tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58334680284845969872024-03-05T03:25:22.945-05:00Ring Dance TheaterMichelle Stortz
Artistic DirectorMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-69351977523011912912011-07-07T12:41:00.001-04:002011-07-07T12:41:56.016-04:00click <a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGdkenV2bTBxbWxaREFIZ1FlMWZpR2c6MQ">here</a>Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-26903494028720558182010-01-10T17:28:00.008-05:002010-01-10T18:09:54.744-05:00Ring on Hiatus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWAwSlMWugVcBEPg6N25Hy6tQ-QGFuf6Mz10MkolYiLPq7Vw_x5qiZAwJ2658Mx_B1f0Cx4bh3YGxpJUWNcdU0cZkrzKwZ_NaYUudyxF-nZE29qkEEsxYfqTIsGIWUV5hCG4CSmbEiPE/s1600-h/IMG_9360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWAwSlMWugVcBEPg6N25Hy6tQ-QGFuf6Mz10MkolYiLPq7Vw_x5qiZAwJ2658Mx_B1f0Cx4bh3YGxpJUWNcdU0cZkrzKwZ_NaYUudyxF-nZE29qkEEsxYfqTIsGIWUV5hCG4CSmbEiPE/s400/IMG_9360.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425251427523828146" /></a><br />Ring is on hiatus through the winter as it mourns the passing of its technical director and main benefactor, Jonathan Lustig. <br /><br />Michelle will perform her solo <span style="font-style:italic;">Salve</span> at the Bryn Mawr faculty concert, February 3rd.<br /><br />Peace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLrAbZ9nRv7Ln9jCtemX6nFgiCc49euRMziVNWUfBxpbuxx7oGspclaJhSaYiFRmQSiJjtjFVTpdyOgO-AAr_oyTFR597-i5PH_TOFOe6JMh3jDOJiAsdqope8iOsR2IUO6D_onkHPi8/s1600-h/sunflower+and+sultry.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLrAbZ9nRv7Ln9jCtemX6nFgiCc49euRMziVNWUfBxpbuxx7oGspclaJhSaYiFRmQSiJjtjFVTpdyOgO-AAr_oyTFR597-i5PH_TOFOe6JMh3jDOJiAsdqope8iOsR2IUO6D_onkHPi8/s400/sunflower+and+sultry.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425251416057914130" /></a>Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-34157172345381232652009-09-04T00:20:00.010-04:002009-09-04T14:39:49.034-04:00PERFORMING AT THE PHILLY FRINGE!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKe3Tq8SbNxid4vZ26T40raSSjlokaR_O13AvT95Y56QBb9uNwADEWcKPFBFBedGbuHDTyIj2xWIPjlae8Y1xtGezJ-hhwndIdUjN4-uylJa9NWhVRpajantAhnQvAnR2ZyEKE7kNZBE/s1600-h/IMG_1743_lowres.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKe3Tq8SbNxid4vZ26T40raSSjlokaR_O13AvT95Y56QBb9uNwADEWcKPFBFBedGbuHDTyIj2xWIPjlae8Y1xtGezJ-hhwndIdUjN4-uylJa9NWhVRpajantAhnQvAnR2ZyEKE7kNZBE/s320/IMG_1743_lowres.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377464844949066370" /></a><br /><br />WE'RE PERFORMING AT THE INFLUX SHOW AT MASCHER SPACE CO-OP!!<br /><br />Thursday Sept. 10th, 8pm<br />Sunday Sept. 13th, 6pm<br /><br />Mascher is at:<br />155 Cecil B. Moore Ave<br />Philadelphia, PA 19122<br /><br />$10/$8 with Dance Pass<br /><br />purchase tickets at <a href="http://livearts-fringe.org/">www.livearts.phillyfringe.org</a><br /><br />Ring Dancers are:<br />Erin Foreman-Murray<br />Sara Narva<br />Karin Otto<br />Naomi Pressman<br />Michelle Stortz<br /><br />LIGHTING DESIGN IS BY LEIGH MUMFORDMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-52877280637382562082009-07-27T09:48:00.003-04:002009-07-27T10:18:06.772-04:00Studying the Study 349.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIN48D9pyzTw51riNFbZoVhxK5kefXjM7dvarQlIgVMq19GcsJ2-aZ963sfgzAetyGBlXUIlzD5vS65tpBOvzPgB7sDAajJXOuTkASP2Mg300O_GIrDl1LDAJBbh2Hh603TsZe9hQpdE/s1600-h/P1010076.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIN48D9pyzTw51riNFbZoVhxK5kefXjM7dvarQlIgVMq19GcsJ2-aZ963sfgzAetyGBlXUIlzD5vS65tpBOvzPgB7sDAajJXOuTkASP2Mg300O_GIrDl1LDAJBbh2Hh603TsZe9hQpdE/s320/P1010076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363143434081948754" /></a><br />I've assembled a group from the chaos of schedules and disparate lives. We have accomplished the social phenomenon of 'gathering' and sometimes I think that that is what the work is really about – demanding that this event take place, this rehearsal, this dance, this performance. It is exhausting and sometimes I am resentful to leave my cozy home to fight the traffic and mass of humanity to go to something that seems to cost me far more than I receive. And then I am there with them, these incredibly intelligent movers and beautiful thinkers, and I sink into this practice, this being present in our bodies, moving, creating movement, attuning ourselves to this fine listening. <br /><br />We dance, I lead. They are skilled followers, sensitive to sublime subtleties. We make a thing, an event that lasts 10 minutes and 49 seconds. Sometimes more, sometimes less. We have patterns we repeat. We have chaos we ride like a turbulent sea. I say it's about the listening, but so often it is about the nuts and bolts - this move goes here and this move lasts until here. Sometimes the listening gets lost. And yet, I tout that as the real deal, the meat of the project. So I ask myself, am I avoiding something? Am I creating obstacles? Am I killing the wild beauty of the thing by setting this and that, demanding details? Dunno. These are my questions of the day. Are these dances like golems? Going out into the world to do our bidding, but in actuality, revealing our subconscious desires and fears?Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-14889970182732430722009-07-17T16:43:00.006-04:002009-07-18T09:42:16.405-04:00Shows Coming Up!