Creativity, technique, and collaboration have collided at The Movement Project’s summer intensives this year. The students were talented, the space at Pilgrim Church gorgeous, and the work that was done was nothing short of inspiring.
Knowledge is power, but not all knowledge makes its way into the education of people across the nation. The arts, specifically dance, get overlooked in educational settings as budgets tighten and people scramble to keep schools functioning.
This month, TMP will be embarking on a trip to Illinois for the Going Dutch Festival, an event that celebrates women’s voices in not only dance, but in theater and visual art as well. This festival is an important part of the culture of these art forms. Throughout the years, women’s voices have been lost or drowned out by the work that has been designed by men.
Spring has sprung, and now it’s time to look into the sunshine and be involved in some warm-weather dance! There are some great things to look forward to this month, and I hope to see you there. Check out this listing for information on classes, performances, and more for May!
It’s a pretty peaceful April in Cleveland, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things happening! Check out what’s shaking the dance community this coming month, and take part yourself!
New class opportunities have popped up in Cleveland! As spring is just around the corner, a new life has been breathed into the community. Take a look at all of the performances, auditions, and classes available this next month.
In preparation for the upcoming and exciting work that will be presented at Pilgrim Church February 10th and 11th, I decided to chat with Megan Lee Gargano, Grace Nicklos, and Jon Lawson about their pieces, their processes, and their choreographic hopes. Take a look below and see what they have to say:
Pressing forward through the year! There are a few performances coming up this February. Be sure to take a look...you never know what events are going to pop up next!
2017 is here, and a whole host of dance performances and opportunities lie ahead. Art is going to be as important as ever as we move along this year, and now is the time to save some dates in your calendar and get involved.
Hold onto your hats, Nutcracker season is upon us! While we all love the family classic, there are other things Cleveland has to offer these next few months, including class opportunities, auditions, and other performances. I recommend taking a look at the goings-on below, and taking a note of Nutcrackers and other events alike!
The year is moving along, and after a humid summer, it’s time for crisp crunchy leaves as the dance season truly begins. October is proving to be filled with performances as well as class opportunities, so for those of you looking to train, be sure to take a look!
As The Movement Project moves into the closing of summer, the next large event for TMP and Cleveland dance looms on the horizon; The Cleveland Dance Fest. In light of the upcoming festival, I decided to chat with the woman who founded it: Rebecca Leuszler. On top of many accomplishments, including co-founding The Movement Project itself, she’s most recently become a 2016 Creative Workforce Fellow and has used this position to create the festival. Rebecca has been an active member of the Cleveland dance scene for many years, and is currently working to create a more interactive and conducive community among professional dance artists in the city, as well as creating ties between dance and the community at large.
Summer has been a busy time for Cleveland! Our NBA win and presence of the RNC has certainly received a lot of attention over the past several weeks. However, as the warmer months come to a close, there is going to be a lot happening in the dance world. To keep you all in the loop of the goings-on in this city, I have done a little research.
Sweat trickles down my back. There is no air down here in the subway, except for that momentary breeze as a train rushes by. When it's gone, however, the air is once again stale, filling up the space of the dim platform. So I clamber up the stairs to the exit, light at the end of the tunnel, and am met with sunshine and smells and noise, noise, noise as the world opens up before me.
Summertime in Cleveland is beautiful with its lush green and sunshine. June and July have some great dance opportunities and performances coming up...including the chance to apply for Cleveland's first annual Dance Fest! Slather up in sunscreen, enjoy the beaches on Lake Erie, and get involved in Cleveland dance!
Spring is on its last legs, and May is here to shoot us forward into summer. However, before we get into shorts and flip-flops, take a look at this jam-packed and exciting close to spring: classes, performances, and other events from Dancing Wheels, The Cleveland Tango School, TMP, and more!
After a busy March, it is time to look to April. Many exciting projects are in the works for May, but April has some great things in store with auditions, performances, and workshops from Dancing Wheels Company and School and The Movement Project! Take a look, prepare to dress for any weather (it is April in Northeastern Ohio, after all), and get involved!
Spring is right around the corner, and with it brings a busy performance season for artists and companies in the Cleveland area. March is full of opportunities to see and take part in the dance community. Have a look at many of the great works and auditions taking place this month!
