Holiday dance picks

Just a follow up from last week's post with several holiday theatre picks. Here are some dance happenings for the holidays, in no particular order:

1) Magical Musical Holiday Step Show, Step Afrika!

Join the dynamic artists of Step Afrika!, DJ Frosty the Snowman and their friends from the Arctic Kingdom as they dance, make music and celebrate the spirit of the season! This popular H Street Holiday tradition is now in its 4th year, we are excited to share the joy of the Holidays with you!

The show runs from December 11 to 22, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

2) The Nutcracker, The Washington Ballet

Set in 1882 Georgetown, this gorgeous production showcases the grandeur of The Washington Ballet’s international roster of dancers and majesty of Tchaikovsky’s music. Replete with swirling snowflakes, cherry blossoms and historical characters, including George Washington as the heroic nutcracker, TWB’s The Nutcracker has become a tradition for generations of family and friends to celebrate the holidays.

The show runs from December 4 to 28, at the Warner Theatre.

3) A Hip Hop Christmas Carol, Culture Shock

Not a clip from the show, but a video posted on the event page.

The show only has three performances, one on Dec 19, two on Dec 20, at Dance Place.

So there are three more holiday picks, following my theatre ones from last week. Any other holiday dance happenings you've got on your list?

Check it twice, share yours in the comments!!

- J Street Jr

It's Capital Fringe time

Hey there,

It's that time of the year, Capital Fringe Festival time. I stopped by Fort Fringe yesterday evening, home of the box office, the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar and several of the official festival venues within a block or so.

The Capital Fringe Festival Box Office

Disclaimer: I actually worked at the festival as the PR/Marketing intern while in grad school at AU for Arts Management. I've proceed to produce a show every year since '10 at the festival, including this one. That being said, if you're interested in following that, please check out my AWoL Productions blog.

Now if you're not familiar with Capital Fringe, it's an opportunity for artists and companies to produce and present work for a generally adventurous audience. Half the time, you don't know what you're going to get and it can be pretty exciting. One thing to keep track of during the festival is the board in the box office.

The "Board" inside the Box Office

Anything you need to know about shows in the festival (i.e. cancellations, sold out shows) will be posted here.  I do recommend connecting with the festival on Facebook and/or on Twitter as well. Shows aside, the other awesome part about the festival is just hanging out in between shows, reuniting with old friends and making new ones.

Most of this community gathering happens under and around the tent, with a bar that has food and drink, the tent which also houses a performance stage.  And, if you haven't got a chance to check it out yet, take a look at this year's shows online.

The festival runs July 12 to 29. And if you already knew about the festival, are there any shows you're already looking forward to?

- J Street Jr

Follow @JStreetJr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Carolyn Kamrath

Hey there,

Here's an artist snapshot of dancer Carolyn Kamrath. Now, funny thing is Carolyn and I go back about 6 years. We first met at the American Dance Festival summer of '06. It wouldn't be too long before our paths crossed again, at American University's Arts Management program.

What's great is that living in the Brookland Artspace Lofts, I live right next to Dance Place, one of the organizations she's involved with.

JR: When did you start dancing?

Carolyn: According to our home videos, I’ve been dancing since I could walk! Just ask my Dad for a sampling of my early choreographic hits in our living room. I started formal classes at age 3 and have been dancing ever since – including as a dance major at GWU.

JR: How did you become involved with DancEthos & Dance Place?

Carolyn: Tiffany Haughn, the Artistic Director of DancEthos, was one of my college professors. She asked me to dance in one of her works for CrossCurrents Dance Company and a few years after that we formed DancEthos together. In addition to dancing for DancEthos, I do a variety of administrative work and choreograph for the company (check out my latest piece in our show at Dance Place June 23-24!).

I am also the Marketing Director for Dance Place. I started as a summer intern in 2007 and came back as a staff member while I was in grad school at AU for Arts Management. I’m very excited that Dance Place is presenting Illstyle & Peace Productions from Philadelphia as part of INTERSECTIONS on March 9-10 – besides being awesome dancers who are captivating to watch, they are very kind and loving people who we love to have around!

JR: What inspires you to dance?

Carolyn: I think movement as a form of expression is just ingrained in me. I’ve always danced – it’s always been completely natural to me and creates a sense of wholeness in my life. These days I find so much inspiration in how other people’s bodies move, especially non dancers. I continue to be curious about the body itself, let alone all of the interesting concepts that can be portrayed through dance!

JR: What is one of your favorite moments w/ any of the companies/organizations you're involved in?

Carolyn: Every rehearsal with DancEthos is hilarious, heartfelt and fun. Too many favorite moments! But recently I have loved revisiting a duet with Tina Fratello for our INTERSECTIONS performance of Unsung. We have a really honest connection when we dance this duet that is so fulfilling. I hope the audience this weekend enjoys it too!

JR: What are you an intersection of?

Carolyn: 

So yeah, it's a small world and it keeps getting smaller, especially the dance community in the area.

You can catch Carolyn, with DanceEthos as well as alight dance theater and Glade Dance Collective, today at 4:30pm, at Intersections.

With only a handful of tickets left, you can buy tickets here.

