Happy New Year with Free Art.
Enter a comment on the YouTube page comment section and be entered to win a free hand drawn print by Monchito. Applies only for US residents. Winner will be announced 2/2/2012
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Reader’s Choice Top Dance Blogs 2010
Happy Snow Day, Wingers!
If you have nothing to do while stuck in the snow, I recommend checking out Dance Advantage’s Top Dance Blogs of 2010 competition that opened for voting today!
Many dance blogs from around the world entered themselves to the commenting round last week, and now the final voting round means we need more reader support! Though many of the major (and longest-running) dance blogs are not in the running, there are lots of new blogs in the various categories that are fun to check out. Here’s the list of those that made it to the voting round.
My blog, “Off Center,” is entered in the Dancer Musings Category and the Top 20. After the first round I was in 3rd place for both…so, can you help me out? 
I’ve been posting reasons why you should vote for me up on my blog here.
Go here to place your vote, and be sure to check out some of the blogs in the other categories and place votes for them, too! It’s a fun way to surf (er, sled?) the dance internet on a snowy day!
insight into ink
Hey Ya’ll. (I just got back from the south so pardon my language)
Heres a quick time lapse that I made with visual artist and collaborator Daniel Diaz-Tai using ink and water plus a digital camera.We are starting a new collabo together for a concert dance piece. The challenge for me is to use the movement of the Inks as a guide to movement vocabulary. As you watch this clip think about all of the numerous possibilities. With that said…. Not sucking would be the hugest concern for me because it would be too easy to go off the deep end on a project like this. Currently we are in the first phase of the project and I’m work shopping material with a couple dancers as a sort of “Blue Print” because this project will have me using the largest cast that i have ever worked with before. Im looking forward to rising up to the occasion and soooo stoked on this!
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My New Design Website
My costume design website is up and running. There are a couple of shows from some years ago that I am missing photos for, but other than that, I think my professional work is all there. Enjoy!
http://candicethompsondesign.com
Laura Peterson Choreography in Forever.
The Diamondback
Nicole Cerutti rocks my newest LOLAstretch design in photos by Steven Schreiber. The Diamondback is up on the site now for custom ordering! and for your enjoyment– some of good shots and some of the fun shots:
This is a favorite pose of mine, “the track start”, and it seems to never get old for me.
I swear I am not the mad tyrant I appear to be, just expressing myself.
This will only take a minute…………
jazzerinas can enjoy it too!
Yes, this style is baseball inspired–little did I know Nicole’s dad was a professional baseball player!
I always want an inverted shot……….and they are fun, but always better in theory for showcasing the product. Alas! I still love it.
Check out our fan page for more!
Help Wanted!
LOLAstretch has been as busy as ever and we are facing down a jam packed Fall with NEW styles, a couture calendar shoot with 12 models, limited-run dancer choice leos and a bigger leap into the wholesale market! Phew it is a lot to even say and there are two amazing young ladies that are and will be a huge part of making this all happen: Danielle Forrestal and Stephanie Wolf. Danielle, a freelance dancer/singer in NY, has just made the transition from Sales and Marketing Intern to a paid Sales Director position and Stephanie has just joined our team remotely from Minneapolis, where she dances for James Sewell Ballet, as our New Media Intern. She will be archiving all of our images, and working on interfacing new images and videos with our website and social networking sites. I am so happy to have them!!
But that is not all! We are still in need of some help for our small but growing venture. I am currently interviewing for two internship positions: LOLAstretch Business Intern and LOLAstretch Sales/Marketing Intern. Please pass the information along to any dancers in NY metro area whom you think might be interested in gaining a valuable real world work experience, in a fast-paced small business atmosphere, with school credit available and the chance of the position growing from internship into a part-time job. The descriptions of what we are looking for are below.
