TenduTV and Dance Films Association Join Forces

By Stephanie Wolf.

In our digital world how can dance stay relevant and expand its audience? Luckily, there are dance innovators in New York City, who are doing more than breaking choreographic barriers in the dance studio. These individuals are technology-savvy and possess a knowledge and appreciation of dance. Combining technology and dance performance, TenduTV and Dance Films Association (DFA) are collaborating to bring more awareness to the New York City dance scene.

The two organizations have announced plans to create three high-definition, three-dimensional feature dance films; with a goal to make these films available all over the world for both public and in home viewing. Additionally, they will launch a new collaborative project titled NYC Dance Export. Backed financially by the Rockefeller Foundation’s Cultural Innovation Fund, the initiative will highlight selected New York City dance companies as they undertake the process of producing a dance film.

TenduTV is an online network dedicated to providing digital dance-centric content to people all over the world. The company has been working with Dance Films Association “slowly and steadily since TenduTV was created,” explains Founder and General Manager Marc Kirschner. After a 3D collaboration with the New York City Downtown performance troupe 3-Legged Dog (3LD), Kirschner wanted to expand on this experimentation of performance and technology. Because TenduTV is a for profit organization, Kirschner needed to seek out a nonprofit partner to help spearhead his idea. He approached Dance Films Association, an easy choice for him due to the history between the two organizations. European dance companies are already tapping into advanced media and incorporating it into their work, but this type of dance/technological undertaking has yet to exist anywhere in America.

Based on a similar advocacy for dance and digital media, Susan Braun founded Dance Films Association in 1959. She brought together some of dance’s biggest contributors to form the first Board of Directors, including Jose Limon, Ted Shawn, and Alicia Markova. Today, DFA Executive Director Christy Park carries on Braun’s mission through the preservation of dance films and creation of new, innovative content by collaborating with some of dance’s finest artists and companies on both a national and international level. Park believes the partnership with TenduTV has enormous potential. She deems it, “a catalyst for future innovation and preservation of dance on camera.”

Both Park and Kirschner are particularly excited to present the beauty of dance in 3D. “Dance in 3D if it’s done right is gorgeous, it’s an organic fit,” said Kirschner. However, shooting dance in this format presents many challenges. Elements such as fast movement, stage lighting, set design, and raked stages can be problematic for filming in 3D. Kirschner also pointed out that the standard film frame rate of 24 frames per second is too slow to capture dance adequately. They hope to shoot at a much faster rate, in the range of 48 to 72 frames per second.

In terms of an overall distribution plan, DFA and TenduTV intend to follow a ‘Hollywood model’, broadcasting the films in theaters, on television, in festivals, and, eventually, making them available in both 3D and 2D on Bluray, DVD, and digital download. They are in conversation with potential partners in all of these ventures.

Each of the two organizations plays a distinct role in the projects. While Dance Films Association supervises and guides companies through the process of creating and producing the films, TenduTV chooses the company or artist to highlight and distributes the final product. Everything will be easily accessible through popular media distributors, such as iTunes. The media can be found by a search for TenduTV in the iTunes store.

With a constant shortage of finances and resources, TenduTV and Dance Films Association demonstrate how much stronger the arts can be when united. International organizations are taking note of this concept and transitioning into similar alliances. Kirschner thinks it’s an essential move in order for American dance “to survive and thrive in this new paradigm.”

The organizations already have an outline of the first production in mind. If the proper funding can come together in the near future, then filming will begin at the end of November. Additionally, funding efforts are already underway to nationalize and expand the programs. “This is not just about great New York City dance companies. There are great companies throughout the country. We want to make sure American dance can be competitive throughout [an international] marketplace,” expressed Kirschner.

The response from the local dance community is optimistic. Dancers, directors, choreographers, and companies will keep a hopeful eye on the partnership, tracking its evolution and reception. This could be a huge leap into a new direction for the dance profession.

Honoring the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 in New York City

By Katherine Moore.

September 11th, 2001 was a tragic day we will all remember forever. Now, 10 years later, New Yorkers honored the anniversary of this tragic event in a myriad of ways. Some chose to stay home with their families. Others attended church services and memorial events. Artists of all genres produced work and organized their own events to reflect upon and remember 9/11, and the dance community was no exception.

