Gobble Gobble - Happy Thanksgiving!

'Tis the season for pumpkin pie, tofurkey, and a visit from your favorite Aunt Millie. As we here at Monkeyhouse begin our preparations for First Night Boston (What? You didn't know about First Night? Don't worry! We'll send you more information next week once you've slept off all that turkey!), we wanted to take a minute to wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. As always, each of us individually (and collectively!) give thanks to all of you who support us personally, professionally and choreographically! We certainly wouldn't be here without you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Everyone at MONKEYHOUSE

Monkeyhouse in Cool New York Dance Festival 2009!

We are thrilled to announce that Monkeyhouse has been invited to present two duets, Firk II and Pochemuchka (one of our First Night premieres) at the Cool New York Dance Festival 2009.

Host by Brooklyn's White Wave Dance Company, this festival runs Thursday through Sunday, January 29 – Feb 1 and Feb 5 - 8, 2009, and features over 60 dance companies.

And knowing that everyone is feeling stretched by the state of our economy, we want you to know that all tickets to this festival are FREE!!! So if you live in New York, you really must come see us.

WHITE WAVE’s John Ryan Theater is located at 25 Jay Street (on the DUMBO waterfront) in Brooklyn. We will post our performance times up on the blog as soon as we get them.

Politics are dancing (part 2)

by karen Krolak

It is odd how patterns begin to emerge some days. After learning about Rahm Emanuel's dance background last night, this afternoon I attended the The Second Annual Artists Under the Dome Event at the Massachusetts State House (where I bumped into Martha Mason who will be mentoring Green Street Studios 2009 winter Emerging Artist Program). As part of the festivities, I stopped in to see my State Senator, Patricia Jehlen. Unfortunately, the Senator was unavailable, but I did learn that her daughter is Wendy Jehlen, a well-respected, local choreographer (who coincidently performed at the Somerville Theater during Art Beat right before Monkeyhouse two years ago in a concert that Alissa Cardone helped to organize.)

Since Senator Jehlen is Chair of Elder Affairs, her aide generously advised me on some resources for Monkeyhouse's Dream 2 Dance At Age Project. She immediately understood the importance of this initiative because she has taken adult dance classes with Dicki Johnson Macy. I am so thrilled that I was able to participate in the Artists Under the Dome because I would have never guessed that there were so many dance fans in the State House.

Thanks to the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Treasurer Tim Cahill, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Joint Committee of Community Development and Small Business, and the Artists Foundation for creating this informative introduction to legislative resources for artists.

Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak at Joyce Soho

by Karen Krolak

If I didn't have plans already to see my favorite French Horn player, Anne Howarth, perform with the Radius Ensemble this weekend at MIT, I would be seriously tempted to dash down to NYC to see Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak at the Joyce Soho.

Deb Friedes' introduced me to this dynamic duo through a podcast on her Dance in Israel blog and I am truly intrigued by them. Alas, I will have to wait until they return to the States to quench my curiosity, but if you are fortunate enough to see the show, please let me know what you think.

Politics are dancing

by karen Krolak

Last night I was on a panel for the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston discussing their Business Volunteers for the Arts program. Through this program, Susan Hammond has donated an incredible number of hours creating a strategic plan and Advisory Board for Monkeyhouse. (Thank you, thank you, thank you, Susan!) This is a phenomenal program if you are a business person who wants to volunteer your expertise to an organization. I can't emphasize enough how many nonprofits are desperately seeking business volunteers.

After the panel, Alan Kravitz, Founder/President of the Infinite Inkwell, approached me with an interesting fact: Rahm Emanuel, who will soon be Obama's Chief of Staff, studied dance at the Joffrey Ballet and Sarah Lawrence College. According to Joshua Green's Rolling Stone Article, "Friends jokingly theorize that his toughness is actually an outgrowth of being a ballet dancer: With that sort of thing on your resume, you had better be ready to fight if you hope to survive in Chicago politics. " How delightfully ironic!

Thanks for drawing this to my attention, Alan. I hope you get matched with a deserving arts organization.

Attention Boston based choreographers!

by Karen Krolak

Green Street Studios is accepting applications for its Winter 2009 Emerging Artists Program. Selected choreographers will receive 40 hours of rehearsal space, participate in 2 mentoring sessions with Martha Mason and Anna Myers, and be included in a concert in March. This is an amazing opportunity to create a new group piece and to network with other members of the dance community.

The 2008 Emerging Artists concert mentored by David Parker and Nicole Pierce featured a dynamic range of pieces by Jimena Bermejo, Kelli Edwards, Betsi Graves, and Gabrielle Orcha. The juxtaposition of Jimena's "Monster" alongside Kelli's somber trio was especially satisfying to me.

Having presented a new piece through a Space Grant, a similar program at Green Street, I really urge anyone who might be interested to apply. My assigned mentor, Tommy Neblett of Prometheus Dance, really challenged me to break my habits and investigate new methods of generating movement. The project prompted me to seek out new dancers, Julia Marx, Nikki Sao Pedro, and Caitlin Meehan, (who will all be dancing in Monkeyhouse's First Night performances).

Good luck, applications are due December 12.

Congratulations to Aparna Sindoor

by Karen Krolak

As I was getting ready to teach at Impulse Dance Center on Tuesday night, I noticed that Aparna Sindoor, was on the cover of this month's Dance Magazine. Oh my stars and chickens, I was thrilled because I can't remember the last time that a Boston based choreographer was on their cover.

Aparna Sindoor is the third local choreographer, however, to be featured in Dance Magazine this year. Both Lorraine Chapman and Kinodance were included in the magazine's 2008 25 to Watch list. Having presented Kinodance's choreographer, Alissa Cardone's, work in a concert I produced in 2000 and been awed by Lorraine's work ever since I moved to Boston 12 years ago, I've been fortunate to witness the development of both of these artists. Kudos to Dance Magazine for recognizing some of the highlights of the Boston's dance community.

As a Board Member for the Boston Dance Alliance, I encourage everyone in the area and anyone who comes to visit to check out their website to discover our city's diverse spectrum of talented dance artists.

Are You a High School Student in Natick, MA?

Are you a sophomore or junior who attends school in Natick or lives in Natick?
Are you a curious person who enjoys the arts and writes well?
Are you looking for a fun way to stand out on your college applications?

If so, then Monkeyhouse wants you to apply for our newest project.
12 students will be selected to attend a free writing workshop that will prepare them to craft a newspaper article.
Articles by these students will be published in the Natick Tab as part of a series called Connecting Natick to Choreography.

Details:
Writing workshop will take place
Sunday, November 23 and Sunday, December 7 from 11-2
at Impulse Dance Center, 5 Summer St, Natick.
(If you can't make one of these dates, let us know when you apply and we will try to schedule a make up session.)
Students will be paired with a choreographer who has either trained, taught, or lived in Natick to interview.
Articles will be submitted to Monkeyhouse and then published as part of a monthly series in the Natick Tab. Two weeks after the articles are published in the Tab, they will be re-posted on Monkeyhouse's myspace blog.

How to apply:
Send a sample of something you have written (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essay, etc) to monkeyhouselovesme@gmail.com by November 14, 2008
Please put Connecting Natick to Choreography in the subject line.
Please include your name, school, and grade.