxA9G1RWGDe6GL6JEPdNYQUtGecgiiHN9v0gMU/s200/Jeff+Edwards.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
JEFF EDWARDS<br />
I first went to CTFD meetings as a soloist with New York City Ballet. The idea of a dancer being vocal, or preparing for a transition was a scary concept. CTFD let us know it was OK to plan seriously about the future. After graduating from Brown University, I realized I could translate the knowledge and mental skills I accumulated as a dancer into other disciplines. It really works!<br />
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CYNTHIA GREGORY<br />
When I performed, I felt I had strings of energy connecting me to heaven and to the audience. Today, I coach dancers, and help them find their own powerful connections. As chairman of CTFD in the 90’s, I believe I helped to connect the growing organization with new, generous and dedicated donors, and countless dancers in need of our wonderful connecting services. To me, it’s all about connecting.<br />
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ANN MARIE DeANGELO: And so we spend a live time molding our instruments so we can be a part of the magic of theater. And inherent....or actually, the alchemy of magic is to turn fear into belief. CTFD dispels that fear. Lets fact it, the scariest thing for anyone is to NOT see a future, and the mission of Career Transition for Dancers is to connect dancers to their futures. <br />
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I am a dancer dancing when I’m moving or not, I am a dancer dancing even when I stop.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-17306459318011869782010-12-13T18:31:00.000-08:002010-12-14T23:16:49.250-08:00THE PROCESS: Discovery & IntegrationNational Choreography Initiative: This summer I participated in Molly Lynch's choreography workshop, which is an opportunity to work on anything you want in a 3-week period. I chose to create a "piece about a piece" called <i>The Process: Discovery & Integration. </i>What is in this Blog is some of the Text I spoke on stage as I gave an insight into my choreography process - that of discovering what dancers can do in terms of different dance styles and abilities and then integrating their special talents into the final work. This workshop was about creating a piece about "creating a piece", as well as developing materials that could be used for the new Marvin Hamlisch song <i>I'm Really Dancing</i>, that I ended up creating for the Career Transition for Dancers gala on Nov. 8th in New York.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">PART ONE:</span> The Opening<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/13Id1EtrrcE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/13Id1EtrrcE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> Part One (me in rehearsal sweats)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">AMD Text </span>i.e. "me" speaking on stage!<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
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</div>(AMD moves on stage, crossing DSR to DSL)<br />
Before I show you the dance material I came to work on for the new Marvin Hamlisch song, I wanted to give you a little insight into my creative process of “Discovery & Integration”. Although I come from a ballet background, my aesthetic is to mix styles (since the 1980’s actually) and one of the first things I do when I see a group of dancers for the first time, is them who can do 'more than one thing, more than just ballet".<br />
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(AMD hits her mark on stage, in the Upstage Left down-spot on quarter, I continue to speak)<br />
Ben, showed me some Hip Hop and Break dance moves (will file that I thought); Chris showed me some Tap (not my most favorite dance form). And there you go, two of the most authentically American dance forms to use!<br />
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(AMD then walks thru dancers and moves back to DSR where her table and chair is)<br />
Next I spent some time getting to know the dancers - asking them questions; teaching 3 aspects of Focus that is essential to dance. With Thomas I worked on Inner Focus - the power in standing still and doing nothing. With Pedro, Projected Focus in a simple walk - one of the hardest moves to do on stage. With Susan the “ography” part of “choreography”, which is the relationship of steps to space. I also learned things myself. When I gave Greg the gymnastic step called a Kip to do, he said to me....<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Greg</span>: A Kip is 1,000 tons of engineering!<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">AMD</span>: Something about engineering.....anyway....<br />
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(AMD crosses DSR to DSL for the “chorus line”)<br />
Then we all had some meaningful conversations that included why they danced; magic moments in theater; the importance of Art that allows the commercialization of it; transition. And I thought of maybe giving them all a chance to say something profound on stage, since dancers don’t talk, don’t get a change to have a voice...<br />
Dancer one-liners (see video)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">PART TWO: The Dancer Band</span><br />
(AMD is DSR and Sits at Desk)<br />
Then I wanted to show the dancer’s in their solos, but I didn’t have any music so I thought why not make our own music. I think it was Thomas who started it....the dancer band....<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b448kHnPXD8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b448kHnPXD8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> Part Two (Dancer Band)<br />
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PART THREE: The Duet</span><br />
(AMD crosses to Center - then exits DSL)<br />
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In the middle of the whole process I felt guilty - that I should be constructing an actual piece that had a beginning, middle and end. And I had a piece of music from a show I was choreographing in China of 2 Homaii singers in it that I taped. So I decided to expand the solo’s that both Adrienne and Thomas started out with into more.<br />
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Duet: Adrienne - Thomas<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eel1Z2N_Hto?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eel1Z2N_Hto?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> Part Three (Duet)<br />
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End in a Downspot and AMD from DSL<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Ok, so I had that ending for the piece (am glad you see it as clearly as I did!) which is a statement about connection - we’re human and need physical connection.....not sure the internet really provides that.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">PART FOUR: The SONG! <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm Really Dancing </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>(music only)<br />
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(Lights come up at same time as Hamlisch Cd)<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">INTEGRATION:</span>(Verse)<br />
OK - now it is time to show you the material I came here to work on. The Integration of what I discovered in the process before. Ted can you come measure? About 18 feet - 3 feet past center is what it would be at City Center.<br />
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Last year after one of the gala’s I produce and direct for Career Transition for Dancers, Marvin Hamlisch called me praising the show. I thought it was a prank call because he didn’t say “who” gave him my number - so I wasn’t very responsive. Finally he said he liked that I used a clip of his music (which was from A Chorus Line) in the film montage (about American dance) - he said...”you know I wrote A Chours Line”. It was at that moment that I realized tha it was not a prank call - and I said “Yes of course, I am a fan!” <br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bII5S3pGn3Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bII5S3pGn3Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object> Part Four (Integration - Marvin Song) <span style="color: #888888;"><br />
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(Can you bring on the Piano, please?)<br />
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Anyway, I asked him to write a dance piece or a song having to do with transition - the spectrum of years. I said Chorus Line was about dancers trying to get into a show - but what about dancers who have stopped and the trajectory of what happens - staying in the field, moving into other fields or not stopping? Whatever, we never stop being dancers. The dancer is alive in us always. I am a dancer dancing when I’m moving or not, I am a dancer dancing even when I stop. So the song is about dancing no matter what else we do. Lyrics are by Rupert Holmes, the dance arrangements by David Caldwell. And what I have to show are these dance segments....<br />
(Note: I might reference A Chorus Line as an American classic is root of commercial formatted shows like SYTYCD where the insight into people (their stories) and competitive-ness was first exposed in the Bwy show (the art). Can’t loose touch with the soul of where entertainment comes from...etc.)<br />
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(Dancers come on stage)<br />
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Soft Shoe/pseudo-tap bit....(use some of the material re-arranged later)<br />
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AMD counts maybe. Then the WALTZ comments (won't use any of this material)<br />
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BIG FINALE Dance Segment to End (this is what need be taught to some extent later in NYC)<br />
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(AMD comes back with Mic) OK great, thank you everyone! Ted can you get a lead sheet and sing a couple lines?<br />
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Ted sings “I’m Really Dancing”<br />
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Slow fade to BLACK OUT<br />
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ENDDEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-16247559220104075202010-12-13T18:30:00.000-08:002010-12-14T03:46:24.094-08:00I'M REALLY DANCING DANCE BREAK Segment!<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GUI7CTHPSURIdMxe4WTxv4s_1iLmcVvnE7wyXZUyjM_PT_g3YRNML4qknFRY9vFpFmg6OTS7ASQ6ibS02KLxoEw3yCAeca1Kw41nkUO9Ob4-n12R7TzjxHHpusmqTyMC1bNAxqw-Y6Q/s1600/Ben+Capoiera+crop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545679369686380514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GUI7CTHPSURIdMxe4WTxv4s_1iLmcVvnE7wyXZUyjM_PT_g3YRNML4qknFRY9vFpFmg6OTS7ASQ6ibS02KLxoEw3yCAeca1Kw41nkUO9Ob4-n12R7TzjxHHpusmqTyMC1bNAxqw-Y6Q/s400/Ben+Capoiera+crop.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 354px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /></a>Ben Needham-Wood in a "mix of styles"</div><br />
OK, the DANCE! How do create dance without dancers? I wish I could post my notebook of drawings and meticulously calculated counts for each dance style segment. Once I created materials at the <a href="http://www.nchoreographers.org/">National Choreographers Initiative</a> this summer, the new challenge was how to get dancers in NYC who were available to randomly rehearse, and perform- and work for free. Not so easy. I loved the Marvin Hamlisch music for the dance segment, arranged by David Caldwell. David and I worked together earlier in the year on the musical <i>The Promise</i>, he as musical director and arranger, me as choreographer -- which was performed at the Shanghai Expo 2010 in May (see <a href="http://dancefocus.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html">China blog</a>). I asked if he would arrange the new song by Marvin and he was thrilled to do so. We all met one dripping hot summer day in July at Marvin's place, where he sat down at the piano and played the melody and sang the lyrics. "Don't mind me," Marvin said, "I can only sing in the key of C - that is not how the song is written!" He basically gave us permission to do what we wanted with it. Keeping the idea of having mature artists....maybe 3 or however many I "stars" I could get, juxtaposed against the dance which would portray a mix of styles and a spectrum of years.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUHuj8o8oKQV2lqOafm-D7PjquQ0jDYh6ZiJcfhXTYpZvIriCYsfX0pl41Kcu68OP6EM_itxUbCn5dKc3DSrRFIRFGLOI6nVyjPI5NPBj6SRItQmtUiLvO8t5A35NoeYjQItf8DHgCx4/s1600/Nat+%252B+Ben+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545575480740186946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUHuj8o8oKQV2lqOafm-D7PjquQ0jDYh6ZiJcfhXTYpZvIriCYsfX0pl41Kcu68OP6EM_itxUbCn5dKc3DSrRFIRFGLOI6nVyjPI5NPBj6SRItQmtUiLvO8t5A35NoeYjQItf8DHgCx4/s200/Nat+%252B+Ben+1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 138px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a>Ben looking at Natalie Enterline (Marvin at the Piano)<br />
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</div>This year I had about 130 performers who volunteered their time and talents for the Gala. There were 38 alone in this new piece! To put it together I had to make myself available to go work independently in different rehearsal spaces with the different groups. I knew I had Ben's materials and would bring him in the Friday before the Monday gala. Then I sought out Natalie, at the same time figuring out how to integrate Tony Waag's American Tap Dance Foundation Youth Program kids. It was a puzzle. The process itself being fragmented and over a 6-month period.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHddg0HZYECeJ6oWBVncdi_6zD0uTdtbpprc8QATP3xJocZXrb4i6aqjPsaJ8qSLwKl5xfWYAWOkX9Usy9XuqgWXbdzW4MTqFMdLNBPuckbmUKeE-oCgusd_-B95Uc4pH0JNMp6TeLPlU/s1600/Natalie+Enterline.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545680820952517202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHddg0HZYECeJ6oWBVncdi_6zD0uTdtbpprc8QATP3xJocZXrb4i6aqjPsaJ8qSLwKl5xfWYAWOkX9Usy9XuqgWXbdzW4MTqFMdLNBPuckbmUKeE-oCgusd_-B95Uc4pH0JNMp6TeLPlU/s200/Natalie+Enterline.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 124px;" /></a><br />
