I saw another show today – the Companhia de Danca Deborah Colker under the direction of Deborah Colker at the New York City Center. I enjoyed the show, but this reviewer thought a little differently:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/arts/dance/24colker.html

However, you can read the description of the show. Deborah Colker uses a lot of props and, personally, I enjoyed it because of how she used the props. As I said in my previous blog I’m a huge fan of dancers with great athleticism and physicality. This show definitely required a lot of strength and control to make it look so easy. Here’s their promo video where you can see some of her previous works and a snippet of the work I saw today (with the vases):

http://www.nycitycenter.org/content/misc/dc10.aspx

I am truly inspired by these amazing choreographers and dancers that I’ve been seeing and am only reminded of exactly why I chose to leave my comfort zone and come out here to dance. The question is if I will be able to pull it off, but I can only die trying!

This next week we get a new technique teacher for our ballet and modern classes so it’s kind of like a new semester or quarter. It will be interesting learning a different style and teaching pedagogy that we’ve been getting for the past 7 weeks. I will keep you all updated.

Thanks for reading my short blog and check out the Companhia de Danca Deborah Colker.

So as you can read in the title if you don’t know who Cedarlake Contemporary Ballet are then look them up! I saw their show tonight and it was absolutely amazing. It was called, “Orbo Novo” choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Here is the link to see the promo video (copy and paste the link so you can watch it now and know what I’m talking about):

http://www.cedarlakedance.com/index.php?id=10

As you can see in the video the dancers are so very talented, athletic, and amazing. All of their movement was so fluid and seamless, yet very physical and demanding. I got to sit pretty close to the stage so I could see exactly how much energy and strength all the movement required and to see it executed so fluidly almost brought me to tears because it was done so amazingly. I so appreciated how talented the dancers are. I am a big fan of dancers who are very strong not only technically, but physically as well. The way they danced was everything I believe in with my own personal movement. It was physical, demanding, yet fluid and seamless.

Here is a link to their review in the New York Times. The reviewer, Gia Kourlas, can describe the show much better than I can:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/arts/dance/22cedar.html

Like the writer described the show they climbed on the “cages” that were moveable and poked through and hung from them. They also made it look very easy, which we all know takes a lot of strength and control. I also really admired the costume design. I agree with the writer that the clothing looked “strangely dated”, yet it also had a retro feel as well. Usually I don’t enjoy lavish and overly embellished costumes in a dance performance (not saying that theirs was), but I really enjoyed the costume design in this show. The designer utilized long skirts for the women in which they changed in and out of so that they didn’t dance in them the entire time. They would have pants that had matching material as their skirts.

The movement they happen to do in the show involving “falls and recovery” is a lot like what I’m choreographing in my solo currently. The choreographer also had them do a lot of floor work, which really inspired me as well, because the whole beginning of my solo takes place on the floor and I transition myself to standing. I’ve been having a difficult time working through that transition, but I am rehearsing again tomorrow and will use my new inspiration to help me.

On another note, I found a composer to work with! It’s another NYU student who is a part of the Steinhardt School of Music. His name is Elias and he and I got to meet for the first time today. He had a piece of music already for me to listen to because I had emailed him a video of my working choreography (with no sound) so that he could see what would inspire him. He had a piece of music he had done from a fashion show so we listened to it and discussed what sounds could be added, taken out, etc. It was a great experience being able to have some collaboration with a composer. I’ve never done that before so this is a great learning experience for me. Elias is also interested in collaborating on a project where the choreography literally inspires the sound. He has a program on the computer where it takes in live video feed of the dancers and when the dancers move through space the music will reflect in a certain way. It’s a little difficult to explain, but I am so excited for this collaboration! I will keep you all updated.

So check out Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and thanks for reading!