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiRuyu2jkSdeFOo6Ru2AhUHCr73ZT9ZhogrXfPph3o58g69KkUeIHFjZZYRIdT3S-z-Sc5py_VPOQfoQXmJzfdjxHzTv1jV8fR23tmsOPqdN0vwa_HM93ypUFgQrjrrOgs06qluNCbLQ/s1600-h/IMG_2501.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiRuyu2jkSdeFOo6Ru2AhUHCr73ZT9ZhogrXfPph3o58g69KkUeIHFjZZYRIdT3S-z-Sc5py_VPOQfoQXmJzfdjxHzTv1jV8fR23tmsOPqdN0vwa_HM93ypUFgQrjrrOgs06qluNCbLQ/s200/IMG_2501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359533013160630466" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Norristown DanceFest<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br />August 14 & 15 at 8pm<br />Montgomery County Cultural Center<br />208 Dekalb Street<br />Norristown, PA<br /><br />Tickets $18/$15 student<br />Dance Pass discount coming soon <br /><br />purchase tickets at www.danceboxoffice.com<br /><br />fellow performers:<br />Melanie Aceto Contemporary Dance<br />Philadelphia Dance Theatre<br />Green Chair Dance Group<br />Tara Madsen Dance<br />Chisena Danza<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Philly Fringe Festival - <span style="font-style:italic;">InFlux</span> at Mascher Space Co-0p<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br />September 10th (Thursday) & 13th (Sunday)<br />more detatails soon~Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-54254959354838612992009-05-16T20:05:00.007-04:002009-07-27T10:19:36.191-04:00Self Portraits from Workspace for Choreographers, Sperryville, VA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk2kocga7kMLPyLMk6KCG0x1N17WMawVhVcuA5S8peLgisOBl0AS6OEnSZY9YGDTxm-9E2xWoGeGN-ZWnstZw3fQ028TnjGQhx3rl94P3AsvN33zZrJXQDgL0zP0MybS81NBb1HbhmnA/s1600-h/P5160034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk2kocga7kMLPyLMk6KCG0x1N17WMawVhVcuA5S8peLgisOBl0AS6OEnSZY9YGDTxm-9E2xWoGeGN-ZWnstZw3fQ028TnjGQhx3rl94P3AsvN33zZrJXQDgL0zP0MybS81NBb1HbhmnA/s200/P5160034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336580135769813746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS34xB6ljX4YmPkpUOdM1OSjIYyqfn-qcu4Y2ZLClv2qlA1AlmVIvM4a-VlbCNkYAqh66Qm18f_nUJ3YLvOEZkWHMbnVnGuafVwdafPy0ZhBFujIktWp5KmywRILsveKW-qyerftfPdHE/s1600-h/P5160042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS34xB6ljX4YmPkpUOdM1OSjIYyqfn-qcu4Y2ZLClv2qlA1AlmVIvM4a-VlbCNkYAqh66Qm18f_nUJ3YLvOEZkWHMbnVnGuafVwdafPy0ZhBFujIktWp5KmywRILsveKW-qyerftfPdHE/s200/P5160042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336579779596805906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDqMGhDu7aDBprcCHKlAuRnnKda321MtjFFI9TAVE_-csI_7eKaw1oagvmK9WT9K_6Y4UNmTU5JEiAER4OE7D8UECGoni6_GjYcLb4n2IcVrxtT1N4w4GUd4ZE1scz0JRYf2YyRFrrcA/s1600-h/P5160038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDqMGhDu7aDBprcCHKlAuRnnKda321MtjFFI9TAVE_-csI_7eKaw1oagvmK9WT9K_6Y4UNmTU5JEiAER4OE7D8UECGoni6_GjYcLb4n2IcVrxtT1N4w4GUd4ZE1scz0JRYf2YyRFrrcA/s200/P5160038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336579358943650098" /></a>Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-33847801862459624442009-05-10T19:03:00.002-04:002009-05-10T19:09:34.615-04:00An Artist's Residency in the Mountains of Virginiaarriving arriving arriving<br />the woods take me in<br />so far, so good<br />I've made a fire, unpacked<br />I'll make my first meal soon<br />teapot works<br />the view is nice<br />the rain sings<br />there's nothing to do<br /> just listen<br /> don't worry, it will come<br />You can think about survival if you want<br />but you're here to remember yourself<br />don't worry, she'll come<br /><br /><br />I'm at the Workspace for Choreographers in Sperryville, Virginia. A gorgeous studio in the mountains, hosted by the wise and gracious Sally Nash. I've been here five days now. City skin is finally starting to shed. The muse should be showing up any minute now...Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-5693908606848034212009-04-19T19:12:00.004-04:002009-04-19T19:26:25.608-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctqbpsTSJWdhXkKItSWz0GKNKoF8LypLBIOIRm2FKaMxQ7ANbG2GxFOCf0Bzp3RIdgaRBZ0C3P4i2laTXJeylfqToK14ebOFcBAE3Bbsi8D51RUzRDffudTLAevmQw6d5dUgOH5QIBfs/s1600-h/ConcertPosterSml.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctqbpsTSJWdhXkKItSWz0GKNKoF8LypLBIOIRm2FKaMxQ7ANbG2GxFOCf0Bzp3RIdgaRBZ0C3P4i2laTXJeylfqToK14ebOFcBAE3Bbsi8D51RUzRDffudTLAevmQw6d5dUgOH5QIBfs/s200/ConcertPosterSml.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326545342581162306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF9tYRSS8aoUULpNTPO7dQ3_Du0ugZyZZ8-pPyKqznnSpO-DRAgIeICxvdMgntwiauq2Haq1PmIJj0JUywZ50f5tic7BfvDajxATQNAFG2APMDjr-r0aSFdWTM8znRV3QEDagTyY2bjk/s1600-h/Michelle+Still.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF9tYRSS8aoUULpNTPO7dQ3_Du0ugZyZZ8-pPyKqznnSpO-DRAgIeICxvdMgntwiauq2Haq1PmIJj0JUywZ50f5tic7BfvDajxATQNAFG2APMDjr-r0aSFdWTM8znRV3QEDagTyY2bjk/s200/Michelle+Still.