Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
POI CLASS ANYONE?
Be there. Visit contradictiondance.com for Location & to REGISTER!
Beginner Poi Workshop
October 16, 2008
Thursday 8:00-9:00 PM with Ben Drexler
Ages: Teen (12+) and Adult
Fire Dancing Safety Workshop
October 23, 2008
Thursday 8:00-9:00 PM with Lou Valentine
Ages: Teen and Adult
Intermediate Poi Class
Take your poi spinning to the next level! This underground dance art is becoming an international phenomenon—learn the tools you’ll need to spin like the pros. Students will go beyond the basic geometry of poi to learn in-depth techniques for performance and practice that will allow them to explore true freedom of motion with their poi. Practice poi will be available, but students are asked to wear movement attire.
6 week class: 11/6-12/18
Thursdays 8:00-9:00 PM with Ben Drexler
Ages: Teen (12 +) and Adult
Who's Who:
Ben Drexler is a native of Boulder, Colorado and has only lived in Washington, DC for a few months. He began his performance career as a touring musician before moving out east to find fame and fortune in human rights activism with the Genocide Intervention Network. He thought he was uncoordinated most of his life until he picked up poi and hasn’t been able to put them down since. He is completely self-taught in poi, rope dart, hoop, and meteor hammer, but that hasn’t stopped him from performing in fire shows all over the country and sharing a stage with some of the modern greats of object manipulation and juggling. When he isn’t working or devouring books on physics, he performs regularly with the Playa Del Fuego Fire Conclave, Dance Afire, and New York Sparkworks. He doesn’t sleep much.
In 1975 Lou Valentine was born into the loving arms of the US Marine Corps and spent the next 24 years breaking free of its grasp. While abroad he was introduced to an amazing variety of movement and object manipulation arts that to this day inform and drive his passion. Nothing prepared him for the absolute fascination and obsession he would experience when introduced to the fire dance arts at a small music festival in the heart of Kansas in 1999. Over the years he has become adept at the spectrum of common fire tools, breathing, eating and flame contact. Though the tools were fascinating it is the fire dance that fuels his passion for the practice. When he moved to the DC area in 2004 Lou took the stage name Loup-de-Lou and began performing with the River City Burners out of Richmond Va, The Philadelphia Experiment in PA and Playa Del Feugo Conclave at home here in the District. Recognizing that there was a need for dance in the local fire performance scene he kick started a collaborative effort that has come to known as Dance Afire in Takoma Park Md. Together with this fine crew of fire professionals Lou hopes to spread the safe practice of fire dance and eventually take over the world.
Beginner Poi WorkshopOctober 16, 2008
Thursday 8:00-9:00 PM with Ben Drexler
Ages: Teen (12+) and Adult
Fire Dancing Safety Workshop
October 23, 2008
Thursday 8:00-9:00 PM with Lou Valentine
Ages: Teen and Adult
Intermediate Poi Class
Take your poi spinning to the next level! This underground dance art is becoming an international phenomenon—learn the tools you’ll need to spin like the pros. Students will go beyond the basic geometry of poi to learn in-depth techniques for performance and practice that will allow them to explore true freedom of motion with their poi. Practice poi will be available, but students are asked to wear movement attire.
6 week class: 11/6-12/18
Thursdays 8:00-9:00 PM with Ben Drexler
Ages: Teen (12 +) and Adult
Who's Who:
Ben Drexler is a native of Boulder, Colorado and has only lived in Washington, DC for a few months. He began his performance career as a touring musician before moving out east to find fame and fortune in human rights activism with the Genocide Intervention Network. He thought he was uncoordinated most of his life until he picked up poi and hasn’t been able to put them down since. He is completely self-taught in poi, rope dart, hoop, and meteor hammer, but that hasn’t stopped him from performing in fire shows all over the country and sharing a stage with some of the modern greats of object manipulation and juggling. When he isn’t working or devouring books on physics, he performs regularly with the Playa Del Fuego Fire Conclave, Dance Afire, and New York Sparkworks. He doesn’t sleep much.
