By Leigh Schanfein.

I still remember standing in the dressing room with my friends at our little dance studio, looking through some magazine, and seeing them.  They were two young men captured in photograph doing fantastic animated moves that made us think they could pop right off the page.  And, what made the images truly stunning was that these two men were completely identical in face and form.  Fast-forward to this Spring, when I excitedly went to see the performance in honor of Capezio’s 125^th Anniversary at City Center in NYC.  I was sitting there, content in my seat, thoroughly sated with the entertainment splashing across the stage when, suddenly, there they were!  They moved with exquisite precision and with a kind of synchrony that went beyond moving at the same time.  More than ten years after I’d first seen their image, they’d finally leapt off the page and onto the stage in front of my eyes.  These identical dancers are the Lombard Twins, Martin and Facundo, who have been dancing together since they were born on the same day in Argentina.

Martin and Facundo began dancing at age 7, and by the time they were 13, they’d made their TV debut on the popular Argentinian show Rhythm of the Night.  When they were 21, they moved to NYC to pursue their dreams, and soon were performing with music icons such as the King of Funk, James Brown, and Mambo King Tito Puente. They’ve continued to dance and have expanded upon their talents by branching into other visual art forms.  They have written, produced, directed, acted in, and edited their own films, have performed and choreographed for music videos, and have been photographed for huge publications such as Vogue.  By now, the Twins no longer fit into a specific cast.  As if to prove this point, they have developed their own dance form that they call “Free Expression”, that is not so much about style or a genre of dance as it is about allowing one’s emotions and sensations to come through one’s dancing.  Free Expression “transcends the rule, traditions, and attitudes inherent to many established dance techniques of today and focuses on individual emotion and expression”, say the twins.

The Lombard Twins in their dance film 'Free Expression'

I was very privileged to interview the Lombard Twins, and am happy to bring this to you in July, when not only will you be able to see Martin and Facundo in the movie Men in Black 3, now out in theaters, but you will also be able to join me in wishing them a very happy birthday!

Clearly, your career is based largely upon and takes advantage of your “twin-ness”. Does either of you work a lot on your own?

It all depends.  We did some things separately like, for instance, the scene for the trailer of Men In Black 3, but we don’t really work separately.  I say “do things” instead of “work” because we don’t feel that we are working, we feel that we are doing something that we love. This is how we have lived every day since we were kids. I think that the last time we have really “worked” was at 12, fixing tires and delivering wine.  [Everything since] has been about expressing ourselves.  About twin-ness, hahaha (smile), the twin image was always there. It is not something that we are trying to sell or take advantage of. We were born like that. We don’t think that what we have achieved has anything to do with being twins. We believe our art is beyond a twin image.

Do you come up with your routines together, or does one brother usually take charge of one element or another?

Sometimes we come up with ideas separately and sometimes we don’t. Once we listen to a song we start to talk about what we feel and see. Sometimes, in terms of moves, we don’t totally agree so we search for different moves until we both agree and feel [they are] good for the piece.

Are there days when you wish you were not a team of twins?

NO, not at all.  We have been through the same experiences, we feel the same, and we have the same dreams. We were always a team on and off the stage. We were born twins and thinking about getting rid of that would be like not accepting who we are.

The Lombard Twins dance in 'Free Expression'

Do you have any touring ahead of you?

We are performing segments of our dance concert Lombard Play Piazzola with different symphonies and philharmonic orchestras around the country and Canada, and giving Free Expression Dance workshops as well. But, we are really focused on films at this moment. When the movie Step Up 3D came out it opened doors for us to show not only our dancing but the acting side as well. So we want to keep doing that. We are dedicating time to shoot our own short films. We have written and directed, Infancia 34, Free Expression, Sublevados, and Chant Et Fugue, which are being screened in different film festivals around the world.

What are your movement inspirations?

Since we don’t think we have a style but a way of dance (Free Expression) which has to do more with being 100% connected with your emotions and feelings rather than a particular style of dance, most of the time our influences are not related with people but by life experiences.   We do have inspirations. Sometimes I see dancers doing a move and I go like, “wooow, I loved that.”  That inspires me to keep searching for more.

When the time comes to create, that’s something that we don’t pay much attention to.  We don’t use steps from others in our dance compositions. Well, sometimes in tap dance we do use them, but we make our own rhythms. In the creation process, we try to avoid everything we have seen, avoid obvious things; we like to be unexpected.  We don’t even create a piece around things that we already know how to do.  Our moves come from a vision that we have while listening to the music and what it makes us feel.  We never know how to execute the moves that we see. Every piece that we create is a whole new world and requires hours and hours of rehearsal.

Is there any advice you can share with today’s young dancers who want to follow a path similar to yours?