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Natalie Enterline ia a unique artist who has a fantastic dance/baton routine down to extraordinary perfection. I asked her if she would be willing to let me rearrange her material and have her open the top of the show, be integrated during it and then kick off the dance break section in the new Marvin song. She was willing....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxHuCmqjeYJjLei1NCoKYOmuU4YPg6uxr-M6S2kdzKXOaVUTRJVeBHj08NfmZStwdQyGQcWUVsXl-kuZfFYOkZ0IPql20P_Jjg7bdFJ_OmQ7ImXRnWNRk6Iw-76YbmSMKSXDvctupjbM/s1600/Natalie%253ABen++2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545569991441677314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxHuCmqjeYJjLei1NCoKYOmuU4YPg6uxr-M6S2kdzKXOaVUTRJVeBHj08NfmZStwdQyGQcWUVsXl-kuZfFYOkZ0IPql20P_Jjg7bdFJ_OmQ7ImXRnWNRk6Iw-76YbmSMKSXDvctupjbM/s320/Natalie%253ABen++2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 278px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
(with American Tap Dance Foundation Youth Program)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8sJ_cXzz3DOHD2DzM26SOyibMNmSA0YTLGRhI2Kq1KoXf87saOCE5H091mvDn2TfAmbZa-JTDZmO97QvObZXEuU8K-WtWLWFGP1VsDnDcEI3Nc8RsWCDuwZBPJtF3GqMfZJ0X1xGFpk/s1600/Natalie+-+Ben+%252B+Tap.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545569664850376178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8sJ_cXzz3DOHD2DzM26SOyibMNmSA0YTLGRhI2Kq1KoXf87saOCE5H091mvDn2TfAmbZa-JTDZmO97QvObZXEuU8K-WtWLWFGP1VsDnDcEI3Nc8RsWCDuwZBPJtF3GqMfZJ0X1xGFpk/s320/Natalie+-+Ben+%252B+Tap.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 188px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 310px;" /></a><br />
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Ben, from the NCI workshop, got released from his company -- The Louisville Ballet -- and I began to edit materials of him on a video........and passed on the idea to him via MobileMe.....steps re-arranged, and edited yet similar to him. Something easy for him to do 3 days before the show, combining ballet, modern moves, hip hop, and acrobatics. Mind you, not easy for everyone....but for him!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Ben in side split jump</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVy4O4ZnKWbv6Vx6hDEIRQMrchqmG-JSP-ToT1UiLKHqcspDYfaJjs4cQcMN0RQ-JDsqoSQd1lGdYMYTX25GVIhqNviloRiZ5nQ402JxER7N_tChhcv1BYDkgyvZJhpV6BW_eAwNOeZY/s1600/Ben+Side+Split.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545573880943750290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVy4O4ZnKWbv6Vx6hDEIRQMrchqmG-JSP-ToT1UiLKHqcspDYfaJjs4cQcMN0RQ-JDsqoSQd1lGdYMYTX25GVIhqNviloRiZ5nQ402JxER7N_tChhcv1BYDkgyvZJhpV6BW_eAwNOeZY/s320/Ben+Side+Split.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 203px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 352px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">ABT II (American Ballet Theater's apprentice group)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu-S5x65hMMznHQdBdeYsUfhlZo7MGxhNH0qfjGyEi6_qR7N-SmqP-Dp9nkaRTKPk84TDbt6XaQXnt1sO05UcIFpJBJCJ50LWke3KqjdxYyAjp3AZtdHDSBP8jZfI3eoLiy3JU_JvVUU/s1600/ABT+II+beg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545579865095802226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu-S5x65hMMznHQdBdeYsUfhlZo7MGxhNH0qfjGyEi6_qR7N-SmqP-Dp9nkaRTKPk84TDbt6XaQXnt1sO05UcIFpJBJCJ50LWke3KqjdxYyAjp3AZtdHDSBP8jZfI3eoLiy3JU_JvVUU/s200/ABT+II+beg.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 114px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTv6Dhyik7F-D7QuFqHMFFGvQKPC2U2nIVrTNyfhFvvbES9yrhQ6FkjCi8PR_LeWghUNWUfv2RrxfweV0jZ0zLDtdWLrhCMpB54NKuLX_AkFqUXd7kxdRK_qtfhXd2yLEvwJVyYry3Mkk/s1600/Aaron%252C+Skylar%252C+Irlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTv6Dhyik7F-D7QuFqHMFFGvQKPC2U2nIVrTNyfhFvvbES9yrhQ6FkjCi8PR_LeWghUNWUfv2RrxfweV0jZ0zLDtdWLrhCMpB54NKuLX_AkFqUXd7kxdRK_qtfhXd2yLEvwJVyYry3Mkk/s200/Aaron%252C+Skylar%252C+Irlan.jpg" width="200" /></a>Now, where was I going to find a group of dancers that existed as a unit? I knew I would never be able to get 10 freelance dancers in a room at the same time to re-create anything. So, I first thought of Dance Theater of Harlem. Virginia Johnson was the new artistic director -- and she willingly explored the possibility of using them, but scheduling did not permit. Next I asked Wes Chapman who was the Artistic Director of ABT II, via Kevin McKenzie. If they were free, just like the were in 2005 for another gala event, that would be fantastic. I waited, sweating for no other solution. When I found out they were free I convinced Wes that the segment would not take much of their time. Having calculated that I need them specifically for 8 - 8's of dance music. 8 more 8's of movement in place. And then a final 8 - 8's for the end finale. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2cO5w6lXa9z4D3nXlsPGEfBrb2elTH7pvn3ETt9tpT26ZfmGtz9LK5jK8UJoU8RPARk5L7XiIYPD4V1KiFRv3Suen59P93GUrG4tkoTeBSei0zvTQ212VUiKjVyeN-vv3ks77DhqzdE/s1600/ABTII+group+jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="220" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545578512126633714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2cO5w6lXa9z4D3nXlsPGEfBrb2elTH7pvn3ETt9tpT26ZfmGtz9LK5jK8UJoU8RPARk5L7XiIYPD4V1KiFRv3Suen59P93GUrG4tkoTeBSei0zvTQ212VUiKjVyeN-vv3ks77DhqzdE/s320/ABTII+group+jump.jpg" style="margin-top: 0pt;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
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<b>World Cup All Stars</b></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH69VjtA_RvC8IDjOtP8PBgLrVhq9dJAtzxztRTPMwMD1XKrI4Q0eqcfKAi64-riqihbW0m6QQJ1yiPI8gidhZJFZZUxC1sMdo1nRXqAII22qkEFc4X3aQDdEQRJDFiUDuMVBEOKYpFno/s1600/Cheerleader+Al+Second.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH69VjtA_RvC8IDjOtP8PBgLrVhq9dJAtzxztRTPMwMD1XKrI4Q0eqcfKAi64-riqihbW0m6QQJ1yiPI8gidhZJFZZUxC1sMdo1nRXqAII22qkEFc4X3aQDdEQRJDFiUDuMVBEOKYpFno/s200/Cheerleader+Al+Second.jpg" width="200" /></a>Finally, I needed my cheerleaders! How could there be a Finale number without them! The World Cup All Stars New Jersey Cheerleading are the #1 top competing group in the world. I originally found them in 2005 when Toni Basil was performing "Mickey" on the program. She loved them, and since I've used them again. I called up their coach, Elaine Pascale - said that I probably needed just one stunt group this year. Yes, they were "IN." And bring-it-on they did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfwtjrmPzq6uF8KMUo8OnFo09W8GM7D5Sm2tyBQZKQXK3juTsltlyuQvf4bUqNwE-yAi0hjVdoZFvWqTX9aVWcyav3Z6fTKOdUugvtRBJVlLIn3dXb0Fp4q4cz5wHgimFiECxNM99K_Q/s1600/Cheerleader+Layout.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545683806973958162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfwtjrmPzq6uF8KMUo8OnFo09W8GM7D5Sm2tyBQZKQXK3juTsltlyuQvf4bUqNwE-yAi0hjVdoZFvWqTX9aVWcyav3Z6fTKOdUugvtRBJVlLIn3dXb0Fp4q4cz5wHgimFiECxNM99K_Q/s320/Cheerleader+Layout.jpg" style="float: left; height: 275px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a><br />
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A VIDEO<br />
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The link below is a video of brief rehearsal of some of Natalie's materials at the top of the Dance Break, with notes about where Ben enters, where the Tap kids are; then some of ABT II and where they Cheerleaders are. It was what I sent to Lori our stage manager, and Brad our lighting designer because I had nothing to show them in the studio, since I could never get everyone in the same room together! And, it is incomplete.<br />
<a href="http://gallery.me.com/daprod/100503">Watch video</a><br />
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Last but not least is Ted Keener below and standing behind Trisha Brown who received the Capezio Award from President Anthony Giacoio (left). Ted was in the summer workshop and consequently assisted me in staging the choreography for the I'M REALLY DANCING.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgNc269Rlg2-_1aiCzLLvnbQd6vyVUy5BnwvtL4XEG3eb3RGqMOhcLRuVkXeeYkoCfgC9K9m40DDdgw5HXToPgB-69vRnKuHkGkogJzFzfcXkTbQFQ9N-DMcYjrs7ewUEVz5DKrwq-5o/s1600/Ted+Keener+-+Capezio+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgNc269Rlg2-_1aiCzLLvnbQd6vyVUy5BnwvtL4XEG3eb3RGqMOhcLRuVkXeeYkoCfgC9K9m40DDdgw5HXToPgB-69vRnKuHkGkogJzFzfcXkTbQFQ9N-DMcYjrs7ewUEVz5DKrwq-5o/s200/Ted+Keener+-+Capezio+Award.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="toolbar_container"><span class="label"> </span></div>DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-71940474799677125332010-12-13T18:29:00.000-08:002010-12-13T18:40:13.666-08:00I'M REALLY DANCING!<div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2HxctNbtzLlZ8jumwabC4CJxOHOeHA2vXUvl2syLoTtLOEiQo2BGlGpZHGSsRk5sjCDfnFtoUQ86H_fDiA1yp5pMttsDrni4aMUj-xqAgDqVZn7n9ooiqIqZhqgSQN-wlU_ZtTJX4ek/s1600/Natalie+%252B+Marvin.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545323511904731970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2HxctNbtzLlZ8jumwabC4CJxOHOeHA2vXUvl2syLoTtLOEiQo2BGlGpZHGSsRk5sjCDfnFtoUQ86H_fDiA1yp5pMttsDrni4aMUj-xqAgDqVZn7n9ooiqIqZhqgSQN-wlU_ZtTJX4ek/s320/Natalie+%252B+Marvin.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Marvin Hamlisch at the piano with Natalie Enterline</span></div><br />
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About a year ago, Marvin Hamlisch called to congratulate me on an evening I produced and directed for the Career Transition for Dancers' gala called "America Dances." At first I thought it was a prank call because he didn't say, "So-and-so gave me your number." He was interested in using a young Mambo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4FiBcJXtQxxT_47zZH7Pur9eboNvNZD9cg2muNEdrhys8kDyjDuPiPimOeq7aXrlIs6rbPNyom52l8FWoVb35TVevzPnE3aU6RUefQkRJ33LH7Ob8Nz3rsGqfup6xYRbKJzKmJwv6M8/s1600/Marvin+headshot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545339347923709346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4FiBcJXtQxxT_47zZH7Pur9eboNvNZD9cg2muNEdrhys8kDyjDuPiPimOeq7aXrlIs6rbPNyom52l8FWoVb35TVevzPnE3aU6RUefQkRJ33LH7Ob8Nz3rsGqfup6xYRbKJzKmJwv6M8/s200/Marvin+headshot.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 191px;" /></a> couple on one of his youth programs. It wasn't until he commented on liking the fact that his music was used in a film montage saying, "You know I wrote <span style="font-style: italic;">A Chorus Line," </span>that I knew it was him. </div><br />
<div align="left">I called Marvin back a couple days later and asked if he'd be interested in exploring something.....and writing something.....for the next benefit that had to do with a dancer's "Act 2." I said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">A Chorus Line </span>is a brilliant classic, and about many many things, but what about something about the trajectory of what happens after....when dancers stay in the field, they move out of the field? No matter what, we never stop being dancers. The dancer stays alive in us, always. I am a dancer dancing when I'm moving or not, I am a dancer dancing even when I stop."<br />
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It took about 9 months to make this piece happen. But on November 8 at City Center, the 25th Annual CTFD Gala, "I'm Really Dancing" was heard on stage for the first time. Of course, it is insane to try to create a new piece for a benefit, when artists volunteer their time and it is impossible to pin people down to rehearse. In fact, the piece never was done with everyone in the cast until the actual show itself. Ninety percent of it was organized to a meticulous second in my head. I had to make the staging very simple for all the artists singing. Entrances and exits had to be directions I could send in an e-mail. Angela would start on Center Center with Marvin in a down spot light; Karen would move from Upstage Left to Downstage Right; Charlotte the opposite diagonal; David and Annie would come on from DSL (Downstage Left) to DSR (Downstge Right) - first wing; Chita from USL to Center with Marvin and sing; and Randy would enter from DSR - then pull Marge on and both dance across the front for the last chorus, before joining the line-up with everyone....</div><br />
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<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Nj_bU22MX4MpgKbhhJm4pD07zaGq5vUI2E65NNbujBzFFuvGMcGITzg-KlCBhe-zrqKz9CM-gBZFH5Bq8MnP26n-HCxKO30ImBptaNhNZhoPAA-LZQGgvDWA-2BlYuOxgxosVBJo2zU/s1600/Angela+%2526+Marvin.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545297218242937378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Nj_bU22MX4MpgKbhhJm4pD07zaGq5vUI2E65NNbujBzFFuvGMcGITzg-KlCBhe-zrqKz9CM-gBZFH5Bq8MnP26n-HCxKO30ImBptaNhNZhoPAA-LZQGgvDWA-2BlYuOxgxosVBJo2zU/s320/Angela+%2526+Marvin.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 203px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 293px;" /></a>Angela Lansbury was great to work with. She requested her lead sheet and a CD of the melody months in advance. We asked if she'd be OK with singing it in the key of D which she agreed, but later I got a call from her music director in LA saying she really needed it to be in a lower key. She even came to a rehearsal on Sunday, the day before the event - a rehearsal that I tried to gather everyone in the piece - just to put it together - just to actually see it other than <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI74oroCPr5jAie7eKZ4QFl3EbiPWtlPHHF849nq3hVeCgiJwuygDXk4JiLJI1xNHtcQ8Oonm5LUWyD6eywyWywPfuyXR02e4BT40uYx07yurRCOy-kPVTr5PcFLzE3ykBPOLYSl954w/s1600/Angela+headshot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545338177097882178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI74oroCPr5jAie7eKZ4QFl3EbiPWtlPHHF849nq3hVeCgiJwuygDXk4JiLJI1xNHtcQ8Oonm5LUWyD6eywyWywPfuyXR02e4BT40uYx07yurRCOy-kPVTr5PcFLzE3ykBPOLYSl954w/s200/Angela+headshot.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 142px;" /></a>on paper - once before the show (but to no avail).<br />