In 1975 Lou Valentine was born into the loving arms of the US Marine Corps and spent the next 24 years breaking free of its grasp. While abroad he was introduced to an amazing variety of movement and object manipulation arts that to this day inform and drive his passion. Nothing prepared him for the absolute fascination and obsession he would experience when introduced to the fire dance arts at a small music festival in the heart of Kansas in 1999. Over the years he has become adept at the spectrum of common fire tools, breathing, eating and flame contact. Though the tools were fascinating it is the fire dance that fuels his passion for the practice. When he moved to the DC area in 2004 Lou took the stage name Loup-de-Lou and began performing with the River City Burners out of Richmond Va, The Philadelphia Experiment in PA and Playa Del Feugo Conclave at home here in the District. Recognizing that there was a need for dance in the local fire performance scene he kick started a collaborative effort that has come to known as Dance Afire in Takoma Park Md. Together with this fine crew of fire professionals Lou hopes to spread the safe practice of fire dance and eventually take over the world.
Be there. Visit contradictiondance.com for Location & to REGISTER!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Safe Space
photo copyright enoch chan photographyThis week in class, I had a former student rush in and ask if she could just watch class for a little while. My insta-reaction was simple: of course. She proceeded to burst into tears, explain that she was having a terribly shitty day, and that she just wanted to watch for a bit.
It was a heartfelt moment that made so many other (difficult ones) worth it.
The moment has passed for her, I'm sure. But for me, it will linger. She could have gone anywhere, but she chose dance. She chose movement,the studio, and people moving together as a community as her safe place. In her time of need, she chose to be around dance.
I will cherish that moment.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Round House Theatre presents.... US!!!!
Round House Theatre presents
Contradiction Dance: An Exchange Between Life and Dance
By Contradiction Dance
With Kelly Mayfield, Terence Nicholson, Kenneth Rascher, Arianna Ross, and Chop Shop Studios
Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8 at 8pm;
Sunday, November 9 at 3pm
Contradiction Dance: An Exchange Between Life and Dance
By Contradiction Dance
With Kelly Mayfield, Terence Nicholson, Kenneth Rascher, Arianna Ross, and Chop Shop Studios
Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8 at 8pm;
Sunday, November 9 at 3pm
Objects of Hope: Washington D.C. “I stood on my steps and watched the city burn, I was eight years old.” Historical events from 1968-2008 guide and frame a journey from the race riots 40 years ago to the socio-economic divide of today. As our present state of being is a result of past experiences, the past becomes storyteller and guide through a journey about the complex relationships between the many people who call D.C. home. For ages 12 and up.
Contradiction Dance is where theatre, dance, and pop culture meet. The company makes dances that report on, reflect, and question the world in which we live. Nurtured on the belief that artists and audience members communicate in a dialogue through the chosen medium, Contradiction Dance fosters discussion, reflection, and change through live performance and dance education. Contradiction Dance blends several dance forms (modern, hip-hop, tap, and jazz) with aspects of storytelling and theater. This mix allows the company to create an exchange between art and life for audiences, performers, and collaborators. In August 2007, Contradiction Dance began “Objects of Hope,” an on-going project examining our personal objects of hope, both literal and figurative, through movement, music, poetry and visual art. Learn more about them at contradictiondance.com.
TICKETS: $15 ($12 for Round House subscribers, senior citizens, patrons under 25, and groups of 10 or more)*. Call 240.644.1100 or click here.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
A Different Drum Moves Inside!
Starting Thursday, October 9, A Different Drum moves inside
Join us Thursdays at Contradiction Dance @ Echo Park!
5-6pm: Kids Beat - Circle for children of all ages
6-8pm: Open Drum Circle
$5 per person
Where: 7014 Westmoreland Ave, Contradiction Dance @ Echo Park
visit www.contradictiondance.com for more info!
http://contradictiondance.wordpress.com/workshops-events/Monday, October 6, 2008
in the lab
In the studio... again. :) Met with T today about the music... he's the BEST. 5 rings arts. That's the business.
Friday, October 3, 2008
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