- J Street Jr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Eddie Jeffries

Hey there,

Bringing you another artist snapshot, this time with Eddie Jeffries performing with Dissonance Dance Theatre. I met Eddie through the dance community in the area and he is actually one of my students in a piece I'm choreographing at Montgomery College.

When he saw that I was at Intersections a lot this year, he told me that he was performing with DDT. That's not my only intersection with the company. Back when I was an undergrad dance major at UMD, I took a choreography class and met Shawn Short, DDT's Founding Artistic Director.

Yeah, it's a small world. And with that, here's a bit about Eddie.

JR: When did you start dancing?

Eddie: I have been dancing for about 3 years. I started training in a musical theatre style followed by hip hop, other styles of jazz, modern and then ballet. I took my first official ballet class last year at Montgomery college when I began my study as a dance major. Since working with Dissonance Dance theatre I found a interest and appreciation for the art of ballet.

JR: How did you become involved with Dissonance Dance Theatre?

Eddie: I heard through a friend about an opportunity to be apart of the dawn project, so I went and did some research about Shawn short and was amazed by his work. So I contacted him with my bio and told him how interested I was, then came in for the first day of class! The dawn project is "A program created by Shawn Short, where he meets young African American boys and men where they are, affirms their interests and builds their artistic and entrepreneurial leadership." I have attend every 6 hour class/rehearsal on Sundays for the past three 2 & 1/2 Months. So i worked hard to Become understudies in some of his pieces and glad I was cast in one of his dance that will be performed at intersections.

JR: What inspires you to dace?

Eddie: I am my biggest motivation to continue in my passion for dance. I have always had strong interest in all form of art and this has become a passion and career interest for me.My everyday life and experiences inspire me to dance and continue to learn. Those experience helped me become who I am today. The stereotypes of African American male dancers being successful in the dance world gives me the drive to push myself. Dance is my outlet. It gives me a way of attaching my feelings to convey it through movement and send messages to anyone without speaking.

JR: What is one of your favorite DDT memories?

Eddie: My favorite memory with Dissonance was being able to be apart of their photo shoot. It was an awesome experience and my first time ever getting an opportunity like this. In that very same day it was like a wake up call for me because I realized this is what I want to do and this is where I'm going to work to get here. The company was very helpful and I learned alot from them. They are all beautiful and talented dancers and people, which makes the experience even better

Cinema

Having a packed house last night, you've got only one more chance to catch Dissonance Dance Theatre at this year's Intersections, with Cinema, at 2:30pm.

If you can make it, you can buy tickets here.

- J Street Jr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Jimmy Page

Hey there,

Here's a brief glimpse into the life of Jimmy Page, member of DCypher, one of Joy of Motion's Adult Dance Companies. They are also performing at Intersections tonight at 9:30pm (as was the last artist I blogged about), with Access Granted:

Joy of Motion Dance Center's adult hip-hop company unleashes their passion for jazz, tap, modern and pop-fusion AND their amazing hip-hop moves. Dance Party to follow!

So as opposed to the previous two artist friends I featured, I can't say I remember exactly how we met, probably out on the dance floor of some club and/or through mutual friends. But Jimmy was someone who gave me a run for my money, not that they teach you how to dance at clubs to electronic dance music and pop, but I'd say I could hold my own.

Anyway, all I can say is that I'm so proud to be able to call Jimmy a friend, and am thrilled with everything he's been able to pursue and accomplish with DCypher. And it's a pleasure that I'm able to share a little bit more about him, with you all.

JR: When did you start dancing?

Jimmy: If you were to ask my parents I'm sure they'd say, "As soon as he could walk!" I have seen footage of myself in a diaper with two hands on the TV screen stomping my feet as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video plays. From the age of 8 or so I did Tae Kwon Do pretty exclusively because I was attracted to the idea of dancing as a unit and acrobatics combined with learning and memorizing choreography and performing it in front of large crowds. TKD taught me how to be committed and work through adversity and, most of all, to lead by example. Ultimately, most of the dancing I did was in clubs, freestyle circles, and at school dances where I would arrive (fashionably late, of course) and break it down the best I knew how. Developing your own style and personality is something I think most teens can identify with and I was lucky enough to have found my voice. Along with my passion for photography and filmmaking, dance had completed the puzzle.

JR: How did you become involved w/ DCypher? (this was a bit of a rhetorical question :-D)

Jimmy: After hearing about the DCypher "hip hop" auditions from you, though excited to participate, I realized I had never taken a formal dance class or audition in my entire life. The DCypher auditions were that class. I simply reminded myself that I wasn't going there to impress anyone, but to simply express myself and that's exactly what I did. A few days later, I had made the team, as well as what turned out to be a second family.

JR: What inspires you to dance?

Jimmy: Being surround by some of the most creative and energetic people is one of the gifts of being on a team like DCypher. Before practice, during, and even after (if we still have the energy) we share ideas, thoughts, and opinions on anything related to dance, or entertainment for that matter. I respect and admire those I have met through DCypher as I have become acquainted with other staff and dance teams in the Joy of Motion umbrella. I draw inspiration to dance from the feeling I get when I am absolutely losing myself in that moment when you know that, even if for a few moments, the song that is playing was made for you. I love that I am learning true choreography as I have plans to apply my own techniques to the love of film and music videos.

JR: What is one of your favorite DCypher memories?

