Dance Photography Workshop: A Community Grows!

This weekend I participated in a dance photography workshop at The Carriage House in DC. It was a wonderful experience as a dancer & model. In a nutshell, a group of photographers with an interest in dance gathered from 2-6 pm to share war-stories, best practices, and to address the unique circumstances that come with working with a dancer rather than a traditional model. Then the photographers took turns shooting images in different set-ups and concepts with myself and another dancer, Stormy.

It was the first of what I hope will be many opportunities for both dancers and photographers to share our unique perspectives on just that... perspective. We created a community in our time together - I'm already planning individual shoots with the photographers that participated and I am thrilled by the work they turned out. It's a win-win for all.

The images here thus far are from Paul Frederiksen. Flickr

The two images above are by Michael Avilez

These three are by Mike Kelly

This one is by Chris Maxwell

The other photographers involved are:

Ben Madden

- a lovely woman whose contact info I do not have :( I hope she sends me some shots!!! As the photographers send images, I'll update. I have linked to all of their web-sites, too.

Donor Fatigue: "Free" performances are not "Free"

I have a very different kind of "Donor Fatigue".

As a company, we are often asked to "donate" our services for a "great" PR opportunity, cause, charity, event, etc. While we LOVE to dance anytime, for anyone; this is also our JOB. We dance because we love to do it, but we also chose this as a career - not a hobby.

Most "Free" performances, even when we do them, are not "free" to us. The company MUST pay the artists involved, even if the company receives zero compensation from the host, venue, or sales. Attracting qualified, healthy, and stable dancers & collaborators to create quality work requires PAYING those artists for their contribution.

I have certainly asked the artists to donate their time occasionally, and honestly, I feel awful each and every time. It is one thing for me to volunteer my services, but it is another thing entirely for me to ask that of others - in the name of my company.

In addition to performer pay, there are costumes, designers, props, composers, etc who all need to be paid fairly for their contribution/materials as well. Not to mention rehearsal space rental... you get the idea - I could go on.

Why do many presenters and organizations assume dance companies should/would perform at their event for free?

I am currently asking for sponsors to support one such request - that is for a great cause. However, if we don't get the sponsorship, we cannot perform. It's as simple as that.

(scratches her head)

If you are interested in supporting our "free" efforts, write ContradictionDance@gmail.com. Or, visit: http://contradictiondance.com/about/donate/

Making Dances...

Generating material for "I Believe/The Disorder of Things has been pure joy (and sore muscles) so far. There's new stuff up on youtube (kkmayfield is my channel). Enjoy!

And... if you'd like to join the conversation, please send me some words. What do you believe?

blogging, writing, creating and such...

Been in a flurry of busy-ness, business, and dancemaking. I haven't taken much time to document things, but I'm making my way back to it. More to come....

In the mean-time, visit: http://casinoparty.eventbrite.com and RSVP for our Open House & Casino Party on Saturday!

Gurlz dancin' around

REHEARSAL FOOTAGE
k.k. & Jaszie
4/1/09
music by aligning minds.

Back in the Lab

Was feeling grumpy - the antidote? DANCE! Here's a couple of vignettes & a dance w/ Kai :) The link is to a performance I found on youtube of me from 60 x 60 in NYC, sept 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STsRiDeflgQ

Single Ladies

Been doin' it a long time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUXRdqn8LOM&feature=related

makin' dances

Been 'in the lab' quite a bit... here's a snippet from today: copykat

sleep-overs

No, not the adult kind. My girl's friend stayed over last night. Being my sleepless self, I'm thinking children wake up entirely way too early!

Pics from our adventures:




And, I even had time to do a lil dancing... you can hear them dancing around in the background :)

REGISTER for FALL!!

CONTRADICTION DANCE @ ECHO PARK

photo copyright Enoch Chan Photography

Register now for Fall classes and workshops at Contradiction Dance @ Echo Park!
Visit us on the web: www.contradictiondance.com

Youth • Teens • Adults
Featuring
Stories in Motion • The Blend • Hip-Hop
Taiji • Creative Movement • Parent/Child • Jazz • Modern

www.contradictiondance.com

Proud partner of Culture Shock DC's Future Shock & Mini Shock Dance Companies
Please FORWARD! 

2 nights left! Don't Miss "Other Life"

Don't Miss this remarkable short film about love.

“Other Life“

7/1-3: Source Festival • $15: Purchase Tickets Here.