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Angela started the song off by singing the verse of Rupert Holmes's lyric:<i><span style="color: black;"><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YOU CAN ALWAYS SPOT A DANCER ON THE SIDEWALK BY THEIR STRIDE<br />
THEY SPRING AS IF CEMENT'S A TRAMPOLINE<br />
AND THROUGH EACH HUMDRUM DAY ALL DANCERS FLOAT AND WEAVE AND GLIDE<br />
LIKE ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE OR SILVER SCREEN</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div align="left">Karen Ziemba, what a trouper! She was working in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre. She had already memorized the whole song <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2SdJFpZhSMlVX0AxZ608J2KhrsG7L8RjAJiyl8qzAIk2hm3qMB-Sw2WePC_THcl_AakNsAyKlAdhooiY8F7DXoC7fwMirE6My0daR1KVAf1RLSGRgRJGr-5fx-xSNbUbNHbl05rlQgI/s1600/Karen+%252B+Marvin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545298339969241394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2SdJFpZhSMlVX0AxZ608J2KhrsG7L8RjAJiyl8qzAIk2hm3qMB-Sw2WePC_THcl_AakNsAyKlAdhooiY8F7DXoC7fwMirE6My0daR1KVAf1RLSGRgRJGr-5fx-xSNbUbNHbl05rlQgI/s320/Karen+%252B+Marvin.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 252px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>by the time I talked to her, a month before the event. She was not coming into NYC until the day of the show - in fact her plane was to land at 3:00 p.m. Our tech rehearsal was at 3:50, so she would clearly miss that. I asked Mary MacCleod if she wouldn't mind singing Karen's lines for that tech for continuity of the piece. Karen did get in - no delays - and rehearsed between <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwspVmCTiJbGE7yWnhad4vYyEqEV2pfxAi9G3nHW_vieZGqhkCenjlW0_ktrxZ9-x4mHT4IS_5jfe9WYztv4p9rnpBebczpwaYK3a7z5x_S6yknKdNkFAmbxP7BUN2pw7suPhS6bRlx7A/s1600/Karen+Ziemba.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545146102793749378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwspVmCTiJbGE7yWnhad4vYyEqEV2pfxAi9G3nHW_vieZGqhkCenjlW0_ktrxZ9-x4mHT4IS_5jfe9WYztv4p9rnpBebczpwaYK3a7z5x_S6yknKdNkFAmbxP7BUN2pw7suPhS6bRlx7A/s200/Karen+Ziemba.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 163px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 193px;" /></a></span>by 5 p.m. I never even saw her until the show. She sang the first chorus moving from USR:</div><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-size: x-small;">WHEN I'M STROLLING DOWN THE AISLE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">OF THE CORNER CVS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">WELL I MIGHT AS WELL CONFESS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I'M REALLY DANCING</span><br />
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Then came Charlotte d'Amboise from USL (see her behind Karen to the left above!). Charlotte<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">had extended her </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdid82MlbwVz8a22GetVDSQCvM-U5lLoUJ5DM7viQ9cIhScf95OOfNc391fqTCzV5a3BZJ-cpn4OHhhFrkpuU6t0xABrfQO77fW0yNFOzj_iPcAjY7UXuqz_Zg7EvtKbLoy0C_mpviNQs/s1600/Charlotte+w%253AGreg.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545295537345646866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdid82MlbwVz8a22GetVDSQCvM-U5lLoUJ5DM7viQ9cIhScf95OOfNc391fqTCzV5a3BZJ-cpn4OHhhFrkpuU6t0xABrfQO77fW0yNFOzj_iPcAjY7UXuqz_Zg7EvtKbLoy0C_mpviNQs/s320/Charlotte+w%253AGreg.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 238px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">performance in <i>Chicago</i> so ended up not being free to </span>rehearse on Sunday. She sang the lyrics below with Greg Butler escorting her across the stage:</div><br />
<div align="left"><span style="font-size: x-small;">WHEN I STOP TO POSE AND SMILE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">AS THE CAMERAS START TO FLASH</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">AT SOME AFTER THEATRE BASH</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I'M REALLY DANCING</span><br />
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Next we had Desmond Richardson. He moved from<br />
the second wing straight across the stage - so smooth,<br />
and with such cool grace. People questioned me as to whether<br />
he could sing or not. Well no question, he can sing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMIFE_sfFMWSWA3wbzaOT3jQ5AVahWbdO2sdwpTX9hDSKP7c74Bw9qtO_hZTVJdKi8U0PAc2qg7IpxkKWds45x2m1_0kRfLcnJiqXxaXs7u-z3dpqyUupDpmRYmm5SZx5YrmUAOr2TXk/s1600/_Desmond+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545299366010312834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMIFE_sfFMWSWA3wbzaOT3jQ5AVahWbdO2sdwpTX9hDSKP7c74Bw9qtO_hZTVJdKi8U0PAc2qg7IpxkKWds45x2m1_0kRfLcnJiqXxaXs7u-z3dpqyUupDpmRYmm5SZx5YrmUAOr2TXk/s320/_Desmond+1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 278px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>(his lyrics)<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE CARPET MIGHT BE RED BUT WHERE I TREAD, I CUT THE RUGGING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">THOUGH ELEGANT MY STRIDE, DEEP DOWN </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">INSIDE I'M JITTERBUGGING</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XgF9jCFGXVnD6YDNueD7zrUmp8uvIHNeSant_dBU7gm7wykCy-nse5mBwsX5XA1Krj1qLUtsw1BHbeIdzFu-CYkzPLasQaUuLstGjfun2kX8kPfShH1Pfxu6-_RePqtqq3xWv_RpVaI/s1600/Desmond+2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545300651941760562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XgF9jCFGXVnD6YDNueD7zrUmp8uvIHNeSant_dBU7gm7wykCy-nse5mBwsX5XA1Krj1qLUtsw1BHbeIdzFu-CYkzPLasQaUuLstGjfun2kX8kPfShH1Pfxu6-_RePqtqq3xWv_RpVaI/s200/Desmond+2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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And now, for the last lines before the dance break, came Ann Reinking and David Warren Gibson. I had hoped Bebe Neuwirth would originally sing this with Annie, but she was performing "All That Jazz" just before, and she would have not wanted to be thrown into it without rehearsal. An<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkf08TavmhGIDyriNyJLpE4Gt7ME9SW0jiMr_47GVdIL58ohi_cq_BQxvsHrJS4BgNW5qk-a0-yTCpJ0UXIRjUxkCpe0Y0iTfX0yATGXw5pDLWEc3yj4MBe2Xef7VWG_3qZXRfcq3Quc/s1600/Ann+%252B+David+1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545303882095687522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkf08TavmhGIDyriNyJLpE4Gt7ME9SW0jiMr_47GVdIL58ohi_cq_BQxvsHrJS4BgNW5qk-a0-yTCpJ0UXIRjUxkCpe0Y0iTfX0yATGXw5pDLWEc3yj4MBe2Xef7VWG_3qZXRfcq3Quc/s320/Ann+%252B+David+1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 293px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 306px;" /></a>nie did come to the Sunday rehearsal and we figured out that she and David would trade lines. Now, she insisted she could only sing certain lines because of her current vocal range.<br />
<br />
Her lyrics were:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MY INNER GIRL WILL TWIRL SUBLIME<br />
WHETHER DANCING OR ROMANCING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">WHEN I CHAT WITH SHERRY LAN</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">SING<br />
DON'T YOU KNOW I'M DANCING</span><br />
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She said she could not sing the first line, "My inner girl will twirl....". Hummmm, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQW4zsaU48gZc0F8-oDgi0eOiU6xLYdd_KkKAQakWzLfR0BEL-zJfWhMylx5cSLrzZWoG7pn5rsapQhdimzpVCSkq2vNozH1TKwxWMEDm9cbmKn2DMoGk-S7bbOkLJwwAot6tktgWlwI/s1600/Ann%252B+David++2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545304772930952946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQW4zsaU48gZc0F8-oDgi0eOiU6xLYdd_KkKAQakWzLfR0BEL-zJfWhMylx5cSLrzZWoG7pn5rsapQhdimzpVCSkq2vNozH1TKwxWMEDm9cbmKn2DMoGk-S7bbOkLJwwAot6tktgWlwI/s200/Ann%252B+David++2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 135px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 217px;" /></a>well how can David sing that, I asked. He can sing "<i>Her</i> inner girl will twirl....etc.". Great! I inwardly was thinking.....I hope Rupert Holmes won't notice because there is no time to ask his permission! The other little obstacle was that Annie knew me as a virtuoso dancer and had seen some of my acrobatic choreography. She was afraid I was going to ask her to do something complicated. "No, no, no," I said. "You're a director and choreographer....do what you want! I prefer you ju<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtwEHHBiWTvsPb0IqpgI2hwbAo0gMgv2904gjJ6fqB53mv9-E_W8EYN7GZQK264Kys-eRhjJ7pjtMaEWW-Z96d11Ym-DnfQyZAmObjPjARN9R7zCc3dV-Rj7szuATRUdlN3WmlDwsUIM/s1600/Ann+%252B+David++3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545305484652083426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtwEHHBiWTvsPb0IqpgI2hwbAo0gMgv2904gjJ6fqB53mv9-E_W8EYN7GZQK264Kys-eRhjJ7pjtMaEWW-Z96d11Ym-DnfQyZAmObjPjARN9R7zCc3dV-Rj7szuATRUdlN3WmlDwsUIM/s200/Ann+%252B+David++3.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 148px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 223px;" /></a>st walk - a simple walk to justapose the elegance and artistry of the mature artist with the bombastic youthful energy of the kids in the dance break section that comes in the middle of the song." She loved the idea. However, each time I saw her rehearse with David the steps increased and by the time she got on stage she was dancing and jumping and leaping into David's arms - the audience loved her.<br />
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The DANCE BREAK segment comes here - in a separate blog you will see photos of baton-twirling Natalie Enterline and the multi-dance talent Ben Needham-Wood, along with ABT II and World Cup All Stars (the top cheerleading group in the world).<br />
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In the photo directly below, you can see Chita Rivera entering on the right - Ben and Kevin were doing back flips across the stage and as she hits center in front of the piano the music stops and the boys were off stage. Applause!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto44g1eZrS6sEED_Xcc38nJfG5OcDwo7V7AfnwhFngwWBhScfp0SRXiweZiyj2gsbrEdgbC9pZNA-KTesEAz01gsRgIZt2LzpnWrMLZImFYFwKxidsEfoFXSYeS5jlsmF8mDcF4atHVs/s1600/End+Flips+w%253AChita.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545307916833320770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto44g1eZrS6sEED_Xcc38nJfG5OcDwo7V7AfnwhFngwWBhScfp0SRXiweZiyj2gsbrEdgbC9pZNA-KTesEAz01gsRgIZt2LzpnWrMLZImFYFwKxidsEfoFXSYeS5jlsmF8mDcF4atHVs/s320/End+Flips+w%253AChita.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 195px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 298px;" /></a>As Chita entered the entire history of musical theater entered with her. Another real trouper. She had also returned from out of town the morning of the gala. It was miserable weather and she didn't want to drive into the city. So Dax, my assistant, made sure there was a car to pick her up. She had called my musical director, Jim Morgan, the night before to say that she had not memorized the lyrics yet and to make sure we had a back-up. I had Dax e-mail her assistant, Rosie, to say not to worry, she could read the lyrics, that it was just a fun number and no need to feel pressured. Which she ended up doing - right at the piano with Marvin.<br />
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Her lyrics:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_UoqGJLWPMqPQMMD6Vqx68GGvmowRN02eSZf0KzJLQaTRS8Zocovit6L9ewK_TJ9Xd2g09oDcwyP-7cMUNrO3E85gzpq3yPsksh5XTiZXRRL0ogLFF9PRyoiMRT2vzP9igpa5ZEpPbE/s1600/Chita+%252B+Marvin.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545314283266085106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_UoqGJLWPMqPQMMD6Vqx68GGvmowRN02eSZf0KzJLQaTRS8Zocovit6L9ewK_TJ9Xd2g09oDcwyP-7cMUNrO3E85gzpq3yPsksh5XTiZXRRL0ogLFF9PRyoiMRT2vzP9igpa5ZEpPbE/s320/Chita+%252B+Marvin.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 224px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 342px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
AS THE YEARS GO MARCHING ON</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I MAY LOSE A STEP OR TWO<br />
BUT THE SOFTNESS IN MY SHOE<br />
SAYS I'M STILL DANCING....<br />
<br />
THOUGH MY GRAND JETES ARE GONE<br />
I'M A WINNING DANCE MACHINE<br />
ONCE BEGINNING MY BEGUINE!<br />
JUST WATCH ME DANCING</span><br />
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And finally....<br />
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Last but not least came Randy Skinner, who was the associate choreographer on <i>42nd Street</i> when Gower Champion first put the show on Broadway. He had danced on the program already in the Audition number from the musical, so I asked him if he wouldn't mind both singing in the finale and bringing on Marge Champion to boot! I called Marge, and she loved the idea. They both came on Sunday, and by the end of the rehearsal Margehad ch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUYrPOK-Cy876ryQ4pRqFvK3VXQSiDtXK6BHh6NcbAimMhXUlv_fT-5TGANqu7oSB6dVhVms24lGI9W-08BB6Gi8ep4LSrehbZeHDe-ydKU5vXEIx8U-hXy9rOe5aRMYuBDoixWny5k0/s1600/Randy+Skinner.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545319094467911970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUYrPOK-Cy876ryQ4pRqFvK3VXQSiDtXK6BHh6NcbAimMhXUlv_fT-5TGANqu7oSB6dVhVms24lGI9W-08BB6Gi8ep4LSrehbZeHDe-ydKU5vXEIx8U-hXy9rOe5aRMYuBDoixWny5k0/s200/Randy+Skinner.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 220px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 133px;" /></a>oreographed practically a whole number with some famous moves from her past. He sang:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">MY KNEES NEED ICE AND ONCE OR TWICE<br />
