#geochoreography for MAY - Get Caught Reading Month!

We are incredibly excited to kick off our #geochoreography adventure!  It all started when the Connecting Point Dance Company, one of the youth companies from Impulse Dance Center in Natick where Karen and Nicole work, took a trip to NYC in April.  Karen and Nicole put together "travel adventure" books for them filled with challenges, projects and ideas to keep them busy while on the road and once they got to New York, got them looking at the city in a new and creative way.  When they returned with their findings the rest of the Rep Modern class wanted to participate, too.  So, two more books were born.  One for the pair of students traveling overseas over April break and one for the gang staying in Natick.  The more books we made the more we realized that this could be a great way to get EVERYONE looking at the world like a giant arts residency!

For our first month we are partnering with the Clary and Cimermanis Little Library and their Get Caught Reading Month campaign!  All of our #geochoreography prompts (posted to our social media each Friday) are book related.  We also challenge you to take a photo or video of you reading!  (Bonus points if you are dancing while reading!)

Just in case you aren't on social media, you can find all of May's prompts here!  Post your responses in the comments or on any social media using #geochoreography!  We will feature as many responses as we can!

Thanks in advance for being part of this exciting adventure!

Fleur d'Orange Residency Wrap Up (pt 1)

by Isabella Carmenate

by Karen Krolak

Several years ago the Boston Dance Alliance asked me to be a panelist for an event about touring dance. One of the questions that arose during this conversation was, "how do you define success?" Another panelist measured success in the number of people in attendance, the number of shows performed, and the number of cities visited, etc. As I listened to his answer and watched as choreographers and presenters in the audience nodded in response, I felt hesitant to share my own thoughts on the question. When the microphone was passed to me, I almost chickened out of an honest response.

You see, while I do understand the economic reality of touring and of presenting dance in general, the finances are unrelated to my sense of success. I want engagement...genuine connection that sparks curiosity and creativity. My metrics are harder to track and I think that they often frustrate grant makers. My metrics range from stories from participants to new projects that evolve or doors that open in people's minds or careers. They require time to develop and often tenacity to track down.

It has only been two weeks since Monkeyhouse's Fleur D'Orange residency ended but each day I get more evidence of how deeply it has affected our community. There is no question that it has surpassed my dreams for how it could be successful. To illustrate the impact of the residency, I would like to share some stats and stories.

To create this residency, Monkeyhouse began by brainstorming with our long term partners, Luminarium, Impulse Dance Center, Endicott College, the University of the Middle East Project, JK Photo and J.P. Licks. Based on the encouragement of those supporters, we reached out to seven new collaborating organizations: Center Stage, Brickbottom Artists Association, the Center for Arabic Culture, the Arts at the Armory, the Pingree School, BJ's and Not Your Average Joe's. These 13 partners helped us gather together diverse groups of people for all the events that week; more than 50% of whom were totally new to Monkeyhouse. While that is an impressive statistic for a presenter, it does not reveal the depths of our relationships with these partners. so I would like to offer just a few stories to exemplify their dedication to this project:

1. Both Impulse Dance Center and the Center for Arabic Culture, were so inspired by the Hind and Soufiane's workshops that they actually offered to contribute more funding to the residency than we had initially agreed upon.

2. In addition to proposing our residency idea to the Arts at the Armory, inviting their supporters to all the residency events, and helping to guide our post-show discussion, Luminarium's Kim and Russell Holman stayed until the bitter end of the Sunday night strike. They even volunteered to help get our extremely heavy genie back onto the U-haul.

3. Two members of Endicott's dance faculty, Nikki Sao Pedro-Welch and Mariah Steele, did a phenomenal job promoting their campus workshops to Endicott students and people at other local dance studios. When we realized during tech set up that our projector was not working well enough for Fleur D'Orange's performance, Nikki immediately loaned us one from her department. Nikki even drove one of the campus vans down to the performance to help more of her students attend the show in Somerville.

4. Center Stage and the New England Foundation for the Arts were so excited by the artist presenting artists aspect of our residency that they have asked me to be a panelist on the subject at APAP, the world's largest networking forum and marketplace for performing arts professionals, on January 12th!

Check back in a day or so and I will have some more stories on audience reactions and how the residency inspired at least one new project.

Fleur d'Orange Residency Events!

Fleur d'Orange Artist Reception

Come meet Hind, Soufiene and Mohcine!
Thursday, October 16th @ 6:30pm-8pm
Brickbottom Gallery, 1 Fitchburg St, Somerville, MA

What's in a Name?

