AndThenTheyFlew

This past Saturday I found myself crouched on a sprung-wood floor in one of Triskelion’s smaller rehearsal studios in North Williamsburg.

I had come to watch my dear friend Robin Cherof in rehearsal for “Dream.Fly.Awaken.Continue” the newest work by choreographer Megan Bascom.

I was not familiar with Bascom’s choreography prior to this meeting but was immediately impressed with the professionalism held between choreographer, dancer, and work. As they finished their first run Bascom gently brushed the hair out of her face and glided across the floor to turn off the camera recording rehearsal, checking the latest runtime of the piece, and simultaneously giving direct notes that she noticed throughout the run. Oh, and she was also dancing in the piece.

The piece takes root in the childlike fantasy to fly, and the turn of the century fixation on bringing that idea to fruition.

A cast of four women is introduced in a continuous phrase that slowly works its way across the space in a Butoh like manner, being curiously captivating and then suddenly awe inspiring as you realize they’ve reached the other side of the stage, but with no idea as to how it occurred or how long they have had you under their spell.

Along with this childlike thinking there is a weight and maturity in the piece. Fantastical ideas might be in mind, but educated form and group mentality act as an ominous but ever present undertow. Dancers are left behind, partnerships come and go, and in small moments throughout the piece there is an idea of Awakening, solitude realizations that you can never return to the true whimsy and innocence of childhood.

Alongside this is an expertly chosen soundtrack of airplanes passing overhead and simple melodies that accompany the piece.

Dancers in the piece are: Megan Bascom, Carly Berrett, Robin Cherof, and Megan Sinnwell

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“Dream.Fly.Awake.Continue”

October 22nd-24th
The Rover SoHo
41 Wooster Street, Second Floor
NYC 10013
646-808-9080

AndThenItRained

Last Saturday I had the wonderful experience of observing one of Nellie Rainwater’s rehearsals for her upcoming show at Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) “My Heart Broke On That Bed, and other stories”.

I caught the group towards the end of a productive 4 hour Saturday night rehearsal, and although brains were at the frying point Nellie kept a calm control over the space.

I was only able to see one piece in my time at her rehearsal, a re-mounting of “Spaces We Inhabit”, a piece she created in her second year as a NYU Tisch MFA.

The piece takes inspiration from the idea of social isolation, the fact that we can be surrounded by others but still feel alone. This is greatly accomplished in the piece by a gentle orchestration of personalized timing on a unison phrase, sometimes placed side by side, and other times occurring in a detailed pattern that sweeps across the stage. Interspersed with these moments are electric jolts that catch the observer off guard, but unifies the dancers and perfectly conveys the personal moment of catching yourself in a vulnerable state.

Alongside the movement is music by Prefuse 73, and text written by Rainwater The Dancers include: Rhea Daniels, Gierre Godley (Not in video), Stephanie Java Joshi, Elise Marafioti, Amelia Munro, Rocio Sanchez, and Nellie herself.

With Rainwater’s quiet intelligence and cool demeanor, this should prove to be a great night of dance. Also included in the show are two guest pieces by Rhea Daniels and Iain Rowe, Composed Music by Josh Green, Artworks by Ryan Ketchum, and Live Music by hey Novella (Live music at Saturday’s performance only).

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“My Heart Broke On That Bed, and other stories”
An evening of dance, music, art, love, longing, heartbreak, and bliss.

Friday October 1st and Saturday October 2nd, 8pm
BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange
421 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY
$15 General Admission | $10 Student/Seniors

reserve your ticket at: rainwaterdances@gmail.com or call
646.670.1264

AndThenTheyBecameTheirParents

First post!

Chica-chicaaaaaaa. Okay, for realsy now.

I recently had the pleasure of observing Laurel Snyder’s rehearsal of her latest exploration “Planning the Inevitable/ like my genes” at CPR studios in Guillermosburg, Brooklyn. I entered the studio to a very relaxed but positive atmosphere and upon seeing me Laurel let out a quick gasp, as if enjoying a playful game of peek-a-boo, immediately followed by a long “Helloooo” and a warm hug. This has always been the way with Laurel.

Laurel and I both attended NYU: Tisch School of the Arts for BFA’s in Dance. Since graduating Laurel has continued to create in her organic and memory/sensory driven style, but has also worked with David Dorfman, and graced the stage in the Met Opera’s “Hoffman”.

We caught up for a moment but it was seamlessly eased back to working on the piece. Dancers Hanna Darrah, Hailey Perin McNelis, and Regina Sobel took their marks and began an unfolding of movement and text.

The piece explores the terrifying time old idea that we are all slowly becoming our parents. Characters emerged from each mover, and relationships were formed via spacial and verbal interactions. Key moments of solitude were also implemented, but the magic was created by the dancers’ and Laurel’s innate sense of the ebb and flow of tension that always coincides with relationships you cannot choose.

“Planning the Inevitable/ like my genes?” Will be performed this Friday, September 24th at 8pm as park of Triskelion’s “Collaborations In Dance”

Triskelion Arts
118 North 11th Street, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.triskelionarts.org
718-599-3577

AndThenTheyHadAnIdea

Hey Everyone,

I write this post with a little bit of haste. At the moment I am between taking class and rehearsal… and have taken refuge in a NYU Dormitory Commons by quickly flashing my now Two-Year-Expired Student ID. So pardon the quickness, but welcome nonetheless.

This is AndThenTheyMoved, a journey to find a common space for artists. I have lived in New York City for a little over four years now, with the last year and a half being completely on my own and trying to survive as an artist (Dancer/Actor/Teacher/Choreographer/Yoga Instructor/Dry Cleaner/Blah/Blah/Blah).

Through my  professional career I have been lucky enough to grow a nice network and consider my web of friends and colleagues pretty vast, but I am still blown away when I attend a concert or pass by rehearsals and realize how big our community really is. Even more so I find it interesting that a fellow dancer can spout names of choreographers they’ve worked with on the freelance level and I’m able to identify maybe one or two from their list, but if they name the dancers in the projects I can recognize a name in almost all of them.

So this is how the seed was planted. I’m not a journalist. I’m not a videographer. I simply want to find a way to connect the gaps.

This blog will consist of interviews, rehearsal excerpts, reviews, and observations. At this point I am starting where I am most comfortable, the dance world, but hope that this site can grow into a checkpoint as to what’s going on in the emerging arts world.

What I do:
-Come to a rehearsal or workspace
-Take simple videos of the work with my phone, as well as watch and take notes
-Interview the creator
-Edit video into a preview informative piece
-Write a little about the work and tell where and when it will be presented

It’s simple but effective, real and un-photoshopped, but I need you help to make it happen.

If you are currently creating or working in a piece that’s going up and think the artist might be interested, let me know!

Time to write a little more before the campus security comes ’round .

Happy Creating,
Elliott
andthentheymoved@gmail.com