Uptown to downtown, dancers and choreographers honored those who died on 9/11 with the movement of their bodies. Jacqulyn Buglisi, artistic director of Buglisi Dance Theater, orchestrated The Table of Silence Project at Lincoln Center Plaza in partnership with Dance/NYC and The September Concert.

Beginning at 8:15am on Sunday, September 11, 2011, 100 dancers from various dance institutions, including Buglisi Dance Theatre, The Julliard School, STEPS on Broadway, and several others, performed this site-specific work. The dancers, all dressed in flowing white costumes, moved in geometric patterns surrounding the fountain, using intermittent gestures of pain and prayer, until they finally found themselves seated with arms raised.  At 8:46am, the exact time the first plane flew into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, the dancers  were entirely still with their arms lifted to the sky.

The Table of Silence Project was a collaborative work between Buglisi and Italian artist Rosella Vasta.  Vasta’s sculpture 100 Terra Cotta Plates, a work symbolizing the banquet table that unites humanity, gave Buglisi inspiration for this piece. According to Buglisi, the dancers at Lincoln Center Plaza were intended to be the personification of the plates. “I wanted to create a work where people could come to the table to listen,” Buglisi said.

Buglisi hoped that through her movement, she could bring about healing energy to the community of New York and beyond. “I have a very strong, powerful belief in the universal language of movement to promote peace and tolerance,” she said.  “The energy we send out can change the world.”

Farther downtown, The Joyce Theater, one of New York’s premiere dance performance venues, presented two concerts at Nelson A. Rockefeller Park on September 10^th and 11^th at 5:00pm. These commemorative performances featured the Limon Dance Company with Voices of Ascension and the Paul Taylor Dance Company with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Also on the program were Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing, and a world premiere by choreographer Jessica Lang featuring dancers Clifton Brown and Jamal Roberts with musicians Yacouba Cissoko and Sam Dickey.

Lang said that it was an honor to have been asked by The Joyce to choreograph for this event. “I think it is a wonderful opportunity for the audience to recognize how important the presence of art is in the efforts to rebuild the community,” Lang said.

Lang mentioned that this piece was very important to her, and she also noted that choreographing a commemorative work like this had altered her typical approach to choreography. “I want to carry the message of hope, but I also want to be respectful to all the emotions that come along with the memories of that day.   Most of the time when I make a piece it might be something of a personal idea to me that carries universal images which speak to the audience.  But this time, it is a universal event that everyone experienced and there is a different sort of responsibility I am feeling.”

Taking her work all over the city, choreographer Sarah Skaggs presented “9/11: A Roving Dance Memorial” at Union Square Park, Washington Square Park and Battery Park. These 11-minute dance installations occurred at various times throughout the afternoon on September 11. The installations, based on a solo Skaggs choreographed after the attacks in 2001, also took place in Washington D.C. and Shanksville, PA.

Dance New Amsterdam, one of New York’s most progressive and prominent downtown dance centers, moved to their current location shortly following the 9/11 attacks 10 years ago. Part of their larger mission was to revitalize the Lower Manhattan community after 9/11. DNA commemorated the 10^th anniversary by asking dance artists how 9/11 affected their work and then showcasing their video submissions on a flat screen in DNA’s lobby.

Dancers all over New York found ways to use their art form as a way to honor the victims of 9/11. Amalgamate Dance Company even honored working dog teams, veterinarians, and VMATs who served during 9/11 with their work In the Beginning at Liberty State Park.  Dancers and dogs alike were affected by the tragic events 10 years ago, and the anniversary offered an opportunity for dance artists to reflect and remember how their lives and their work has changed.

Jacqulyn Buglisi was in New York when the towers fell.  “Artists here in New York have a deeper appreciation of our freedoms since 9/11,” she said. “Art always reflects the time in which we live. We are making that imprint in many different ways. “

Top photo: Buglisi Dance 9/11 Tribute. Photo by eveningsongserenade

Director Jon M. Chu and Legion of Extraordinary Dancers Help Search for the Face of the Coke Zero Dance

It’s every performer’s ultimate dream: landing the gig that will showcase their talents for all the world to see. But what if you can’t even get your foot in the door to audition? Coke Zero is dedicated to helping determined individuals make it possible, by giving them the opportunity to realize their aspirations through an open casting call.