Workshop with Karen Krolak & Hind Benali, Ages 8-14
Friday, October 17th @ 5:30pm-7pm
Center for Arabic Culture, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville

Workshop with Soufiene Karim

Hip-Hop Workshop, Ages 11+
Friday, October 17th @ 6:30pm
Impulse Dance Center, 5 Summer St, Natick, MA

Workshop with Hind Benali

Contemporary Workshop at CAC
Friday, October 17th @ 7pm
Center for Arabic Culture, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville

Workshop with Hind Benali

Contemporary Workshop at Endicott College
Saturday, October 18th @ 2pm
Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA

Workshop with Soufiene Karim

Hip-Hop Workshop at Endicott College
Saturday, October 18th @ 3:30pm
Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA

Identity/IDENTITE

An Evening Length Performance
Sunday, October 19th @ 5pm
Arts At the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville

Dance'n Feet @ DWC Saturday

by karen Krolak

Saturday is a special day for me filled with performances by some of my favorite dancers. Over the course of the afternoon, my choreography will be presented by second graders on up to seniors...both the kind that are graduating high school and ones in their seventies. While I will spend the day in Natick cheering on my students from Impulse Dance Center, the mighty women of Dance'n Feet will be showing off their splits, lifts, and head stands at the 6th annual Dance For World Community festival in Harvard Square.

If you have never seen Dance'n Feet before, I think they will surprise you with their chutzpah and acrobatics. Between the group of twelve women in their 60's and 70's, they have dozens of grandchildren. Some members have survived cancer while others have endured through the loss of a spouse. One of them performed on Broadway before she settled down to raise a family. Each week at their rehearsals, I marvel at their willingness to embrace challenging physical exercises. They do not obsess about mistakes and they relish their rapid progress. They dance because they can.

I am so proud of Dance'n Feet and wish that I could be there as they perform to Uncle Monsterface's take on Madonna. If you attend this free event, please hoot, hollar, and just shout strange sounds for me.

Danceʼn Feet
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
2:10 PM

Massachusetts Ave. between Remington and Bow Streets
Harvard Square, Cambridge

THANKS Giving Week 1!

Have you been keeping up with Monkeyhouse's THANKS Giving on Facebook?  Every day from November 1st through the end of the year Monkeyhouse is thanking one person (or group!) who has helped through our first thirteen years.  There are a wide variety of people who have intentionally or inadvertently pushed, lifted, poked or gently nudged us into the organization you see today.   Here's your chance to meet just a few of those folks!  If you come across someone you know, be sure so say thanks!  And keep an eye out for them at the next Monkeyhouse event!  Here is a summary of week one!  (If you want to keep up every day, take a minute to "like" us on Facebook for regular shows of gratitude!)

Jon Keith (self portrait)

JK Photo - Jon has been capturing choreography for Monkeyhouse for the past few years. It’s been great fun to watch his non-Monkeyhouse photographs begin to capture choreography too! JK Photo has a shiny new website that includes info on how you can hire him to capture your next big event! Thank you, Jon, for all that you do for Monkeyhouse!

LuAnn Pagella - Where to begin? LuAnn opened her doors to Monkeyhouse on day one when we were rehearsing for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and has been a rock for many of us personally and professionally ever since. LuAnn is the director of Impulse Dance Center in Natick where Karen and Nicole first met seventeen years ago, where Sarah Friswell, Sarah Feinberg, Nicole and many of our interns over the years (including Rosie, Laila, Elyssa, Ashley, Leah, Gaby and Remy) were once students and where Karen, Nicole and Sarah Friswell were/are members of the faculty. Without the support of this amazing woman many of us never would have had the chance to work together at all. From the bottom of our hearts, Monkeyhouse Loves You, Lu!

Joan Panek - Without Joan it would not have been possible to create Monkeyhouse. Long before there were any dancers in the studio, Joan enthusiastically brainstormed ways to build this organization with Rita and Karen Krolak. She was the very first donor and on our initial Board of Directors. Drawing from her experiences developing programs at the Dover Public Library and teaching in the Ashland school system, Joan guided us through our first outreach programs and helped us to establish a genuine community at Monkeyhouse. She is an outstanding ambassador for Monkeyhouse who has introduced friends to our projects, coaxed her son into videotaping early First Night shows, travelled hundreds of miles to see performances, and devoted thousands of hours volunteering. Monkeyhouse loves you dearly, Joan.
JP Licks - For more the later ¾ of Monkeyhouse’s existence we’ve had the great fortune of having a relationship with JP Licks. They have been our longest corporate sponsor and we are forever indebted to them. Whether donating ice cream for a closing night party, cross promoting events through their FB page or sending their head ice cream maker to judge the Your Just Desserts Bake Off, JP Licks has always been there for us. You’ve had the chance to grab a sundae at many Monkeyhouse events over the years. Take some time today to say a quick THANK YOU on their Facebook page for all that they do for arts in the greater Boston area today! Monkeyhouse Loves You!

