Congratulations to MCC fellowship grantees

by karen Krolak



This afternoon I received an email announcing the 2010 Choreography Fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Congratulations to all of this year's grantees:

Deborah B. Abel Carlisle $7500
Dawn Lane Stockbridge $7500
Sarah Slifer Gloucester $7500
Judith Wombwell Andover $7500
James S. Coleman and Terese Freedman Amherst $500
Erica Dankmeyer Williamstown $500
Anna Myer Cambridge $500
Wendy Woodson Amherst $500

Thanks also to all of the panelists, Jeremy Alliger (Executive Producer, Alliger Arts), Mesma Belsare (Choreographer, Dancer), James Martin (Associate Professor of Dance, New York University Tisch School of the Arts), and Amy B. Spencer (Co-director, Spencer/Colton Dance Company), who sifted through all 58 applications.

Although I am pleased to reside in a state that still supports independent choreographers, I am always saddened to remember that these grants used to provide twice the amount of funding when I moved back to Boston in 1996. At any rate, I look forward to learning more about several of these choreographers whose names are new to me. For example, I would love to see Dawn Lane's piece, Mattress Ticking, which explores the physical and artistic potential of a dancer with Huntington’s Disease. Perhaps we can even coax a few into being interviewed for the blog or C2C...

10th Anniversary Season Preview - Part 1

by karen Krolak

Pssst...I probably shouldn't blab about this yet but I am just so excited. Monkeyhouse has been accepted to Two Road's Dance in the Fells: 5 Pieces 5 Places on October 9, 2010! We are going to be creating something for Wright's Tower...the structure in the picture to the left. You can find out more about this project by watching Monkeyhouse's first episode of C2C. It is going to be a glorious addition to our 10th anniversary season. Merciful heavens! Can you believe that it has been 10 years? We have a bunch of thrilling news coming soon but we can't spill the beans until the contracts get signed. Keep your fingers and toes crossed and be on the lookout for updates soon.

Hooray for Orfeo!

by karen Krolak

Were you one of our dedicated fans who hauled yourself out on a sweltering afternoon last summer to see Monkeyhouse perform What's the Big Idea? at Orfeo's Festival in the Park? If so, do you remember how thankful we were that it rained right before showtime as it lowered the temperature of the stage enough for us to dance barefoot with out scorching our soles?

Did you stick around to see Orfeo Group's version of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)? If so did you hear that Orfeo's production received an Elliot Norton Award last night! Congratulations Orfeo Group!

Oh, and congratulations to Actors' Shakespeare Project too! Their production of Much Ado About Nothing was nominated for Outstanding Production for a Mid-sized Company. Psst...did you know that Monkeyhouse's Production Manager, Jason Ries was both the Lighting Designer and the Production Manager for that show? And, are you aware that Actors' Shakespeare Project will be opening Timon of Athens this Saturday? If already knew about that, did you realized that Bill Barclay who is directing Timon of Athens, performed after Monkeyhouse at Orfeo's Festival in the Park? Isn't it lovely how that just came full circle?

C2C, Episode Two!

For those of you who haven't heard, Monkeyhouse has a new television show (C2C) on S.C.A.T. tv in Somerville. (That's Channel 3 for all you Somerville residents!) Our latest episode, which focuses on building a movement vocabulary, is up and ready for watching!



Extra special thanks to S.C.A.T. & Bill Barrell, Caitlin Meehan, Uncle Monsterface and David Wechsler! Monkeyhouse Loves You!

USD Lab starts Friday

by karen Krolak

Psst... just a quick reminder to everyone in the New York area: Please come join me at Union Street Dance for the first session of Monkeyhouse Musings tomorrow. Oh, and feel free to bring or send along anyone else that you think might be interested. We are so excited to open this process up to the general public for the first time.

Dates/Times: May 7-28, every Friday from 4-6pm

Location: Union Street Dance, 725 Union Street, Studio B - Park Slope, BK

Price: $40 four class series, $15 single class -- DROP-INS WELCOME!