The title of this blog is the last line from one of my favorite childhood books: The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree. For some reason I always say it to myself when I return home after a long or hard time away. We just got back from our tour to Tokyo last Tuesday and while it was a very challenging, fulfilling and interesting tour I think everyone was happy to get back to New York. I really enjoy Tokyo but there are so many little things that are just so fundamentally different there that make it hard for me. Silly things like the fact that everyone walks on the left side of staircases or sidewalks (it took me a few days to figure out why I kept running into so many people) and also the Japanese were constantly bowing to us and while I appreciate their respect I couldn’t help feeling a little awkward. I think that if I took the time to research their culture more I would grow to love the country but I didn’t have time to do that for our 8 day trip. All that being said I did manage to have a good time despite the unfamiliarity of everything. My favorite part of each day was actually dinner because I love Japanese food and wanted to soak up as much of the real stuff as I could. My favorite places ended up being the cheapest meals: ramen, there is just nothing as comforting as a big bowl of soup. I also had some excellent sushi, although the miso soup I ordered one night came with a fish eyeball in it (I still had it and it was delicious!). I am also happy to report that all of the performances went very well. This was the company’s 4th trip to Tokyo and I image that we will be returning again. The audiences in Tokyo were very polite, you would have almost thought that they weren’t enjoying the show because for the first 2 ballets of an evening they would only clap quietly for a relatively short amount of time. However, after the last ballet each night they would show their approval demanding 4 or 5 curtain calls every night. There are also some very devout fans coming to the stage door multiple days in a row to get autographs and take pictures. I even received a gift from a fan or a porcelain crab (in lieu of flowers since they are not lasting) as a memento of the trip. There were even a few people that came to see our buses off at 7:15 in the morning our last day there!
I am still trying to fight jet lag 6 days after returning home, it is amazing how quickly your schedule can be turn upside down. We start rehearsals for our winter season on Wednesday so I am trying to squeeze in as much rest and relaxation before that begins.

You know how I know it is almost winter…I am sick!!! hahaha…the only time I ever get sick is when kids go back to school and fester between each other…get each other suck, and then bring it into the dance studio to get the dance teachers sick. This is why I have been silent the last few days, I have just been trying to get over this thing, and I think I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In the midst of all of this, I have been rehearsing for an upcoming Christmas Showcase I am putting on at my ballroom studio this December. I will be dancing with my professional partner, Martin Tomaszewski, and also with some of my students. Overall I believe I have about 8 routines to learn…don’t know why I do this to myself, but it is my business so I guess it’s my job. Now I’m in the process of doing the fun part and finding costumes for all of these dances haha, which can get costly so I have to be creative. At the end of the night, I’ve invited a Professional Latin couple, husband and wife, to come and perform a few dances for us, which I am very excited about. They are ranked in the top 8 of the world right now in their Latin division, so I cannot wait.

With Halloween coming up I am also throwing a costume party at the studio for everyone to come to with a live DJ, food, and drinks. We’ve had it in the past, and it has always been a blast. I’m thinking of doing a tribute to Michael Jackson and teaching the group who comes how to do a small section from “Thriller”…can you imagine a bunch of older Asians dancing to “Thriller” in Halloween costumes and ballroom heels…..OOOOOHHHH my I cannot wait! I will videotape it and post it on here for you to see if they actually agree to it…it’s going to be hilarious, so stay tuned. Hope you’re all well and staying healthy!

Briana

Today we had the first day of the Fall season. I’m not a real New Yorker, but I was hearing from the other students that they hate this time of the year. It got into the mid ’40s today and those of you from CAprobably don’t even know how cold that is! It was also raining all day so that didn’t help either. It also doesn’t help that I have a leak in my rain boots! Oh well at least it’s a valid excuse for a birthday present from my fiancé .

I’m anxious to find out how it’s going to work when it gets even colder. Now just so you all know I grew up in CA my entire life so I’ve never experienced being in real cold weather. Plus, if it was even remotely cold I at least had a car where I could blast the heat. It’s completely different now that I have to walk everywhere. No more blasting the heat in my car and feeling comfortable while traveling from one place to the next . It’s okay though, it’s all part of my new living experience! I’m trying to be optimistic can you tell LOL. Thank goodness I live really close to the school and only have to walk 4 blocks up. I am really glad that I got an apartment close by it really helps! I can’t even imagine how it is for my colleagues to travel 30 min or more to and from school. I am so thankful for being able to have the apartment I have. However, those few blocks are quite the killer. The only part of my body that’s uncovered is my face  and it’s burning in the cold! I know, I know. I’m dramatizing just a bit, but remember I’m from CA!