Never stop dreaming. There is not an age to dream, there is not an age to start to do what you feel. Understand that things don’t come out easily. We all have different ways to get to our dreams. If things don’t turn out the way you expected them, don’t take it as something bad, there must be a reason why.  Competition doesn’t exist if you are truly being yourself. We were all born as individual human beings. We are all unique. So, appreciate who you are.

What projects do you have coming up?

We are writing a script for a feature film based on our life story. That’s what we want to do next.

What is your greatest motivation?

My Dreams. Also to look at the sky, lift my arms up, take a deep breath, and feel the presence of God. That motivates me.

For more information about the Lombard Twins, check out: www.lombardtwins.com

Part 2: Obama Care, What Does it all Mean?

By Stephanie Wolf.

Right now, the nation is on the brink of historical legislation concerning the American healthcare system and those in the individual market will feel the greatest effects. Consequently, staying informed on the changes within American healthcare is important for dancers. James Brown, Director of Healthcare Services at the Actor’s Fund, helps break down some of the jargon and explains how the Affordable Care Act – deemed “Obama Care” – can impact the dance community, potentially for the better.

Health insurance is an interesting American conundrum. Prior to the twentieth century, most paid for healthcare outright. As medical technology evolved, the cost of health services began to rise. Health insurance companies took form to help individuals pay for the increasing expense of healthcare. In the 1920s, problems within the health insurance industry were already emerging and, in the 1940s, the government stepped in to regulate. Ever since, Americans have been in a huge debate over how much the government should be involved; all the while, the cost of healthcare continues to rise.

Fast forward to the present and it’s still one of America’s hottest political issues. President Obama has initiated an overhaul of the American healthcare system with the Affordable Care Act. It’s a sensitive topic and many politicians and American citizens are conflicted over whether or not to back the plan. But Brown insists it’s an important piece of legislation for self-employed individuals, artists, or anyone in the individual healthcare market – even small organizations and businesses – because “almost the entire law focuses on that group.”  The goal of Obama Care is to make insurance affordable to every American, through items such as subsidies and tax credits. Additionally, the legislation ends annual and lifetime limits on coverage and pre-existing clauses – to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage. Currently, 5 states have guaranteed to issue insurance policies: New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts – meaning that an individual cannot be denied insurance. But the majority of Americans are subjected to the complexity and uncertainty that comes with trying to gain coverage.

As debates ensue in Washington over the final fate of Obama Care, insurance companies wait anxiously to see which reforms and exchanges will survive the scrutiny of the House and Senate. “These exchanges are insurance products to individuals and small businesses,” explains Brown. If approved, the exchanges will result in 5 different plans at varying costs and go into effect on January 1, 2014. Until a final verdict has been reached, the insurance companies are unable to create new policies or plans.

Some of this is dependent on the Supreme Court’s closely followed proceedings over the legislation’s mandate. Conservatives question the constitutionality, as well as the government’s ability to issue and enforce a mandate that requires all Americans to purchase health insurance. If the mandate is not approved, the fate of the rest of the legislation is uncertain. “Without that mandate, it’s going to be hard for a lot of these other features of health insurance law to go through,” Brown claims. “This is because that mandate brings young people into the insurance market, which is what they want in order to balance off the older individuals in it…This mandate is an important element…If it’s struck down by the Supreme Court, then [some of the proposed exchanges and reforms] will have to change.” The Supreme Court will be making its decision about mid-June.

If the mandate goes through, then Actor’s Fund will do some re-evaluating of their own services, especially in regards to the Al Hirschfeld Clinic. “The [clinic] will not go away, but its function will probably change,” says Brown. AF would consider revamping the clinic to cater towards mental or alternative health needs – essentially, health services not covered by insurance policies.

It’s a sensitive subject that’s causing a lot of dissent in American politics and amongst civilians. But, on whichever side one’s personal beliefs lie, the nation is at the cusp of a major healthcare renovation. Come January 2014, Americans will see a new direction in the country’s healthcare, but as to what exactly that means…it is still unclear.

To learn more about healthcare policies in your state visit State Health Facts at statehealthfacts.org or the Actor’s Fund at actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/.

Photo: © Ximagination | Dreamstime.com

Part 1: Getting Insured.

By Stephanie Wolf.

A dancer’s ability to work and earn income is dependent on optimal health and physical condition. Therefore, proper healthcare is essential for longevity in the dance profession. But, unfortunately, many American dancers are under or uninsured due to the rising costs of healthcare and the complexity of applying for an insurance plan. Finding affordable health insurance is a dizzying feat, especially for freelance dancers who lack the option of obtaining insurance through their employers. The Internet is inundated with information and the nation’s capital is all a buzz with talk of healthcare reform, but what does it all mean?