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326544614461219026" /></a><br />It's been a busy season: Bryn Mawr Faculty show, 'Current' at Studio 34, InFlux at Mascher and next week, the Bryn Mawr Spring Concert. I've been working with the students there on a new piece called 'Monster Radar'. Music by Micronesia. Come check it out~<br /><br />SPRING DANCE CONCERT<br />SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL 25th AND 26th<br />7:30 PM <a href="http://www.haverford.edu/music/resources/Marshall.php">MARSHALL AUDITORIUM</a>/Haverford College <br />Free and open to the public; reception follows<br /><br />Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore students perform in works by faculty, guest, and student choreographers ranging from ballet, to modern, to funk, to African.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-45265800850646950072009-02-23T21:39:00.002-05:002009-02-23T21:49:06.653-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiol6lP6p9EObv-ypfhLlxzVhy0aPtNedeZcWUjiX9SGU5l3WEiBsBRMo9HfG7oVqu0E99-a0CVyScxUsbpwIfy0v1rsesDmTLz8tIespL_6lcYLWvs8AFWe1aywX51zsu1K4F5vwSxo/s1600-h/MJW_6664.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiol6lP6p9EObv-ypfhLlxzVhy0aPtNedeZcWUjiX9SGU5l3WEiBsBRMo9HfG7oVqu0E99-a0CVyScxUsbpwIfy0v1rsesDmTLz8tIespL_6lcYLWvs8AFWe1aywX51zsu1K4F5vwSxo/s200/MJW_6664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306188955587070530" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Current</span> at Studio 34<br />One night only!!!<br />SATURDAY 28th , 8 p.m. $5<br />Don’t miss a great line up for a super low price. Come meet and support local artists!!!<br />www.herebegindance.com/current.html <br /><br />Saturday, Feb. 28th, 2009 <br />Studio34 in West Philly<br />4522 Baltimore Ave. <br />www.studio34yoga.com<br /><br />Alie Vidich (dance theater)<br />Annie Wilson (dance on film)<br />Christina Gesualdi (dance)<br />Michelle Stortz/Ring Dance Theater<br />Headlong Dance Theater<br />VISUAL ART BY J. Marshall - Lively<br /><br />"Current" series is proudly starting its third year of existence as a guest at Studio34Yoga's monthly Studio Series. Come see some witty, funny and thoughtful pieces. "Joga"(not Yoga) performed by Alie Vidich will enlighten you with the practice of the art. Christina Gesualdi’s dance piece is asking "What would a duet look like that starred the characters: Nothing and No One?". Michelle Stortz/Ring Dance Theater is exploring the Flow Theory and opens a new chapter for her company exploring rhythm and spatial relationship. Annie Wilson will show a short dance on film while Headlong Dance Theater will present a brand new duet. Visual art will be by West Philly artist J. Marshall-Lively.<br /><br />Hope to see you there!Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-66835640127927241852009-02-04T14:19:00.004-05:002009-02-04T14:28:44.205-05:00New Old Thoughts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkdp30C9K57cJ5tSEdxd2NPOTwmGVTv4ODIH0PWuR1xerD_VAqJE75MmOBYpr2FQtof1GnSYsvJaBtj91-kcPF5CNjlTCtSlDZut8KUxNUCWvyTScl8aLvZS-PV3Z5mtks6dUnldi2Hk/s1600-h/P2040021.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkdp30C9K57cJ5tSEdxd2NPOTwmGVTv4ODIH0PWuR1xerD_VAqJE75MmOBYpr2FQtof1GnSYsvJaBtj91-kcPF5CNjlTCtSlDZut8KUxNUCWvyTScl8aLvZS-PV3Z5mtks6dUnldi2Hk/s200/P2040021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299024280337178050" /></a><br />working on new movement material...thinking about time, rhythm... i'm actually counting. why did we stop counting? needed to i suppose.<br /><br />am showing this material this friday. a friend pointed out – after i shared my concern about it not being 'finished' – that i could look at this process as being much larger and longer and that this showing happens to fall somewhere in the middle. i like this idea and it is not new. how do i forget these things?<br /><br />my specific inquiry at this point is about the internal experience in shifting from set choreography to scored improvisations. there's something more in here about how i'm creating, my approach, that i can't put my finger on. feeling very 'old school'. <br /><br />presently very inspired by Batsheva Dance Company and the Gaga approach to movement.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-13233813749019874832008-11-30T19:40:00.005-05:002008-11-30T19:56:47.880-05:00My First Butoh Ride<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOkpDoD02ur-0ybK58DKC9C1kwJYq-GWrrnpl5FWbFdB-rR7hFSTFEtEQkXTHQwogFQEywl9yftO7VKKTIWiaoQc3G2o9WHTl7lynrBKux9kls3bu6KCn50nyRG7KnUkaYD4DMCPpU1w/s1600-h/P1010031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOkpDoD02ur-0ybK58DKC9C1kwJYq-GWrrnpl5FWbFdB-rR7hFSTFEtEQkXTHQwogFQEywl9yftO7VKKTIWiaoQc3G2o9WHTl7lynrBKux9kls3bu6KCn50nyRG7KnUkaYD4DMCPpU1w/s200/P1010031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274617061372258242" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CHk1H3eAwnNfrqidtreGQrlFr_zEt6jc0Fi-5QYAN3U1bbZaEMb2wQticKfI3mtl2r3BCU-zfxeFxfrruXk0Z0pEpG_tTZZjSiTfpwUJ9Sr6oNPfxBaiFkB_fZzHO81iPsdkUhxCWvs/s1600-h/P1010034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CHk1H3eAwnNfrqidtreGQrlFr_zEt6jc0Fi-5QYAN3U1bbZaEMb2wQticKfI3mtl2r3BCU-zfxeFxfrruXk0Z0pEpG_tTZZjSiTfpwUJ9Sr6oNPfxBaiFkB_fZzHO81iPsdkUhxCWvs/s200/P1010034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274617071262009826" /></a><br />I was just in Katsura Kan's 'Curious Fish'. This was my first real Butoh experience and I loved it! I loved the use of internal story, the concept of filling a mask with emotion, the sense of ancient-ness, the taboo and beauty and absurdity. I especially had fun as a chicken. And I got to be naked - woohooo! On the whole, I went on a rich internal journey within a landscape of sparse and delicate physicality. Lovely.