I MUST RECHARGE MY POWER<br />
BUT DANCE WITH ME AND YOU WILL SEE<br />
WE'RE JUST LIKE MARGE AND GOWER</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>Marge chimed in here</i>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1ZeKxcbyadL64cbPr4K9B6C17B60EXxyUFbZCXo6ImIwje8HV0eeFpr23IBv1XwVetO0QwORqyJwJmiqz9zeJXWXeQz15Shq0ZNYfj4CMI2_2lOnb6U25JSnws2mKJL1ZLloTgHg66o/s1600/Marge+kicks%2521.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545319684408862866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1ZeKxcbyadL64cbPr4K9B6C17B60EXxyUFbZCXo6ImIwje8HV0eeFpr23IBv1XwVetO0QwORqyJwJmiqz9zeJXWXeQz15Shq0ZNYfj4CMI2_2lOnb6U25JSnws2mKJL1ZLloTgHg66o/s320/Marge+kicks%2521.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 286px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 231px;" /></a><br />
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At 91 years old, look at Marge in the blue<br />
skirt - she definatly kicked the highest in the end group finale line-up!!!<br />
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An impossible task succeeds.....</div><br />
<div align="left"><br />
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<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">THE BOWS!!!<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FXWCITr4ZeyAkzwHGVjz5eQ0CddhQkrv1HCMGtuhe8Md_bsQW9iGGwddOLMQ7rRFFanI2-gAcS6f7WlaHVCR-1ykxGTdneryvbQBhUsMZ8lgRD2Gdo8vTDevYr3L7JNbAa35YG-xfCc/s1600/BOWS.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545321441895885714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FXWCITr4ZeyAkzwHGVjz5eQ0CddhQkrv1HCMGtuhe8Md_bsQW9iGGwddOLMQ7rRFFanI2-gAcS6f7WlaHVCR-1ykxGTdneryvbQBhUsMZ8lgRD2Gdo8vTDevYr3L7JNbAa35YG-xfCc/s400/BOWS.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 296px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 431px;" /></a>DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-65186065270289001292010-09-15T03:30:00.000-07:002010-09-15T03:43:10.642-07:00Michi Barall's Rescue MeMICHI BARALL<br /><br />(March 2010) Just saw "Rescue Me" by Charles Mee's wife - Michi Barall at the Ohio Theater on Wooster St. - between Spring and Broome - which by the way, will be torn down.<br /><br />I can see the Mee influence and remember him saying something to the effect........that.... "nothing is new - how it is arranged and presented is a rehash of what already was". I will add, how it is arranged and presented is what makes it new. Someone's perspective can be new, or askew.<br /><br />Aside from feeling like a high school or college play, I did like the style of it as fractured-fairy tale. Or, deconstructionismistic. But, I felt the piece was contrived. Whether it was in the writing or in the directing I don't know. The actors did not understand the timing, or simpl "timing" , and the way to deliver the humor. Each time they stepped out of the play to comment on something to the audience, or say they missed a cue, or tell the character something contemporary (about the character or himself) they did not believe it. So, we as the audience did not feel it was believable - but that they were just delivering text.<br /><br />Specific. Fractured has to be specific. There needs to be timing and flow to what seems random and haphazard.<br /><br />Why did it not feel relevant? Things are relevant when they present or represent something current. There was some pop music; there was some CNN take off moments at the end; there were re-creation of Elvis moments. But it didn't feel current. It felt stuck in an ancient past - that we did no care about. How could we care about the message? What was the message? Maybe that was the main problem, what did the play-write want us to take home with us?<br /><br />What did I like?<br />The blue neon on the walls; the blue neon on the staircase upstage through the doorway; some of the idea of the CNN segment; some of the multi-media TV video of the feeling of ocean while talking about it; the deconstructive costumes; the guys first solo (one who did the choreography); and that's about it...<br /><br />A friend who saw it with me said.....You know, it's hard to understand why she copied him (Mee) even to the point of offering sickenly sweet snacks. When he did that, it was at least related to the content. Another thought: Mee comments on contemporary culture and provides fresh ways to look at it; it's a culture that he knows. She on the other hand is transplanting onto a foreign culture and ancient society modern-day attitudes and styles in a way that just makes it a cheap, gimicky trick. I think your comment "self indulgent" was right-on.<br />--DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-35111584488788348762010-09-15T03:23:00.000-07:002010-09-15T03:30:02.849-07:00FIREBACK: Ballet Corella3/18/2020<br /><br />From the NY Times review quote:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, he, his sister, Herman Cornejo and five other dancers led the first New York performance of Christopher Wheeldon’s exciting “DGV (Danse à Grande Vitesse).” Although this did not feature showoff turns and leaps, the audience, quite rightly, gave it the evening’s loudest and longest ovation. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wrong! </span> it was not “exiting" I was there. The work was disoncertingly derivative. The movements were redundant, and the worst part of the ballet was that he had “nothing to say”. And example when bad becomes good. The good thing about the work is that it made me happy to not have to see another one of his. The audience in fact, gave a luke-warm reception and stopped clapping. There was a 3 second pause and people started to get up to leave - it was not a standing ovation. At least in the orchestra, they were already leaving. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ballet Corella Castilla y León, from Spain</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Respecting Roots</span>: I was relieved to sees someone finally present an evening of ballet who has integrity and respect for the art form. It didn’t matter that his choreography was cluttered with steps, and more steps - normally for a new young choreographer. His spirit of joy and respect for the work shinned through. Something more important. It didn’t mater that some of the choices of what works to present were old fashioned. Old-fashioned and respecting history are two different things. Respect is an obsolete word. Congratulations for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater - and having integrity.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cultural Roots</span>: The best moment was the duet by Maria Pages by he and his sister, a well-known Flamenco dancer.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-54398669048168210072010-09-15T03:18:00.000-07:002010-09-15T03:22:42.063-07:00Gendance Interview with Ann Marie DeAngelo<img src="file:///Users/annmarie/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///Users/annmarie/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" /> 1. Looking back on your performance career, what has been your most memorable moment? How did you get there?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I always look forward so it is hard to look back! But, Robert Joffrey told me he’d never use me in his company because I was too short. A few years later, as a principal dancer in the Joffrey, I was interviewed for Time Magazine - and the guy asked me what it felt like to be “short”. I said, “I never felt short”. In that moment I realized that it took unadulterated commitment, focus and great passion to get there. </span><br /><br /><br />2. Tell us about your involvement with Career Transition for Dancers. Did they influence your personal journey?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As a former board member for 12 years - and always working with dancers to further their careers, I was thrilled to find an organization committed to these goals and more. </span><br /><br />3. Tell us the challenges (and any funny stories as well) about being a movement coach for Bette Midler.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I met her through Toni Basil. She was more focused in ballet class than most dancers I teach today. </span><br /><br />4. Being a principal dancer with Joffrey was....<br />.<span style="font-style: italic;">.....was influential to my current artistic aesthetic - that of diversity and appreciation for history. </span><br /><br />5. You play so many roles: choreographer, artistic director, producer, teacher. What’s your favorite and why?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Each role competes with each other because I love them all. But, being a multi-faceted artist is to know that you can only do all things at once, if you do one thing at a time. </span><br /><br />6. What is your wish for the next generation of performing artists?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To be much more committed to what is needed for creating the “art” in performing.</span> <br /><br />7). Besides dance, you love…<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yorkies. </span>DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-67631251080707768492010-09-13T04:30:00.001-07:002010-09-13T05:28:40.212-07:00Fragmented Acro-dance DeconstructionismWhat does that mean?<br /><br />Fragmented acro-dance deconstructionism is a term I made up a few years ago to describe the current trend of popular choreography, in the ballet genre. What it is, is movement that is very physical, disjointed, on-the-edge, fast-paced, over-extended, creatively inventive with body-moves and basically disconnected from any core. This type of movement is easier to do, because it does not require the same kind of technique required for classical ballet. It is fun to watch but after about 5 minutes the repetitiveness of intent out-weights the ability to hold you attention, because there is no reason behind the doing except for the sheer pleasure of distortion. <br /><br />A lover of dance actor friend of mine described such a piece of choreography they saw, as having great body-movement, but that it wasn't dance. What? They are moving but no one is relating to each other, the audience, the music or to any clear artistic intention, a reason to be doing. Nothing has been said, no message communicated. The duet for example, seems romantic but there is no inter-connection between the two dancers, and is not going anywhere. <br /><br />Ah! You meant choreography - Choreo which means "steps" and Ography "the relationship of steps to space". So, you are saying that because there is no movement in space, and no connection to each other or to the music, and that there is no story or higher-minded poetic message trying to be communicated - that what we are watching is not dance? Yes, she said.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-49085460567130849332010-09-11T03:39:00.001-07:002010-09-11T15:24:32.267-07:00Thoughts on 9/11<span style="font-style: italic;">The detachment of American arrogance:</span><br />Today is a day that everyone is remembering where they were on 9/11. I for one, forgot it was 9/11 and made an appointment at the MAC store at 11 a.m. They didn't exit 9 years ago, and I decided not to go, and stayed home for the ceremony.<br /><br />And so I sat and reflected where I was nine years ago - on the corner of 6th Ave. and 11th St. in Greenwich Village near where I live - coming back from voting. A woman pulled me aside and said "Look, that plane just went into the World Trade Center!". I looked and saw this sliver of a slit up top of the building with a bit of smoke going out the bac, but it actually didn't look like a plane had gone in it, and my first thought was, "Gee, what idiot would fly through the WTC"? Not for a second did I think any of it was true. None the less, I did see that low flying plane going I walked back to my apartment and immediately went to finish an e-mail "Someone just flew through the WTC" I wrote, and proceeded with my day. A few minutes later I decided to go down to the street as I heard some commotion and when I got there people began to assemble on 6th Ave. Still, no one was going on. I rushed upstairs and turned on the news, but there was no news about what had happened yet - so I went back down to see what the what was. Then the 2nd Plane hit and by then it was clear that something very bad was happening. People thought we were being attacked and were at war.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What was I thinking?</span><br />The only thought that came to my mind was "This is the beginning of the End". And what that meant was, this moment was the beginning of the end of everything we new and were about before. Nothing would be the same after....our safety, the way we did things, structures, new forms coming into being, belief systems....all would change.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But, where were my concerns?</span><br />But where was my concern as the buildings fell? I happened by a dancer I had known who worked with Billy Forsythe in the Frankfurt Ballet. In fact, we were both in the company at the same time. I was annoyed at the fact that this guy, who was American but had most of his career as a Forsythe "muse", could not get a grant from Career Transition For Dancers, because he hadn't worked in the US for something like "at least 7 years" as per the organizations by-laws. I ventured back up stairs in the midst of all the confusion to call the Ex. Director of the organization to see what could be done about it, "Its just not fair!", I said. My concerns were for a dancer's survival. Dancer's die two deaths, one when they stop dancing, and the other. The body fails but the spirit lives on, the choice for a dancer is already made for them. Until, as my sister says, "they make a body that lasts forever". Death was in the air that day, in many ways, on all levels.