Isabel Fine- Have you ever wondering how Monkeyhouse became an organization in residence at Springstep? It was all Isabel’s brilliant idea. She recognized that Springstep had some underused resources and approached us about how to combine forces. Thanks to her, Monkeyhouse was able to have regular rehearsal times, which expanded the number of dancers and choreographers presented in our concerts. We were able to develop pieces with prop elements and costume designs that would have been unwieldy if we had had to transport them each week. Our artists were inspired by the remarkable architecture of the building and have found bold ways to incorporate this into their creations. In addition, she is also the person who encouraged us to apply for the first Dance in the Fells concert. Best of all, she has gone on to join our Board of Directors where she shares her expertise on everything from administration management to curating concerts. Did you know that she currently curates the performances series for the Music Department at Wellesley College and that she use to be the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival? We are so honored by her support.

Zach Galvin - I’m not sure it possible to count the number of ways Zach has ties into

Zach Galvin (by JK Photo)

Monkeyhouse. He is a former classmate of Karen’s. Nicole was a student his first year as an English teacher at Natick High School, where he is now Vice Principal to many of our recent interns… The list goes on and on. And on top of that, Zach has been an active cheerleader for Monkeyhouse since day one. His encouragement and support are overwhelmingly appreciated! If you’re looking for another reason to love Zach, check out all the work he’s doing for the Jimmy Fund! Thank you, Zach!

Kelly Long - For close to the first decade of the 21st century Karen was choreographing musicals for Dover-Sherborn High School. It was there that she first met Kelly, a perky and outspoken young dancer. Kelly quickly began studying with Karen and Nicole at Impulse Dance Center and became a regular at Monkeyhouse company class. She volunteered at Monkeyhouse events (I have a vivid memory of Kelly, Ashley Chandler and Joanna Macone getting themselves horribly lost on their way to a fundraiser in JP then eagerly donning wigs and talking to donors without blinking an eye) and was always eager to engage in conversation about all sorts of big ideas. Since leaving high school Kelly has gone on to study dance therapy and is helping people find the very important meaning in their own movement. She has always been a huge ambassador for Monkeyhouse and because of her word of mouth we were given over $500 in donations last spring! Thank you, Kelly, for always having Monkeyhouse in your heart! We love you dearly!Pam & Steve Harris - Monkeyhouse is an all encompassing lifestyle for those of us at its heart. Many of our families and close friends have taken up the torch too, each in their own way. Nicole’s parents, Pam & Steve, are no exception. You may remember them from their gracious hosting of both Your Just Desserts and the ATO Thank You Luncheon at their beautiful home. (Did you know that Steve completely renovated that lovely house himself?) Pam’s homemade apple pie has been an often fought over auction item at fundraisers and they are both always on hand to lend us anything from a lemonade dispenser for post show events to drop cloths for a site specific performance. A heartfelt thank you to both of you from your daughter and all her Monkeyhouse friends.

Andy Jacobs' Pillow Debut

Everyone on the faculty at Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA is extremely proud of Andy Jacobs. He was an incredibly enthusiastic student with tremendous potential who performed in both the Connecting Point Dance Company as well as TAProject.  None of us were surprised that he was scooped up by two professional companies within days of earning his BA in Dance this year. We invited him to write about the his debut at Jacob's Pillow in August and to give us a glimpse into the start of what is sure to be a very promising career.

by Andy Jacobs

Photo Credit: Christopher Duggan
Courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow Dance

It’s weird, I didn’t think I’d be where I am today after my college graduation. First off, when I started my freshman year at Adelphi, my initial goal of being a dance major was to improve my technique more and audition to be one of Lady GaGa’s back-up dancers. It wasn’t until sophomore year that I had a sudden change in direction, when I had the privilege of being cast in Paul Taylor’s Esplanade and got to work with his second company, Taylor 2, and its artistic director and former Taylor Company member, Ruth Andrien. Since working with them, my eyes and mind were opened to what’s really out there in the dance world. Since then I’ve gathered more interest in the artistic side of the dance world and not just the commercial side. Being a back-up dancer for Lady GaGa would be great and I still have it on my audition list, but right now I’m on a different path in my career.


Today I’m a dancer for two NYC based dance companies, the Mazzini Dance Collective (who’s artistic director and choreographer, Annmaria Mazzini, is a retired Paul Taylor dancer.) and the Amy Marshall Dance Company (who’s artistic director and choreographer, Amy Marshall, is a former Taylor 2 company member.) This summer was my premiere with both companies. I traveled to Allentown, Pennsylvania to perform in the Allentown Freakout Fringe Festival with MDC. I also traveled to Becket, Massachusetts to perform at the Jacob’s Pillow Festival on the Inside/Out stage with AMDC.


