man redefined the music
HERE IT IS!! New music that David Molina & I composed for the Lorraine Hansbury Theatres Gala celebration of a Raisin In The Sun.
After the performance I scooted on over to table 44 where Hansbury family was seated and asked them what they thought of the work. Out of everyone in the room I wanted to know they’re opinions because I took such artistic liberties from such a famous monologue. To my surprise they were pleased with the re working and loved my fab dancer Michael Montgomery. The eldest sister told me that she could feel the drama and that the solo was well thought out which helped communicate the dialogue even better. That was the highlight of the evening for me. Not gonna lie…. i was slightly nervous because i did take a lot of artistic liberties with this project.
Thanks to Robert Birks and Stanley Williams for taken a chance on me. Also thanks to Micheal Montgomery, it was a pleasure to work with you. Glad that you enjoy my “language.”
B
Ps. I did not post the video, you will see it soon enough:)
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
Playing For Change - Can art really change the world?
I’ve just stumbled upon an absolutely wonderful website for a movement called “Playing for Change”. The idea of the movement is simple, yet powerful.
“Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.”
As I watched their videos it reminded me how powerful the arts can be. One of the musicians speaks about how music can be a time for meditation and peace, I think it is exactly the same with dance. In today’s world it is easy to become lost in frivolous and unnecessary things, but it truly is time for change. I have been doing some studying of the teachings by Eckhart Tolle, of Buddhism, and at the moment I’m reading a book by the current Dalai Lama. I have finally felt that peace has entered my life and every moment is truly a gift. Dance is my form of meditation and through it I have found my own peace. The world around us seems to be filled with things that are falling apart, everything from our economy to the planet we live on. These outer problems are only a reflection of the inner conflicts so many of us feel day to day, but there is a way to find enlightenment and peace. During these times we must not forget how extremely powerful the arts can be to the human race. Dance, music, and many other art forms can bring a stillness and peace where we would least expect it. We can’t underestimate the importance and power of the arts at anytime, but especially not during the hard times. The way this movement is using music is a reminder that through art we all have the power to unite and spread peace.
http://www.playingforchange.com/
27 PACES:New sample audio of MPH featuring TxT
easter bunny in Dolores Park
Hello everyone.
(This is part of the 27 Paces project i was blogging about in earlier post.)
In our constant pursuit of Global domination (loved Pinky and the Brain) i decided that we venture into new yet familiar territories. MUSIC. With TAGsf producing our own music we would own the rights to all of our work. Much like Prince. I wanted us to go out and record audio from various people around San Francisco so that we can take the audio splice it up and add music over it. The results were way better than i had expected.
We had the perfect audio literally fall into our laps. I was out with one of my friends one day after work walking through the mission, heading towards Dolores Park. We were talking about the new music idea that i had so that i could get feedback from other people to see if it was a good idea or not. Once we arrived at Dolores we decided to kick it on the sidewalk towards the top of the park cause the grass was all wet and thats not cute when you get up, you know? Right as we sat down a homeless man came over towards us and asked us if he could sit with us even though the whole entire park was empty. That very moment Pat told me to get ready. I whipped out my handy Ipod Touch and went to the application italk so that i could record his audio. We offered the man some money, food and a couple smokes in exchange for him to talk into the mic. He was given no instruction or prompt. I told him to talk about anything and boy did he! This mans words were so articulate and clear with an amazing grasp of vocab. He spoke in a deep audible monotone voice. Not once did he stop and say “uhm or doy”. He was clear and crisp but still clearly cracked cause nothing he was saying added up. After recording 3 takes of 9 min or so we sat and chatted with Micheal Paul Henderson (the name he introduced himself to us) for a while before we split the scene. The next day i took the audio into the studio where it was cut up, spliced and layered before it was sent out to another guy in Atlanta who added music over the audio with my very specific instruction on tonality and structure.
Currently i am working with the track for a May performance here in San Francisco as well as for a filming with good ol Dr.Bacon. Its cool to be working with this particular piece of music cause the words stretch my imagination and im able to see new movement/visual ideas every time i listen to the music.
The track that you are about to listen to is not in its entirety or even its right order. I thought it would be cool to splice it up and highlight key words and phrases with some typography. YAY!
more pics, video and list of other collaborators coming sooner than later. Stay tuned folks:P
click on the link below for the music.
you can also track me on twitter @ http://twitter.com/btroubles
b
Unforgettable
Lynn Peterson, Matthew Oberstein conducting
We had an absolutely unforgettable weekend..
We had a full house for every show, and just glowed in it!! We have worked very very hard as a company to bring this work to the stage, and we really felt so… proud.
And to share the work with such a big and excited crowd was truly a gift.
The orchestra (Artemis Chamber Ensemble) was truly more moving and inspiring to work with than I even thought could be possible. Matthew’s conducting was undeniably an anchor of the performance. He was vibrant, steady, and intuitive to a profound degree. Recently said about Matthew:
“It was obvious from the start that he is on the cusp of a major career”
-Brooklyn Eagle
The dancers of SYREN were exquisite: Aleyse Bradford, Heidi D’Alessandro, Quincy Junor, Chanelle Lagacé, Erin Ghislin Lane, Jeffery Lyon, Brigitte Mitchell, and Lynn Peterson.