Jimmy: Once a year, DCypher gets invited to the Culture Shock Ottawa Showcase. Passports in hand, DCypher drives the 8+ hours up the east coast and, throughout, we just make each other laugh and sing silly songs in the car. This all culminates into an indescribable experience where suddenly you are sharing dressing rooms with some of the most dynamic and talented dance crews you have ever witnessed. Being able to hang out with Culture Shock San Diego, DC, Ottawa, Toronto, and others was nothing short of a dream come true. And my favorite part? Stepping on stage to the cheering and applause from the biggest audience I have ever danced for and being privileged enough to leave my mark on that stage. I look forward to dancing in Canada once again later this summer!

JR: What are you an Intersection of?

Jimmy: I am the intersection of creativity and spontaneity.

Honestly, I can't help but smile a little that I was able to bring Jimmy along and introduce him to the opportunity. And, in case you were wondering, I did audition as well and did not make the initial cut. However, the neat thing was that they invited and encouraged me to take company classes and had expressed interest in having me be a part of their family. And I would definitely like to still take 'em up on that and audition again in the future!! :-D

Anyway, dancers like Jimmy and companies like DCypher are just one of the many reasons why I love being a part of the diverse and thriving dance community in the Metropolitan DC area. And even though I didn't make the cut, I'm just as thrilled to be able to support 'em from the audience and cut a rug with them and the other audience members at the dance party after tonight's show!!

You can buy tickets here. And check out the video below for an even more in-depth behind the scenes of DCypher, w/ Jimmy,

- J Street Jr

Dance at this year's Intersections

Hey,

So here's a disclaimer. I'm a dancer, I went to UMD for Dance and have continued to teach, choreograph, and perform since graduating.

And that is the lens through which I wanted to write this blog and highlight these performances, for any other dancers and dance audience members. I do type this with this one challenge: if you tend to see dance, for every dance performance you see at this year's Intersections, see one non-dance performance. That's all. Simple :-)

That being said, here are the dance events you can catch at the Atlas this festival. Links go to FB event pages:

Jane Franklin Dance

This weekend:

• Double Take (Jane Franklin Dance) - 2/24 @ 7pm; 2/25 @ 1:30pm & 5:30pm
• Los Caminos del Flamenco (Furia Flamenca) - 2/26 @ 2pm
• Click SEND (Sidwell Friends School Dance Ensemble) - 2/26 @ 6pm

Next weekend:

BodyMoves
Contemporary
Dance Company

• Access Granted (DCyhper Dance) - 3/2 @ 9:30pm
• Essence of Dance: A Cultural Perspective (BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company) - 3/3 @ 11:30am
• Getting Airborne (Zip Zap Circus & Airborne DC!) - 3/3 @ 5:30pm & 8pm
• Samudra: Churning Oceans (The Spilling Ink Project & Srishti Dances of India) - 3/3 @ 7pm
• Cinema (Dissonance Dance Theatre) - 3/3 @ 9:30pm, 3/4 @ 2:30pm
• Art Connection (SMYAL's Youth Arts Ensemble & Dance Exchange's Teen Exchange) - 3/4 @ 3pm
• Life in Motion: A Trio of Perspectives (alight dance theater, DancEthos & Glade Dance Collective) - 3/4 @ 4:30pm

Final weekend:

Illstyle and Peace

• Future Preludes (Peter DiMuro PDM: Public Displays of Motion) - 3/8 @ 7pm, 3/9 @ 7pm
• Impossible IZZpossible (Illstyle and Peace presented by Dance Place) - 3/9 @ 8:30pm, 3/10 @ 8:30pm
• Giving it All to the Day (Shange Dance Productions) - 3/9 @ 9pm
• EveryBODY Catch the Beat! (Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble) - 3/10 @ 12pm
• SOLE Defined (Just Tap) - 3/11 @ 2pm
• Bodies: A Music and Dance Exploration (Vivre Musical & Full Circle Dance Co.) - 3/11 @ 2:30pm

And that's that!! Again, if you tend to see dance anyway, try to see one non-dance performance for every dance one you see :-)

Now, I need to get ready to head to the Atlas!!

- J Street Jr

"One night only" at Intersections this weekend

Hello again,

And yes, that was a Dreamgirls reference. So, as I was perusing the assortment of happenings over the festival, I encountered a bit of a dilemma. There were some performances that were happening once, and once only!! Not that rarity has an effect on value (as w/ rare stones) as all of the artists are presenting wonderful, quality work, in each of their disciplines, but artists with more than one performance allowed for a li'l (not much) wiggle room in terms of mapping out this and the following two weekends.

For the most part, all of those performing in the Cafe Concert series are only doing so one time. But those are free. So I just wanted to highlight special events and those ticketed performances (some I'll be seeing, others I won't due to seeing another show at the same time) happening this weekend, blazing through the Atlas long enough to make a wish on, one night (or day) only.

Stephen Lang from Avatar

Links go to FB event pages. And you can buy your tickets here.