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-33700735764909167962008-11-20T08:41:00.004-05:002008-11-30T19:59:23.791-05:00Study 349<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_tNCO2nfkAniCnsvjjY8JJ5mDsIVWsvdccik-zn3WqA9Fp23tRBJcZxnYw0wYN0D_msCze8XvcGBq1GunHX9rKPOuLc9AlSduI78QsVaaYJgxmaNroy3zkwjWeMiZxvLKmrSMBZ67YA/s1600-h/IMG_2495.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_tNCO2nfkAniCnsvjjY8JJ5mDsIVWsvdccik-zn3WqA9Fp23tRBJcZxnYw0wYN0D_msCze8XvcGBq1GunHX9rKPOuLc9AlSduI78QsVaaYJgxmaNroy3zkwjWeMiZxvLKmrSMBZ67YA/s200/IMG_2495.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270734770696529906" /></a>The Spiel Uhr show on Oct 18/19 went quite well. We got lots of great feedback on 'Study 349' – "interesting use of character and abstraction" – and the dancers seemed to enjoy themselves. This is the project on Flow theory that I've been working on and in this phase I was able to introduce some methods like repetitive movement and Viewpoints. Unfortunately our rehearsal period was so short that we hardly scratched the surface. In some ways it boiled down to standard rehearsals – shaping choreography, getting the details, etc.. So I'd like to get back into the studio with the dancers and really have an extended lab around the Flow state.<br /><br />photo by Bill Hebert. dancers: Jodi Obeid and Sara NarvaMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-31295396857779003452008-09-19T17:15:00.005-04:002008-09-19T18:26:31.996-04:00Impatient Patients<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bq-oiYvCaIQu-OP8OU9tQ32A1bXp8bNDmPOxOG-H4Gw0WPVcFPl1jRt9afn4wWvyJJHJBe6wlVjRodn1AD5v7T-pHpc44eZa8ukzenYT1ozK3DKtR7er8uXJ7MWVp2kVvMZvWf1_zVA/s1600-h/2007_09_Vacation+031.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bq-oiYvCaIQu-OP8OU9tQ32A1bXp8bNDmPOxOG-H4Gw0WPVcFPl1jRt9afn4wWvyJJHJBe6wlVjRodn1AD5v7T-pHpc44eZa8ukzenYT1ozK3DKtR7er8uXJ7MWVp2kVvMZvWf1_zVA/s200/2007_09_Vacation+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247860151404481890" /></a><br />I can't believe the incredible thick bureaucracy of the medical system! My husband and I just spent six and a half hours in the hospital trying to get two different kinds of scans done. My husband has been dealing with brain cancer for two and a half years now, with a recent recurrence this summer. So while waiting two hours for his second scan of the day, a CT scan, we also find out that a particular conversation between two of our doctors, regarding an important transfer of information, has never transpired. We've been waiting for three weeks for information to pass between these two. How FRUSTRATING! My husband's treatment is waiting on all these people to get COORDINATED! Meanwhile the cancer cells grow... Really, what kind of person do you have to be to get efficient medical treatment in this country? A Senator? <br /><br />Here's hubby's blog: <a href="http://brain.fraczard.com/">http://brain.fraczard.com/</a><br /><br />So how can I continue to be an artist during all this? Jon says that knowing I'm following my path is what keeps some sense of sanity in our lives. I keep grasping for threads of integrity. How can I spend so much of my time in a field that seems so narcissistic and ego-centered? By telling myself that I'm investigating embodiment - how can we live in our diseased bodies in this toxic environment with any hope of Grace. I'm looking for Grace. <br /><br />Which brings me to Flow theory and my project incorporating Flow into the choreographic process. It's an odd task I've set for myself and my dancers... finding this expansive state of mind and body during a creative process. What I'm finding is that the Flow state is really more accessible at the beginning of the process – in the improvisational stages – and in performance. The middle is full of nuts and bolts dance crafting. But we keep our Flow lens on, attending to the 'how' of the making and hope that it will all make sense in the end.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-3927503045640851112008-08-25T18:10:00.003-04:002008-08-25T18:36:40.642-04:00The Next Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wPZvF38T7QuX6HIJS8kbKJ03jhc9MzgsYImAq7ZzOyoAlIKGtdtu0r8zQvkxwKd7ZxDECM5PpjyLBm944BZ8PVbnSfBirw_JJghMw06FsH_OfQPpTTgbuusN9qjBkrSdNg1ya8WZoeM/s1600-h/PC270004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wPZvF38T7QuX6HIJS8kbKJ03jhc9MzgsYImAq7ZzOyoAlIKGtdtu0r8zQvkxwKd7ZxDECM5PpjyLBm944BZ8PVbnSfBirw_JJghMw06FsH_OfQPpTTgbuusN9qjBkrSdNg1ya8WZoeM/s200/PC270004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238586672009117986" /></a><br />I'm working on a new project wherein I, with Ring dancers, am investigating Flow Theory. Flow is the state of consciousness that is achieved through a practice of total attention and absorption in an activity. Major research was conducted on Flow Theory by Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and later published for the layperson in his book, Flow: the Psychology of Optimal Experience. It is from this book that I will be basing my experiments on the intersection of the choreographic process and the Flow state. <br /><br />I have two methods for entering this state and am relying on the