modern dance – Page 4

10 Questions With…Carrie Rae Cunningham

August 8, 2011 by 4dancers

Carrie Rae Cunningham is the featured dancer on 10 Questions With… today–

1. How did you become involved with dance?

I was a late-comer to dance. I had always loved to dance and perform, even from a young age, but couldn’t attend dance classes as a child. I took my first Modern dance class at uni at age 18 and instantly knew that I wanted to be a dancer/choreographer and work in the dance sector. I double majored in dance and English, danced/choreo’d for several dance companies and theatres, then eventually became active in arts management and administration as well as writing about dance. I completed my Masters at Auckland University in New Zealand in 2004.

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

I am Assistant Director for Tempo Dance Festival in New Zealand, as well as being an independent choreographer, producer, dance writer, arts administrator and arts advocate. (You have to multi-task in this business.)

3. Would you share a special moment from your career with readers?

I remember my first paid gig as a professional dancer. After two months of rehearsals and a 6-day season with a modern dance company in Memphis, Tennessee, I received a check for $200. I was so excited I photocopied the check before I deposited it. I think I still have it somewhere.

4. What is the best advice you have received from a teacher or mentor? [Read more…]

10 Questions With…Summer Templin Culp

July 11, 2011 by 4dancers

This week 10 Questions With… features Summer Templin Culp…

1. How did you become involved with dance?

I grew up in a small town (less than 2000 people) and when I was young, there were not any dance teachers or studios in the area. My father took me to see dance concerts whenever they were nearby, but although I loved dance very much and would dance in my own living room or back yard, I was never able to take classes.

When I was 14, a dance studio opened in a town that was about an hour and a half away and I enrolled in every class that I could on Tuesdays and Saturdays – my parents would take turns driving me to dance class and I was able to take 8 hours of classes per week in this manner. When I turned 16, my parents moved across the state, to a much larger town, and I was able to enroll in a conservatory training program, dancing 6 days per week.

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

I currently teach ballet and modern to ages 4 – adult. I have just recently moved, but prior to my move I was dancing with an aerial dance company and a modern dance company. I am looking for additional performance opportunities in my new community.

3. Would you share a special moment from your career with readers?

The first person I remember seeing on stage as a dancer has been an incredible inspiration to me throughout my life. In college, I asked her to be a part of a choreographic project in which she collaborated with the director of the ballet company I danced for and one of my modern teachers to create a cohesive piece of choreography which displayed my talents as a dancer and performer. The experience of being able to work with three of my mentors at the same time was absolutely awe-inspiring. I wish everyone would have such an opportunity!

4. What is the best advice you have received from a teacher or mentor? [Read more…]

On Watching Modern Dance…

May 11, 2011 by 4dancers

by Lucy Vurusic Riner

My husband took me to see the Chicago Moving Company on our first date back in 1996. A smart, and thoughtful, move on his part because eleven years and two kids later, we are going strong.

But when we look back on that first date now, Jim often reminds me how that first experience watching modern dance was very alienating for him. Of course, I didn’t know any of this at the time so I continued to drag him from one modern dance concert to another. It wasn’t until many years later that we candidly talked about how audience members can easily be disconnected from modern dance; especially if they walk in trying too hard to understand from the get go.

Historically, the novice dance audience member has obsessively tried to understand everything that is happening on stage. Ballet generally tells a narrative story with some pantomime and lots of theatrical elements that help guide the story. The program generally has some sort of director’s notes to give a brief synopsis of what the inspiration behind the ballet is and so the audience member is able to sit back and enjoy watching some beautiful dancing. The general public also has a perception of ballet dance and what it is. Even if it might not always correct, most people can conjure some sort of image of what they believe they might see if at the ballet.

Jazz dance provides audience members with excitement and particularly in America, it is one of the oldest forms of dance entertainment. There is precision, technical feats and a lot of flash to keep the audience engaged. So how do we entice the non-dancer to experience modern dance and “learn” how to watch it?

Theoretically, it hasn’t been around nearly as long as its counterparts. Every time I begin a new quarter of dance at school I have at least one student ask me what modern dance is. I have never had anyone ask me that about ballet or jazz. So after many years of performing, choreographing and most importantly, watching modern dance, here’s what I think (and sometimes don’t think) when I’m watching it: [Read more…]

Audition Notice: Parsons Dance

May 9, 2011 by 4dancers

This is a courtesy post:

Parsons Dance is holding auditions for both male and female dancers this month on May 21st at 12 PM.

The audition will be held at New York City Center, Studio 5, 130 W. 56^th Street in New York City. Appointments are required and all dancers need to bring a headshot and resume for consideration. The company is looking for dancers with strong ballet and modern dance technique, as well as partnering skills – and a passion for dance.

More about Parsons Dance:

Parsons Dance is committed to building new audiences for contemporary dance by creating American works of extraordinary artistry that are engaging and uplifting to audiences throughout the world. The company tours regionally, nationally and internationally. Since 1985, Parsons Dance has toured an average of 32 weeks per year, to a total more than 235 cities, 30 countries, six continents and millions of audience members. Many others have seen Parsons Dance on PBS, Bravo, A&E Network, and the Discovery Channel. Millions watched Parsons Dance perform live in Times Square as part of the internationally broadcast, 24-hour Millennium New Year’s Eve celebration. In New York City, Parsons Dance has been featured at The Joyce Theater, City Center, New Victory Theater, Central Park Summerstage, Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and The World Trade Center. For more information, visit parsonsdance.org.

Chicago Area Dance: Leopold Group Modern Dance Company

February 9, 2011 by 4dancers

This is a courtesy post–thought this sounded interesting, so I’m passing it along for those of you in the Chicago area…

The Leopold Group’s trailblazing new work, Voyager, premieres February 17-20, 2011 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue and will be simultaneously broadcast worldwide on the internet through Ustream.

Voyager is an evening length dance work inspired by Carl Sagan’s famous Golden Record time capsule. In 1977, Sagan and NASA launched two Voyager spacecrafts, affixing each with a gold-coated copper phonograph record as a “message to possible extraterrestrial civilizations.” Each record contains 90 minutes of “the world’s greatest music,” an audio essay entitled “The Sounds of Earth,” and greetings in nearly 60 human languages (and one whale language). Mr. Sagan’s musical selections provide a potent score for Artistic Director and choreographer, Lizzie Leopold, to tackle these persisting questions of communication, humanity, longevity and future.

For more information, visit their website.

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