ATD: IN THE STUDIO - Up Here (Parts I, II)

One of my favorite parts of making work is taking the footage from rehearsal, picking out my most loved moments and spinning them together for a sneak peek into what we're working on in the studio.

Up Here (Parts I, II) is a piece very dear to my heart, as are each of the works are that belong to SPARC. Up Here is the "P" in SPARC. It's about remembering, searching, celebrating those moments you once shared. Finding yourself lost in your memories, basking in the light that once shined on your heart. Feeling that space that was filled as if it were never emptied. Sensing that presence and making a connection - no matter how brief or subtle. Enjoying what was, and moving forward forever changed.

I am eternally grateful for those who have shared their stories with me and have trusted my vision to express their tales.

Here is a short look into what Erin and I have been brewing.

Up Here (Parts I, II) will premiere March 15-16th, at the JSB TEK BOX as a part of TRANSForm Dance Collective's 3rd Annual Concert and Teaching series. An original score is being developed by Sam L. Richards (the track I layered in the video clip is not what we're using).

Check out more info about TRANSForm, our tax-deductible Indiegogo Campaign and where to buy tickets.

Moving with you is a gift.

On the Subject of Together

You've guessed it. (You were guessing, right?)

It's that time of year again when the good old girls and boy from Oregon, who've since spread out around the country, get together and put on one heck of a show with an accompanying teaching residency to boot! Don't know what I'm talking about? Go read about us here.

For the first time in our three years of concert producing and teaching, all 8 of the TRANSForm Dance Collective members will be taking over the Twin Cities and the James Sewell Ballet TEK BOX Theater at the Cowles Center. We'll have two nights in the theater with daytime classes from 10-4pm.

This year I'm bringing the latest addition to SPARC titled, Up Here (Parts I, II). It's a duet with the lovely Erin Cairns Cella and myself. Taking a different approach to our over arching subject of loss, in this piece we're remembering and even celebrating our loved ones through sensing, shadowing and somehow finding each other while in two different places. It's an interesting piece to perform, as I find myself really not "seeing" Erin in the space, but truly yearning for a memory we shared and trying to recreate it over and over again. How fitting with our TRANSForm concert title, On the Subject of Together.

Speaking of, I'm the ring leader of the fundraising efforts for this year's concert. Thanks to the exquisite members of the collective (and you for spreading the word ::wink:: ::shoulder nudge::), we've made this video for your viewing pleasure and if you feel moved, consider donating anything you are comfortable with. If that's not in the cards this time around, you can share our link via email, facebook, twitter or telling your friends when you are having brunch or late night drinks.

Alright kids, get your dance on. It's 10:39 on a Sunday. Over and out.

HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE/ DANCE IN CAHILL 2

My friends, it's been a while but we've been busy, busy bees scheduling rehearsals and taking off on a blunder of choreographic inspiration and re-staging an old but beloved work of mine.

I'll be in the Bronx at the College of Mount Saint Vincent for Red Monkey Theater Group's second dance concert, HIDDEN IN THIS PICTURE/ DANCE IN CAHILL 2 on Saturday, March 9th at 8pm and Saturday, March 10th at 2pm.

Please come join us at the Cahill Theater to see Erin Cairns Cella, Sarah Lehman, and Joanna Nobbe dolled up in their corsets, winding up a storm from their chairs and they perform After Hours in the Parlour Room, with an original score by musical extraordinaire Sam L. Richards. Other performances by Danielle Aviezer, Jessica Burns and Dina-Verley Christophe. The night will start off with "Hidden in This Picture," a one-act comedy by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, West Wing, The Social Network, The Newsroom). Buy tickets here.

A special preview performance of "Hidden In This Picture" on Friday, March 8th at 8pm will benefit the College of Mount Saint Vincent's student theater club.

So, come check us out and see what's going on in our community of dance, theater and new friends.

And keep a close eye on us... we're going to Minneapolis next! More info in my next post.

Teaching at DNA - THIS WEEKEND!

We took a little break over the holidays but we're starting to get back into gear starting with teaching class this Saturday (1/12) at Dance New Amsterdam.

Join me from 12-1:30pm for Beginning Modern where we'll be working with timing, expansion, flow, riding waves, and feeling good while getting pretty sweaty.

And if that's not enough, take it a step further and come back at 4:30-6pm for Intermediate Modern. It's sure to be an excellent day of dancing and making our hearts feel whole.

I would love to see you - and bring a friend!

** Dance New Amsterdam is located in Manhattan at 53 Chambers between Broadway and Elk Street. **

Her Story - Duet Teaser

With the WAXworks showcase coming up in a couple weeks (Sunday, Dec. 16th, specifically), I have a short teaser to tame your curiosity short term, but make you even more hungry to see what else we're cookin' up in the studios. This is getting good, folks.

Here is Michelle and Celie in the duet section of Her Story.

Dance on, people. Dance on.

ATD is now sponsored by Fractured Atlas!

See that nifty new page link up there that reads, Support?

That, my friends, is the newest addition to this site and it excites me greatly, not only be able to collect donations in order to pay my supremely excellent dancers, genius composers Sam and David, and photographer, space rentals, costumes, travel and lodging, etc. but that it is now officially tax-deductible by the fullest extent of the law! How perfect!

