FREE DANCE this FRIDAY!

by Nicole Harris

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Why not head over to the Mills Gallery and check out the recent installment of Movement at the Mills?!  It's FREE and better yet, it features some REALLY amazing choreographers and performers.

David Parker and the Bang Group will be heading up from New York and performing alongside Lorraine Chapman and Contrapose with special guest, Ryan Casey.  The Bang Group will be presenting two entirely new pieces.  According to David, "One is a tap dance translation of Steve Reich's Clapping Music and the other a duet for Jeff and me singing and dancing Rossini's famous Cats duet, Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti."  They will also be doing excerpts from ShowDown and pieces choreographed by David for Contrapose and Lorraine Chapman.  Our own Ryan Casey will be performing choreography of his own as part of the concert.  (If you missed Ryan's performance at Against the Odds here is your chance to see a section of it!)

The Mills Gallery is a wonderfully personal way to see dance.  Karen, Courtney and I had a great time performing as part of Movement at the Mills a few years ago.  Ryan describes tomorrow's show as a "unique performance, where audience members can meander through the Mills Gallery and watch dances unfold before their eyes."  There will definitely be members of Monkeyhouse in the audience, so join us for an exciting (AND FREE!) evening of dance!

Friday, May 10th @ 8pm

Boston Center for the Arts - Mills Gallery

539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

Residency Opportunity for Choreographers

by karen Krolak

Quicksilver Dance during BCA residency

Hey choreographers, here is yet another fabulous opportunity to create work! The Boston Center for the Arts is accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Dance Residencies. While the residency does not cover transportation or local housing costs, it is open to dance artists from outside of the Boston area. I have heard both Mariah Steele and Contrapose Dance rave about how much they enjoyed being selected for these residencies. Resident artists receive:

• Four to five weeks of free rehearsal/performance space for an intensive creative  process. Companies will have unlimited rehearsal time within Calderwood Pavilion operating hours: weekdays 9 am - 11 pm, Saturdays 10 am - 11 pm, Sundays 12 pm - 8pm.
•  The opportunity to perform new and existing work in an alternative theatre space.
• A stipend of $1000 to be used at the resident company’s discretion.
• Assistance from Technical Director with lighting design and production  labor.
• Access to lighting and sound equipment for showcase performance including risers, pipe & drape, approx. 18 lighting instruments, PA system for sound.
• Support for public program development and execution.
• Inclusion in BCA program listings and website.

One company will be choose for each Residency Session: 

Monday, October 21 – November 24, 2013 (5 weeks)
Monday, January 6 – Sunday, February 2, 2014 (4 weeks)
Monday, May 19 – Sunday, June 22, 2014 (5 weeks)

Applications must be received by Monday, May 20, 2013 by 5:00pm. For more information go to http://bcaonline.org/performance/dance/dance-residency-call.html

Luminarium's 24 Hour Choreofest

By: Elyssa Berg

Luminarium Dance will be hosting their second annual 24 Hour Choreofest! The festival will take place on Friday, August 16, 2013 through Saturday, August 17, 2013 at the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. Choreographers/Companies are strongly encouraged to apply for the chance to create work in a completely different environment and under unusual circumstances.

Dancers will spend a full 24 hours in the Dance Complex with a chance to create an original piece of work. All work must be created during this time period, no preconceived work is allowed! After the overnight creating process there will be a short production period in the morning followed by two performances on Saturday. Embrace the opportunity to push your creative limits and create something one of a kind! All proceeds of the Saturday matinee performance will be donated to a charity that focuses on providing arts-based experiences to underserved populations.

All applicants should apply by the May 17th deadline through the online application process. There is a $15 application fee and you will also need to include samples of your work. There will only be five companies chosen to participate in the festival and no solo work is being accepted at this time. Applications and a full description of expectations for the festival can be found at http://www.luminariumdance.org/choreofest-apply#!__choreofest-apply.

2012 Inaugural Participants included:
1,000 Virtues Dance
Sarah Mae Gibbons & Renee Amirault
Luminarium Dance Company
Monkeyhouse
The People Movers
Synthesis Aesthetics Project

You could be next! Apply today for Luminarium's 24-Hour Choreofest of 2013 today!

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.

Dance in the Fells Applications due May 15

By Laila Fatimi

Nicole Harris rehearsing for Dance in the Fells 2010

This year's Dance in the Fells event will be taking place on October 12, 2013 with choreography performed at three different sites around Wright's Pond in Medford, MA. The first Dance in the Fells won a 2011 Gold Star award for its, "artistic quality, success in reaching out to under served constituents, extent to which the project highlights a unique quality of the community, and ability to engage with the community." If you would like to choreograph a piece inspired by one of three beautiful sites around Wright’s pond for the 2013 Dance in the Fells event, here is the information that will get you there!


Applications are due on May 15th, the applicants chosen will be notified by May 30th. Send them either electronically (preferred), by emailing to tworoads.org@gmail.com, or send them as a hard copy to Two Roads Performance Projects, P.O. Box 441616, Somerville, MA 02144.

Be sure to include, the complete application form with the Choreography Proposal, a video sample of your work that is less than 15 minutes long, and an artist or company résumé.

The three sites around Wright’s pond include, the Wrights Pond Beach, the path south of Wrights Pond, the east side promontory across from Wright's Pond. Wright's Pond is a historical site, originally explored by Governor Winthrop in the early to mid 17th century. Later, it became a source of water power for mills, timber, and ice industries. Currently, it is a place where people living in the city can come and escape from the busyness of it all.

An IRNE Award for Jason RIes

Pictured Mike Webb and Jake Athyal Photo Credit Liza Voll

 by karen Krolak

On Monday night the Boston Center for the Arts cyclorama was abuzz with local theater luminaries celebrating the annual IRNE awards. Early in the evening, Jason Ries, Monkeyhouse's Production Manager and all around Lighting Guru, won Best Set Design for Company One's The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. 

In his acceptance speech Jason focused on the collaborative efforts of the cast and the design team. He mentioned how impressed he was by how much people on the project genuinely cared about each other especially considering that the play is amped up on testosterone and wrestling. 

Director Shawn LaCount told me later that, " Working with Jason on Company One's production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity was a pleasure and it is no surprise that the local theater awards honored him for his outstanding work." He continued, "Jason is a phenomenal collaborator. He is the kind of theater artist who helps break down walls of ego and pretense among a group of designers. He brings a 'whatever-it-takes' attitude and understands the need to strive, together, for excellence. Jason is a problem solver and positive thinker." I know that I am biased but I could not agree more. It is thrilling that Jason's creativity and dedication were recognized again.

Keep your fingers, toes, and any other appendages crossed because both Shawn and Jason have been nominated for Norton Awards for the same production. We will keep you posted on those announcements on May 13th.