Contact Improv, Surprise Exhaustion

Today we did contact improv in modern class. I didn't notice it in the moment, but it was exhausting! I had ballet right afterwards, and my legs were completely shaky all through barre. My mind was also in a totally different place and it was difficult to focus on the combinations at first. Maybe it was because I hadn't done full-on contact improv for a while, maybe I was gripping my muscles too much instead of relaxing like you're supposed to, anyway it was an interesting surprise.

Misty Copeland

I enjoyed seeing Misty Copeland's episode of "A Day in the Life"on Hulu the other day. I love seeing dancers hard at work, and the rigor of ballet and the dedication it demands can be truly inspiring.

And then I watched her performance with Prince...

Why does she have to play the submissive pretty thing? Ballerinas are power houses and from A Day In the Life it's clear this woman has some real creative depth. Here, she's obviously encumbered by that skirt and I suppose her contract with the uber-popstar. So frustrating to watch. I know I put this up, but go watch the tv show instead.

David Smith's Photos of Lean On Me, Summer 2011

I am so amazed at the way David captures these moments as if they were living Renaissance paintings.

Honest Bodies

Today I saw the UH student production of Bug, and I learned something interesting about the way I perceive bodies. For me, the play was lacking - the acting was too self conscious and I found the characters' physical crutches especially frustrating. Then there was the scene where both actors were completely naked - suddenly the acting seemed to improve. They seemed more earnest and I felt more sympathetic with their stories... until I realized the acting hadn't actually changed at all.

I see nude bodies as more honest.

Sisterly Dancing

Elizabeth Ann Bowie is a staff writer for The Liberator, the award winning newspaper for LASA, which is where I went to high school and where my sister Willa goes now. She interviewed me about making and performing Lean On Me with Willa, who originally had the idea to make a dance performance for charity. It was a nice opportunity for some reflection...

EB: How did you feel performing in general?

AB: The chance to perform as a dancer and choreographer is always thrilling. You have the audience's attention and you have to keep it, taking them into your world and telling them exactly what you want with a totally different type of specificity from words.

EB: And when working with your sister?

AB: This year Willa and I performed a duet together and that was pretty cool. It was a sort of "evil twins" dance and it was fun to play with the characters. The competitiveness and scheming were fun to play up as sisters, and afterwards I got a lot of comments about how similarly we dance, which is a total compliment for me because Willa has so much more ballet training. Choreographing with Willa can sometimes be difficult because of my personal need to impress my little sister. It can be weird telling your sibling what to do. At the same time I always want to work with her because she is an amazing dancer and I admire her so much.

EB: How did it feel to know you were going to donate the money to Doctors Without Borders, and help someone? And why do you think it is important for students to volunteer or participate in fundraisers?

AB: Giving is important. We need to feel that connection to the world, knowing that we can make a difference. It's a totally different experience putting on your own charity, and I think everyone should try their hand at it because it really is rewarding.

Giving Thanks

Made these Thank You cards at the end of the summer, all collage and sharpie over printed cards of my talented grandmother's watercolors. They are all beautiful paintings on their own, but it was definitely fun to transform them into a pop art-ish series.

Composition II Final Dances

Rehearsal videos...

When Our Two Paths Meet
Choreography: Antonia Brown
Dancers: Luciana Fortes, Chris Flores, Antonia Brown
Music: Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars



We Could Have Had It All
Choreography: Luciana Fortes
Dancers: Luciana Fortes, Chris Flores, Antonia Brown
Music: Rolling in the Deep by Adele