{LOLAstretch New Media Intern Stephanie Wolf in a Ballerina Project photo by Dane Shitagi}
LOLAstretch Business Intern
We are looking for one super organized, creative and highly motivated individual to work directly with owner Candice Thompson on all things pertaining to business development, operations and day-to-day book and record keeping, assistance and organization of all events and photoshoots. Knowledge of Quickbooks, Microsoft Word and Excel a plus but not necessary. Hours are flexible at our office in Williamsburg and remotely, preferably 8 hours per week, school credit and/or stipend available.
LOLAstretch Sales/Marketing Intern
We are looking for one enthusiastic and outgoing individual to assist Danielle Forrestal and Candice Thompson with our new wholesale accounts and our LOLAliaison program. Job will include creative research and brainstorming for events and photoshoots, basic admin and data entry, and interfacing with stores, liaisons and the dance media about new promotions and products. Knowledge of basic html, Microsoft Word and Excel a plus but not necessary. Hours are flexible, can work remotely, preferably 8 hours per week, school credit and/or stipend available.
Please email a cover letter telling us about yourself, along with a resume to:
Dress for Reality Success
I made this charcoal sheer mesh reverse wrap dress for LOLAliaison Melissa Sandvig. It is a pinch front halter dress that ties around the neck and wraps from front to back to tie at waist.
She will be wearing it tonight on SYTYCD–check it out and vote for her! She is the only classically trained lady left!
Pant Pioneering
A sketch of my new costumes for new work by Miro Magloire for New Chamber Ballet this weekend. This is the first time I have ever made them pants and this departure is very exciting for our partnership! It makes me feel like Kate Hepburn for a moment…..though I am opting for a cropped harem pant instead of her classic wide leg pleated pant.
The Dance Community Needs Your Help
Help save this beautiful company before it is too late!
As we all know money and businesses from every sector have been experiencing difficult times recently. Unfortunately the ballet world is no exception to this fact. I want to bring to your attention an issue that is very important to me personally; Oregon Ballet Theatre needs your help. If we all don’t pull together and help this company it will have to close it’s doors. Not only do I have close friends in this company, but it is also a company that the ballet world cannot afford to loose. I urge you to take action on this issue. If you can donate any amount please do! ( Click here for information on how to donate to OBT)
As you see from the poster above they will also be holding a benefit performance.
Here are a few links with more information on the company as well as the current issue:
http://www.obt.org/news_links/features/5-27-09_Oregonian_onthebrink.html
Dancers making a difference
I am constantly intrigued by the multiple talents of my dancing friends. Sometimes I feel as though I’m always discovering another dancer’s gift, other than dancing, that I didn’t know about.
Sometimes it is in a field that I might be more likely to expect such as teaching or choreographing because of it’s close relation to our daily job. But I also have friends who also have beautiful singing voices, play various musical intruments, are photographers or filmmakers, cut and style hair, are massage therapists, yoga instructors, pilates instructors, design and build jewelry or clothing, are gourmet cooks (more on that one in an upcoming post!).
One of my most recent discoveries was Elisabeth Holowchuk and Stylish Ink
I met Elisa while Ballet Austin was working with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet this past fall. I had already run across the Stylish Ink website and Elisa’s beautiful, sweet, streamlined, and of course balletically correct “stick-figure” type designs. But I didn’t make the connection until at least a week into our companies’ partnership.
Elisa has a variety of designs that I just adore. I think one of my personal favorites is the one of the five Serenade russian girls in sous-sous.
From her designs Elisa makes stationery, totes, apparel, and greeting cards such as the one shown below.
Stylish Ink Greeting Cards
Like I said, I am constantly intrigued by my dancer friends and the things they can do. I am always so impressed by them as well. I felt like mentioning Elisa specifically this month because of her latest design of Awareness Tshirts.
Elisa designed a shirt that comes in various colors to proceeds from sales of these Tshirts go to support several different causes and foundations such as: The American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, Susan G Komen for the Cure, and the Foundation for AIDS Research.
Pink Awareness Tshirt
You can find Stylish Ink and Awareness Tshirts here
Or copy and paste: www.stylishinkstationery.com/cancerawareness
So many of us have been touched by cancer or disease in our lives, whether it is own battle or that of a loved one, friend or neighbor.
Let’s help make a difference!