group process and feedback at each rehearsal to modify add or delete any aspects of these. The first is Viewpoints which is a technique of improvisation that provides a vocabulary for thinking about and creating movement for the stage. Viewpoints separates the various components of stage action into nine categories: spatial relationship, tempo, kinesthetic response, shape, duration, gesture, repetition, architecture and topography. The practitioner is to stay aware of what category he/she is operating in in any given moment. Thus it is an exercise for mental clarity. <br /><br />The other method is a movement score involving the extended repetition of a Qi Qong movement. I call this the Swing Score and it is one simple movement performed right and left for 15-20 minutes as a kind of meditation. The repetition activates a different part of the brain, taking us out of analytical thinking and putting us into a calm, receptive presence. <br /><br />I'm relying on these two methods to bring us into a Flow state from which we will generate and shape movement material into a new piece which I am currently calling "Out of Play". We will be performing the first draft of this as guests at Group Motion's concert, Spiel Uhr, at the Community Education Center, October 18-19.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-56187619193503791212008-08-14T10:41:00.003-04:002008-08-25T18:06:47.984-04:00The SEEDS Festival at Earthdance!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeNVgR4QscJGi6on8Wv4SuTM_2fl-nXRWYXPl3Bb-VUYVQR-QlK1YdE5SgqJLfwAYmg2-dtJ3qMSvJeHDCgV7l_zX4Qh2aiu5Thnm-BH5ugOQZZAAr84YRvVS_8Cu6ptDMyXZx-iBCXI/s1600-h/P1010091.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeNVgR4QscJGi6on8Wv4SuTM_2fl-nXRWYXPl3Bb-VUYVQR-QlK1YdE5SgqJLfwAYmg2-dtJ3qMSvJeHDCgV7l_zX4Qh2aiu5Thnm-BH5ugOQZZAAr84YRvVS_8Cu6ptDMyXZx-iBCXI/s200/P1010091.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234387888974790610" /></a><br />SEEDS stands for Somatic Experiences in Earth, Dance and Science. It offered numerous workshops. I took two - Karen Nelson's 'Pause' and Olive Bieringa/Body Cartography's 'Micro/Macro. Great stuff, both of them. Plus lots of SEEDS events – panel discussions on science and art, performances by Daniel Lepkoff and Suprapto Suryodarmo from Indonesia, lectures such as Complicities with Racism by Dr. Enoch Page, Associate Professor of Anthropology Department, UMASS. And then of course there's all the yummy food and communal vibe of Earthdance ... and the SAUNA!Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-80860436989687031112008-07-02T15:46:00.000-04:002008-07-02T15:47:40.453-04:00The 2008 National Performing Arts Convention in Denver, Colorado<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>I’ve just returned from the National Performing Arts Convention in Denver and I’m so fired up about the events, conversations and art that took place there when over 3000 people gathered to discuss the art and business of live performance. Here’s some info that I’d like to pass on to the dance community at large.<br /><br />The most inspiring aspect of the convention was the caucus discussions. To sit at a table with the general manager of a high budget ballet company or a the marketing directors of the symphony or opera as well as small dance and theater company directors like me, from all over the nation, was a unique and enlightening experience. Our mission was to tackle the concrete issues of moving the performing arts field forward (advance our vision), to identify our weaknesses and strengths as a community, find strategies for strengthening arts education, arts advocacy and relevance to our culture at large, to take the idea of diversity a little bit further. The beauty was that we didn’t just talk, we came to agreements, got it all down on paper, handed it into a ‘theme team’ who synthesized all these words into concise language overnight so that we could take the ideas another step further the next day. On the last day of the conference, we, 1600 people, gathered in one huge room in the Colorado Convention Center and voted on our top priorities. Here’s what we came up with, summarized from the printed daily discussion guides. <br /><br />Vision statement<br />We are a performing arts community, inclusive of all the disciplines, that coordinates and collaborates effectively at both national and local levels to multiply the public benefits of the performing arts and to enhance each art form. We create optimum value for our constituencies and their communities by ensuring:<br /><br />• Highly innovative and sustainable institutions<br />• Fully supported artists<br />• Meaningful opportunities for education in the arts for all children and lifelong learners<br />• Robust artistic collaboration among disciplines<br />• Strong and effective advocacy for public policy conducive to the full spectrum of the performing arts<br />• Authentic and diverse public participation in the performing arts<br />• Deep and widely acknowledged contributions to the public good by being vitally connected to other individuals, groups, and organizations<br />• Relevance through our presence in the marketplace of culture and ideas.<br /><br />We identified the community’s three most pressing issues and were asked to vote for the strategy we felt most important to take in order to advance our vision.