For the most impressive individual, a starring role in the brand’s next global marketing campaign awaits. No professional resume or agent required; just passion, artistic drive, and the willingness to express individuality and swagger – plus the means to upload a video to CokeZero.com/MakeItPossible. 

In August, Coke Zero embarked on an adventure with director Jon M. Chu and the dancers from his web series “The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD)” to discover a fun and infectious dance and the creator behind that move. Hundreds of submissions were uploaded from around the world, and, after sifting through videos from fan favorites like Australia’s Eric Morales, Mexico’s TeckFlyer, and the United States’ M.O.H., a smooth, side-to-side toe-tapping move called the “Toe Tappy” choreographed by Joel “Knucklehead” Turman of the United States, who appeared with the Street Kingdom crew on season six of MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew,” was selected. Now, Coke Zero is holding an open audition for performers to submit their own interpretation of the dance for a chance to appear in an international marketing campaign.

“We recognize that some of the best performances can come from the most unexpected places, which is why we’re taking our casting call outside of traditional venues and allowing anyone with a gift and ambition to share their vision with us,” said Jonathan Mildenhall, VP, Global Content Excellence, The Coca-Cola Company. “We were so inspired by Knucklehead’s story – how he turned to dance as a means to overcome personal tragedy and find joy and purpose in his life – and we can’t wait to find an artist who will embody Knucklehead’s journey in their performance so we can share it with a global audience. We are surrounded by tales of possibility every day, and, as a brand, we feel fortunate that we can harness the brilliance that comes from our consumers to highlight the great potential that exists in the world.”

“We were blown away by the creativity that dancers at every level brought to us,” said Jon M. Chu. “We saw so many amazing moves and enjoyed crowd-sourcing the dance so much that we’re raising the stakes to see how people will put their unique spin on the ‘Toe Tappy’ to take it to the next level. It’s such a cool opportunity for someone to score their big break, while being part of a collaborative experience.”

An instructional video of the “Toe Tappy,” accompanying music and upload instructions can be found at CokeZero.com/MakeItPossible. Auditions will be accepted online through October, and the star of the campaign will be named in early November.

Those who aren’t moved to be in front of the camera can still participate in the process by weighing in on the performances that inspire them the most at CokeZero.com/MakeItPossible.

Photo: Knucklehead instructing the LXD on how to do the Toe Tappy. Credited LXD Ventures

By Laura Di Orio.

Exciting new dance companies are springing up across the country! As artists it’s important for us to be informed about these new companies and to support the creation of new initiatives. Here are a few to note:

The artists of Alight Dance Theater consider themselves, above all, storytellers. The company, led by Angella Foster, commits to creating emotive work that resonates with the audience. Along the way, Alight doesn’t stress about being purists of movement vocabularies. “If biting your index finger tells the story, we’ll do it,” Foster says, “but, if the moment needs a triple turn and some crazy backflip trick, we’re not shy about busting out the flashy stuff.”

Alight Dance Theater, photo by Enoch Chan

The company focuses heavily on its community and wishes to be part of a “dance local movement”.  Alight offers several free performances every year and tends to seek out locally-based choreographers. “In a world where most local papers are owned by international conglomerates, we believe that our commitment to serving in our community and making art in, for and sometimes about this place sets us apart,” Foster says.

Recent excitement? A new site-specific work in celebration of the 75^th anniversary of Alight’s home of Greenbelt, Maryland, in 2012. Check out the company at www.alightdancetheater.org.

Billy Bell’s Lunge Dance Collective (circa March 2010), New York
Billy Bell, Creator/Choreographer

Lunge Dance Collective is a dance ensemble comprised of up-and-coming artists, in addition to already established performers. Billy Bell, former So You Think You Can Dance contestant and LDC’s founder and current sole choreographer, aims to create not just a dance performance, but instead wishes to be known for “experiential” or “logical” dance. The son of a general contractor, Bell is inspired by logic and history and often builds dances centered around the idea of architecture.

Since its formation, LDC has performed in NYC, Los Angeles, Boca Raton, FL, and Guelph, ON. 

LDC’s dancers are pulled together on a per project basis to suit the company’s needs and location. While many of the performers are Bell’s friends and colleagues, LDC also accepts online auditions and hopes to soon hold an open call. Bell says he wants to give exposure and experience to on-the-rise dancers and hopes that LDC will become “an established springboard for professional careers in dance.”