Thursday, 2/23

• 7:30pm - An Evening with Stephen Lang and Guest Artist Tom Teasley (Festival Special Event)
• 9:00pm (Free) - A 60's Celebration in Honor of Jane Lang and The Atlas' Fifth Anniversary Season (Paul Sprenger Hosts)

Friday, 2/24

Life Stories Live

• 9:00pm - Little Red and the Renegades (Festival Opening Night Party)

Saturday, 2/25

• 11:00am - Life Stories Live: An Interactive Performance for Families (Vertical Voices & Synergy in Action Playback Theatre Companies) 
• 2:00pm - Mutts Gone Nuts (Special Benefit Performance for Atlas Family Programming)
• 3:30pm - Buses Are A Comin': The Freedom Riders in Song and Story (The Delta Players and the Northeast Senior Singers)
• 5:30pm - "...And Bid Him Sing." (Folger Shakespeare Library)
• 8:00pm - Intersections in Space: Supernova Meets Synchronicity (Nasar Abadey and Supernova)



Christylez Bacon

• 9:30pm - Washington Sound Museum (Christylez Bacon)

Sunday 2/26

• 2:00pm - Camino al Flamenco (Furia Flamenca)
• 2:30pm - The Adventures of Prince Achmed (Tom Teasley)
• 5:00pm - Click SEND (Sidwell Friends School Dance Ensemble)

Again, you can buy your tickets here. And this list,  by no means, is any commentary on my own preferences or recommendations, either the events included, and those not.

I know at times, I believe in fate more than choice. So if you're not sure what to check out, and you're that kind of person or in that kind of mood, these dates are the one and only time you can catch these performances by these artists, during the festival!!

Don't worry, if you believe in choice and free will more than fate (or are just in that kind of mood), I'll have another blog out tomorrow pretty much touching on the other artists presenting this weekend, with multiple dates/times.  The only thing is a number those artists have shows that are only this weekend as well, you just have more than one chance; so just something to keep in mind.

- J Street Jr

This week at Intersections

Hey all,

So this Thursday marks the beginning of this year's Intersections Festival. I'm part of their Accelerator crew, a group of arts advocates and influencers that will be providing another level of connection from the art to the audience. Several of them are also on Twitter (the following links go to their profiles), Kenya Allmond, Shannon Mouton & Simone Jacobson.

You can check out info and get more links on the rest of the Accelerators at Intersections Festival's Latest News page. But I digress...what I really wanted to highlight were the performances I will be checking out this upcoming week and weekend, which I hope you find me and say hi, if you're there as well!!

All of the hyperlinks in the list are different ones: the time of the events listed below will take you to purchase tickets, and if it's a time that's not hyperlinked, it's probably a Cafe Concert and FREE; the event name will take you to FB event pages; while the organization links will take you to the organization's website, and Twitter profiles & FB pages will be specified. And you can download the complete schedule here.

So here we go:

Thursday, 2/23

Born This Way

• 6:30pm - Cafe Concert  presented by The Washington Post (Torcuato Zamora)
• 8:00pm - Born This Way: Stories About Queer Culture in America (SpeakeasyDC | Facebook | Twitter) *disclaimer* I sit on the board of SEDC

With Little Red
and the Renegades

Friday, 2/24

• 7:00pm - From Shuffle to Showboat: Prelude to the American Musical (The In Series | Facebook)
• 9:00pm - With Little Red and the Renegades (Festival Opening Party!!)

Saturday, 2/25

Bud, Not Buddy

• 11:00am - Bud, Not Buddy (Adventure Theatre | Facebook | Twitter)
• 12:00pm - Cafe Concert  presented by The Washington Post (Boogle Babes' Mr. Skip)
• 1:30pm - Double Take (Jane Franklin Dance | Facebook)
• 3:00pm - A Birthday Sing-Along in Honor of Jane Lang and the Atlas (Paul Sprenger Hosts)
• 3:30pm - Road Signs (Quest Visual Theatre | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube)
• 5:30pm - ...And Bid Him Sing (Folger Shakespeare Library | Facebook | Twitter)

Click SEND

Sunday, 2/26

• 1:30pm - Cafe Concert  presented by The Washington Post (Peter DiMuro & Friends)
• 3:00pm - Cafe Concert presented by The Washington Post (Tara Linhardt and Friends)
• 5:00pm - Click SEND (Sidwell Friends School Dance Ensemble) - ONLY show!!

And that's it!! JUST for the first week/end :-)

I'd like to really highlight the opening night party on the Friday as well as the Birthday Sing-Along on saturday!! With so much going on, those are nice opportunities to socialize and meet some of the movers and shakers, as well as other audience members and artists!!

And definitely make sure to say hello to Mary Hall Surface, Festival Artistic Director, and the rest of the staff and administrators who make this wonderful event happen (click here to learn more about them and the festival).

Leave a comment, tweet me, or post on my wall if you think our paths might intersect this weekend. And keep an eye out, for content throughout the week and weekend, as well as the next schedule, a week from now!!

- J Street Jr (on Facebook & Twitter)

P.S. you should join the mailing list of the Atlas Performing Arts Center, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

Intersections reception last week

It's a small world, after all!!

Last Thursday, the Atlas Performing Arts Center had a reception for those participating in this year's Intersections: A New America Arts Festival (Feb 23 to Mar 11).

In fact, I had already been at the Atlas just a couple of days prior with Dance/Metro DC's Awards Committee, to meet with Festival Artistic Director, Mary Hall Surface, and her team on-site, but more on that in a later blog.