Many dancers fall into the 10 to 11% of Americans who get their insurance through the individual healthcare market and dancers are amongst the highest percentage of uninsured artists. High premiums make it challenging to find the right plan. Additionally, because of the intense physicality of the dance profession, many dancers have difficulty getting approved for a plan because of a pre-existing condition. Organizations such as the Actor’s Fund, Media Bistro, TEIGIT, the Freelancer’s Union, and other artist-based unions provide tools and resources for healthcare options, playing a role in ensuring the health of American artists.

The Actor’s Fund (AF) is at the forefront of this cause – helping more than 400,000 performers every year gain access to healthcare – and gears a lot of their services towards dancers. Since 1998, AF has worked with dancers, and now has several comprehensive online tools and one-to-one counseling options to help dancers continue to perform at their best. One tool is the Artists’ Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC), which provides listings for workshops, counseling, and an online database of plans, subsidized healthcare, and government programs for each state. Spearheading these programs is AF’s Director of Healthcare Services James Brown who has an extensive background in health insurance and is a healthcare regulator in New Jersey.

Currently, AF is conducting a large dancer healthcare initiative through a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation. The project involves workshops and seminars in 10 dance-centric cities around the country: Manhattan, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Washington DC, Houston, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Brown will conduct the workshops and engage with both dancers and people who run dance organizations in conversations about the laws and availability of health insurance in each of their corresponding cities. AF is also working on creating webinars for those that can’t attend the workshops.

On the individual level, Brown will address dancers’ questions and concerns about finding affordable health insurance. Understanding that health insurance is “a local business,” he’ll give details on the laws, availability, and costs surrounding individual plans. Brown will also discuss affordable or free healthcare options available in each city, such as clinics and pharmaceutical programs.

For those in managerial positions, Brown will break down the Small Business Health Insurance Subsidy, which is part of the Affordable Care Act – also known as Obama Care. “This is an opportune time for dance organizations,” says Brown of the healthcare reform, because it might give small dance companies the ability to afford coverage for their dancers. This piece of legislation offers small businesses and arts organizations, who pay at least 50% of their employee’s health insurance costs, the chance to receive a subsidy from the government to help cover the extra expense. Brown will walk arts administrators through the eligibility factors, the protocol of applying, and what aspects need to be discussed with an accountant.

On a regular basis, AF also conducts individual healthcare counseling. Dancers can access these services by either calling the fund at 1-800-798-8447 ext. 280 or e-mailing Brown at jbrown@actorfund.org. Brown will discuss individual coverage options, as well as coverage for spouses, partners, or family members.

However, many dancers simply can’t afford insurance. For these individuals there are a number of free or sliding scale based healthcare facilities throughout the country. Dancers residing in Manhattan can receive treatment at the Al Hirschfeld Clinic, an AF run clinic in Midtown. The facility is New York’s only completely free clinic and administers healthcare services for anyone in the performing arts or entertainment industry who “has done a certain amount of work over the past two years.” Dr. James Spears, a doctor and professor with NY Presbyterian Hospital, is the full-time medical director and the clinic has a network of specialists through a program called Broadway Docs. There are a number of similar clinics throughout the country, including the Cleveland Free Clinic, San Francisco Community Consortium, and the Performing Arts Clinic in Los Angeles.

AF also offers a variety of other services for socio-economic issues that come with being a performing artist. Recently, the fund collaborated with Broadway and television star Bebe Neuwirth for a program called Dancers’ Resources – helping dancers cope with being injured and the recovery process.

The information is overwhelming, but the reassuring aspect is that there are organizations and individuals striving to give dancers the healthcare they deserve. Nevertheless, it’s crucial for dancers to stay informed on healthcare changes currently being debated in Washington. The evolution of Obama Care can, and likely will, greatly impact the dance community. Starting in January 2014, the laws and guidelines surrounding healthcare in this country will change drastically, especially if the Supreme Court rules in favor of a major mandate in the Affordable Care Act. Thus, the ‘game,’ as we know it, will change.

Get informed about Obama Care and the future of American healthcare in part 2 of “Healthcare for Dancers” – out in June’s issue!

Resources to get insured or access to affordable healthcare:

• The Actor’s Fund: actorsfund.org
• Dancers’ Health Insurance Research Center: dhirc.org
• Artists’ Health Insurance Research Center: ahirc.org
• The Freelancers Union: freelancersunion.org
• Media Bistro: mediabistro.org
• TEIGIT: teigit.com
• Health Pass (for small business owners or sole proprietors): healthpass.com
• Needy Meds (free and low-cost medications): needymeds.org
• Some major retailers offer inexpensive medication, such as Target and Wal-Mart
• The National Mental Health Service Locator: store.sarnhsa.gov/mhlocator
• The Performing Arts Clinic in LA: brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/neurology/services/PerformingArtsClinic.aspx
• The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland: thefreeclinic.org/
• The San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium: sfccc.org

Top image © Andre Blais | Dreamstime.com

Published by Dance Informa digital dance magazine – dance news, dance auditions & dance events for the professional dancer, dance teacher and dance students.