<br /><br />Issue #1. Our communities do not sufficiently perceive the value, benefits, and relevance of the arts, which makes advocacy and building public support for the arts a challenge at every level. Top three strategies:<br /><br />On the national level:<br />#1. Organize a national media campaign with celebrity spokespersons, catchy slogans (e.g. “Got Milk”), unified message, and compelling stories. <br /><br />#2. Create a Department of Culture/Cabinet-level position which is responsible for implementing a national arts policy<br /><br />#3. Lobby elected political officials for pro-arts policy and funding; demand arts policy platform from candidates<br /><br />On the local level – local being the regional, state and civic levels <br />#1. Create an arts coalition to get involved in local decision-making, take leadership positions, and strengthen relationships with elected officials. <br /><br />#2. Forge partnerships with other sectors to identify how the arts can serve community needs<br /><br />#3. Foster cross-disciplinary conversations to share data and best practices, develop common goals, and create joint activities/performances. <br /><br />On the individual/organizational level:<br />#1. Build relationships with non-ars groups, including governments, corporations, community development organizations, etc. <br /><br />#2. Create opportunities for active participation in the arts for all ages (including interactive websites, open rehearsals, etc.)<br /><br />#3. Expand relationships across the community to find and develop new leaders (e.g. through Board development) and local champions for the arts<br /><br />Issue #2. The potential of arts education and lifelong learning in the Arts is under realized. Top three strategies:<br /><br />On the national level:<br />#1. Devise an advocacy campaign to promote the inclusion of performing arts in core curricula<br /><br />#2. Lobby for education reform, including rescinding No Child Left Behind<br /><br />#3. Enlist artists as full partners in all aspects of arts education through training and creating an AmeriCorps/WPA- program<br /><br />On the local level:<br />#1. Mobilize and collaborate with K-12 and higher education institutions to strengthen arts education and arts participation as core curriculum <br /><br />#2. Strengthen relationship with school boards and policy makers through lobbying, electing “arts friendly officials”, involvement in local politics<br /><br />#3. Integrate arts teaching in educators’ professional development and integrate teaching programs in artist organizations<br /><br />#4. Innovate financial models to fund the arts: link to tax base, develop dedicated sales tax, connect to corporate funds<br /><br />On the individual/organizational level:<br />#1. Lead lifelong education programs that actively involve people in multigenerational groups. “Make the arts part of a lifelong wellness plan”<br /><br />#2. Directly engage teachers to integrate the arts into their teaching and create professional development programs to address their needs<br /><br />#3. Commit your entire organization to arts education in mission, budget, programs, and collaborations<br /><br />Issue #3. The increasing diversity of our communities creates an opportunity to engage a variety of ages, races, identities, and cultures in our audiences and organization. Top three strategies:<br /><br />On the national level:<br />#1. Charge national service organizations to create dialogue at convenings, create training programs, promote diverse art and artists, and partner with grassroots organizations who are already connected to diverse communities<br /><br />#2. Diversify boards, management, and staff in all national arts organizations <br /><br />On the local level:<br />#1. Open an honest dialogue across community groups and sectors to share priorities and identify barriers to participation<br /><br />#2. Partner within the arts, as well as with community organizations, to build relationships<br /><br />#3. Expand beyond traditional venues to establish new points of access <br /><br />On the individual/organizational level:<br />#1. Discover arts in our community offered by cultures other than your own and establish peer relationships<br /><br />#2. Set long term goals and plan to have staff, board, programming, and audiences reflect the demographics of your community<br /><br />#3. Program more diverse artists and contentMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-16749801329865664762008-06-10T18:18:00.003-04:002008-06-10T18:37:10.850-04:00National Performing Arts Convention<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAjGTTo3V9N3-PjcTCOjgp97tfZmluZUMRj9iRM0yXhrhRDO6WuiCRCzVRirE4ju6Eh33DJo6IM-JHytx78fLVhXSDNNLtDVXBSfTcufzlFF2-X5M4kALPhxc_uU8647x2cbL07M6x-I/s1600-h/small+red.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAjGTTo3V9N3-PjcTCOjgp97tfZmluZUMRj9iRM0yXhrhRDO6WuiCRCzVRirE4ju6Eh33DJo6IM-JHytx78fLVhXSDNNLtDVXBSfTcufzlFF2-X5M4kALPhxc_uU8647x2cbL07M6x-I/s200/small+red.