At the reception, I was there as a SpeakeasyDC Board Member, and also just as a member of the amazingly diverse performing arts community, here in the DC area.

Even before I entered the Atlas, I run into Colin Hovde, who recently returned to Theatre Alliance on staff as Artistic Director.  We were joined by Jenny Frederick, Artistic Director of Rorschach Theatre and Director of Performing Arts at Cultural Development Corporation, as we entered the lobby.

So we enter the lobby, and while I feel like I'm just name-dropping at this point...I think I've made peace with the fact that I kinda am. I'm thrilled to know the people I do in DC, and every time our paths cross, it just reaffirms that somehow I managed to end up where I need to be, doing what I love in life, here in the Washington metropolitan area.

Before the official reception program begins, I run into Jeffrey Blender, the board member who was responsible for recruiting me to SpeakeayDC's board before terming out, met me in the lobby, after which I proceeded to run into a number of other creatives.

One is Bobby T, a wonderful guy and singer, who I know through the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington. One of GMCW's small ensembles, Potomac Fever, will actually be performing in the festival along with local musician, Tom Goss.

I see Samia, an artist I know through my work at Class Acts Arts, as one of our MD Traditions in the Schools artists, and say hi. She's presenting her Spirit of Unity concert.Turning around at one point, I bump into Ouida, a classmate of mine from AU's Arts Management program and give her a hug. She's there on behalf of Dance Exchange's Teen Exchange program, which will be performing at the festival. A disclaimer: I recently became a member Society DX, Dance Exchange's twitter ambassador group.

Another dancer present was Angella, founder and Artistic Director of Alight Dance Theater.  Our paths actually crossed the last presidential election year, participating in a David Dorfman piece where I did my undergrad, in UMD's Dance program.

And I should not have been surprised when I run into Paige Hernandez, performing a piece with B-fly Entertainment. Our paths crossed when she presented a selection from her show, Paige in Full, at Sulu DC's monthly event.

Can't forget running into Solomon, who was present on behalf of the Library of Congress and their concert series. "What?" you might be asking, "the Library of  Congress has a concert series?!" Yes, yes it does. At least that seemed to be the majority of the reactions he received. One of DC's best kept secrets, I might argue. Our paths intersected in the last professional show I did before starting grad school in '08, Jerry Springer: the Opera with Studio Theatre 2nd Stage.

That's about it, as far as I can remember.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the variety and quality of performing artists that are presenting work at this year's Intersections Festival.

And if I saw you that evening, or mentioned you but didn't list your organization above or below, please let me know.

The amazing thing was looking at the festival calendar and seeing how many other artists I knew in some capacity.  The humbling thing is realizing this has less to do with me and more to do with the wonderful community that we have in the DC area, one in which we strive to better ourselves and each other, with our art.

More than anything, this evening really reminded me how exciting this year is going to be, as well as how much each year continues to top the last, for me as an artist, as an audience member, and just as a person who is part of this huge, extended family.

You can check out the festival schedule here. Anything you're looking forward to, or are you participating? Feel free to leave and comment!!

And if you're attending the festival, particularly the Speakeasy DC shows or the Dance/MetroDC awards, I look forward to seeing you there,

- J Street Jr

On social media? So is pretty much every organization I mentioned, those participating in the festival directly and others who were present by association.

• Intersections - Facebook | Twitter
• Atlas Performing Arts Center - Facebook | Twitter
• Alight Dance Theater - Facebook | Twitter
• B-fly Entertainment - Facebook
• Class Acts Arts - Facebook | Twitter
• Cultural Development Corporation - Twitter
• Dance Exchange - Facebook | Twitter
• GMCW - Facebook | Twitter
• MD Traditions - Facebook
• Rorschach Theatre - Facebook | Twitter
• SpeakeasyDC - Facebook | Twitter
• Studio Theatre 2nd Stage - Facebook | Twitter
• Sulu DC - Facebook | Twitter
• Theatre Alliance - Facebook | Twitter

The Tenleytown Starbucks: An Artist Hub apparently

So I met up with a colleague from American University, DonMike (currently in 42nd Street w/ the Arlington Players), at the Tenleytown Starbucks. He also finished at AU last year, but for undergrad.

I was running a little late so I say hi to him outside (it's a beautiful day) and go in to order my drink.  As I'm waiting for it, who walks in, but Kelly, another dancer in the area.  And you know what's funny, not only do I not remember the last time I saw him, but I can't even remember how we met.

He dances with Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company, as well as teaches at GWU.

And if you're free next weekend, the company actually has a performance coming up.)

Anyway, so that was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.

So DonMike and I are meeting to catch up, about everything we've been up to, which (being artists) means that it's a weird mix of work & play...the things we do for a career, and then the things we do for a living to subsidize the career.

Incidentally, DonMike is the theatre programmer at Bloombars, and part of the discussion includes possibly doing workshops for my summer show there.

Over the course of catching up he, being Filipino, asks about the show I'm producing with production company, which was successful with its Kickstarter Campaign.  And twice, some friends of his (theatre folk from AU) I believe, walk up and say hi to them. I say hi myself, and we're back to our conversation.

Then who walks out, by Lala and Chris.  Lala I met during my final year in the Arts Management program at AU.  Part of our requirements included 6 credits of undergrad level arts classes, so I jumped back into dance (at AU), taking 3 classes my final semester. And she was probably one of the most adept, graceful, technically proficient, and overall fun dancer I have had the pleasure of studying with.

