Archive for dancers
September 22, 2008 at 12:55 pm · Filed under dance, dancers, KATE, choreographer, modern dance, KATE-M, SYREN, kate mehan, SYREN modern dance
The company is well underway of restaging “Abravanel” and “Dig” . Our first show is just about a month away (the DanceNow Festival) and we will be ready one way or another!
The company looks great and I couldn’t be more excited. These are some shots from some recent rehearsals. The movement is beginning to look more and more natural and powerful on each of them. So amazing to watch!
Aleyse Bradford and Quincy Junor
Heidi D’Allesandro pulling the company in
Chanelle Legace and Quincy Junor sharing a laugh… probably about the nearly impossible “flip-flop” section 
Heidi and Lynn working on their flip-flops..
Brigitte and Quincy demonstrate one of the reasons that the whole company needs knee-pads… Knee pad sponsor, anyone?
Lovely SYREN…
www.syrendance.org
Recent Posts by kate mehan
September 21, 2008 at 11:01 am · Filed under ballet, dance, dancers, EVAN MCKIE, dancing, sleeping beauty, stuttgart ballet, style, stuttgart, evan, europe, heinz clauss, yelena vinogradova
I felt the need to briefly write here about two individuals that have significantly contributed to my life as a dancer and artist. They both inspired many in their lifetimes and even after passing this year, their gifts are left for the ballet world to discover and enjoy.
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Clauss (right) with Marcia Haydee, Egon Madsen, John Neumeier and Susanne Hanke in ‘’The Taming of the Shrew'’
HEINZ CLAUSS(1935-2008), is someone who anyone involved with German ballet is likely familiar with. He was one of the ‘greats’ and contributed monumentally to what was known as the ‘’Stuttgart Ballet Miracle'’ at a time when the South-German Opera Ballet company suddenly ignited intense international interest with John Cranko’s unique ballets and dancers. Clauss created roles that I suppose only he could have created and when I am cast to learn one of them I marvel at the signature ingredients that he, himself injected into each of his created parts. The fiercely fancy footwork of Lucentio in ‘’Taming of the Shrew'’ to the noble and unmatched subtle elegance of his solo and pas de deux to Brahms 2nd piano concerto in another of Cranko’s masterpieces, ‘’Initials RBME'’. Apart from being known as on of the world’s most exceptional ‘’Apollo’’s (Balanchine), Clauss also originated what has become one of the most desired roles for a male dancer: the title role in Cranko’s ‘’Onegin'’.
I must admit that, though I have somehow gotten an essence of Clauss through dancing the roles he left behind, I was only able to meet him a few times since coming to Stuttgart. I was fascinated when he took time to discuss a role with me in the theatre’s canteen after a show. When I asked him questions I was mesmerized by how cool, collected and casual he was about describing the particulars of the role. We ended up talking for a whole hour as if we had known eachother for years. Maybe I did know him, through the beauty of what Cranko created for him and the undeniably grace his imprint on each role reveals. As I was given the chance to dance the beautiful third movement from Cranko’s ‘’Initials RBME'’ (the initials stand for Richard Cragun, Birgit Keil, Marcia Haydee and Egon Madsen), I wondered, as many often do, why Clauss’ initial was not inserted into the title. After dancing the role however, I realised that by leaving the initial out, the role was given the opportunity to haunt the ballet in the eerily equisite way that it does. I am especially thankful for Clauss’ contributions that have been bestowed on generations ever since. I am positive that Heinz Clauss will always be present at the Stuttgart Ballet.
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YELENA VINOGRADOVA(1939-2008), was a pioneer. Not only because she and her then husband Oleg Vinogradov initially founded the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. but because she was able to follow through with the idea of implementing purely russian orthodox classical ballet training in a country that had never seen such a large academy devoted solely to this. Mme V, as we, students called her was at the school every day and was steadfast in her belief that one would leave her school dancing their personal best. There was no other choice. To see her coming down the hall was like having a whole army’s worth of passionate energy charging towards you. She offered tremendous amounts of encouragement through huge oversized gestures and language so dramatic that translators(she rarely spoke english, only russian) often opted to soften the blow while delivering her rants to younger students or parents. A graduate of the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg and noted for her solo-work in Novosibirk, Mme V was a larger-than life fireball of a personality that inspired nothing but greatness from generations of students. She set the bar VERY high in classical ballet and sparked interest and understanding among even the youngest students about how meaningful character dance training is to get the right look, line and nuance out of any given ballet role. With her exemplary and ever evolving staff, she seemed to live for giving dancers extremely strong knowledge of fundamental ballet basics but put special importance on one ‘’adding pepper'’ to movement through learning to trust their natural and individual instincts. Madame V exersised her own instincts in a maternal way when inspiring different pupils; with me it became all about tough love and ‘’demanding more from myself and everyone around me'’ because she ‘’knew that I worked well like this'’ but people like my then-roomate Jonathan Jordan often saw and responded to a softer more compassionate side of the mostly herculean woman. She flexed her maternal muscle with most of her eager students over the years and seemed to be thrilled upon ever hearing news of her alumni breaking ground in the worlds best companies. Though it was far to little a gesture to properly honour such an awesome lady, Hyo Jung Kang and I (both affected greatly by Mme V. in our studies before joining Stuttgart Ballet) decided to dedicate our first performances of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ together this past summer to her. Anyone who knew her is likely still mourning this remarkable soul.