As a recent addition to the Fractured Atlas Fiscally Sponsored Artist family, I now have the ability to apply for grants that are otherwise not available to me without a non-profit, or 501(c)3, status. With FA, I am now under their non-profit umbrella which opens me up to a multitude of opportunities, and the bonus for you is that it's tax deductible! The catch is that I must raise $1,000 before these grants are made available to me. Now, I can do a whole lot with $1,000 including pay my dancers for rehearsal and performances, pay for rehearsal space, pay my composers, Sam and David, who always make the most breath-taking compositions, pay a costume designer, and put any remainder into future performances - as I would really love to have this project produced in a theater and invite all of you!

With an upcoming performance at WAXworks this December 16th, we're really rolling with our latest evening length project, currently titled, SPARC. Her Story is shaping up quite well with a beautiful solo from Valerie Miller, a duet with Michelle Friend and Celie Erickson, and a corps of dancers including Alyssa Caliendo, Julie Goldberg, Rachel Slaughter and Julia Vickers. We also have another duet with myself and Erin Cairns Cella that was well received at THROW, a work in progress showing, last Tuesday where one viewer told me, "You have luscious moves!" And of course, the first installment, So we go there, where nothing is waiting, has since been performed in Charlotte, NC, Brooklyn and Long Island City, NY. We're three pieces deep into this evening length performance and have at least two more to go, as well as a film installation to make!

Being a working woman, I've worked hard in all of my jobs whether they be a dance-oriented position, retail, or health services, just so I could keep doing the job I truly love - dance. All of my dancers are also working women, striving to break the mold and earn a living doing what is an essential piece of our culture and history - dance. This is why it is so important for me to try my hardest and pay them for their time, their dedication to our craft, and for being stuck in a stinky, sweaty studio with me for several hours on end without fail. Did you know that most dancers have to work 3-5 jobs just so they can afford the time and space to dance? Crains New York published this article in February.

If you would like to donate, you can follow this link, or contact me directly at AlexandraTaylorDance@gmail.com. If you would prefer to donate to something specific (rehearsal space, pay for dancer's time, etc.), I'm also more than happy to talk with you about that - just shoot me an email and we'll chat. Another bonus - there is no deadline. You can donate as often and whenever you'd like.

Lastly, don't forget to join our mailing list to get updates about performances, classes, and other exciting news.

Thanks for reading. Now, dance on, people!

THROW on some inspiration and intrigue... Feedback is a choreographic tool.

Last night was excellent. I am quite smitten with the other artists that performed and showed work. Quite smitten.

But first, a very big thank you to the massive audience that attended Sarah Maxfield's THROW (curated by Lindsey Dietz Marchant '12-'13) last night at The Chocolate Factory Theater. Not a single seat was empty! I can't stress how important it is to have an actual feedback session for works in progress. Coming from the college and grad school realm, I was able to make works in confidence due to the continuous feedback and ability to really invest in my craft. You get an opportunity to touch base with outside eyes and minds that can offer such fruitful information about what you are showing your audience.

Erin and I haven't been working long on this piece but we have very clear directives that have led our rehearsals through improv and phrase development. Knowing that Erin and I move in very different ways, I am comforted by our ability to connect emotionally, mentally, and still physically. Working with someone so intelligent and open-minded makes a world of difference and keeps the process not only interesting, but fulfilling. No wonder she is in such high demand!

My goal for last night was to evoke memories of those who we were once very close but not necessarily here with us any longer - whether that be because they've passed, moved away, or what ever the case.

Luckily, my goal was met as I asked three questions to the audience which were:

• If you were to cast this piece with two people from your life, who would they be and why?
  
• What space/time/world/realm do each of those characters exist? Is it the same, are they different, what does it look like?
  
• What memories, thoughts or images did the work bring to mind while watching?

The responses were varied from person to person with their own interpretation of the question asked. Most frequently I received comments that the two characters were experiencing the same thing but in two different worlds or space. Unable to see each other, their interactions ranged from sensing one another's presence, being startled by the other's touch and moving through space together but in different worlds or time. There was a sense of mother and child, teacher and student, (seahorse) sisters [my favorite] and protection and unadulterated freedom with childlike curiosity. 

As I move forward with this process and the others I'm knee deep in, I'll see if I can't come up with an open rehearsal for the purposes of exposing the works in this project to different audiences and receive feedback for their further development. If you are an artist and ever want an extra eye or voice for feedback, please feel free to connect with me. I truly believe it's an incredibly helpful tool that can confirm your intent or take you on a new journey with your work. 

Lastly, I just can't thank Sarah Maxfield and Lindsey Dietz Marchant enough for the opportunity to show my work last night. The structure of the showing is very clean and always attracts the most amazing crowd of dance lovers that do anything but sit and dead stare while you await answers to your questions. This carefully crafted event is a must-go for anyone wanting to see what's going on with various artists, it's easy on the wallet (FREE with drinks for purchase), and it's an excellent opportunity for other artists to take another look at their current or past projects whether you're showing or just observing. It's killer.

That's all for now but as always people, dance on. 

Ps. Catherine Galasso and Barbie Diewald were stunning. You should seriously check them out.