Alright, enough about the new climate change. First step is to get new rain boots, next step is to get a hat, next get some leather gloves, and last bust out the wool coat. I bought a wool coat with Chester on our visit to Chicago (my first experience of cold weather) and have never used it since, but now I will have plenty of use for it.

Next week we have what the school calls the “seventh inning stretch”, which means that we only have 1 technique class in the morning as opposed to 2. So I guess it’s a little break that we get after the first 6 weeks. Then after next week we get a new teacher for both our ballet and modern technique classes, or more precisely the teachers rotate. It makes me a little sad because I’ve really enjoyed the teachers I’ve had so far, but I’m also looking forward to learning new styles and different things from the different teachers.

Also, in the upcoming weeks I will be having my first performance at Tisch. It’s the first student choreography show that we have (there are 3 this semester) and I’m performing in my fellow MFA’s piece. It’ll be pretty exciting getting to dance in the theater for the first time, and getting to know it pretty well as that’s the theater we will always perform in. So it’ll get pretty busy these next coming weeks, but the upside is that performing is what I came here to do and performing is what I will be doing. It’s a win-win situation (or as Michael Scott would say, “It’s a win-win-win situation. If any of you watch The Office ). Plus, my mom will be coming to stay with me for a couple of weeks so that’s a bonus as well!

Alright, until next time…hopefully the weather will stay in the mid-40s…doubt it though!

In the last few days I have really witnessed some pretty hurtful moments as a teacher. I know everyone is struggling these days with the economy and whatnot, but some people are really suffering! A couple of my kids I have been teaching for a few years just dropped out of all of their classes this season due to financial issues at home. People are getting sick left and right…just feel like everyone has been dropping like flies whether it be because of financial reasons, sickness, injury, or school related activities. I have found it really difficult to keep myself motivated as a teacher/choreographer when you feel as though you are not doing your job of motivating people. Although it is not because of me that things are happening, for some reason I still feel bad when I lose people. Guess it’s just a part of life’s cycle…people filter out and new people filter in. The one thing I would like to tell those kids who are having financial issues at home is…please do NOT give up. There ARE programs out there for scholarships through your studio, or non-profit organization that I’m sure would be willing to take into consideration what you’re going through. I hate to lsoe people that are going through tough times, because those are the ones that seem to really love it the most! If anyone is having trouble, please let me know if I can help give some suggestions. Thanks for listening, and keep positive everyone…hopefully the touch times will be over soon! Good night…

Briana

It’s been a rainy start to our tour here in Tokyo, typhoon Melor decided to visit at the same time as us! Even though it has been raining for the past three days I have still tried to get out and take advantage of some of the free time we’ve had so far. On the first morning here a group of us met at 5 am (which was surprisingly easy thanks to the jet lag) to visit the famous fish market in Tokyo. It was a sight to see tuna that were over 5 feet long and appeared to weigh well over 150 lbs. We ate breakfast at a sushi bar right off the market, it was amazing to have fresh fish that you know was literally caught hours prior. I think that may be the best sushi I will ever have.
Yesterday was the first day of rehearsal and I have to be honest it was a difficult day for everyone. With three days off, long travel days and and an unfamiliar environment everyone was a little cranky, but we got through the first day and opening night is tonight. The audience here in the past has been very warm and receptive and we always sell very well in Japan.
I’ll let you know how the show go and any more fun outings I got on soon!

Hello it’s Tuesday and I hope you are all having a great week so far! My legs are currently exhausted (mostly from pointe class), but other than that my brain is still active.

We’ve been having this “Don’t think, just do” phrase come up in many of our classes during these past few weeks. It can be applied to most creative circumstances and I really feel that it’s been helpful. For example in our acting classes we have had to partner up and do an improvisation scene where there is a conflict and the scene is seeing where the conflict takes us (in terms of acting). What we’ve all learned is that if we just do the scene as opposed to thinking too much about it helps us react better. I remember my first improv scene and all I could think about was, “What do I say now?”, “What should be going on?”, “Nothing is happening, oh no.” And now that we’ve done this assignment a couple of times we’ve all learned that it’s more fulfilling and less stressful if we just DO the scene and not think about it too much. Simply listening to each other and reacting is really all that was needed.