This was first time ever being at Jacob’s Pillow and I have to say it was one of the richest experiences I’ve ever had so far in my dancing career. Knowing that we performing on the new stage was such a plus, it was sprung, had bars on the sides and back of the stage, and had one of the best back drops I’ve ever seen. We were told that half the stage was slippery and the other half was a bit sticky cause of the tree sap, but it honestly didn’t phase me or any of the other company members. All we could do was get our warm up gear on and make our way to the stage for a run through.


That afternoon we performed two of Amy Marshall’s original pieces, Riding the Purple Twilight and Dvija. We were told that 700 people were in the audience and that only pumped us more to go above and beyond. One thing that I specifically remember is that during the final section of Dvija the sun was beginning to set and the rays were shining through the trees. That literally completed the picture of what we were performing on that stage that evening. Having that element of nature and surprise was so fulfilling and perfect for the dancers' spirit and the audience's eye. At the end of the performances there was a Q&A session with the choreographer and company. One person asked “Because of the setting of the stage and being outdoors, does that change the interpretation of the movement?” I wanted to answer that question, so Amy handed me the mic and I responded with, “It definitely frees the movement more with being outside. You don’t have the three walls surrounding you, like you would in a theater. By having all this open space you’re able to broaden and expand the movement to a much higher level!”

Monkeyhouse Loves Impulse Dance Center!

by David Makransky
Impulse Dance Center is just about a household name in Natick, thanks to the enormous percent of students who study there. Boasting the Readers' Choice Best Dance Studio of 2012 Award in Natick, Impulse has been helping aspiring dancers from across Massachusetts build their technique. The studio offers instruction to all levels of dancers, and its enthusiastic learning environment, dedicated teachers, and celebrated public performances have made it an integral part of the Massachusetts dance world and greater community. Students have performed on television, in national competitions, and at our very own Monkeyhouse concerts! 

Monkeyhouse and Impulse Dance Center have been working together since the dawn of time - or at least since the dawn of Monkeyhouse. At first only sharing choreographers Karen Krolak and Nicole Harris, the two organizations have built an impressive partnership. TAProject and other Impulse students now dance at Monkeyhouse events and intern with us, continuing to grow the strong ties between Monkeyhouse and Impulse.  Several Impulse alumni are even members of the Monkeyhouse company: Sarahs Feinberg and Friswell! Be sure to check out Impulse's end-of-year concert, with performances on June 14^th and 15^th! For more information visit http://www.impulsedancecenter.com.

Get To Know Laila!

By: Elyssa Berg

Laila Fatimi is 17 years old and a Senior at Natick High School. She will be graduating this spring and attending the University of Maine in the Fall. She has been dancing at Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA for the past 15 years where she is a part of the Connecting Point Dance Company and the TAProject; two performing companies from the studio. Laila has also started her own business, Designs By Laila, that incorporates Henna designs into everything from tattoos to skateboards and sneakers. Here are some of the highlights from the conversation that we had together.

So I understand that you have been dancing at Impulse Dance Center for the past 15 years. Why don’t you tell me about the experience you’ve had from learning from the same teachers for such an extended amount of time.

Learning from the same teachers for so long, at Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA I have learned so much. I have learned everything from different styles of dance, to intricate technique, and life lessons.  One of the most important things I’ve learned, that is the most relevant to me at the moment (being a graduating senior), was said last year by Karen Krolak. She said, the more amazing memories made with a person, the more painful it is to say goodbye. Impulse is like my second family and I’m honored to be a part of such a great community!

I see that you’ve had a number of jobs over the past few years, have any of them impacted or tied into your dancing?

Yes, I actually think that my dancing has impacted my jobs. For a couple years, I worked at Corrado’s Subs in Natick Center. It’s obvious that making subs and dancing are very different, but I quickly learned that remembering sandwich orders is similar to remembering choreography. Now that I have been working on my own business, Designs by Laila, I have to be very organized, outgoing with customers, and on top of my work. Being at Impulse Dance Center almost every day, having school, and having homework have all helped me in learning the balancing act.

So over the years you have been to many different conventions. What would you say has been your favorite convention that you’ve been to and how did they differ from each other?

My favorite convention that I have been to has been the PULSE on tour convention in Boston. Learning from many world famous choreographers has shown me what being successful takes. It also was an awesome feeling to be in a room with hundreds of dancers who have had a totally different dance education than I have, meaning I had different strengths and weaknesses from the person next to me, which you can learn a lot from.

How do you think performing so much at such a young age has influenced you professionally?

I have learned how to present myself professionally, how to be respectful and how to be punctual. There is a lot that goes into a performance and if you are not on point something in the performance process could go wrong, or you could not be asked back to perform.

What would you say has been your favorite experience while performing in the Connecting Point Dance Company?