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210385351739131746" /></a><br />Getting ready for the National Performing Arts Convention - I leave for Denver tomorrow, bright and early! I've received a scholarship from Dance USA to attend. Yay for me! Thirty-five hundred people in the performing arts field will be spilling into the Colorado Convention Center tomorrow to "find ways to communicate the importance of the arts to national life and to identify new ways to convey the value of the arts in America to a wider audience." Cool.<br /><br />I've volunteered to be a 'table facilitator' for the 21st Century Town Meeting Caucuses. For four days, I will facilitate table discussions for a group of 9 on creating a blueprint for action for our emerging performing arts community. There will be 300 other tables with ten people each, doing the same thing. Each participant's voice will be heard as concrete ideas and actions are compiled and woven into the next day's discussion. The whole thing culminates on Saturday with a big action plan to implement on the local, state and national levels. Whew! <br /><br />Glad I've got my business cards....Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-87087713652910126522008-04-25T22:32:00.008-04:002008-06-10T18:17:56.122-04:00Thinking about the body...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/wiacrev/data/images/V46/reference/WAR0460303101r.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src=" http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/wiacrev/data/images/V46/reference/WAR0460303101r.jpeg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Thinking about the body, about movement, about states of being. Where am i now? In a chair at my desk. Tea from mug still warm on my tongue. Unanswered bills, scattered lists of things to do. How does this dance of paper shuffling go? This is a state of being... observing, not trying, simply noticing. <br /><br />I babysat today. Smiley, happy boy, so full of movement, eight months old. He's trying to find his crawl. Only managing some spasmotic Twister moves. Still able to truck along somehow, not very fast. Very interested in pulling himself up to standing though not really strong enough to do it without help. Neuron pathways still forming, coordination on its way.<br /><br /><br /><br />photo courtesy new york weill medical center archivesMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-71509277943791543212008-04-24T07:48:00.004-04:002008-04-24T08:02:10.359-04:00My Dances Dance Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.physicschick.com/pole/20070206/01_twisty.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.physicschick.com/pole/20070206/01_twisty.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. <br /> T.S. Eliot</span><br /><br />photo from Cynthia's Polar Adventure<br /><br />I build dances about the body and its languages. I pursue its eloquence, subtleties and intelligence while investigating the various ways we, as humans, communicate or might communicate. I look for the awkward and unusual to see who lives there, what lives there and what they are saying. My dances twist and grow in obscure ways, with surprising torques and redirections, as if they are trying to trick me. <br /><br />I strive to not ‘know’ what the dance is about as I am making it, but instead to let movement and images surface from the subconscious, to bubble forth from improvisational states and daydreams. My artistic practice is about getting out of the way, getting lost, wandering. It’s about finding the venue for the subconscious. Much like a tree grows toward light I am striving to follow an organic path that is led by my guts and instincts, not my head and what I think you want to see or hear. But don’t be scared. I’m not interested in pushing your buttons or showing you my dark side. I’m really interested in the whimsical beauty in life, the way we talk and play with our bodies, I want to bring back our five-year-old playfulness and wonder with life.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-77580765274225102982008-02-17T17:58:00.010-05:002008-04-23T21:38:53.876-04:00Composing an Artist Statement<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFgNb3xEcLIQhf_5O6NIF8hZ_k9tL6p5VmgmTfGt5xuHNJmBCe8pZ_b60FW6UfgIBh___VBmEs18QdaDcSpmAU0yH_pDR1ZKHgE2l6ei9cCxLZr5FMuBCC2Cf36P3A3kcCC9bZ-HbhTg/s1600-h/Xmas_2006+064.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFgNb3xEcLIQhf_5O6NIF8hZ_k9tL6p5VmgmTfGt5xuHNJmBCe8pZ_b60FW6UfgIBh___VBmEs18QdaDcSpmAU0yH_pDR1ZKHgE2l6ei9cCxLZr5FMuBCC2Cf36P3A3kcCC9bZ-HbhTg/s320/Xmas_2006+064.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168094461615048146" /></a><br />I've been grappling with an Artist Statement. Every artist needs one. I come up against the need to sound coherent, polished, sane, adult-like. I struggle to write in complete sentences or sound cool and hip, like I'm really the shit. Mostly I'm just trying to honor what's really true for me and that has to do with tapping the subconscious, with playing, with getting out of the way and letting the work come through. I'm trying not to work from my head; trying to let it come from the gut or heart or ovaries or whatever else wants to speak.<br /><br />Maybe next time I'll have an Artist Statement to post.