I feel that this is also applicable when trying to create something – like choreography.  Personally, anytime I try to come up with choreography while thinking too much doesn’t really get me anywhere. I suppose it’s a different situation when you’re stuck in traffic and the only thing you can do is choreograph in your head, which I’ve done many times before, but if you’re in a situation where you have freedom to create anything you want the best thing is to just do it and not think. I’ve found that videotaping myself improvise movement and then watching it later has helped me come up with more creative stuff because it’s spontaneous and I wasn’t thinking too much about what I was doing.

Also, if you’re stuck (a choreographer’s block if you will) and you can’t seem to be able to create anything, then you can come up with some kind of restriction or rule. One of our teachers, Kay, told us that if we have trouble creating what helps is to create an obstacle. For example, you can tell yourself, “Okay I can only move one leg and not the other,” then you can see what kind of movement can be created with that restriction.

I know for most of us being a dancer is a lot of thinking and for most of my classes I strongly urge my dancers to THINK about what they’re doing in class. However, there needs to be a point where the thinking stops and the body is moving freely on its own. I guess it’s a muscle memory thing, but I know that when I am on stage I really don’t think at all. I just simply DO the movement presently in that moment.

Those are my thoughts for today. Thanks for reading! Have a great week

The last few days have kind of been a roller coaster for me. In this exciting journey of my many adventures, sometimes I have good days and some days are a bit rough. It’s amazing when things are going well, isn’t it? But just when I thought things were getting easier, hahaha, they don’t and I get let down a bit. I guess I am just very sensitive when it comes to achievements. I am very hard on myself, and that’s probably why I can do a lot of things I can…but as any normal human being, it is very easy to get in “rut”. I swear it is like a downward spiral, “as my mother always says”…thinking negatively never gets you anywhere. I know every person goes through a phase in their life asking themselves the big question, “What am I doing with my life???” “Am I where I want to be”, and honestly at this point in time tonight I can say that I am doing everything I love and I couldn’t ask for anything more. And then there is also doubt. “Should I get a REAL job….the 9-5…is that right for me…am I going to make it on a dancer’s salary?” I know this is a bit scary to talk about, but we all go through it and it’s perfectly normal. I’ve gone through those periods where I think I should go back to school and do something other than dance and get a backup plan. Heck, sometimes at night I still wonder that (especially having a difficult day). But would I really be happy, is what I always ask myself. Could I ever stop what I’m doing?…and the answer is always the same, NO! No matter how much crap and drama I have to deal with, this is all I know and it is a part of me. The further I get away from where my heart really lies is the more untruthful I am being to my real feelings. We all know dancers are on the low end of the totem pole and our life expectancy isn’t necessarily the highest for our career, but those little things aside…I’d rather be dancing or teaching 10 hours a day to try and pay rent then sit behind a desk doing something just to pay my bills. Who cares about money anyways (hahaha I don’t say that when I want to go shopping, but you know what I mean).? UGH!!!! I just have to keep plotting along and have to believe that good things happen to good people, and you will always have those certain people that can screw you over, but one day it will come back around and there will be light, hopefully soon, at the end of this long journey ahead of me. Thanks for listening, and keep dreaming big, no matter what anyone tells you!

hey guys so thanks 4 the support and to those of you for supporting the movie i hope that you have all enjoyed it. I know shelli was saying you know to talk about how to get a dance job something like that and what not. well i just think that the biggest thing is growing up make sure and be in all ur classes and what not so you can be confindent and always have the technique backbone. because a lot of audition i have been too especially lately the first thing thyey do is type cast you. which is basically where they see if you fir the roll and what not. and then it seems like alwyas by the time they get to the end they look at your technique.  it seems like that is what it comes down to a lot of times because they are many people that look like high schoolers for example that are cute and have sort of a look you know…but not many have all the training and technique to back that stuff up and with true technique the choreographer knows you know that you can ultimately pick up anything they have to throw at you so ya guys just growing up now is the time to focus on that kinda stuff! yay 4 technique class

rey