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I don’t really like the idea of writing obituary-like posts on my day off but I do think it is important to let it be known if someone has had a special influence of my life. There is, of course, much more to tell about both of these people and their stories and both of them are widely written about. Here, however, I have given all that I currently can by summarizing my feelings for these two special individuals. Thank you.
Recent Posts by Evan McKie
September 15, 2008 at 5:46 pm · Filed under dance, dance event, dancers, artists, modern, modern dance, dance companies, arts, KATE-M, kate mehan
A good time was has by all as we toasted to the new Season! Members of the company, Board, and guests enjoyed each others company at People Lounge in Manhattan.
Board member Tom Ridgely, MIchelle Coe (Pentacle), Lisa Niedermeyer (SYREN Board Vice President)
Lynn Peterson, Michelle Coe, Quincy Junor (Dancer), Kate Mehan
Lynn Peterson, Quincly Junor, Matthew Oberstein (Executuve Director/Principal Conducter, Artemis Chamber Ensemble)
Tomorrow its back to work… But it sure was great getting out Saturday night with SYREN
www.syrendance.org
Recent Posts by kate mehan
August 18, 2008 at 3:22 pm · Filed under dance, dancers, KATE, choreographer, dance theater workshop, contemporary dance, dance culture, dance companies, improvisation, dance spirit, KATE-M, SYREN, kate mehan, SYREN modern dance, dtw, dancenow NYC
Lynn and I have been back in the studio… Just “jamming” right now. Doing a bit of barre together, then she teaches me some new class excercises and combinations she has been creating…which feels great to be told what to do a bit! This week we did a pretty long imrov together to some Brahams mostly (Sonatos for Cello and piano Opp. 38, 99 and 108… and some work by James Newton Howard). Felt AWESOME to just move that BIG and free! Can’t believe we will be in studio with new company members in a few weeks re-staging “Pelleas” and getting “Abravanel” back up and running (we just booked a gig at Ethel Walker School in CT for November) and “Dig” excerpts ready for DanceNow Festival at DTW. Oh and somewhere in that I am starting a new piece for the company that we are trying to have the Artemis Chamber Ensemble play live for!!! So so excited.
And, I have yet to see a copy, but I hear there is a little mention of us in Dance Spirit Magazine for September. Page 150 to be exact!
Lots of really great stuff… But for the 3 hours in the studio, it sure did feel good to forget about running a company and remember where this whole thing started… Just dancing in a studio with Lynn…
Just doesn’t get much better than that.
www.syrendance.org
Recent Posts by kate mehan
August 14, 2008 at 12:40 am · Filed under ballet, dance, dancers, dancing, VERONICA, the STUDIO
I realize it has been quite a long while since I have posted here.
I have been going through a lot since the Spring, personal and artistic burn-out.
Combined with the abrupt departure of one of my teachers-personal issues kept her from completing the last 4 weeks and the news that my long time teacher and friend Ms. Jil would be moving this fall and the overall lack of motivation among my students sent me into a period of questioning whether or not I would continue to do this.
Our Spring performance went very well though-it was in fact good-a rare moment when I actually feel as though I like what I’ve done. I chose Carmina Burana-interesting, challenging and not what the audience expects. I like that. It just so happened that there was a tornado that day-so we didn’t have the biggest audience and was actually lucky I had all of my dancers! Then 2 days later they all went off to their summer programs and I know they were as tired as I was.
So most of my summer has been spent with my family and throwing myself into DIY projects around my house.
My personal strength and faith in myself was totally gone-probably a couple of months before the show. This is not typical of me-I am everyone’s rock-but this time literally everything in my life was falling down around me. And so when I think it can’t get worse, I have a huge flare up with my rheumetoid arthritis. And right down at the bottom I am-and I remember that the RA was the reason I started dancing. Life is full of ups and downs, but you have to keep moving or you’ll stop. And so in realizing that-I will make it through everything. I also realize that teaching is a lot harder than being a dancer. Your students do not realize how much of yourself you give to them. So I decided to take class all summer with the kids and give in a different way and get some of myself back. Then there it is, that joy, I remember why I do this.
Enzo and Sofi, sunrise on Tybee-finding their inner dancer.
Recent Posts by veronica moretti niebuhr
July 28, 2008 at 1:50 am · Filed under ballet, dance, studio, dancers, photography, dance photography, photographer, PATRICIO, ballet de santiago, luis ortigoza, jumping
The man dreams “TO FLY”. The dancer already did and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to keep those moments forever.
Ballet de Santiago.
Alexander Zaitsev (Guest dancer).
Ballet de Santiago.
Julieta Paul (Guest dancer).
Luis Ortigoza Principal Stars dancer Ballet de Santiago.
Luis Ortigoza Ballet de Santiago.
Maite Ramirez Ballet de Santiago.
Marcela Goicoechea Principal Stars dancer Ballet de Santiago.
Marcela Goicoechea Ballet de Santiago.
Alexander Zaitsev (Guest dancer).
Ballet de Santiago.
Luis Ortigoza Ballet de Santiago.
Luis Ortigoza Ballet de Santiago.
Ballet de Santiago.
Ballet de Santiago.
Luis Ortigoza Ballet de Santiago.
Ballet de Santiago.
Recent Posts by patricio
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