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-88415512181430917652008-01-20T18:26:00.000-05:002008-01-20T18:43:33.322-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqkeV37XXmF9V4dO6c0uG3M6j3R-t9mgthQ_JtuiE08pzabCGRVe4g4f_NpsKpX7m7nqaP_VW8uI8_HlYvMahAlF9cQElYlGoEXMay2SSxv-hD5rxcI6uPkUULxFluzC59ynt19MVvKM/s1600-h/MJW_6631.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqkeV37XXmF9V4dO6c0uG3M6j3R-t9mgthQ_JtuiE08pzabCGRVe4g4f_NpsKpX7m7nqaP_VW8uI8_HlYvMahAlF9cQElYlGoEXMay2SSxv-hD5rxcI6uPkUULxFluzC59ynt19MVvKM/s200/MJW_6631.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157708509586286226" /></a><br />It's January 2008 now and we just completed another successful run of Disarray. We were part of a group concert at the Community Education Center last weekend (11-13) called the New Edge Mix. I'd say we reached an even wider audience and got an even more enthusiastic reception, much to our delight. I really enjoyed reworking the piece with the same performers. Karin, Lindsay and Erin reached deeper into the work and found new levels of trust and play. And surprisingly, it worked quite well in a black box space so I'm glad I went against my first impulse which was to keep it in its original long, narrow configuration.Michelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-64110000076918733772007-09-24T09:52:00.000-04:002007-09-24T09:54:06.705-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8mqbm1QVMuoH_aNWqRiCloHJmWkoXdzyehZIHakOW34wDo6tkgpiWg8QXvGC16wy76NTyDktG5UEIba4R0E9OekLnjF0UcIrgt8oO9gX1SLLbXUqgdF934YnR0kjmd5oahZH5U-BwWc/s1600-h/House+Construction,+Dallas,+PA+and+Karin+Dance+536.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8mqbm1QVMuoH_aNWqRiCloHJmWkoXdzyehZIHakOW34wDo6tkgpiWg8QXvGC16wy76NTyDktG5UEIba4R0E9OekLnjF0UcIrgt8oO9gX1SLLbXUqgdF934YnR0kjmd5oahZH5U-BwWc/s400/House+Construction,+Dallas,+PA+and+Karin+Dance+536.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113768423750291202" /></a><br />The performance went well...<br /><br /><br />photo by Chris OttoMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-49332285506925437512007-08-19T21:21:00.000-04:002007-08-19T21:26:46.327-04:00"Disarray"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdPv1_AvWEek6yvb0AI1O9SFD0DWjRBMxivcdS4BEc6xaQkNvMNlGjp9AiS0gGlxjJyD6RaVXpk9rnRS6nMQnQGHYCcwT1LSD7WPPk4jvBaNH_hcxZwaF8wq2joUe2vCFGIVp8dLUWwQ/s1600-h/MJW_6714.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdPv1_AvWEek6yvb0AI1O9SFD0DWjRBMxivcdS4BEc6xaQkNvMNlGjp9AiS0gGlxjJyD6RaVXpk9rnRS6nMQnQGHYCcwT1LSD7WPPk4jvBaNH_hcxZwaF8wq2joUe2vCFGIVp8dLUWwQ/s400/MJW_6714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100587129453327490" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />photo by Matthew WrightMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-50599896059404392642007-08-14T10:00:00.000-04:002007-08-14T10:25:45.403-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4UaMaeCw0ocigQtGn_zRAK5lXnMc93o6am9ldJHwr9ZjhmP0VRjK1m5Q9no4p0YHV7mkrU0zD9qhIj4huL1eKDmCVLQe7_M0VyLZzuhaLtB6-ZhuLhurxAicmm9_KjLogsyYN9RI_pY/s1600-h/MJW_6709.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4UaMaeCw0ocigQtGn_zRAK5lXnMc93o6am9ldJHwr9ZjhmP0VRjK1m5Q9no4p0YHV7mkrU0zD9qhIj4huL1eKDmCVLQe7_M0VyLZzuhaLtB6-ZhuLhurxAicmm9_KjLogsyYN9RI_pY/s400/MJW_6709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098556520967151250" /></a>"Disarray" is a poetic foray into chaos theory. I've beent thinking about chaos in regards to society – how we as humans evolve, have evolved, how we’ve developed our civilizations. Patterns, form, conform. Where’s the chaos? In the rebellion, the intuition, the radical thinkers, the expressers, the artists??? And what about the chaos due to the sheer mass of us? Is 'pattern' about organizing? How do we organize for what we want? Or what we don’t want, like a war in Iraq? <br /><br />What is it about pattern that is so attractive to some? Why are others more comfortable in chaos?<br /><br /><br /><br />photo by Matthew WrightMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5833468028484596987.post-73489173952119622242007-08-13T14:30:00.001-04:002007-08-13T14:40:36.910-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01n4k7hVKMzl065cigQP74D7ypSudZ9mLcevAllCxKnDuBjC3MwDvtxlRB5nnYxJVwzyzNDnk3NBN-V885jBTB0fXExZxFR_P34m8by2B3tPEINRZbYjAr23FhdE1zXscgrt73aMJVTs/s1600-h/Etch_Solo+for+Press+Kit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01n4k7hVKMzl065cigQP74D7ypSudZ9mLcevAllCxKnDuBjC3MwDvtxlRB5nnYxJVwzyzNDnk3NBN-V885jBTB0fXExZxFR_P34m8by2B3tPEINRZbYjAr23FhdE1zXscgrt73aMJVTs/s320/Etch_Solo+for+Press+Kit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098254739385065090" /></a>Kristin Hapke/tindance from New York city will be opening our show. She will be presenting "Cinder," an evocative solo that charts memory through a surreal landscape. Kristin's work investigates the dynamic performance potential of the body within the genres of dance theater, visceral physicality and improvisation. Hapke’s work has been produced in New York at The Joyce Soho, Dancespace, Dance New Amsterdam and Movement Research; in Seattle at On the Boards and Velocity’s Mainstage; in Portland and Eugene, OR, as well as internationally in Vancouver, Amsterdam and Poland. <br /><br />Kristin rocks – you'll be happy you caught her.<br /><br /><br />photo by Steve ScheiderMichelle Stortzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09519487871262229732noreply@blogger.com0