My favorite performance experience was at 12 Dancers Dancing in December 2011, at the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. I performed a piece called ‘Mad World’, created by Arie Hockman, with the rest of the Connecting Point Dance Company. I loved performing with a such a small group (three). It gave us a chance to connect as dancers, in a beautiful dance that is still my favorite piece that I have ever learned! It was also the first time that I felt so much passion and connection towards a piece. I also had a great time getting ready for the piece. The Connecting

Point Dance Company and Arie Hockman, the company’s director, drove into Boston for about a week straight. We would grab some coffee from the cafe down the street, put our pail white makeup on, and perform. I think this gave us more time to bond and get to know each other as more than just dancers.

Monkeyhouse's Intern: Elyssa Berg

by Laila Fatimi

Elyssa Berg is a senior at Natick High School who is going on to major in Dance and Choreography and hoping to minor in Exercise Science or Nutrition at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA this coming fall. In this interview, she talks about the large parts in her life and what she has taken from her experiences so far that will help her down the road. 

LF:What do you feel was the most important thing you learned from growing up at Impulse Dance Center?

EB: Well, growing up at Impulse, I can say that it has definitely shaped who I am completely. I’ve spent most of high school held to a high standard of discipline that has taught me a lot. Being on time, never slacking off, always on task and focused, I could basically keep going on for a while. Not only have I learned how important being a role model for the people around me, but I have also learned how to work with the people around me. Being able to help others grow and have them help me grow and improve is an amazing process that never ceases to feel rewarding. Being part of the two performing companies,The Connecting Point Dance Company and the TAProject, I was able to learn how to act professionally not only when at venues that we are performing at but also in rehearsal and in class.

LF: What was your favorite performance you’ve done? And Why?

EB: I would have to say that my favorite performance would be Circles III, where I performed Arie Hockman’s “Red Means Go” with the Connecting Point Dance Company. Performing at Circles III was one of the first times I felt like I fully performed a piece and gave it my complete all. It was such an amazing feeling to be satisfied with what I have done on stage. For the first time I was able to forget about what I’m doing and just dance.

LF: I understand you attended the Bates Dance Festival Young Dancers Workshop and the Urbanity Contemporary Summer Intensive, this past summer. Did you learn any new techniques and styles from the programs? 
EB: With every teacher that you study with, there will always be a variation of style and I was able to experience a lot of that while learning from so many people in such a short amount of time. It was interesting how fast I found myself able to adapt to the styles of the teachers. Two teachers definitely stand out to me with very different styles and techniques. One was in Kyle Abraham’s Repertory Modern class that I took for three weeks at the Bates Dance Festival. His style was quite contemporary with a little kick. It felt like there was somewhat of a hip hop influence in his style which was very different to anything that I have previously experienced. Also taking class from Kat Pantos and Urbanity’s Contemporary Intensive was very unique. Her style was hard hitting and intense movement that required a great deal of strength and endurance. Because I had never studied contemporary intensely, this was my first exposure to the technique and style that was challenging and very different to anything that I have studied before.

LF: Did you like any particular style more than others?

EB: I would say that studying with Kyle Abraham was my favorite experience with a new style. Not only does he have an amazing company, Abraham In Motion, that I got to watch perform and also take class with the company members, but I was able to fully immerse myself in a style so much out of my comfort zone that I ended up falling in love with. Being surrounded by his company members for the three weeks, taking classes with them, and then being able to have Kyle set a piece on my class, I was able to experience his whole creative process and experience his style to the greatest extent.

LF: You have been a teacher’s assistant for 6 years now. Have you learned anything from teaching?

EB: I have to say that I am really grateful to have the opportunity to assist classes at Impulse Dance Center. When I first began assisting classes I began with the younger children, usually around 7-8 years old. Watching young dancers grow and learn is such an amazing experience that is completely fulfilling. Later on I moved on to the older children when I began assisting ballet classes. Not only am I able to learn how to direct a class but assisting classes helps me to become a better dancer. I’m able to notice corrections that have to be made which really helps in my body awareness. All the corrections that I am able to give to the students I find that I am focusing on for myself in my own classes. Also being the example in a ballet class means that my technique has to be on point all the time. I take the class that I assist as seriously as any of my other classes and am able to work just as hard as I would during any other class.

October Birthdays!

Happy Birthday LuAnn Pagella!

by Rosie Steinberg

If you have been to a Monkeyhouse event, like Your Just Deserts in September, you have definitely met some lovely young dancers, all eager to soak up Karen's infinite wisdom and help out in any way that Nicole needs. But where did they come from? Where in the world could they have the opportunity to work with Karen so closely and so often? Impulse Dance Center, of course! The studio of one LuAnn Pagella, where toddlers, teenagers and teachers alike go to explore, create, and dance their hearts out. It being her birthday this month, we would like to honor LuAnn for her unending support for Monkeyhouse. I'd like to share one of my first memories of dance, a memory that I know so many students at Impulse have their own version of, the moment LuAnn helped me find the determination to dance. For some dramatic flair that I know LuAnn will appreciate, I guess I'll tell it in third person.