Recent excitement? A best-of performance on September 30, 2011, at NYC’s Symphony Space. For more on the company, check out www.lungedance.com.

CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet. Photo by Jaqi Medlock

CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet (circa 2010), New York
Donna Salgado, Creator/Choreographer

CONTINUUM Contemporary/Ballet is comprised of classically-trained dancers who respect ballet’s traditions but are interested in exploring their more contemporary artistic voice. “We know that ballet vocabulary has an undeniable movement potential,” says Donna Salgado, CONTINUUM’s founder, “but we seek beauty in the distortion and the improvisation.”

Salgado says she’s largely inspired by her fellow New York dancers, people who are talented, tremendous risk takers and are eager to create art. She finds most of her dancers through word of mouth. “We are looking for creative dancing artists who have emotional maturity, life experience and education,” Salgado says. “We are looking for people who can really work in the studio.”

Recent excitement? CONTINUUM just got back from Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, where they performed on the Inside/Out Stage. To learn more, go to www.continuumcontemporaryballet.org.

Indelible Dance (circa November 2009), New York
Robin Cantrell, Creator/Choreographer

The word ‘indelible’ means “not able to be forgotten or removed”, and Indelible Dance is a contemporary ballet company that focuses strongly on the Internet and technology. Indelible’s founder, Robin Cantrell, says the company aims to “create work with the awareness that the Internet exists and that it is an integral part of experiencing art.” Cantrell generally leads the choreographic process but remains open to collaborations with the dancers.

Indelible has performed in some untraditional settings – in the subway, in Cantrell’s bedroom, on rooftops, under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. “We aim to present one full-length live show per year,” Cantrell says. “We build the audience for our live shows by first building a fan base online. Videos are short, high-quality and creative. A clever meme will be viewed by tens of thousands of individuals.”

Recent excitement? Indelible performed its second evening-length program, featuring eight live musicians, eight dancers and 16 pieces, on September 2-3, 2011, at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn. Find out more at indelibledance.com.

Sarah Konner and Austin Selden Dance Collaboration (circa 2010); Philadelphia, PA
Sarah Konner and Austin Selden, Creators/Choreographers

Sarah Konner and Austin Selden Dance Collaboration is a company best described by one of its founders, Austin Selden, as the “dark romantic comedy of dance theater”. Many of the duo’s choreographic collaborations include vocals and elements of humor and often tell stories of romantic relationships between man and woman.

Billy Bell's Lunge Dance Collective. Photo by Gary Curreri

“I’ve been drawn to narrative, dark, romantically tragic themes and images from my childhood,” Selden says. The choreographers, both graduates from the University of Michigan, tend to use dancers who are friends or colleagues in their work, as they usually have ideas of specific people for specific parts.

Recent excitement? A new evening of work to be shown at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, in February 2012. For more, check them out at www.facebook.com/SarahandAustin.

Spark(edIt) Arts (circa 2010); Brooklyn, NY
Nadia Tykulsker, Creator/Choreographer

Spark(edIt) Arts is a company of artists of multiple mediums – dancers, musicians, poets, animators, visual artists, film-makers – who come together to generate dance-theater works that aim to question social constructs. “We are captivated by physical form – interested in what humans expose through movement,” says Nadia Tykulsker, Spark(edIt)’s founder. “We work with visual, auditory and sensory artists to offer the opportunity to experience the spectrum of human emotions.”

Since Tykulsker is influenced by a number of dance styles – hip-hop, house, breaking, West African and classical modern – she says the best way to describe the company is with the adjectives: “athletic, sassy, bold, unexpected, hip, provocative, urgent, dynamic and colorful.” With an expansive style and diverse pool of artists, Spark(edIt) hopes to question how and where dance can be viewed and, in turn, make dance more accessible to a wide range of audiences.

Recent excitement? An upcoming “unconventional” collaboration with photographer Deneka Peniston and colored smoke! To learn more, check out www.facebook.com/sparkedit.

WalkingTalking/Catherine Miller. Photo by Hope Davis

WalkingTalking/Catherine Miller (circa summer 2010); Brooklyn, NY
Catherine Miller, Creator/Choreographer

WalkingTalking/Catherine Miller is a project-to-project dance and performance company that explores and creates dance, theater and hybrid work. “Using any means available from complicated theatrics to the fundamentals of walking and talking,” says Miller, “I choose to make work because I believe in the power to transform lives, inspire change and spark revolution on emotional, social and global scales.”