<br /><br />And now St. Vincents has been put to death, the hospital where there were no survivors brought. And an imprint in my mind that will never die. Photo's plastered all over the walls looking for "missing persons" as if they were pets. That indeed was and still is a sad memory.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-10775324905239885062010-09-11T03:18:00.000-07:002010-09-12T02:18:41.328-07:00A New Marvin Hamlisch Song9/12/2010<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A New Marvin Hamlisch Song<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></div>After the Career Transition For Dancers benefit Gala last year, Marvin Hamlisch called to congratulate me on the evening, and to say that he wanted to use these two fabulous young ballroom dancers I had on the program, Alexandra and John, on one of his events (it was actually their first big performing experience, and have since been on those dance shows et el). Anyway, I thought it was a prank call because he didn’t say so-and-so gave me your number! As I listened to see who was pretending to be Marvin until finally he said that he liked that I used a clip of his music (the clip was from <span style="font-style: italic;">A Chorus Line) </span>in this great "opening film montage". The montage was about the history of American dance in a 3 1/2 min. with the theme "everybody's doing it". The clip was from <span style="font-style: italic;">A Chorus Line.....</span>. IT was then that I realized it was no prank call. "A couple days later I got up the courage to call him back --- "You know, <span style="font-style: italic;">A Chorus Line</span> is a brilliant classic but it is basically about dancers trying to get into a show. What about writing a piece or song that is about the trajectory of what happens after - dancers stay in the field, they move out of the field but whatever we do (and some don't actually stop), but whatever we do do, we never stop being dancers. The dancer is alive in us always. <span style="font-style: italic;">I am a dancer dancing when I'm moving or not, I am a dancer dancing even when I stop."</span><span> And, that is an empowering thing that we dancers need not forget.<br /></span><br />The song, turned out to be one with Lyrics by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes, and called "I'm Really Dancing". It will be performed on the upcoming CTFD Gala, Marvin will be playing and it will be sung by our evening Host, Angela Lansbury, along with guest artists Charlotte d’Amboise, Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Desmond Richardson, Chita Rivera, Randy Skinner, and Karen Ziemba. The musical arrangements are by David Caldwell, who I worked with in China (see our T-Shirts below that he designed). And, I will choreograph the number using a mix of talent as I always do that includes ABT II; the World Cup All Star New Jersey Cheerleading - or as I call them the Cheerleaders; a wonderful baton-twirler/dance Natalie Enterline, a talented young dancer who can do all styles of dance including gymnastics, Capoiera, break dancing and hip hop, that was in my piece out with NCI (National Choreography Initiative). Ben Needham-Wood.<br /><br />My writer for this year, JoAnn Young who wrote Marvin's last show (and also the TV special on Liza Minnelli last year) describes the song as a light-hearted anthem that captures the upbeat physicality of dancers that lasts a lifetime. But, I would have to say it is a tongue 'n cheek take on our profoundly felt inner dancer. We all have an "inner dancer", by the way....<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy1lfgvKLpcjm12_UzE6fCTMsoh8APnFwu4P4xAa3tbm_xs0P4SrE1WSuei7yJwkNssMpeSwRPA02HZjD21MaS5109VgE8HjQRsyNBykP2aLfvAt9vT4wSoZo835mHDSX6fIKfLs6R_Q/s1600/T-Shirts2.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy1lfgvKLpcjm12_UzE6fCTMsoh8APnFwu4P4xAa3tbm_xs0P4SrE1WSuei7yJwkNssMpeSwRPA02HZjD21MaS5109VgE8HjQRsyNBykP2aLfvAt9vT4wSoZo835mHDSX6fIKfLs6R_Q/s200/T-Shirts2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515602099746400818" border="0" /></a>David and Me: The shirts say Musical Director and Choreographer in Mongolian & Chinese!DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-27061260136834605862010-06-24T03:57:00.000-07:002010-12-16T10:50:20.944-08:00ANYONE BEEN TO HOHHUT?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"></span><br />
The Promise "Bows" 6/25/2010</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOp6pQMOmZnrJqFVocGFZpLi5t2yvjnqwRVwXMeiBJIK-M0FAuMJ_iWXxkBs1UUUd4jxbqp2taIZ4VmTQjKaq6yNrncFLU4DZYc0mKyjrrFZ9J2xdIqsGA5rTtDrLnx19ZaZMmBOxCjk/s1600/IMG_1861.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489449317882514450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOp6pQMOmZnrJqFVocGFZpLi5t2yvjnqwRVwXMeiBJIK-M0FAuMJ_iWXxkBs1UUUd4jxbqp2taIZ4VmTQjKaq6yNrncFLU4DZYc0mKyjrrFZ9J2xdIqsGA5rTtDrLnx19ZaZMmBOxCjk/s320/IMG_1861.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 191px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 380px;" /><br />
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<b>Ann Marie DeAngelo Visits China to Choreograph a New Musical<br />
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At the start of 2010 I never imagined that by the spring I would be working in the capital of Inner Mongolia, choreographing a musical for the Shanghai Expo. I guess there were signs - my astrology chart, for instance, indicated a "surprise" in April. But, China was never on my radar as a place to go or even see, except for Tibet.....is Tibet in China? Never mind – the point is, I spent two months there (and I did see a Temple and some Tibetan monks). This blog is the start of a journal-thru-time, the day-by-day account of what it was like to choreograph the first original musical ever staged in China.<br />
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<div align="left" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Monk at DaZhao</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">The musical was called <i>The Promise</i> – at least until the last minute, when the Chinese producers decided to rename it <i>Heart of Love</i>. Whatever the title, this show is a hybrid of opera, musical theater, eclectic dance, and indigenous folklore. Many, many wonderful things occurred in the process – and sometimes the not-so-good turned out to be equally as good as the good.</div><br />
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<b>The Arrogance of American Audacity</b><br />
Before I go on, I have to acknowledge that oddly permeating the whole experience was this unspoken.....subversive if you will, underlying attitude, a faux sense of superiority. The producer/director was American, so was the musical director, and so am I. Not that we had this attitude. But, I feel it like a low-grade malaise whenever I work in other cultures (particularly the Third World). It is something that we as Americans don’t even realize we possess, something maybe inherent in our cultural upbringing, something unkind and assuming........i.e. we are the biggest, the best, the most, the authority, the only way to go or do things, the thats-just-the-way-it-is kind of attitude - that, that we inadvertently feel every non-American must succumb to. It was there when I started a ballet company in Mexico. We’re smart and everyone else is stupid.<br />
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Why is that? But anyway....<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Rehearsal schedule posted....<br />
when there was one in advance</span>....</div><b>The Dancers</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnujJpnuGg5WUWo4UNK5XWNHTHMIL7NUzDDVxZlVREki1_SAh_XAeE9xNnkYtp43C-t_QA1RqJA5zAXfJ8H_Gs1UNG3MOBVpruXlH0d3ITPkjjUK6HXtPhHUGP8exFmPVEd2xppCEViy8/s1600/Rehearsal+Schedule.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487999005644529026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnujJpnuGg5WUWo4UNK5XWNHTHMIL7NUzDDVxZlVREki1_SAh_XAeE9xNnkYtp43C-t_QA1RqJA5zAXfJ8H_Gs1UNG3MOBVpruXlH0d3ITPkjjUK6HXtPhHUGP8exFmPVEd2xppCEViy8/s320/Rehearsal+Schedule.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 201px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 368px;" /></a><br />
Dancers do not feel this. Dancers have a universal camaraderie that defies cultural differences and politics. I immediately felt connected to the dancers in our company – dancers whom I could not verbally communicate with, who lived in this obscure corner of the world, isolated from anything current or mainstream. From the onset we united and connected through a language known only to dancers, a sense of purpose realized only by the dance, a connection to the spirit that is unspoken, a larger-than-life purpose that we must share, and a willingness to go to whatever length it takes to do just that. We understood each other and knew it by feeling it, knew it by the dance vocabulary shared, new it by the completion of a step, knew it just with a look in the eye. I moved, they imitated me. I asked, they gave. They allowed themselves to be exploited - in a good way, in a way that in the end their potential was realized above and beyond what might have been expected.<br />
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In and of itself, the project was a big risk to undertake in China. It took these kids incredible courage to be open to new ideas, new ways of thinking and doing. With hearts on their sleeves and a childlike innocence our journey began – and from the first day we were family.<br />
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The 34 dancers I used were from The Mongolian Song & Dance Company. A smaller group of them comprised the contemporary dance ensemble, the ones I ended up spotlighting the most. They had backgrounds in classical ballet – I have no idea what pedagogy - but they were basically contemporary/modern dancers, with strong skills in Mongolian Folk/traditional dances. Some were better than others, with ballet technique the level of any principal dancer in the US. Others had more character-dance skills reminiscent of Russian Cossack dancers, where the men could out-jump any I’ve seen, and out-trick most ballet dancers. The woman ranged from a kind of lyric eroticism in their interpretations of folk-dance, mixed with those who had a better ability to tackle the most contemporary of American dance styles, e.g., jazz or hip hop. Oh, and the Chinese acrobats I got to work with were another layer of incredible all together.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgyfXKZ4sX2DZO2gvM9OTDJawneNT1yaFH58di_u2D8RTCxhAqJGa7_7z2U4sG_M5oFcZY-5ipnW84wl4sY4YD0Cy-Y31NHa0ncs8CkdiCDVcLjtNwESaHY_gKdW-NTuARnnW2pHilWk/s1600/AMD+in+rehearsal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487965531885610290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgyfXKZ4sX2DZO2gvM9OTDJawneNT1yaFH58di_u2D8RTCxhAqJGa7_7z2U4sG_M5oFcZY-5ipnW84wl4sY4YD0Cy-Y31NHa0ncs8CkdiCDVcLjtNwESaHY_gKdW-NTuARnnW2pHilWk/s320/AMD+in+rehearsal.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 228px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 378px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">Ann Marie in rehearsal in Hohhut (C. J., an American translator, is at the far left)</span></div><br />
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<b>How I Worked with the Acrobats</b><br />
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Assembling what the acrobats had to do, and then putting it into a cohesive structure that would be able to fit into a dance within the context of the story, was a unique experience for me. The process went something like this:<br />
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1) I make a video of a routine they did, jumping and flipping through hoops at the end of long poll-like horse-catching hoops (they literally use these hoops to catch horses with in Mongolia).<br />
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2) I edit together a sequence of the best stunts into a phrase of 8 -8’s.<br />
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3) I show the lead acrobat the sequence on my laptop and ask him if he thinks they could condense the moves and the time-frame, later to be put to different music.<br />
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4) He communicates the idea; the acrobats practice it a few times and determine it is possible.<br />
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5) At the next rehearsal I put the sequence to the music. It would take them a few more times to be able to comfortably get it all in eight 8’s, but it worked beautifully and was still exciting as if they were doing their original routine.<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s7Vm9NavFtM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s7Vm9NavFtM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://gallery.me.com/daprod/100365">Visit my photo gallery at Me.com for more shots of acrobats learning the 8 - 8's.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdHp7cWl3GJzIjZEE6ZjS7zai3UJM5ldRcXvGqE1w26WKd8Uwa0LoAvlW-PQbWY9VfFCrfe-RrJPv3gFiaIhBQDtF2m-uroaoJxn1d8Q3DG7kLiJe9UfVTMQgLGSbmht7B34y1Qe8GpY/s1600/Acrobat+in+Catch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487965868606594354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdHp7cWl3GJzIjZEE6ZjS7zai3UJM5ldRcXvGqE1w26WKd8Uwa0LoAvlW-PQbWY9VfFCrfe-RrJPv3gFiaIhBQDtF2m-uroaoJxn1d8Q3DG7kLiJe9UfVTMQgLGSbmht7B34y1Qe8GpY/s320/Acrobat+in+Catch.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 219px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">Chinese acrobat in “Catch the Girl”</span></div><br />