It was an exuberant but unsure little girl that entered a combination jazz, ballet, and tap class so many years ago only to find out that she was flat footed, had the shortest achilles tendon known to mankind, and could not seem to stop her feet from sickling. With each demi-plié, dreams of dancing like Debbie Reynolds in "Singin' in the Rain" slipped away. That was when LuAnn took that little girl aside, and taught her how to stand in a proper first position without rolling in her ankles. With that simple but significant achievement conquered, she had the confidence to return to the barre and finish the exercise, finish that class, and eventually make Impulse a second home.  

A small moment in the grand scheme of life, but without it dance could have conquered a young me before I even had the chance to begin.  Anyone who's met LuAnn can tell that she calls it like she sees it. A bold attribute, yes, but one that should never be undervalued. The high standards she holds her dancers to are what turn children into teenagers, teenagers into young adults, and those young adults into artists. Artists like Monkeyhouse's Nicole Harris, Sarah Friswell, Remy Marin, and Sarah Feinberg, who are all Impulse Alums. So next time you see an Impulse kid at a Monkeyhouse event, like the Against the Odds Festival (more information TBA!), ask them about dance. You will see in a heartbeat that it is not only beautiful movement, choreography, and an appreciation for technique that LuAnn Pagella and Impulse Dance Center instill in their students, it is an irrevocable commitment to take pride in their art, the art of dance. Happy Birthday Ms. LuAnn!

by Nicole Harris

October is one of my favorite months, and it's not just because it has my birthday!  The leaves are changing, the weather is crisp and beautiful, there are pumpkins and all assortment of Halloween goodies.  Oh yeah, and it's my birthday, Karen's birthday AND Monkeyhouse's birthday (did you know that we are turning TWELVE!?)!  Not to mention all these other awesome people!  Happy Birthday to all of our amazing October birthday friends as well as some fabulous choreographers, including:

Jason Samuels Smith, Najeeb Terazzi, Tina Fratello, Meera Jo Smith, Max Stone, LuAnn Pagella, Parker Hall

Want to be on the birthday list?  Email us and let us know when your birthday is!

Another March Master Class

by karen Krolak

Monkeyhouse's Nikki Sao Pedro has developed a fabulous dance department at Endicott College. (In fact, I am setting a new piece on her students for a concert in April. More on that in a future post) Performing in her Cambridge Connections Concert in 2010 was thrilling for a bevy of reasons. Personally, I truly enjoyed when one of my former students from Impulse Dance Center, Natalie Miccile, took the stage with Phunk Phenomenon (some of you may remember Phunk from Season 6 of America's Best Dance Crew).

Watching students grow up in my classes is humbling, inspiring, and frankly one of the best parts of teaching. Natalie's enthusiasm for dance was obvious to anyone who met her as a child and I am so proud that she has found a style that highlights her strengths and her fierceness. She is teaching a master class with two other Phunk dancers this weekend at Impulse Dance Center. It is open to anyone 8 and up, so if you have caught early spring fever and are itching for an excuse to bust a move, head over to Natick on Sunday.

HIP HOP MASTERCLASS

Instructors: Natalie Miccile, Erin Mclaughlin, & Crystal Starkey

Sunday, March 18th

1 pm - 3 pm

Break’n…Pop’n…HIP HOP…

Open to ages 8+

$18 per person CASH ONLY

Barnes & Noble Bookfair In Store Adventure Part III

Join members of TAProject at Barnes & Noble in Framingham TODAY from 5-7 as they show off their tap dancing talents!

Get more information about the Barnes & Noble Bookfair!

Barnes & Noble Bookfair Day One

Here's the deal: For anything you buy online at Barnes & Noble from TODAY to Monday  (using the code #10605954) a percentage will go to Monkeyhouse. It's that simple.

Are you sick of holiday gifts that don't do much more than sit on a shelf? Here's a way to make those holiday expenditures reach even further. Head on over to bn.com/bookfairs, enter the Bookfair ID #10605954 and a percentage of your purchases will go towards Monkeyhouse's Developing Dance Literacy Campaign. Just think, not only will your loved ones love the books you get them, but they'll be part of creating something amazing!

Join us in the Framingham store TODAY!  We will be wrapping purchases from 9-1 and performing with Seven's Not Enough, Natick High School Drama and Impulse Dance Center's TAProject from 5-7.

More Images from Impulse Dance Camp

 by karen Krolak


Although these pictures are all of pieces created by the other teachers at last week's Dance Camp at Impulse Dance Center in Natick, I love how they capture the spirit of the movement. I hope everyone finds a way to weave some live art into your weekend. Jason and I will be hopping over to Charlestown tonight to see Orfeo Group's Love Song (directed by Risher Reddick whom you might remember led a rocking Fight Choreography workshop as part of Against the Odds) and then scurrying up to Cultivate tomorrow.