Miller, who received her BFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts, is WalkingTalking’s sole choreographer, but she says she relies heavily on her dancers’ input during the process. “There is always an underlying physicality and reverence for motion in my work,” she says. “The partnering is physical and raw – very influenced by my studies in contact improvisation and puts equal emphasis on the women and the men.”

Recent excitement? A new evening-length piece in collaboration with the design firm, Harrison Atelier, is in the works.  
www.facebook.com/pages/WalkingTalkingCatherine-Miller/271481389529990

Zehnder Dance. Photo by Sarah Morrill

Zehnder Dance (circa 2010), New York
Sarah Zehnder, Creator/Choreographer

Zehnder Dance is an all-female modern dance company whose repertoire is based on hip-hop and modern aesthetics. The company’s founder, Sarah Zehnder, a self-taught hip-hop dancer, says the work of Zehnder Dance aims at “pushing the boundaries of traditional partnering and challenging what constitutes power onstage.”

Zehnder’s work is very physical and athletic. Her dancers lift each other, throw one another and push and pull one another – actions that Zehnder says are not often seen by women every day. “My work represents women in various aspects of life, the struggles we go through and the strength we have to endure all of life’s pain,” she says.

Recent excitement? Zehnder Dance will perform on September 24, 2011, as part of the Dumbo Dance Festival in Brooklyn, NY. Visit www.zehnderdance.com for more information about the company.

Top photo: Indelible Dance. Photo by  Jacob Pritchard

Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, formerly known as the Peridance Ensemble, was established in 1984 by Peridance Capezio Center’s Founder and Artistic Director Igal Perry. After hibernating for the last five years while the center transitioned into its current state-of-the-art new space, the company is stepping back onto the stage this year with new repertory and artistic collaborations.

Dance Informa was there to watch the auditions on July 31^st as 75 eager artists danced up a storm for a chance to join the new company. In total eight dancers were hired, some from the open audition and some from private auditions.

The not-for-profit repertory company is housed within Peridance Capezio Center in New York and is a resident company at the center’s in-house Salvatore Capezio Theater. As part of its quest for originality and unique identity, the company seeks out choreographic and compositional collaboration. Over the years, company repertory came to include original work by world-renowned choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, John Butler, Danny Ezralow, and Benjamin Harkarvy, in addition to the work created by Artistic Director Igal Perry. The company has presented many works with original compositions by young composers including John Mackey, Quentine Chappetta, and Avner Dorman.  Mr. Dorman’s collaborations with Mr. Perry and his company have since been presented by companies in the USA, Israel, and Italy.

Dancers auditioning for the company

The identity of Peridance Contemporary Dance Company is shaped by original choreography, versatile dancers of diverse backgrounds, classical and contemporary accompaniment, and collaborations with live musicians. Artistic Director Igal Perry has structured the Company to experiment with new forms of classical expression while continuing to uphold the fundamental building blocks of dance.

During the 2011-12 season, the Company will be presenting contemporary ballet and modern work created by a diverse group of choreographers. Igal Perry has been commissioned to create the ballet El Amor Brujo with the company and the Post Classical Ensemble Orchestra in Washington DC, for a special evening of Stravinsky/De Falla, to be premiered at the Gonda Theater in DC on December 3rd and 4th. The company will also have a season in the early spring at the Salvatore Capezio Theater at Peridance. This season will present Igal’s work and a newly commissioned work by New York based choreographer Sidra Bell.

We look forward to seeing the new face of this company evolve.

