Girl Walk // All Day
October 16, 2011
Girl Walk // All Day is a feature-length dance music video and tale of urban exploration that follows three dancers across New York City. They turn the city’s sidewalks, parks, and architecture into an evolving stage as they spread their joy of movement. Starring aspiring ballerina-turned-street jazz dancer Anne Marsen and set to Girl Talk’s album All Day, the film will be released in chapters beginning in November in partnership with Gothamist. Check out the trailer above. It looks great!
Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment in HD at BAM
October 9, 2011
BAM’s Performance in HD program brings opera, dance, and theater from around the world to the screen. But next week, BAM will show the first of two works this fall by emerging, provocative artists. Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment will be screened in HD on October 17th. Called “a subversive, seriously funny new theater piece” in The New York Times (it premiered two years ago in New York), The Shipment is a “black identity politics show” that dares audiences to question their own preconceived notions about race and culture. It’s sharp, smart, and witty – and definitely worth seeing if you missed it in 2009 (or, if you did see it, come watch it again!). Tickets are now on sale. And mark your calendar for December 5th, when choreographer Diana Szeinblum’s Alaska will screen in HD. Both The Shipment and Alaska in HD were filmed by On the Boards as part of OntheBoards.tv.
Good Advice from Ira Glass
August 30, 2011
I came across the above video of This American Life‘s Ira Glass talking about what makes a good story. As I listened to him explain the common scenario where a budding report has “killer taste” but might be making work that is “kind of crappy”, it became clear that his advice to continue making a lot of work applies to all creative individuals. The fall dance season is approaching, and with that comes an incredible amount of programming that features both emerging and established choreographers and dancers. As I read press releases with artists’ bios and the descriptions of their work, it’s refreshing to take a step back and consider the years and endless amounts of time that they devote to their craft. Even the ones who we – the public and the press – consider to have “made it” and be at the top of their game are still creating work to find “that special thing” (Ira’s words) that they want it to have. Hopefully they can look back at their old work and laugh at themselves the way Ira does at the end of this video.
Beijing Dance Theater’s Haze
August 11, 2011
While doing some research I came across this riveting rehearsal footage of Beijing Dance Theater‘s Haze, choreographed by Wang Yuanyuan, with music by Henryk Gorecki and Biosphere. If you’re in the New York area, you can see the company perform Haze at BAM’s Next Wave Festival this fall.
Masters of Modern Dance: Exclusive Discount Offer
August 10, 2011
FORA.tv has partnered with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions to present Masters of Modern Dance, a video series featuring in-depth interviews and rehearsal footage with five leading male choreographers: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bill T. Jones, Trey McIntyre, Mark Morris, and Paul Taylor. Each video in the series is 30 to 55 minutes long and includes exclusive behind the scenes footage of the choreographers, rehearsals, and performances. Some excerpts from the series are available on FORA.tv’s site for free (see below), but to watch the full series requires purchase. Fortunately, FORA.tv has created a special discount offer for Dancing Perfectly Free readers!
You can get 20% off the entire series by doing the following:
1. Visit Masters of Modern Dance at Fora.tv
2. Click on the “BUY ALL NOW” button under the red offer box.
3. Join FORA.tv (FREE) or log in if already a member.
4. At checkout, enter coupon code: DPF20 and click “Apply”
5. Enjoy the series! The programs are available for 60 days after purchase. Limit one coupon per person.
Below are links to the free clips:
Trey McIntyre: Rehearsal Excerpt
Trey McIntyre Dance Company Steals Hearts in Heartland
Bill T. Jones: Rehearsal Excerpt
Bill T. Jones: Bringing Art to an Evolving Audience
Mikhail Baryshnikov: Rehearsal Excerpt
Baryshnikov on Opening the Baryshnikov Arts Center
Paul Taylor: Rehearsal Excerpt
Paul Taylor Puts Dancers’ Morale Above Choreography