Images from Impulse Dance Camp

 by karen Krolak

Dance improvisation can totally intimidate kids initially. Last week, however, I met a group of students who immediately embraced the awkwardness and unpredictability of these exercises. I was teaching at Impulse Dance Center's Dance Camp and I was thoroughly impressed by the way these dancers ignited their own imaginations.

After one improvisation with folding chairs, I asked the girls to describe their experience. One girl began, "My chair started as my purse but then it became my home." Another chimed in, "Mine was a pair of wings and then a gun." By harnessing their creativity, we quickly whipped together a quirky little piece called Angels with Metal Wings in less than two hours. It was filled with phrases generated by the performers woven together with small bits of my own choreography.

I was so proud of the both the process and the end product that I thought I would share some images here. I wish these photos could communicate their earnest efforts to teach each other the sections they created or their effervescent attitudes. Knowing how easy it is for tweens to fall prey to petty competitiveness, I was thrilled by their concern for everyone in the group.

Huge thanks to everyone who showed up to encourage these lovely young women.

Meet Sabrina Schwartz!

by Nicole Harris

Monkeyhouse owes a lot to Impulse Dance Center. We rehearsed in their beautiful studios for many of the early years and both Karen and I have been on the faculty there for a combined total of over 25 years. In all that time we have had the pleasure of working with so many amazing young people. From eight year olds discovering modern for the first time to teenagers in a youth tap ensemble, we have seen them all. Many of our former students have gone on to work in the arts and with Monkeyhouse. In fact, three of our new interns were once Impulse students.

Sabrina first came into my jazz class with a strict ballet background and I remember having to repeatedly remind this bright bubbly little girl that she should breathe while dancing! Like many of our students, as she grew up she took on more and more dance classes including tap, jazz, ballet and modern in addition to the theatre work she did outside Impulse. She has so much personality and joy in her when she dances and I can't wait for her to share that personality with you as a C2C Intern!

Sabrina is currently a student at Framingham State University where she is studying English and getting a minor in Secondary Education. Sabrina has also attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she studied acting for a year. Since she was young, she had a passion for dance, whether in class or on the stage. She has studied ballet, jazz, modern, character, and tap. Her favorite form of dance is modern because of its abstract expressive nature. She is extremely excited to join Monkeyhouse as one of their new C2C interns.

Want to know a little more about Ryan, Sarah, Gaby, Sarah and Sabrina? Check out their bios on our website! Keep an eye out for more news from them soon as they start their posts next month!

Getting to Know Ashley Chandler

 I am excited to share with you a conversation between two of last week's Against the Odds Rockstars of the Day, Sarah Friswell and Ashley Chandler.  Ashley will be joining us as the guest artist for this Friday's performance.  If you haven't got your tickets yet, you should!

Against the Odds: 

Stories of Adaptation, Translation & Survival

March 18th-April 15th

Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit our website!

SF:  Are you excited to be a guest artist this coming weekend?

            AC:  Yes! I am so excited to be back in Boston dancing and visiting with my friends and family.

SF:  What is your history with Monkeyhouse?

AC:  Well, Karen would say it started back in her beginner jazz class… but I like to remember the start when I was older and wiser in my teen years when I studied modern and improv with Karen and Monkeyhouse. In my senior year I also had the opportunity of working with the company through an internship.

SF:  What was it like working with Nicole to choreograph Fidelius originally?

AC:  It was so great to work with Nicole again, we fell right back into the familiarity of working with one another which is why I think the creative process with Nicole is so unique.  We have danced together for years and have a great chemistry for moving together so it was really interesting to put the music on have, an idea and see where the movement would take us.  Sometimes it took me face first to the floor…but all in the name of art! And look at where it has brought us!

SF:  How has the piece changed for you since then?

AC:  The most obvious difference for me when I came back to the piece was the transformation of the characters, and how Caitlin and Nikki adapted it.  When I stepped in and danced with Caitlin, it allowed me to explore and play with the movement in ways I hadn’t done before. This is what is so exciting about dance four dancers do the same piece and no two moments in the piece are ever the same. 

SF:  Ashley, tell us a little about yourself, where have you received your dance training from?

AC:  I started dancing at Impulse Dance Center at age 3 and never stopped.  I trained in anything and everything I could while at the studio.  After a couple years of modern training and a conversation with Karen I realized I could pursue a career in professional dance.  I attended Adelphi University under the direction of Frank Augustyn where I received a B.F.A. in dance performance, and had the honor of working with some fantastic artists. 

SF:  What are you doing now since you’ve graduated?

AC:  I currently am a member of the Circle of Dance repertory, a dance company based out of Long Island. We perform original and restaged works at local events on Long Island. To keep on top of my training I study at the Taylor School, as well as with Heather Berest, a former Paul Taylor dancer.  I also have the pleasure of working with my girls at A Step Above Performing Arts Center as the ballet, modern, and lyrical teacher.  I wake up every day excited and in love with what I do, I am so fortunate for the all the opportunities that have come my way in my first year out of school.