If you ever get to see her perform...you should. But I digress.

And then there's Chris, who I kinda met while I taught classes at CityDance Center at Strathmore. Often times company members would be in the lobby before or after, and over time at some point we were finally introduced, or maybe I introduced myself. I can't remember (notice a pattern?). It's not that I don't want to, it just often is so circumstantial that it almost doesn't necessitate remembering. The important thing is that the connection was made.

I do remember attending a behind the scenes, donor cultivation event, where he presented a piece with spoken word, and a fish tank which he poured rice into.  Now you know the Pinoy in me perked up. Breakfast is pretty much the only meal I don't regularly eat with rice.  Obviously the piece was much deeper than just using the rice as a prop, but describing it wouldn't do it justice.  Let's just say that in addition to the auditory element of mixing rice in water, at some point he also took handfuls and patted the rice on his skin, adding a texture to his body, but also leaving this cloud in the water.

So Chris actually works at CityDance as Choreographer in Residence and Rehearsal Director AS WELL AS doing work in New York.  I always run into friends, colleagues, and acquaintance, like him, when I start fretting about how busy I think I am, and then I remember what they do.  I mean, I have time to reflect and write this blog, although considering I haven't really done that much over the past month, maybe I can be like that at times.

Anyway, another working artist I've had the privilege and pleasure of crossing paths with, and as little as we know each other, just a generally gracious and pleasant guy, from what I can tell.

I joked with DonMike after they left, that we should just start a blog about the two of us sitting there and the people we run into.  But I stopped when I realized I was thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea.  All we would need is the time and money to do that.

- J Street Jr

Related Links

• AU Dance - Facebook
• Bloombars - Facebook | Feedburner | Flickr | Twitter | YouTube
• CityDance Ensemble - Facebook | Twitter
• DTSB&Co - Blogger | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Urban Artistry at Intersections

Have I mentioned I love my job (at Class Acts Arts).

Not only do I have a lot of opportunities for professional development, but it is just another way I'm aware of different opportunities to see art in the area.

For example, no less than 5 of the artists on our roster participated in the closing weekend of the Intersections Festival, at the Atlas Performing arts Center. These included Adventure Theatre (with their production of Mirandy & Brother Wind, the Spilling Ink Project, Step Afrika & Urban Artistry.

That being said, the performance I could afford to catch, both monetarily and temporally, was Urban Artistry, performing with Sylvia Soumah's company, Coyaba Dance's Youth Ensemble, and the Goot Foot Dance Company as well.

Small world just keeps getting smaller...Mama Soumah has actually been a guest choreographer at the school I teach, and she's back this year.  Not only that, but one of the guests, who narrated the collaborative concert, is one of my favorite house DJ's, Sam "The Man" Burns (who will be spinning at U Hall on my 30th birthday this Friday!!).

At one point, at the top of Urban Artistry's piece towards the end, they kicked off with a slideshow homage of urban dance music dj's and venues, as well as other world and cultural dances from African to Tap, overlaid with the My House vocal.

Accompanied by my buddy Eamonn, and his girlfriend/my student, Caroline, it was a great to start off a day that would end up dancing the night away at day 2 of Spring Massive, at Bourbon Street Live in Baltimore.

Anyway, it was just very reaffirming on one hand, to see a culture that I very much identify with continue to grow in legitimacy and visibility.  However, it was slightly discouraging that more people weren't there, but that's a topic for another day (trying to tell that Arts Management lens to stop wondering about marketing, seating optimization, the audience for dance in DC, etc).

Regardless, it was the execution of a wonderful event, featuring collaboration (which needs to continue to happen, not just within the Dance community, but across all the performing arts communities in the area), at a great festival that really shows DC is a place to be for arts and culture, for both audience members and professional artists.

- J Street Jr

Related Links

• Urban Artistry - Facebook | Twitter
• Intersections: A New America Arts Festival - Facebook | Twitter
• Atlas Performing Arts Center - Facebook | Twitter
• Class Acts Arts - Facebook | Twitter
• Adventure Theatre - Facebook Group | Facebook Page | Twitter
• Coyaba Dance Theater - Facebook | Youth Ensemble Facebook 
• Step Afrika - Facebook | Twitter

WAISDEA Festival '10

So one of the highlights of being part of the dance department at the National Cathedral School for Girls, is the annual WAISDEA Festival, (WAISDEA standing for Washington Area Independent School Dance Education Association).

We hosted it last year, and this year, it took place at the Sandy Spring Friends School, which had a beautiful campus and fairly new Performing Arts Center (just 6 or so years old). Interestingly enough, I'd actually been here before, but for a wedding by a couple of friends from the performing arts scene, a dancer and a fight choreographer, actually.

Speaking of small worlds, the director of the Sandy Spring Friends dance program is Meredith Rabil, a dancer I met choreographing my first professional/paid piece, for the spring concert of Montgomery College's Dance program in '07, the year after I finished my undergrad.