Photos by Daniel Searle

By Tara Sheena

Summer is officially winding down and the fall season will emerge from the depths of yesteryear faster than Ashley Bouder’s petit allegro. The days of seeing your favorite dance companies light up the innumerable free outdoor venues NYC has to offer are long gone. Now, you have to pay for tickets and brave the chilled concrete jungle to catch a glimpse of your favorite movers and shakers. But, fear not! I have compiled a list of my top five ‘must-sees’ of the season so you can plan ahead and put that rainy-day cash to good use! Here they are, in no particular order:

Launch of NY Live Arts 

This fall brings us the launch of NY Live Arts, the merger between presenting venue, Dance Theater Workshop, and the chronically cutting-edge, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. The inaugural season of this historic partnership promises to keep the contemporary dance community on its toes. Established programs like the Studio Series and Lobby TALKS will continue with renewed momentum. New programs, like the Live Gallery and the broadened Replay Series, will allow greater exposure to the over forty performances New York Live Arts will present over the course of the next year. Major highlights I am looking forward to are Rosann Spradlin’s intensely physical vocabulary, the highly unique voices of Zoe | Juniper, and a promising replay of Big Dance Theater’s 2010 Bessie-award winning, Comme Toujours Here I Stand. The season kicks off on September 16, 2011 with a two-week run of Bill T. Jones’ highly acclaimed Body Against Body. What is already a historic event, this collaboration gives insight to where the dance community is headed and the endless collaborative possibilities the future holds for our beloved form.  www.newyorklivearts.org

Yannick Lebrun in Robert Battle's Takademe. Photo by Andrew Eccles

The Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera is an amazing opportunity for classically trained dancers to perform alongside some of the world’s best opera singers, on one of the most revered stages, with some of the world’s best choreographers. Not a bad gig, eh? The upcoming season promises to deliver an exciting assortment of, to quote Wagner himself, ‘gesamtkunstwerk’ (AKA some really awesome stuff!) Two particular productions I cannot wait to witness are Faust, choreographed by Kelly Devine, and Manon, choreographed by Lionel Hoche. Devine brings a largely musical theater background to the project, most recently lending her moves to the US tour of Rock of Ages. It will be interesting to see the intersections between her brand of hard-hitting rock n’ roll with this tale of German folklore when it opens on November 29. During the second half of the season, we will see famed French choreographer Lionel Heche take on a fellow Frenchman’s tragic story: Massenet’s Manon. Heche has worked with many acclaimed companies, including the Paris Opera Ballet and Jiri Kylian’s Netherlands troupe, making him one of the most sought-after French choreographers in the world. His neo-classical style incorporates everything from Forsythe to ballet, and it will all be seen through the eyes of Manon when this production receives its Met premiere on March 26, 2012. www.metoperafamily.org

92^nd Street Y Presents the Out of Israel Showcase

It is rare that the United States gets to benefit from witnessing the highly physical, intensely visceral experience of Israeli contemporary dance. That is why I am so excited that the 92^nd Street Y is feeding all of the die-hard fans a dose of their own fanaticism (and saving me a trip to Tel Aviv) by bringing us the Out of Israel showcase in January 2012. Start the year off right with hometown favorite Andrea Miller and her electrifying troupe, Gallim Dance, and then delve into the worlds of Michael Samama, Neta Yerushalmy, Lior Schneior, and others. The entire weekend is devoted to this signature brand of movement, with varying programs and what is sure to be a unique set of shows. www.92y.org

Remembering September 11^th with the NYC Dance Community

Jacqulyn Buglisi has been an important preservationist of modern dance in the US for many years. A featured dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Buglisi’s own company has been an important pillar of site-specific performance, and this September will be no exception. As a tribute to the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2001, Buglisi and one hundred other NYC dancers will stage a site-specific performance at Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. Collaborating with Ms. Buglisi on the work are Italian artist Rossella Vasta and flautist Andrea Ceccomori. An important day in American history, the dance community will come together to recognize this great tragedy and work to acknowledge the hope that the future holds. The event will begin at 8:20am on September 11 and conclude at 8:46am, the exact time that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. An amazing way to pay respect and come together as a community, this event will use dance to portray the unfaltering will and determination of the American people.

Top photo: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Body Against Body

 By Rebecca Martin.

As if things weren’t hard enough for performers in the US already, with short contracts, job cuts, and a tough economy, Joffrey Ballet dancers were engaged in a war with American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) over contract negotiations during July.  The company was told by letter “All dancers and other AGMA-represented employees must immediately remove their personal possessions from the Joffrey tower.  Please turn in your key passes”, effectively locking out the company.  Shortly after the letter was sent out, Joffrey Ballet’s website removed listings of the company’s dancers and the first part of the 2011-2012 season was cancelled.