The holidays have come to a close, and 2016 is just around the corner. This new year will no doubt bring about a lot of exciting things, and what better way to celebrate the new year than immersing yourself in some dance? There are many classes, performances, and auditions coming up, so take a look at what's happening in January and February:
TAKING CLASS:
The Movement Project's Artists Teaching Artists Series
ATA will be exciting this February with contact improvisation master Ann Cooper Albright on February 7th and 14th. She is currently a dance professor at Oberlin College and President of the Society of Dance History Scholars. Among other accomplishments, including authoring many important books such as Engaging Bodies: the Politics and Poetics of Corporeality, she is founder and director of Girls in Motion, an overwhelmingly successful afterschool program and is the co-director of Accelerated Motion: Towards a New Dance Literacy (a digital collection of materials about dance funded by the National Endowment for the Arts).
This is a rare chance to take class with a prominent and founding member of the field. Come to class and share the knowledge!
If you're new to the ATA series, it is a great opportunity to take class with some amazing artists. Here's how it works: the first two Sundays of every month hold a master class with an artist, one artist per month (so each artist teaches two classes). This is a great way to network and build our community, guys! Come check it out!
Class packets and more information can be found here: http://www.themovementproject.org/classes/
Dancing Wheels' Physically Integrated Dance Workshops at Cleveland State
The Dancing Wheels will be at Cleveland State University with three sessions of workshops! Here are the details for the three sessions:
Session 1 will be on January 29th from 5-7pm
Session 2 will be on January 30th from 10am-12pm
Session 3 will be on January 30th from 1-3pm
The sessions will be held at the CSU Arts Campus, Middough Building, 5th Floor. Check out this site for more details: http://dancingwheels.org/calendar-jan.asp
PERFORMANCES:
The Dancing Wheels: "The Lasting Legacy" Concert Tour
The title says it all. Make sure you reserve your tickets! This will take place on January 23rd at 8pm at Fairfield Arts Center. More info here: http://dancingwheels.org/calendar-jan.asp
The Movement Project at Pilgrim Church
On January 30th, The Movement Project will be at Pilgrim Church in Tremont for a performance! Not only is The Movement Project showing new work, but there will also be work by intermedia performance artist Marcia Custer, a piece by Emily Jarosz, and a duet by yours truly. It is bound to be an excellent evening, and I hope to see you there!
Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets and more info here: http://www.themovementproject.org/performances/
fyoo zh en 16: new music dance
Directed by Sara Whale, this show will take inspiration from women candidates, politicians, and activists. Choreographers and composers explore the dynamics and hardships of women and politics. Things you should know:
The show runs February 4-5 at 7:30pm and February 6th at 2pm and 7:30pm at Baldwin-Wallace. More details about the show, venue, and tickets here: http://www.bw.edu/events/2016/02-04-fyoo-zh-en-16-new-music-dance
Verb Ballets' Tribute to Heinz Poll
To celebrate and honor the 90th anniversary of Heinz Poll's birthday (founder of Ohio Ballet), Verb Ballets will perform his work in an evening-length concert. This is sure to be an amazing performance!
Things you should know: The show is February 19th at 8pm at the Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets and more info can be found here: http://www.verbballets.org/civic.html
AUDITIONS
Cleveland Ballet
The Cleveland Ballet is running a 2016-2017 Season Audition Tour. This tour will encompass many cities, but they will be in Cleveland February 27th at Playhouse Square. More cities and dates for this audition can be found here: http://clevelandballet.org/cleveland-ballet-2016-2017-season-audition-tour/
Make sure you look over the guidelines and don't forget your resume and headshot!
Well, everyone, winter is coming fast, and with the changing season comes a new blog post about some of the great dance work and opportunities being done in Cleveland! I have compiled a list of some great events, so invest in some snow boots, and get involved!
Photo Credit: Jonny Riese
TAKING CLASS:
Improvisation Class at Case Western Reserve University
TMP’s very own Megan Gargano will be teaching an improv class at Case Western Reserve through IMPULSE, CWRU’s dance improv club. It is FREE and OPEN to the public.
Things you should know: The class is Thursday, November 12th from 6-7:30pm at the Mather Dance Center at Case.
40th Anniversary of Contact Quarterly at Oberlin
Come and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Contact Quarterly! The event takes place Sunday December 6th, 1-4pm (class) and cake, punch and fellowship from 4:30-6pm at the Warner Main Space. Bring friends! And it's free! Please RSVP to ann.cooper.albright@oberlin.edu.
More information here:
https://www.facebook.com/Contact-at-Oberlin-540859769396725/?view_public_for=540859769396725
Photo Credit: Jonny Riese
The Movement Project’s Artists Teaching Artists Series
ATA is back and better than before! Though the November classes have come and gone, it is not too late to take part in this great and community-driven series. The first two Sundays of every month hosts a local teaching artist (Kora Radella will be teaching in December). Each month offers a new artist, so the possibilities are endless!