The dancers’ work ethic was very different from what we in the West know. Remember the recent Olympics opening ceremonies - masses working together like clockwork? These dancers were used to rehearsing one gesture for weeks until everyone did it the exactly the same way. I witnessed a bit of that when I had their leader clean some of the choreography - and saw the way she pulled it apart, got each one to observe the other, sharing in correction. Hence part of the process of what becomes that synchronized precision dance characteristic of what comes out of China - of what we saw on the Olympics - and the power that comes from that kind of unison. And, what could never be done in the US.....no time (time is money), no patience or desire....even if we cared to do it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">End pose "Like a Horse"<br />
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My challenge then was how to put the dances together quickly, having never before seen these dancers, with no assistants who could share in the teachings; to rehearse as we do in the West; and help the dancers understand how to retain something foreign to them. The issue of doing things full-out and not marking them was a big one. Mostly because our translators did not understand what that meant, and couldn’t communicate it. Something that simple became a major challenge. I was able to acknowledge the limitations of the situation and decide to push the envelope anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivt_7Omg3G0FIWl5NJuSvjaukAs8p0XQ6H7KTobmxt5K2EeWmlNAICeXOM9il9A6mnJNhEet8BgAjr-taAKE_bu7cj0r0j9h9pb5RgUc8fzF7KwNK1RnMN1g6TbEYwyhxhSBMn1YccWU/s1600/Baosteel+Stage+-+theater.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487967177802861106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivt_7Omg3G0FIWl5NJuSvjaukAs8p0XQ6H7KTobmxt5K2EeWmlNAICeXOM9il9A6mnJNhEet8BgAjr-taAKE_bu7cj0r0j9h9pb5RgUc8fzF7KwNK1RnMN1g6TbEYwyhxhSBMn1YccWU/s320/Baosteel+Stage+-+theater.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 333px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 197px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXD1n8K7YQpLwcMh4CDg9DNesj0agFGagpIg0bNar4Hboc6TqQ1MGIBStthiRZ60mdsXxXgu2vCaV16F1cNaKDr_P2RZzVyocbNT0-5rF4oaBAsdxxXHIc6Z3BS9jLqbiIQ7sHUbvVDI/s1600/Baostteel+Stage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487967761508898978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXD1n8K7YQpLwcMh4CDg9DNesj0agFGagpIg0bNar4Hboc6TqQ1MGIBStthiRZ60mdsXxXgu2vCaV16F1cNaKDr_P2RZzVyocbNT0-5rF4oaBAsdxxXHIc6Z3BS9jLqbiIQ7sHUbvVDI/s320/Baostteel+Stage.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 127px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 247px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiYbqLblQFSODCgiGFIhJ-Xk2aRvHSNzSkMlBRFonL_yJlhPlhNeHIyrO1htZSKWsSwJmd1c7bGTG8ErTWKtQrB_-VQLm_zElwkXl6VNZoHQltK-nwavDIkfMS57Y2JZQsJSL3FXgf30/s1600/Baostteel+Stage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
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Our theater, where we performed at the Shanghai Expo 2010<br />
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<b>The Dances Created</b><br />
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I think the biggest joy for me in the creative process is the process of <i>discovery and integration,</i> discovery steps that would become a vocabulary of movements. I am not a minimalist, and I rely on steps as a basis for expressing the essence of dance. In this process I would see someone do a step and then find a place to integrate that step in the context of the dance. Coming from a ballet background I have developed a lot of choreographic material over the years - like words, it can be reused and rearranged. In each situation - especially if I go into one without an assistant who is familiar with my work, or with a "sketch team" that is not my own - I draw on this wealth of material. However, dancers are dancers anywhere in the world and we share a common language regardless of a language barrier.<br />
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Exploitation is a good thing! In each different situation I look for what is unique to those particular dancers....what can they do that someone else can't; what potential do I see that can be realized; where are they open; where can I push or pull out of them. The dancers in Hohhut were some of the most open dancers I've ever worked with. The levels were varied - some not very high, and others equal to good dancers anywhere in the world. In the end, the dancers I was honored to have worked had their limits pushed and they grew from the experience.<br />
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One of the pleasures of working on this project was that I wasn't producing or directing, my only responsibility was to realize the vision of the director and do just one job: choreograph.<br />
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One dancer became my muse, and ended up being a kind of assistant. He didn't speak English, but he spoke dance. He was skilled in ballet, modern and character dances - had a great jump and also a lyric quality. He was able to adapt to new ways of moving quickly and I ended up spotlighting him the most. His name was Gouzhujia, but everyone called him Tsu for short. I could never pronounce it correctly, and only later found out I was calling him "cow"..... Ooops!<br />
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<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">Tsu's Solo in Hong Yan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Zh5MsoymGkAtdrIiNoAJB7LxozBrD42mMe1jg3ygjvE2-i4J05yR4vq_srd53dBvz7LNTv9kRUPet24g_GiZpfe_jTdJYTJvHWQLFGOzvf4SXhaJ_M3LFHCleRhQCgnFcRQPmhBAH6U/s1600/Hong+Yan+TSU.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487968449019672658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Zh5MsoymGkAtdrIiNoAJB7LxozBrD42mMe1jg3ygjvE2-i4J05yR4vq_srd53dBvz7LNTv9kRUPet24g_GiZpfe_jTdJYTJvHWQLFGOzvf4SXhaJ_M3LFHCleRhQCgnFcRQPmhBAH6U/s320/Hong+Yan+TSU.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 181px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 246px;" /></a><br />
Tsu in Hong Yan </div><br />
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Discovery & Integration: working on material with the Men... </div><br />
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<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">Left: Mongolian Welcome. Right: China Wonder (on the train to Shanghai)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6YZ7b-uPIFf0R_InomPnhcev8br7QHxIhbKbLWZ4byQrR-pzCpAgb2G_K0BgXS_fV7lZAiWwQbzKw0ZNTWoc_ejxx2N0fWgInXvRC_zCmk_9bMI98BKUlk0K23QzH5QaGXzwXK6RdDA/s1600/Tsu+in+MWelcome+jump.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487968750472282018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6YZ7b-uPIFf0R_InomPnhcev8br7QHxIhbKbLWZ4byQrR-pzCpAgb2G_K0BgXS_fV7lZAiWwQbzKw0ZNTWoc_ejxx2N0fWgInXvRC_zCmk_9bMI98BKUlk0K23QzH5QaGXzwXK6RdDA/s320/Tsu+in+MWelcome+jump.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 201px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnYRs9d0ZId81f4yUioIBsHLkICroQwIZPQOtwkduQTKlKq0EV9H3Yjmr3JZUP1Zr_sx7jvoPk1y3cuVe-SxP-cKzESvj5BqYvAOMWBpQHfy9sUR3hHuSNikoZCDSJWQ6QrIsgliS4OA/s1600/Train.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489447522015919186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnYRs9d0ZId81f4yUioIBsHLkICroQwIZPQOtwkduQTKlKq0EV9H3Yjmr3JZUP1Zr_sx7jvoPk1y3cuVe-SxP-cKzESvj5BqYvAOMWBpQHfy9sUR3hHuSNikoZCDSJWQ6QrIsgliS4OA/s320/Train.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 190px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> <br />
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The Process: Discovery & Integration - working with the women in the Mongolian Welcome dance<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Ladies in Mongolian Welcome</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCJCcErCy_r0PxNs6fdGJmcvBgM8azndWAfVijFR5RAdlKhjb7E9yVasuW-6LQTxnIASm5y-AdCo7IcnU2t7gG06DcodsVmv1nzsjogUmz6oPSGrUyfE1IRH7e7By-qsewbrJrH2S1cw/s1600/Ladies+in+MWelcome.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489628792484656370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCJCcErCy_r0PxNs6fdGJmcvBgM8azndWAfVijFR5RAdlKhjb7E9yVasuW-6LQTxnIASm5y-AdCo7IcnU2t7gG06DcodsVmv1nzsjogUmz6oPSGrUyfE1IRH7e7By-qsewbrJrH2S1cw/s200/Ladies+in+MWelcome.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 133px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Photos below: Like a Horse (Shanghai office scene)</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66mqyrTsBf1MmLO81Vwv27P5qR9kQlLOLPp4FTgH5Tkm17qSm0u_dkTF5LmXaojHzgO7n3rK63_WzvkjvS74zNeJhEETzdbfE5kXl6_tSXJyIdJ0XFe2Z-k6KF7X3ScEnajYwqaLwJJo/s1600/Horse+Dance.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487970224344578674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66mqyrTsBf1MmLO81Vwv27P5qR9kQlLOLPp4FTgH5Tkm17qSm0u_dkTF5LmXaojHzgO7n3rK63_WzvkjvS74zNeJhEETzdbfE5kXl6_tSXJyIdJ0XFe2Z-k6KF7X3ScEnajYwqaLwJJo/s320/Horse+Dance.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 142px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZsSPvJIc5SsFzdDf44iwUvJ6cCXr3pHG1HQftwfwgckTdBfHimSSUGnzQlwHjpVUvuL3P-k6ZY_8-8lNYjyBdMFeaSEOQ7y5TpO0INIZBOOc3iiKyz0dkMqvOrli6MAK-5l3dP6eCyQ/s1600/Horse+on+chairs+beg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489446357705467314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZsSPvJIc5SsFzdDf44iwUvJ6cCXr3pHG1HQftwfwgckTdBfHimSSUGnzQlwHjpVUvuL3P-k6ZY_8-8lNYjyBdMFeaSEOQ7y5TpO0INIZBOOc3iiKyz0dkMqvOrli6MAK-5l3dP6eCyQ/s320/Horse+on+chairs+beg.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 118px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Discovery & Integration - Men and Women in Mongolian Walk <br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">Photos below: Mongolian Walk segment</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMe64RN5cQ3HVntZQGxV2Pkp1ztO8fd9mqbrMJyIOIyFMhSP4SD8je8sGIjJ_Wryl_5jifEVW2_DhN6kQvbLK3rGp65FFb9a9ijwClA4cc2kzeEBO1rmcUukxMeYpox1IlVOcnYXilIU/s1600/Dancer+from+Mongolian+Walk+MG_1656.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487972865954412738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMe64RN5cQ3HVntZQGxV2Pkp1ztO8fd9mqbrMJyIOIyFMhSP4SD8je8sGIjJ_Wryl_5jifEVW2_DhN6kQvbLK3rGp65FFb9a9ijwClA4cc2kzeEBO1rmcUukxMeYpox1IlVOcnYXilIU/s320/Dancer+from+Mongolian+Walk+MG_1656.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 148px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 312px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx6P6l4OnYPR5GgIc54LMKZRMEcoc6oX2kLe8YmQ9Orjzjq7DnIm8VyiqPgCquFJRp1notn7Aw6rHwVW9LlmbkBKw-mW7Jef90bnhE4pTjYlAh_JvKJVn1Ut0FgN9xuJeO22N5aGrAVk/s1600/MWalk+diagonal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489446592169037202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx6P6l4OnYPR5GgIc54LMKZRMEcoc6oX2kLe8YmQ9Orjzjq7DnIm8VyiqPgCquFJRp1notn7Aw6rHwVW9LlmbkBKw-mW7Jef90bnhE4pTjYlAh_JvKJVn1Ut0FgN9xuJeO22N5aGrAVk/s320/MWalk+diagonal.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 172px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 297px;" /></a><br />
Below: "Catch the Girl" from end of the piece when they all catch each other with horse lassos instead of the girl<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoA_F5cQyy3zd4CgkUiNrK-4KTZTwpOUsWQRy7SQ0awHg_A6LNIci_FBfCd2P4PSbUOt7NB7Wlx_JudUg0AhG_PQgK0ls0bL7RY-wXE74cxBdnFzBI9B2PPwoHRNX1lWBac37EWct2ck/s1600/End+Catch+the+Girl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487973460839915586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoA_F5cQyy3zd4CgkUiNrK-4KTZTwpOUsWQRy7SQ0awHg_A6LNIci_FBfCd2P4PSbUOt7NB7Wlx_JudUg0AhG_PQgK0ls0bL7RY-wXE74cxBdnFzBI9B2PPwoHRNX1lWBac37EWct2ck/s320/End+Catch+the+Girl.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 132px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Hair Parting Scene (Just One Time) with Tuoya and Female Danceres</span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtxd2h6eZAe6QlIg8kOZDDX8S6wWz98i5GzhkWcX-NeD1mBDU5abLJFhybFTyHKee7mmG8VT_GRy3_H0pPoNm0jEay4W7Oxc_8nj2W6ZCZdyEDbOim3w35rFSStJYXhCw5cSnlB4X3vA/s1600/End+Hair+Parting.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487974241531192370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtxd2h6eZAe6QlIg8kOZDDX8S6wWz98i5GzhkWcX-NeD1mBDU5abLJFhybFTyHKee7mmG8VT_GRy3_H0pPoNm0jEay4W7Oxc_8nj2W6ZCZdyEDbOim3w35rFSStJYXhCw5cSnlB4X3vA/s320/End+Hair+Parting.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 145px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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A MUST listen!!! Check out this video of Homai singers - a kind of ancient Mongolian chant.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Singers: Chang Dian (and yes those guttural songs are coming from her!) Wen Li</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8uyMxxa3ERQ4uSjGtG9n_WNGiRp3YpXbhmfQpQxIVKxvQchyphenhyphenQyqueEln7f2jibwtUUQvwcRXSqz7eKovue1cmONol123XjyYAkXudgv17lUUdkSeoVG4YJHWWLI9-e7VF7RKzitQ40Y/s1600/Homai+guy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487975723571894610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8uyMxxa3ERQ4uSjGtG9n_WNGiRp3YpXbhmfQpQxIVKxvQchyphenhyphenQyqueEln7f2jibwtUUQvwcRXSqz7eKovue1cmONol123XjyYAkXudgv17lUUdkSeoVG4YJHWWLI9-e7VF7RKzitQ40Y/s320/Homai+guy.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 232px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 126px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCX8a-DL3Xcl6Zpw5-69eVgF4hqgrMSKG5LAWU8MmImI562RWfNeXnTyPTJdl8dWKWgQe2aH1JLtKSTmQi1U7r9lEPb7qxhmUHS3qbqt-2UeG50ENsHN5AEBWQgUK8_4n9MZJ5vvP3x0/s1600/Wen+Li.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489641647264136626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCX8a-DL3Xcl6Zpw5-69eVgF4hqgrMSKG5LAWU8MmImI562RWfNeXnTyPTJdl8dWKWgQe2aH1JLtKSTmQi1U7r9lEPb7qxhmUHS3qbqt-2UeG50ENsHN5AEBWQgUK8_4n9MZJ5vvP3x0/s320/Wen+Li.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Horsehead Fiddle: Fiddles & Dance segment in Mongolian Welcome<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Horsehead Fiddle player</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeZQd9wn7jXr9GPKy6jQpMK_XGalB5bHQQzWeO3sp6wnYjByG7M5QmNBzzmkmg0RwCSieVtfYjlgsTDxzrZrJWfnPKoMHx0O8Qovv8QLwzZ06mSkD9ZeCixFQs9UbG6UhuBhUGNckmbw/s1600/SANY0159.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489724825513540578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeZQd9wn7jXr9GPKy6jQpMK_XGalB5bHQQzWeO3sp6wnYjByG7M5QmNBzzmkmg0RwCSieVtfYjlgsTDxzrZrJWfnPKoMHx0O8Qovv8QLwzZ06mSkD9ZeCixFQs9UbG6UhuBhUGNckmbw/s200/SANY0159.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 150px;" /></a><br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CN_riAsTE08&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CN_riAsTE08&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">On a personal note.....</span>The biggest success of all was that I never had to squat. Once I heard about the state of the public bathrooms in China, I was determined to never experience one!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">MORE PHOTOS</span><br />
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I have added a few more random photos below, which include shots of Hohhut, my Beijing trip, and Shanghai. A couple are from David Caldwell's collection.<br />
Enjoy browsing!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hohhut</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Store front in Hohhut</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">(left);</span> <span style="font-size: 85%;">DaZhao Temple in Hohhut (center); Powerful Horse Symbol on building top (right)</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEFAOgAH1IYU_9oRy2CsPfswNTvLNf4OfL3IT0KfLl_TthbidiEiFxVAf1nCQE-Ku3Hl1fnIpdH-rHe6mggDLjDfaivd7mt5cvBMY01P8f9EGhBomHBjnl17mRKIyL19vu1NGvjWjY3Y/s1600/Powerful+Horse+Symbol+In+Monglia.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488114687057916322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEFAOgAH1IYU_9oRy2CsPfswNTvLNf4OfL3IT0KfLl_TthbidiEiFxVAf1nCQE-Ku3Hl1fnIpdH-rHe6mggDLjDfaivd7mt5cvBMY01P8f9EGhBomHBjnl17mRKIyL19vu1NGvjWjY3Y/s320/Powerful+Horse+Symbol+In+Monglia.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 146px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 219px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQTXtaPm2_XYRjnuLYopMvSg3Qe8hnvLheC5Su6tJyXRSyp2NLS3CdmSJJ3OpvAy00xEjy8j1I6lnBDs8W5HaYQ9Mc_gmeupAaafgKzeSjMhIkGNiCAzhYio84dL2LHcVLtmJDEFdaCQ/s1600/Street+in+Hohhut.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488115285204418482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQTXtaPm2_XYRjnuLYopMvSg3Qe8hnvLheC5Su6tJyXRSyp2NLS3CdmSJJ3OpvAy00xEjy8j1I6lnBDs8W5HaYQ9Mc_gmeupAaafgKzeSjMhIkGNiCAzhYio84dL2LHcVLtmJDEFdaCQ/s320/Street+in+Hohhut.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 143px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 191px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWnLVtxEuaFXdUQWPKIAKKNW8hHri6ILyf-XjoHjrlBlbQ3NbX_bX3sjkYoE6-vCfkFc6lY2svUGsBSMaoYb3vDy028QsmEMwPvadq_QiVwgQvoalKPe9T-CK197-Hk4aJMlt8xpVBBs/s1600/Buddhist+Temple+in+Hohhut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488115737371548146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWnLVtxEuaFXdUQWPKIAKKNW8hHri6ILyf-XjoHjrlBlbQ3NbX_bX3sjkYoE6-vCfkFc6lY2svUGsBSMaoYb3vDy028QsmEMwPvadq_QiVwgQvoalKPe9T-CK197-Hk4aJMlt8xpVBBs/s320/Buddhist+Temple+in+Hohhut.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 175px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 193px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Side Trip to Beijing</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Left: Me on The Great Wall below (I am the red speck on it). Right: The Performing Arts Center</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtzMFdoNjxtTOtgqC1g0T5FaQkyUSgB5aSTsbcClgDDsvajPg6JHPhndzyjW-QhKGgwT7RniVvlwZeHXs226TdFQgrd8q-ON_bY06ESVPfA823Bhq18Nu9ZpT_mvz3Dmt41FJcOWHYDI/s1600/Great+Wall.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488117039267585602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtzMFdoNjxtTOtgqC1g0T5FaQkyUSgB5aSTsbcClgDDsvajPg6JHPhndzyjW-QhKGgwT7RniVvlwZeHXs226TdFQgrd8q-ON_bY06ESVPfA823Bhq18Nu9ZpT_mvz3Dmt41FJcOWHYDI/s320/Great+Wall.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 304px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 274px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_gNFdZUjc_7_KgQ9dAYAiwB9FxL0vyhlB_G4lrOWqhvTEhj1A0sIbmrFD949bwpmfgm2P72XMxNkAFuEF3WVb0dBEArhTR_Mn5XhkU8Y8om-Hh8rd8Hoyc4RP2K3hdan_3jpg5FHMnE/s1600/image014.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489449950986775554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_gNFdZUjc_7_KgQ9dAYAiwB9FxL0vyhlB_G4lrOWqhvTEhj1A0sIbmrFD949bwpmfgm2P72XMxNkAFuEF3WVb0dBEArhTR_Mn5XhkU8Y8om-Hh8rd8Hoyc4RP2K3hdan_3jpg5FHMnE/s320/image014.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 194px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 346px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">The "DONT'S" outside the Performing Arts Center</span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1CdBsHWpgE7T9on69YkoUMPQnlTwRb7lovGB-7k11QTGnpMQ_Pj1Au-sopLJA1kPRICXXz13_e5CXKTmGDXEmrS-Va20XWi0puQyQbfw_M2hEsUp_qgbYhxw-vtUy7T6tbWrs_0kD4I/s1600/SANY0234.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489450202263653682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1CdBsHWpgE7T9on69YkoUMPQnlTwRb7lovGB-7k11QTGnpMQ_Pj1Au-sopLJA1kPRICXXz13_e5CXKTmGDXEmrS-Va20XWi0puQyQbfw_M2hEsUp_qgbYhxw-vtUy7T6tbWrs_0kD4I/s320/SANY0234.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 280px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 224px;" /></a><br />
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Shanghai</span><br />
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It's a city so big 5 NYC’s could fit comfortably inside of it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Shanghai river skyline near Seagull Hotel (left); China Pavilion at Expo</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14QHhI4QJMSYM8igz1K8kio2HT31Z0yOhddeqSI_cmneb4ZVSKLXe6JtXP-yGx9oInqviotfUaa4_KVQtZG9nXZgCkrEbCJVGhPBCD2QdfvKqIOHWDFDdwmtDf19usf37vxHPljXMEnQ/s1600/AMD+in+Shanghai+river+view.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488119699228543154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14QHhI4QJMSYM8igz1K8kio2HT31Z0yOhddeqSI_cmneb4ZVSKLXe6JtXP-yGx9oInqviotfUaa4_KVQtZG9nXZgCkrEbCJVGhPBCD2QdfvKqIOHWDFDdwmtDf19usf37vxHPljXMEnQ/s320/AMD+in+Shanghai+river+view.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS8ZB4JD6oolQ_p9hO13GgjrpABkimP8y1dPySdWeGv2x0teIWCT-1iq23je4lkBZZqzdA8j4tsHhHuwweHdnl5fw6Ll8kMnAaU48quweNhY3aGHVW1OdsXlLhhv9YxObzDXfg8qhqWs/s1600/China+Pavilian.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489990638833564386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS8ZB4JD6oolQ_p9hO13GgjrpABkimP8y1dPySdWeGv2x0teIWCT-1iq23je4lkBZZqzdA8j4tsHhHuwweHdnl5fw6Ll8kMnAaU48quweNhY3aGHVW1OdsXlLhhv9YxObzDXfg8qhqWs/s200/China+Pavilian.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 142px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnaMy7DwYY46QX2qOHnZwtyMVVFimjdBh0q86L_VpNysl0iHZRi3Mb1SK3rugQyE87vwaYtB_Hkz24FowUQntxPHHElKlzk-zCcJZ3qUpteup2NEgpGt7H8Lg9DH1ThXCJ0D5MN_vyQ8/s1600/Expo+Logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488000339865330370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnaMy7DwYY46QX2qOHnZwtyMVVFimjdBh0q86L_VpNysl0iHZRi3Mb1SK3rugQyE87vwaYtB_Hkz24FowUQntxPHHElKlzk-zCcJZ3qUpteup2NEgpGt7H8Lg9DH1ThXCJ0D5MN_vyQ8/s320/Expo+Logo.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 244px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 205px;" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Expo Logo...</span></div><br />
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<b>EVEN MORE PHOTOS</b><br />
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<a class="preview_link" href="http://gallery.me.com/daprod/100322" target="previewWindow" title="">China Diary Dance Photos</a> <br />
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<a class="preview_link" href="http://gallery.me.com/daprod/100329" target="previewWindow" title="">China Diary non-Dance Photos</a>DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-83224748313086602182009-12-20T02:43:00.000-08:002010-09-14T03:02:27.410-07:00FIREBACK: Step Up and MOVE!Step Up and MOVE!<br /><br />(sent to the New York Times) I am writing in response to the article on August 5, 2007, in the Arts and Leisure’s section called “Often on Point But Rarely In Charge”, by Claudia La Rocco. Having worked in the ballet world for nearly four decades as a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, producer, as well as having viewed thousands of performances in dance and theater disciplines, I found the article lacking in many ways.<br /><br />Female choreographers and directors have always played vital roles in ballet. In fact, many ballet companies were founded by women – American Ballet Theater, Britain’s Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, The Australian Ballet, The National Ballet of Cuba, Ballet de Monterrey, and ballet companies in Atlanta, Pennsylvania, Boston and Houston, as well as many others.<br /><br />Perhaps an even more relevant topic would have been, what is missing in current artistic leadership and how that impacts the future of ballet as a performing art. I believe the essential ingredients of vision and relevancy, are not always there. <br /><br />An artist of vision produces a product that is fresh, vital, alive, engaging, provocative, illuminating or disturbing, and most of all ‘memorable’. Two aspects of vision in a ballet organization are its identity (we are a company that produces dance), and its character (defined by the artist). An artistic director should lead a ballet company to discover and nourish its distinction, its flavor, its relevancy. In so many ways distinction is missing today. Dance is about movement, and without vision the field has become mired in sameness - stuck. I believe that this lack of vision is in direct proportion to the loss of audience.<br /><br />What is absolutely essential is the necessity for education in all areas within the field. Audience development and board education, especially when it comes time to select a director, are key components. The all too frequent challenges of tenuous financial support, mismanagement, and board control only defeat the quality of the product.<br /><br />My point then, is twofold. The first one is that there are qualified women of vision out there to be considered, if so recognized. This allows more opportunities for identifying leaders with vision. The second point is that if men are at the helm of the current artistic leadership in ballet, then they are also responsible for what is lacking.<br /><br />What’s my advice? Women step up! And, those at the helm - take your head out of your butt, and move forward!DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-37572684539683629722009-12-20T02:42:00.001-08:002010-09-15T03:18:25.267-07:00Vision and RelevancyVISION AND RELEVANCY<br /><br />In dance, in theater, in the roots of entertainment. The scariest thing is not to see a future. How can one have vision if they are afraid to see? Vision, be it personal or organizational, requires looking. In an arts organization the mission is the identity -- an organization that produces dance; but the character or real vision of that organization is defined by the "artist" -- who with vision, creates a distinct product. This is done by artists employed, programs done, collaborative endeavors sought. Speaking ballet, its is hard to find any distinction today. All companies are doing the same works. All follow the model Robert Joffrey set in motion - eclectic. Communities support the arts in proportion to their readiness. But, whats new? Whats new are works that evoke our time. Vision sees what is not there but the case today is that either those in charge don't have vision, or if they do, that vision is controlled by the limitations of the boards who hire them. Vision is connected to relevancy and relevancy is connected to topic of the human experience in relationship to those social, political or psychological experiences of the current times. With globalization - the unity of all forms has been set in motion. Works of ross-pollination, cross-genre, cross-media, collaborative fusion, blending and merging, are all relevant. Sameness emerge out of differences. Vision is intuitive - look around. Relevancy borrows from the old and blends it with the new or presents the known given in a different setting......Be, Stomp, Blast, De La Guarda, Do Jump, Thwak, Drumstruck, Riverdance, Contact, Movin' Out, Edward Scissorhands, Baz Luhrmann's "La Boheme", Broadway Underground, In the Heights, Spring Awakening, Absinthe.....DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-53191208707485022232009-12-20T02:40:00.000-08:002010-09-14T03:28:58.834-07:00Choreographer or Movement Specialist?What is a choreographer? I have a hard time assigning that word to both George Balanchine, and someone who does moves for a Gap commercial. Just as there are labels being created within the dance world to define genres of (and the various styles within)...."concert dance", "theater dance", "commercial dance" (which I find insulting that the ballet and modern world seem to have shrunk to a combined non-populist form called "concert dance"). I think there should be labels for types of dance creativity:<br /><ul><li>Choreographer for those creating substantive ballets that last 2o minutes or longer - where there is story, message, or musical interpretations (constructed or in a deconstructionist fashion).</li><li>Theater Dance Choreographer for those creating in musical theater</li><li>Dance Theater which refers to expressionism or works of European influence or Tanzthetater as I call it;</li><li>Environmental Dance-maker for those who create with external elements;<br /></li><li>Dance Arranger for those who take steps from various individual dancers - especially from different dance genres and pastes them together be it in concert dance or commercial dance;</li><li>Dance Routine Expert for those who create 1 - 2 minute dance routines for current reality TV dance shows; and,</li><li>Movement Specialist for those who use dance steps for moments in commercials.