The letter also stated “Without any agreement with your Union, we simply cannot consider going forward with our season under the cloud of a lingering threat that, at any time, they could shut it down with a strike”.  The Joffrey Ballet was seeking an increase of rehearsal time from five to six hours a day, raising the work week from 25 to 30 hours with a subsequent pay increase to bring the company in line with all other major dance companies.  A 30-hour rehearsal week is the minimum amount that most professional companies offer, and the current 25-hour week hinders the Joffrey in attracting choreographers and dancers. Negotiations between the company and AGMA commenced after the Joffrey’s three-year contract with the Guild expired at the start of July.  AGMA stated that the proposed pay increase of 3 percent a year for five years was not commensurate with the extra hours. That amount is actually less than what dancers were receiving under the previous contract which included a 5 percent a year salary increase.  The Joffrey Ballet already has higher wages than many other AGMA companies, and its motivation for the weekly work increase “is to attract world-class choreographers for the dancers and audiences”, according to Christopher Clinton Conway, Joffrey Ballet’s Executive Director.

However, AGMA National Executive Director Alan S. Gordon suggested the Joffrey Ballet’s lockout was a bluff created in order to garner media attention and leverage against AGMA.  The reality is, Joffrey Ballet was forced to take the drastic measure of enforcing a lockout and performance cancellation in order to protect the company’s dancers and ensure the longevity of the company.  Conway said that AGMA were simply refusing to return calls and arrange dates to discuss negotiations and this wasn’t a case of dancers or the company making outrageous demands that were not being met by the Guild. 

We are seeing a plethora of lockouts nationwide amongst government employees, teachers, and professional sports leagues due to salary disputes and working conditions.  Certainly, times are tough in many respects, but by enforcing a lockout, the Joffrey Ballet sought to protect its dancers and demand better conditions.  It was a move that paid off.  Late July, AGMA and Joffrey Ballet reached an agreement on a new five year contract for its dancers with a minimum 10 percent pay rise over the length of the contract, with a gradual phasing in of 30 hour rehearsal weeks, while keeping the dancers’ family health insurance rates. 

All 2011-2012 season shows will go ahead as scheduled and the dancers have return to rehearsals as planned.

New Online Coupon Site Just For Dancers

Daily Deal and social couponing sites are popping up all over the place.  Most of us have used Groupon or Living Social to eat at a new restaurant or even try the trapeze in our local town.  We are all feeling the effects of the continued recession, and will take advantage of discounts on almost anything.  Customized for the dancer in all of us, danseCOUPON is the new online coupon site for dancers.  You can find discounts for up to 50% off dancewear, instructional dance DVDs, dance classes, dance magazines and more.  danseCOUPON offers its users these coupons for FREE, redeemable in the U.S. and around the world.

Created by Brittany Hill, partner and Vice President of Marketing and Development at Tezoro Productions, danseCOUPON’s mission is simple – to save dancers money!  Companies from all walks of the dance world are offering dancers special offers and discounts to dancers, dance teachers, studio owners and parents of dancers.  The offers can be found online at danseCOUPON.com and either redeemed through the participating merchant’s website or by printing out the coupon offer.

“At Tezoro Productions, we are all dancers, so we know how hard it is to survive as a dancer,” said Brittany Hill, danseCOUPON founder.  “We wanted to create something that enabled our fellow dance community – both customers and companies alike – the opportunity to thrive in this down economy and beyond.  With danseCOUPON, dancers save money and companies attract new customers.  It’s a win for all involved!”

“As a danseCOUPON merchant, we have seen new clientele come from all over the world – not just the United States,” said Sarah Singer, co-owner of Boys Dance Too – an online dance store for men.  “danseCOUPON users have also become repeat customers for us.  Overall, we’ve been pleased with our danseCOUPON performance and can’t wait to issue more danseCOUPONs throughout the year.”

In addition to Boys Dance Too, other danseCOUPON merchants include World Dance Movement, Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center, Dance Informa Magazine, Danny’s Warehouse Dance Apparel, Finis Jhung DVDs, Uncovered Choreography Workshops, Danc’in Dance Shoes, Dance Stuff, Steps on Broadway, Adrenaline Dance Competition/Convention, LA Dance Magic Competition/Convention and more.

Perhaps the best thing about danseCOUPON is that they give back 25% of their profits to the Beanstalk Foundation to support performing arts projects around the United States.  Although they just launched on July 15^th, danseCOUPON is already working on adding various social sharing options and a customer and merchant loyalty program. 