Anyway, the festival is a day of classes and workshops, including Bollywood, Latin, Jazz, Modern, Partnering, & African. Teaching one of the modern classes was Helanius Wilkins, Founder & Artistic Director of Edgeworks Dance Theater.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Founding Artistic Director and Choreographer of Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company closed out the festival by talking to the students about his choreographic process and then presenting excerpts of larger pieces, performed by company members Kelly Southall and Connie Fink. Connie actually had taught at NCS until the past year, so it was nice to see her. I'd actually gotten to work with Dana, when he choreographed The Secret Garden for Adventure Theatre, several years ago, and I was an ASM and Understudy.

The best part of the festival (out of many great moments), had to happen during lunch, when some students from our host school put on some music, and the kids gathered in a circle and just had an impromptu dance party.

Nothing like loving what you do for a living :-)

- J Street Jr

Dance Town Hall Meeting

Artists' Bloc & Dance/MetroDC joined to host a Dance Town Hall Meeting, to close out a week of Artists' Bloc events, in one of Woolly Mammoth Theatre's rehearsal rooms.

Peter DiMuro, Director of Dance/MetroDC, and one of three on my thesis committee kicked off the meeting with an open invite for attendees to wander around the rehearsal room and go to large sheets of paper against the well, addressed with different topics, to fill in what they knew, to ask questions about what they didn't know.

Overall, a very good crowd representing a veritable who's who of the local dance community.

Names I caught included Carla Perlo Founder & Director of Dance Place; Sarah Levitt, old classmate from UMD's Dance Program and Company member with Liz Lerman Dance Exchange; Aysha Upchurch, Founder and Director of life, rhythm, move project; Nancy Havlik with her Nancy Havlik Performance Group; Sylvana Sandoz, member of the Glade Dance Collective; and Kate Jordan, one of the cofounders of the Eureka Dance Festival, who (incidentally) just joined the teacher roster with me at the National Cathedral School for Girls.

Other organizations present (represented by individuals whose names I did not catch) included Clancy Works, Dissonance Dance Theatre (whose Founder/Artistic Director, Shawn Short, I met while he was at Howard University, taking a choreography class at UMD), and the various board and committee members from Dance/MetroDC as well as Dance/USA.

I won't attempt to recap EVERYTHING that was discussed, but it was energizing to see the discussion happening.

One of the other exciting things that was highlighted, included a new partnership between Dance/MetroDC and Dance Place, which will move DMDC from its offices on 14th St, to across the street from Dance Place, pretty much the hub of Dance in DC, with programming just about every weekend of the year. And then joining the neighborhood will be a whole slew of artists, moving into the Brookland Artspace Lofts opening in June.

The Town Hall Meeting really emphasized for me how sometimes half of the battle is just showing up. The other half, particularly with regard to Dance/MetroDC as a service organization, is that as artists, we have to be engaged, meaning we have to be involved and vocal. Otherwise how do we expect an organization like Dance/MetroDC to effectively support us, in our art, and in the business of our art.

That being said, I thought the Town Hall was a great success and I'm looking forward to seeing what we make happen :-)

Encounters: Jason D., Helanius W., Alvin M., Melissa L., & Dana T.

So I'm actually a little conflicted about this entry. I was (and still am) debating about people I run into at performing arts events. Part of the reason is because it is such a small community, that blogging about encounters at a show doesn't seem to be as happenstance as just running into people out on the street.

But I guess I'll just try it out for now and see how it goes.

Tonight was definitely a who's who of the people in my dance world, teachers and choreographers I've had the pleasure of working with in some fashion or another.

Jason D., I actually almost performed with for one of the Dance is the Answer flash mobs. By the way, Dance is the Answer is still going on until May 2nd.

Helanius W., several years ago, I was actually a sound board operator for a performance his company, Edgeworks Dance Theater, had out in Rockville, MD, at the American Dance Institute.

Alvin M., was one of my professors in the program at UMD.

Melissa L., I actually teach with at NCS. She's also one of the company members for Dakshina.

And Dana B., I worked with several years ago when he choreographed movement for a show at Adventure Theatre. He has his own company in the area and is also the head of GWU's department of Theatre & Dance.

Establishments: Dance Place

After running into Holly B. I ventured over to Dance Place with my friend Jerry. Deborah Riley Dance Projects, one of the resident companies performed a piece examining our relationship and perceptions regarding food and nutrition.

It was neat because Jerry's a chef, so having that perspective made for some particularly insightful dialogue after the performance.

Speaking of chef's, Peter DiMuro, director of Dance/MetroDC, played one in the piece with some monologues which provided some thoughtful transitions between sections of the evening length piece.

Anyway, Dance Place is just an amazing example of community and engagement. They've got performance virtually every weekend of the year by local, national, and international dancers.

And it's very metro accessible, barely a 10 minute walk from the Brookland-CUA metro station.

Encounters: Aysha U. & Meredith R.

Today NCS hosted the annual WAISDEA Festival. In case you don't know (and it actually took me a year or two until I remembered it right), that stands for Washington Area Independent School Dance Education Association.

It's a day of dance master classes and choreography workshops. There were a bunch of faces that were familiar, and I expected to see, one of which was Aysha U. teaching a master class. She's an awesome dancer in the area who teaches and has her own company.

I didn't expect to see Meredith R., who was actually with one of the member schools, Sandy Spring Friends School, participating in the day's events.