<br /></li></ul>Why I would feel better if new labels were invented.....because anyone is a choreographer in the true sense of the word as long as the body does steps and those steps move in space. Movement is inherent in everyone. All cultures have their own indigenous dance forms (what is ours....Square Dancing?). And, when we get to professional dance - where people are paid to create in dance -- 1 or 2 minutes of dance movements on TV, does not require the same same talent, skill, dance history, dance education, dance talent or vision as creating a full-length ballet.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-32619562113190993652009-12-20T02:39:00.001-08:002010-09-13T05:47:35.750-07:00The Confluence of Mish-Mash and Realty DanceSo where are we at these days with dance on TV? It is the first time in history that dance has in fact been on mainstream network channels vs. PBS. Once something is in our TV homes it becomes integrated into our society. The fact that my young nephew knows the word "choreography" is a testament to that - not a lot of young men new that word when I was growing up. Our culture is dancing more than ever now, but what does that mean to people going to see dance - will it bring a new audience to the theater - or keep the old one? Now that people can see dance for free on TV, why get dressed up and go see in "live" - save for a show with the stars from TV. My original hope was that this new form of exposure would keep the performing arts alive, but now I am not so sure. After all, the arts are seminal to all forms of entertainment, and they make the commercial arena possible.<br /><br />Here's a thought - what would SYTYCD be if <span style="font-style: italic;">A Chorus Line </span>was never done? The Broadway classic opened a huge door of insight into the process of a dancer - in all ways. Simply put, it was a show about dancers competing to get a job - to make money. The audience got to experience the same sense of voyeurism as they do in "reality TV" - and hence the long lasting engagement of this hit show. <br />The story about the competing dancers on SYTYCD is the reason people can get interested in the choreography - plus the fact that it is explained to the audience. You get an insight into the process. In the dance world, we only do this for lecture demonstrations - and there is an arrogance about letting the public know too much. As if our work holds some sacred secret that if disclosed will kill the creative spark. Or possibly, creators don't really know what they are doing. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">dance routines</span> on reality TV (for that is what they are, routines from a dance class- not choreography) are spoon-fed to the audience. <br /><br />To engage the TV audience more we have judges from who spew seemingly words of wisdom but who are not educated from any real substantive "artistic" arena - but put on a great show and allow for a fantastically arrogant criticisms. Most of which would not hold true for anyone working in the "concert" dance world. By the way, "concert" dance which means the entire ballet and modern dance world is considered insignificant to the commercial entourage. Mind you, I've had some of their choreographers solicit me for work in that arena, and anyone really <span style="font-weight: bold;">good</span> on the show has come from it. <br /><br />The confluence of mish-mash on SYTYCD is pretending to educate, but in reality, it is using authentic forms of dance, that have been build over decades, as a means for developing a new form of entertainment, which is not reality. If the 1 1/2 minute dance routine where done alone, by itself with no background what-so-ever, the show would have been off the air long ago.<br /><br />My point? We have a commercial and populist show that is an imitation of something authentic - and in order to keep one thing alive the other must be fed. Since the impact of their show comes from the arts - will there be a return. The arts need to be fed in all genres - in order to stay alive, and in order to continue feed more commercial forms of entertainment.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-71387161899069514572009-12-20T02:38:00.001-08:002010-09-12T03:48:24.839-07:00Is Bad Good?Is Bad Good?<br />Today in the performing arts or any form of entertainment, something is considered "good" if it actually makes it to the stage and gets presented. People are a lot less critical about the quality of what they see, if it has a message at all, or if it is actually fact "good". No one knows anymore. On one hand it is hard to create something of meaning in today's climate of pick-up companies and lack of rehearsal time in larger companies. Allowing, for the natural birthing process to emerge more flowered results. <br /> The challenge to create cohesiveness when working in a fragmented way is impossible. Because choreographers write with bodies - the subtle poetic messages meant to be artistically communicated -- through the body -- never gets heard. This higher-minded message that is Felt vs. intellectually realized, is missing. And it is missing because Process is missing. And it is missing because of lack of funds. And lack means there is no heart in the art..... which can only emerge through process. Art reflects life, and life is process. <br /><br />All the more so in dance, where the work is physical not mental. The real work need happen in the studio on bodies. Dancers too suffer - they learn something, perform it and break. Not enough rehearsal time for the body to transcend the physicality of the steps, in order to get to the higher realm of artistic communication. <br /><br />Back in the day, my day, no one got injured. Performing was a sacred experience, the studio a holy place. Good emerged out of what was authentic, real, felt on a soul/gut level, spiritual even. Now what is bad is considered good, and there is no turning back.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-77371634300156451202009-12-20T02:36:00.000-08:002010-09-14T03:01:13.095-07:00NCI: Art vs. EntertainmentI recently did a choreography workshop with NCI (National Choreography Initiative), created by Molly Lynch which is something we need more of in the dance world (workshops to develop material). I decided to do a piece about the process of doing a piece - something I've always wanted to do. And indeed it served as a seed for a larger project. Each day I decided to chisel out some time to talk with the dancers - to ask questions about things like.....why they danced, magic moments in theater, something Michelle Obama said at an ABT gala (that it is important to support the arts because they breed creative thinkers, and we need need creative thinkers more than ever now to solve the problems of the world); intuition, dance on television and so on. These great group of dancers came from ballet companies all over the country. Then the question of what was art popped up.....vs. entertainment. I love that question. In whatever medium creative artists are making work, it is all entertainment. Art is often rough around the edges and not in a neat tidy box. But what makes the more clear distinction about what is "art" boils down to what you take home with you. What you remember. What lives in your memory forever. That's art. The other is fun for the moment and easily forgettable.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406478618343232286.post-81568162949586469132009-12-20T02:34:00.000-08:002010-09-13T04:45:33.033-07:00Creating in Today's Climate - Ouch!How to Create in Today's Pick-up Climate<br /><br />(8/25/07)<br /><br />I've learned over the past decade what it means to be a freelance choreographer, have a freelance company and juggle freelance creativity. No different than it was in the 1980's, only then, it was easy to get studio space. Now, there is a dearth of space in New York City - and you can never get anything spur-of-the-moment, let along a week in advance. I direct a big dance-Show benefit each year. Everyone knows, that benefits are perhaps the hardest thing to assemble - because everyone is donating their time. For some reason, under the circumstances, artists feel like they are entitled to behave unprofessionally such as not returning calls, showing up for rehearsals or canceling after making a commitment, and then simply not doing the gig they signed on for (understandably if it was in substitution for paid work). Creating something new is almost entirely impossible, not just in assembling artists busy with other things, but mainly to actually get the studio space to do so.<br /><br />I decided to create a dance that was piece Mixing dance styles. A multi-disciplinary-cross-pollination of talents in a variety of dance genres. My Mix included a pioneer Street Dancer - Mr. Wiggles, a Tap Dancer - Jason Samuels Smith, a multi-talent - Anthony Bryant (Julliard graduate), an Acrobatic duet couple formerly from Cirque du Soleil - Sara Joel and Kevin Gibbs, pre-professional Ballet dancers from the Joffrey school, the New Jersey World Cup All Star Cheerleading group; a female Hip Hop group - TruEssencia, and a DJ - DPOne - who does Break Dancing, and a Drummer - Dylan Giagni, who Wrestles.<br /><br />I started the rehearsal process working with Anthony, at the Julliard Studio’s in May – a couple of 2 hour days. Quickly we set steps with his baton, hoop, ribbon and ball. The composer, Miguel Frasconi, came in one day – to create music for one of his magic-bag-of-tricks dances. I taped what we did and set the time for when next to see him in August.<br /><br />August involved 3 days – I booked and paid for studio space at Studio 5-2. But, they called the day before my first rehearsal claiming a ‘computer glitch’ and canceled my first rehearsal. Mr. Wiggles was flying in from Europe - for this week of rehearsals – and this was our first day. I e-mailed Studio 5-2 – saying that I “did not appreciate the computer glitch – and would remember not to book space with them in the future”. Scrambling for last minute studio space, I found something at the dependable New Dance Group (which no longer exists). No sooner did we confirm, that they called to say the time they thought they had was wrong. Since I had already e-mailed the group of dancers who all had their own individual work schedules and commitments, I tried to keep the hours the same - because I knew it would be impossible to re-schedule everyone at another time. With much effort, I ended up with less time and less space but at least some kind of space - at another studio.<br /><br />The next day would be better I thought – we had space booked at Ailey – an even more dependable place, because they make you fill out medical forms, do a financial back ground check, and have to see your passport, birth certificate, drivers license, and take your finger prints, as well as check to see you have valid credit cards in order to book space. We were confirmed for - and paid for space each day from 12 – 2. Several dancers were called and confirmed the days and times. When I got to Ailey at 11:30 I was told we didn’t have space at all. After more research and phone calls, they discovered that we did indeed have space – from 2 – 4 p.m. - different then what the contract said I had with them. "Impossible, " I said – "we have an invoice that says otherwise". Needless to say, with much effort, they were able to squeeze us in somewhere for that day from 12 - 2, but not the other days.<br /><br />My Cirque dancer assured me that not only would things come together, and that she could e-mail me a video of her partner (who wouldn’t be with us until a couple days before the event) on YouTube – so that I could pick and choose various Moves that he does --- that I might want to use, in the dance. Gee, choreography by YouTube. Maybe I could just pull excerpts from the various artists video's and make a film and project that instead of creating something new and "live".<br /><br />Next I was to discover that Jason, would be in Hawaii the week before the show – meaning that I would have to finish and set the final version the week before that - and there was an issue with his Tap platform. Where would it "live" once he brought it in from New Jersey?<br /><br />TruEssencia can only work only work in the evening – and the 3 Ladies had totally different work schedules to work around. The Cheerleaders could only come into the city in the evening – but at times to avoid the NJ traffic - and in a studio space with high ceilings for their "throw-lifts". The ballet dancers were not yet committed and Anthony joined a company for the Fall and had a limited time to be available for rehearsals. Part of the Cirque couple lived in NY and the other in Las Vegas. I'd have to find a day with Kevin was in NY to set the piece. The DJ was in and out of NY with a touring schedule, and the drummer arrives a week and half before. I will go ahead and get space anyway, I thought, and demand that they show up. That idea did not work.<br /><br />All in all, the piece never came together until the actual show itself. That is when I saw it for the first time. Lesson? Don't do something new on a benefit unless you have a working company and your own studio space.<br /><br />Oh, Jason's manager got me another Tap dancer to work with will he was gone, and we worked out with Andre at City Center to let the platform "live" there the week before the show. But, we could not take it downstairs from the studio directly -- into the backstage door of City Center or we would incur $1,000 in stagehand time. A rule of the theater, if performing artists are rehearsing in the complex building. We ended up avoiding the cost by having my assistants take the platform outside the building the morning of the show, and bring it back in the loading dock -- the next door down the street - to come into the building as a prop. By doing this we saved money.DEANGELO DANCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144329320362487981noreply@blogger.com0