Visit www.danseCOUPON.com

Dizzy Feet Foundation and the Larry King Cardiac Foundation Partner to Urge Americans to
DANCE 4 YOUR LIFE!

The Larry King Cardiac Foundation and Dizzy Feet Foundation have partnered to form Dance 4 Your Life!, a new national health campaign that asks Americans to dance their way toward an active and healthy lifestyle. Dance 4 Your Life! is centered around National Dance Day, an annual celebration that takes place on the last Saturday in July and was launched in 2010 by Nigel Lythgoe, DFF co-president and co-creator and executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance.  Expanding the message and fun of National Dance Day into a year-around initiative, Dance 4 Your Life! will raise awareness of the benefits of dance and encourage people of every age and physical condition to incorporate dance into their lives as a way to improve heart health and combat obesity. 

“Dance is an activity that is universally recognized and accessible across all socioeconomic levels, making it an ideal approach to promoting heart health. Our partnership with Dizzy Feet in creating Dance 4 Your Life! is intended to address Americans’ increasingly sedentary lifestyles and the resulting health issues,” says Larry King, longtime host of CNN’s “Larry King Live” and founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation.

The Dance 4 Your Life! campaign will feature a nationwide dance celebration and information program during the month of July, leading up to National Dance Day and continuing thereafter through media and tie-in activities throughout the remainder of the year. LKCF and DFF are pleased to have the support of leading dancewear retailer Discount Dance Supply as a platinum sponsor for the campaign.

“The Dizzy Feet Foundation is committed to supporting better access to dance education for all. I am excited to join my fellow Dizzy Feet co-founders, Adam Shankman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Katie Holmes, and the rest of the foundation in introducing Dance 4 Your Life! — the first national campaign to reduce obesity through dance,” says Lythgoe.

To support the campaign, Discount Dance Supply has created an exclusive T-shirt available for purchase at www.discountdance.com. All proceeds from sales of the T-shirt will go to support Dance 4 Your Life! 

“Discount Dance Supply is committed to supporting the dance community,” says Brian Hill, CEO of Discount Dance Supply. “We’re thrilled to work with the Dizzy Feet Foundation and Larry King Cardiac Foundation to help Americans get fit through dance.”

Six Flags, the world’s largest regional theme park company, has also joined Dance 4 Your Life! as a national venue sponsor and will host National Dance Day events at a number of its parks around the country.

For more information on Dance 4 Your Life! and how to become involved, visit www.dance4yourlife.org.

By Emily Yewell Volin

You may have heard about First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’sMove! Initiative:  America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids (www.letsmove.gov). You may not be aware that Beyoncé and the First Lady teamed up to create a music video to help families, schools, and communities get moving.  The song is adapted from Beyoncé’s “Get Me Bodied” single and called “Move Your Body”.

Schools across the nation and the world are getting involved by using the official Let’s Move! workout instructional video, led by choreographer Frank Gatson Jr.,  to teach the ‘Move Your Body’ flash workout to students of all grade levels, teachers and staff.  The workout includes eight easy to follow and fun to stylized ‘missions’,  Knees Up, The Shuffle, The Dougie, Jump Rope, Cumbia, Running Man, Dancehall, and the Bounce and Snap, and incorporates the Beyoncé Bounce, the Cat Daddy and other signature Beyoncé moves.

Everyone’s feeling the grove and I’ve heard of 8^th graders teaching the workout to kindergartners with great success. All involved reaped the benefits of the increased feeling of school community and fitness as a result of preparing for the flash performance.

Take a look at the official “Move Your Body” mashup – Let’sMove! video to see thousands of students from around the country, and the globe, share their dances.

Keep current with “Move Your Body” by selecting ‘like’ on the NAB Education Foundation Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/NABEF) and follow NABEF on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NABEF.

Summer is around the corner and many young people will be heading to camps – what a perfect place to organize a “Move Your Body” flash workout!  Let’s implement this tool created by First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and the NABEF and help end childhood obesity through something we already love – dance.

Get fit, build community, and dance; move YOUR body.

Official “Move Your Body” Mashup – Let’s Move! video:

Video: Courtesy of youTube.
Dance Informa/Dance News International takes no responsibility for the content of any videos viewed through youTube.
Photo: Courtesy of Bossip.com