SF:  What advice do you have for young dancers who would like to dance professionally?

AC: Create the possibility that you can and you will dance professionally! Don’t give up, if that passion is inside of you, all you have to do is let is guide you and it will be enough.  Expose yourself to every technique, style, and teacher you can. Find what you love about the way you move and let that lead you to your niche in dance.

There will be cuts at auditions, not so nice choreographers, smiles and lots of tears, but at the end of the day how many people can say that followed their dream and love what they do?

SF:  What are you plans now?  Do you have any other performances coming up? Performance goals? Working goals?

AC:  March is busy month for us dancers! Besides performing in Against the Odds, I am performing with Circle of Dance at the Long Island Dance Consortium March 26^th.  I will also be making a guest appearance with my Step Above girls in one of their upcoming performances. 

My immediate performance goals are to continue on the path I’m on, keep performing and take on different projects and experience the NYC dance scene from different angles.  As far as working goals, I am working towards a full time company position with a touring company, as well as continuing to work for lululemon athletica. I love working with people who are committed to living full and healthy lives, the company is teaching me so much and I’m excited to see what opportunities can come my way!

The Against the Odds Rockstar of the Day -- Ashley Chandler

by Nicole Harris

When I was a teenager I was a class assistant for a young intro to dance class at Impulse Dance Center.  One of my sassy little dance students was a very small (and very loud) Ashley Chandler.  I have been on hand for almost all the milestones in Ashley's dance life, both big and small.  From the day she joined the Connecting Point Dance Company to the year I made her wear yellow overalls in tap class (I never lived that one down) to an infinite number of Monday afternoons with her as my class assistant to her Dance Adelphi performances.  I have always been proud of all of Ashley's accomplishments and I am honored that now, with a professional dance career of her own, I will be performing with Ashley on the opening night of Against the Odds on Friday, March 18th.  Please come out and see what a beautiful, strong and spirited dancer Ashley has become.

Ashley, thank you for being there through many milestones in MY life.  I love you.

For more information on Against the Odds and to buy tickets click here!

Against the Odds is supported in part by the Medford Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council.

Thank you to Springstep for its support of this event.

Getting to Know Derick Grant--Part 1

by Nicole Harris

Somewhere around 2004 I took students of mine from Impulse Dance Center to a Manhattan Dance Project workshop where I met tap teacher Derick K. Grant.  I was instantly enamored with his laid back yet individualized teaching style and when I found out he taught regularly in New York City I promised to begin showing up at places he was.  A few months later I walked into his class at Steps on Broadway in New York City while I was in town visiting my sister and knew just who I was.  "You're that girl from Boston.  You said you were going to being stalking me and here you are!"  Since then I have been lucky enough to study fairly extensively with Derick and I consider him to be one of the biggest influences on my tap dancing today.  Last year he and I sat down to talk about his career, his choreography and his view on life.

NH: What was the first thing you ever choreographed?

DG: Lord have mercy, the first thing?  Well, let’s say the first official thing was a solo. It was called “Drums.” I was a rookie in the Jazz Tap Ensemble and I was challenged to choreograph a piece. I got to work with Jerry Kalaf, who was the musical director. It was the first time where I worked with live music, and had to like come up with arrangement, and make a dance. That was pretty cool. I was probably about 19. 

NH:  What are your biggest challenges as a choreographer?

DG:  For me being entertaining. I found that most of the tap choreography was very green. My main problem was getting people to dance while they tap, ‘cause most choreography that is used in shows is used with the purpose of telling a story. And most choreography that is used in tap dance are musical compositions. So finding a balance where you can use the body as a narrative, as an actor, but then use the sounds coming from those same movements, as a musical composition, is hardcore. 

NH:  Who are some of your favorite choreographers?
DG:  I’m going to have to say Jerome Robbins or Bob Fosse.  I started to study ballets because I realized that ballets were bodies of work that represented choreographers, and those pieces would live long after the choreographers died. And that in terms of being a choreographer, that’s kind of like the point, that’s like the painter making the painting. You want to have a piece that can live beyond you. You know? So then I started checking out the ballets, seeing what they had in common, and then what made them different from each other in terms of style and storytelling. And I had some success, I mean it was a rocky road because I don’t know a ton about ballet, so I probably missed a lot of the subtleties; they all kind of looked the same to me after awhile. I mean I know what’s a pretty turn, what’s a pretty leap, but that’s about the extent of it.  With Fosse and Jerome, you can see it in the body, like that’s a tap dancer there.  It was easy for me to respond and to understand that.

Special Thanks to Melissa Dollman for her assistance in getting this interview transcribed.  We love you!