Erin Ghislin Lane and Lynn Peterson
Jeff Lyon and Brigitte Mitchell
Heidi D'Alessandro and Jeff Lyon
Lynn Peterson
All photos: Christopher Duggan
We are now following up on every lead, every conversation, and knocking on every door that cracked open throughout the performance weekend/after parties, etc.
A great interview was published on flavorwire, check it out here!
flavorwire.com
Thanks so much for all the good wishes and for those that were able to make it to the show. We can’t wait to keep working and keep this work growing and growing.
All my best,
Kate
homestretch
Heidi D'Alessandro (photo:Christopher Duggan)
Lynn Peterson (photo: Chris Duggan)
Jeff Lyon, Lynn Peterson (photo: Christopher Duggan)
Erin Ghislin Lane (Photo: Christopher Duggan)
Brigitte Mitchell and Heidi D'Alessandro (Photo: Chris Duggan)
Company (photo: Christopher Duggan)
company (photo: Christopher Duggan)
Here it is. After 7 months of preparing, we are here. In about 8 hours we will be in tech, and in about 48, we open.
We rehearsed with the musicians today for the first time…and although there were some tricky spots that were much different than the canned music we have been rehearsing to, all in all, it was magical. It really was. It was absolutely thrilling to see them move with living, breathing music.
We have a lot of work to do to tie everything together in the next day and a half, but, we’ll be ready. We will be ready with full a orchestra, with a huge hanging set piece, with costumes that are no longer in India, and with a group of dancers that have worked, sweat, bled and created together for over half a year.
We are ready to share the work with the world, and I have never been so proud of both the process, and what we are presenting this weekend.
Hope to see you there…
One week until Tech…
We are at one week out… tickets are on sale!!
CLICK HERE (and use winger discount “winger” for $20 tickets!)
Things most certainly seem surreal. Everyone is really focused and really energized. Aside from getting ripped off by a company in India not shipping the pants to our costumes..Everything else seems on track. The conductor (Matthew Oberstein, Artemis Chamber Ensemble) was at our rehearsal today checking in on our tempos and such. Even seeing his movements in the chair near me as his hand was indicating the motions that will guide the musicians, I became just ecstatic to know that living breathing music is going to fill that space and stage next week. I am elated.
The pieces are pretty much finished. I need to tweak the last section of “the last of the leaves” a bit still, but it’s getting there. Pelleas is almost ready to rock as well. We had a cocktail party for some new donors last week and have another event set for this Thursday (3/19) for more pre-show buzz (find us on facebook for details!)
And for those of you in NYC.. SYREN has been awarded a WNYC “Star”..So listen for SYREN announcements on WNYC this month!
We sincerely hope some of you may be able to make it to the performances at the Ailey Citigroup theater next Thurs, Friday, Saturday. We have worked long and hard to create a show we truly proud of. Our process is only complete when we have people to share it with.
Getting very close to the shows!
Full company
The company is deep in the preparations for the New York Season next month.
Rehearsals are just packed with energy and focus. It’s a very special time..A bit of stress, a lot of work, and endless inspiration…
I am not sleeping much at the present moment, but it’s all part of the process that makes watching it on opening night oh-so-special…
The press release is done, and getting out there.. Lighting design and costume concepts are being discussed. The whole company shared a cold/flu a month or so ago, so we are just trying to KEEP EVERYONE HEALTHY!
There is a lot of work being done, and Lynn and I are trying to keep our heads screwed on right, and mkaing sure we don’t forget things like inviting presenters who may be in town, keeping our intern busy sending press releases, getting final drafts looked at for the postcards, organizing the production staff and volunteers, getting dancers measurements for costume designer, having meetings with the conductor of the orchestra to discuss meter, tempo, etc, meeting with the Chairperson of the Audience Development Committe to ensure we are reaching out genuinely and widely, meetings with the artist/set designer to discuss the hanging of the piece she is creating, keeping up to date on grant proposals, and running rehearsals..
Thank goodness there are two of us!!! And that we have a extraordinarily supportive Board and group of dancers!.
Here’s to 35 days until opening night.. But who’s counting?
Quincy Junor and Chanelle Lagace, Brigitte Mictchell and Jeff Lyon
VISIONS and VOICES: Altria/ABT Women’s Choreography Project
Guggenheim Museum: Works & Process Feb 1 & 2 at 7:30pm.
I really like these events. Every time I visit, I feel close to the artists.
Yesterday’s program was
“VISIONS and VOICES: Altria/ABT Women’s Choreography Project”
ABT II’s director, Wes Chapman was the moderator.
There are two parts to this project:
One is to have women choreographers choreograph on the studio company, the other is mentoring for ABT women dancers to discover and learn how to choreograph. My partner, Stephen Pier is the mentor/director for this part of the project. Yesterday (and today at 7:30pm) they showed what they had learned.
The other part had ABT II dancers dancing Aszure Barton’s Barbara. Aszure was there for discussion afterward as well.
It was very exciting! I will visit again tonight and write more about it.