Class packets and more information can be found here: http://www.themovementproject.org/classes/
PERFORMANCES:
GroundWorks DanceTheater’s Fall Concert Series
GroundWorks DanceTheater is having its fourth annual fall concert series at the Akron-Summit County Library in November. Though the October shows are done, there is still the opportunity to see this company November 20th and 21st! There will be two never-before-seen works by Artistic Director David Shimotakahara as well as work by guest artist Kate Weare.
Check out the link for more details:
November 20th and 21st at 8pm:
http://groundworksdance.org/portfolio-items/akron-summit-county-library-2015/?portfolioID=11297
Dancing Wheels and the Canton Symphony Orchestra
Dancing Wheels will be performing with Canton Symphony Orchestra at Canton Palace Theatre at 8pm on November 21st. Take the trip and enjoy an evening of dance!
More details here: http://dancingwheels.org/calendar-nov.asp
Kent State University’s Dance ’15: Moving Parts
Dance ’15: Moving Parts at Kent State will feature faculty work, as well as the work of guest artists! Under the Artistic Director Joan Meggitt, it is sure to be a dynamic and exciting show to see.
Things you should know: The show is December 4th-5th at 8pm and December 6th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone, or online. More ticket details here: http://www.kent.edu/theatredance/dance-15-moving-parts
Neos Dance Theatre A 1940’s Nutcracker
A fun play on a holiday tradition, Neos Dance Theatre presents A 1940’s Nutcracker. The holiday favorite is turned on its head as it is set in 1940’s Mansfield, Ohio, and explores that age of 40’s film, traditions, war, and more. This is something you don’t want to miss!
Things you should know:
The show is December 12th at 2:30pm and 8pm in Mansfield, Ohio. Find more details here: http://www.neosdancetheatre.org/#!tickets/c1km9
Dancing Wheels Performance for Rotary at Windows on the River
The performance is December 17th in Cleveland. Hopefully more details are soon to follow!
Check out the performance site here: http://dancingwheels.org/calendar-dec.asp
The Movement Project Season Subscription
Last month, we here at The Movement Project announced our upcoming season! Subscriptions to our shows (and more!) are available until December 18th. Here’s a brief breakdown of the subscriptions available:
SINGLE TICKET PASS - $75 (Full Value $100, $25 saving!)
• 1 Ticket to each performance (3 performances)
• 1 Ticket to TMP Annual Fundraiser (Date coming soon!)
• 1 TMP Wristband (Wear your band for easy admittance to season performances!)
DOUBLE TICKET PASS - $150 (Full Value $200, $50 saving!)
• 2 Tickets to each performance (3 performances)
• 2 Tickets to TMP Annual Fundraiser (Date coming soon!)
• 2 TMP Wristbands (Wear your band for easy admittance to season performances!)
CLEVELAND ARTIST PASS - $90 (Full Value $120, $30 saving!)
• 1 Ticket to TMP 2015-2016 Season (3 performances)
• 2 ATA Classes (November - April)
• 1 Wellness Workshop (April 24th)
More information on our shows/subscriptions here: http://www.themovementproject.org/performances/
Verb Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Alliance with Ohio Dance Theatre
‘Tis the season, and what is a better way to celebrate than going to see The Nutcracker? Denise Gula’s ballet has new costumes, choreography, and more!
Things you should know: Tickets range from $12-$39. The show is December 18th-December 19th at 7:30pm and December 20th at 2pm. More details can be found here: http://www.verbballets.org/nutcracker.html
CHOREOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU:
TMP’s Call for New Work
The Movement Project is eager to get the season rolling, and part of this is supporting new work! Those selected will have their work shown at TMP’s April 2nd show at SPACES Gallery in Cleveland! Get cracking, the deadline will be here before you know it!
Things you should know:
Important Dates:
December 11th, 2015 - Application Due
January 4th, 2016 - Selected Artists Notified
February 5th, 2016 - Public Announcement
* March 20th, 2016 - Studio Dress Rehearsal (time TBD)
* April 2nd, 2016 - Dress Rehearsal (During the day)
* April 2nd, 2016 - Performance (Start time 7:30pm)
Artists will be compensated for their work. More details about compensation, as well as how to apply, can be found here: http://www.themovementproject.org/choreographic-opportunities/
If you would like to share your work with The Movement Project, email me at irene@themovementproject.org. We would love to connect you to artists and community members in Cleveland! Here’s to ending 2015 with a bang!