I don't think I've seen her since she was in a piece I choreographed at MC, the first piece I actually choreographed professionally within a year of graduating from UMD. It's still one of my favorites, and it was to Rusted Root's "Send Me On My Way".

Anyway, it was cool seeing her there. Small world, right??

Events: Dance is the Answer

Okay, so remember how I ran into Lala last Saturday?

It was to rehearse for one of multiple flash mobs

which would be taking place over the several weeks or so, as part of the fourth annual Dance is the Answer event, organized by Dance/MetroDC.

Dance/MetroDC is a local branch of Dance/USA, a service organization for the dance world.

While I'm not as involved as I'd like to be, I'm definitely going to try and jump in a little more once I finish grad school. Incidentally, I had met the director of Dance/MetroDC, Peter DiMuro (who's just a wonderful person), and in crossing paths with him and grabbing coffee, actually asked him to be one of the two non AU panel members for my thesis.

Very grateful he accepted, despite what I could only imagine having a hectic schedule.

I'm probably just going to wait until Dance is the Answer is over to catch up with him about meeting again :-)

Encounters: Lala

I'm walking to the entrance of the FDR Memorial. At this point I think I've walked in this park as much over the past week as I have over the past year...maybe more.

Anyway, I'm about to reach the entrance (after walking through the memorial from the exit...if you haven't been, you need to go to understand) and I see a familiar figure standing there talking to two people I assume must be related, if not parents.

It's Lala (a nickname, but I didn't give it), another student taking dance at AU. I think she might even be a Dance Minor. She's a beautiful mover, who's got very strong technique from her ballet training, but it doesn't get in the way of incorporating modern aesthetics, patterns, and style in movement...I say this because from my own personal observations, this is a rare thing with someone of her background. But it speaks to her being a particularly exceptional dancer.

So I got to meet her parents. And in general, it was just nice seeing her outside of AU. It reminds me of just how...now I don't want to say "small" as I feel it has a negative connotation..well, it makes me remember how "intimate" DC can be, for a city.

Encounters: Becca G. and a student

As I'm sitting at L'enfant Cafe, from my previous entry, I run into two people.

The first is Becca G. whom I actually know from AU's Arts Management program we both started the same year, and are both...taking our time finishing. She's also involved with a really neat...well, from lack of a better description, cultural entity, the Pink Line Project.

It's a neat...presence in DC, headed by Philippa P.B. Hughes. You can check out more about her in this Washington Post article from the past couple of years, Remaking the Scene. I've had the pleasure of meeting her, and subsequently running into her. Always cordial, with a great energy, she's another person who is living proof that DC is much more than the rest of the country give it credit for.

Anyway, Becca's cool too!! Also one of the few other majors in the program with a dance background.

So she passed by on the sidewalk. And not too much after that I hear someone yelling from across the street. Well, actually the person was yelling from the middle of the street, from a taxi that was stopped, and she was in the back seat leaning forward and screaming in front of her mom.

It was one of my students from NCS. A phenomenal dancer, with great energy, she had just moved and was only a freshman. She's already became a pillar in the dance program, and I hope she stays just as involved if not more so in future years.

Anyway, that was it...this time

Encounters: Tom B., Andrea L., Heather L. & one more

So I'm walking towards the Tidal Basin with Sam, because it's real close to my place.

We decide not to actually walk around it, though, and after passing by the Jefferson Memorial, we instead walk along the river towards the Hains Point area of West Potomac Park.

Before we turn away from the basin, I spy a familiar redhead walking towards me. Andrea and I went to school together at Montgomery College, and were both involved in the dance program.

When I actually came back after I graduated from UMD as a Dance Major I went back to MC to work on a show and to choreograph a dance, which I was lucky enough to have Andrea in. She was a beautiful mover who I really looked up to as far as dancing ability, aesthetics, and technique.

Anyway, she was out with her bf, sister, and her sister's bf/husband (? I can't remember). It was cool seeing her.

Sam and I start making our way towards the tip of Hains Point when I see someone on a bike. They yell "Hi JR", and while I said hi back, I didn't catch enough of a glimpse to put a name to the face...

That's actually one of the things that really frustrates me...I'm awful with names. I believe it's someone I've done a production with...that's usually a safe bet.

We continue to walk, and a couple of joggers approach. This time I make the connection first and say "Hi Tom" as he and a friend jog by. He says hi back. Tom is another acquaintance/friend I met during my brief stint singing with GMCW. DC's men's chorus is actually one of the largest (if not THE largest) glbta choruses in the country. At any given time, there are about a couple of hundred active singers, and it makes for getting to know everyone...well, a challenge. Tom was one of the other chorus members I got to know and become acquainted with.

So we make it to the tip of the point and start to head back. The weather's beautiful and there are so many people out, especially families with little kids.

One mother starts walking with her daughter in her stroller and I look at her because, well, it's a familiar face. It's Heather, and we most recently worked on the last show I was on stage for, Seussical, the Musical at KAT 2nd Stage. This was back in August/September. Heather and I actually also performed together, geez, several years ago now, in a Washington Savoyards production of The Merry Widow.

Seussical did so well, they're actually in the process of remounting it for May. Unfortunately I'm unable to rejoin the cast for this iteration of the show.

Anyway, those were my encounters this morning. It's nice to see how the weather just brings everyone (me included) out of the woodworks.