Video: Improv I

I've been in a rut. In an effort to get out, I'm studying my improv habits... here's a vid from day 1. As the admin pressures mount, I have to make sure I keep up my time in the "lab". Been too cerebral lately for my own good. Back to the lab!

Nose to the...

studio floor.

Today begins the summer of WORK. My facebook status says, "Kelly is becoming a non-profit. Hasn't she been one for years?!" Meaning, I have yet to make much of a living out of this crazy dance world, but... it's time to solidify the plans, lay the foundation on top of all the groundwork of the past two years, and well.... put in the admin hours that are the necessary evil of growing this dream.

Of course, the admin hours are not PAID, so the other WORK lies in teaching programs that benefit my little lady and keep our "ship" afloat for the lean summer months of the dance world.

In the past week I found people: accountant, lawyer, insurance agent, etc. I have people. That is exciting, huh?

Well, enough "break" time.... back to WORK.

Joseph & k.k. hard at work. Photo copyright Enoch Chan

Contradiction Dance @ Echo Park

Echo Park Contemporary Ballet Centre is now.... drum roll, please....

Contradiction Dance @ Echo Park

It's official, Contradiction Dance has a studio!  Now, we need to fill it up w/ students :) Please check out the link above for news and updates!

"Other Life" Rehearsal Footage

We're making a film... here's some of the raw footage from rehearsals... enjoy :) The first two use the mirror as front (watch the reflection) the last faces the camera.

Kelly Mayfield, Boris Willis, Emily Arden, Jasmine Artis, Dustin Kimball, Josh Gilmore

poetry of the moment

Pen as refuge, paper as friend
Thought, my lover.
Silence so loud,
Solitude seems peaceful.
Yet, I lay awake.
Restless, Praying for movement.
Inspiration quenches the thirst
Of loneliness.
Unfinished phrases
Gathered around me
Like so many Memories.
Undone Incomplete Finished
Yet, hardly begun.

29 April 2008

Photo Copyright Enoch Chan 2007

quotes and thoughts

I read Paulo Coelho's book, "The Witch of Portobello" in two days... it's the first book I've read in a while that prompted me to grab a high-lighter. It's good brain-candy for people who believe they are on a path, the path, your path, my path. Warning: I do think it's a girly read - I don't know if men would dig it as much, men... do you? Hmmm I don't know.

"Do you know what the word ecstasy means? It comes from the Greek and means 'to stand outside yourself.' Spending the whole day outside yourself is asking too much of body and soul."

That's what performing feels like. You're outside yourself. Like all orgasmic moments - it takes as much as it gives, sometimes more.

"That although ecstasy is the ability to stand outside yourself, dance is a way of rising up into space, of discovering new dimensions while remaining in touch with your body. When you dance, the spiritual world and the real world manage to coexist quite happily."

I agree - when I'm dancing socially, or in a club, or training in the a.m.'s like I do, dance is this way. However, performing is pure ecstasy and far more taxing. Though, I think the former is why all people should dance more in general. I feel the same about long walks in the woods, on the beach or anywhere that requires people to touch nature one one one - whether it be mother nature outside us or mother nature within.

For me, I'm off to take a daycation at my new fave B & B. I plan on staring at the water and enjoying the company of a.k. I'm so happy to have the time and capacity to take even a day...

Two more quotes:

"After all, what is happiness?

Love, they tell me. But love doesn't bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it's a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it's sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we're doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony."

I'm pondering that one....

"Let go of the idea that the path will lead you to your goal. The truth is that with each step we take, we arrive."

Exactly. People like me kind of cling to this one! It brings peace.

Walking in a field of buttercups to watch my students' site-specific performance yesterday.

flash mob - chasing people

Perhaps it takes the flash-mob concept a bit far, but it's damn funny...

For All Youth Dance Teachers...

Shallom referenced the state of teaching dance to wee ones in her post - but left her comment on a friend's post HERE

The post is humorous, touching and true. If you've ever taught lil one's, you can relate. Just for reference, last Friday, one of my tiny ones did pee in class - yes, other kids stepped in it; and, I did gallop for at least 10 minutes of that day. I rarely teach the ankle-biters, but this session I decided to make a point about programming. And I got peed on for it.

I am fortunate, though. Life throws me many great opportunities - some more rewarding than others.

Now, click on that link and go read the post!

videos

Once again sleepless...

been looking at videos - here are some of my viewings:

This one always makes me smile :)


and the entire film of this (amazing) is one of my all-time faves called the Cost of Living from DV8. Here are 3 short clips:







And, finally - the man, the myth, the legend: Christopher Walken: