Dance Sampler Update

We are accepting applications through February 18 so it is not too late to apply. The deadline was extended. Please get in touch if you have any questions: http://www.janefranklin.com/performances/dance-sampler or call 703-933-1111.

thanks so much.

Jane

The Mouse of Amherst

We are jumping into three more shows of The Mouse of Amherst this weekend. Actually, it feels good. The dancers have had time to get more assured about their roles, small changes have made a big difference, and all the technology part is much easier to handle.
We have 3 boys in our cast which is a large deal since most dance productions are over-run with hundreds of girls and maybe one or two boys.
I really like the small theatre in at 3700 S Four Mile Run Drive - Theatre on the Run. The lighting, the audience proximity, just the way it looks. It's a comfy little theatre and we are happy to be there. I am so grateful for my collaborators - of course Bryan Leister who has done a phenomenal job with gaming technology to take the production to location's inside the Dickinson house, as well as outdoors, in a garden, or in a larger landscape. It is all so fanciful and wonderful. My composer friends Mark Sylvester, Steven Rogers and Paul Musso have provided inspiring and thoughtful sound and music that energizes the dancers and the whole production.
The story by Elizabeth Spires is inventive and interesting, even if you are an adult.
Come on out and see our show. You won't be disappointed.
Dec 4 at 11 am and at 1 pm
Dec 5 at 1 pm
Theatre on the Run
3700 S Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington VA 22206
Tickets online at www.janefranklin.com
703-933-1111
or at the door
$15 general
$10 children under 10 years
A few half-price tickets are available at Goldstar

It's that time - what time is that?

Things have been fast and furious here....yet there is snails pace that hangs over the numerous details and negotiations and that means slow progress.
Our performance for children, The Mouse of Amherst, is repeating the first weekend in December. We are struggling with reworking some parts of it, incorporating some music by Steve Rogers to take the place of a couple of songs with no copyright. Two of the dancers drive down from Baltimore.....it is a long drive heading into all the traffic etc which is of course most of the time.
Speaking of Steve Rogers, it has been immensely powerful to work with his music. I liked it from the first few notes I heard. We are doing 4 segments of it for "A Vivid Sense of Place" when we perform it in its first theatrical setting at Woolly Mammoth this weekend. I have no pants for Daniel....other than his own rehearsal garb...but that is beside the point. It was a great joy to work on this piece, music, visuals from Freya Grand's landscapes, and three very dedicated and fully invested dancers - what could be better? That's Daniel Zook, Brianne Barrow Little, and Wayles Haynes that I am talking about.
But alas, things can't stay peaceful for long. Daniel is not able to do the concert in January at Artisphere and must be replaced. We have to do the dance - "A Vivid Sense of Place" as it is the title work for the whole concert in January, having to do about location. If you are a male dancer and want to learn a good piece, performed by first rate dancers, just let me know.
Speaking of peace....you know dance is about people, wow and is that tricky. Sometimes I wish I could just go into my studio with pen and write, or with paint and paint, but like most things, I know that too is difficult but the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
But other than working with people, I am pretty much okay with dance....just kidding. If I had enough money to pay people like they are supposed to be paid, all of this would not be an issue!! Which reminds me...we have approached our Winter Fundraising time of year. The year started off a little bit bleak, and really not very much money at all with grants as we have had in the past. We are really looking for ways to bring in some income with our performances for children, and activities for older adults. But if you can help at all, this is definitely a good time. Believe me your money will really help; or just come to a performance....if you are strapped for cash yourself, get your ticket on Goldstar for half price. Everybody should know about Goldstar. I have gone to Broadway shows on Broadway, Kennedy Center shows for half price and great seats. Look into it. There's nothing like a good deal to get you out of the house. And that's a good thing for types like me who like to hide behind the computer or watch seasons of tv shows by using the online Netflix.

Summer turns into Fall

Summer has turned into Fall and the next season for Jane Franklin Dance is well underway. Last weekend we performed at Art on Foot at the beautiful Harmon Hall. It was great to perform some of our beloved repertory, The Floor is Sticky and Train. It's also always wonderful to welcome new dancers into our midst. Joining the company this season are Adriana Soldana, Katie Tuebner and Melissa Talleda. Adriana and Melissa hail from the Baltimore area and Katie is a Virginia girl from Fredricksburg. They along with Amy are all thick in the rehearsal process with Jane for our fabulous Children's performance The Mouse of Amherst. We are excited to welcome our new members!

Below Melissa shares her thoughts and hopes for the coming season.

"I have been working with Jane Franklin Dance for a few months now. I started working with Jane on a couple of improvisations, and just this past weekend I performed with the company at the Art on Foot Festival. My experience thusfar has been completely positive! The company members come from different walks of life, and have valuable information to share in rehearsal and performance. As I work on projects, I am excited to learn more about Jane's process of creating new work with the company, as well as having the opportunity to perform with the company in the many communities and audiences Jane Franklin Dance reaches."

Photography by Paul Gillis

Acting it out

Our recent collaboration for 2010 Source Festival "A Great (er) Depression" brought many comments about how the movement successfully supported what the character was feeling as well as saying.

“Jane – Loved the piece you put together with Matt and Brad. Everything worked so well together. I mentioned to Matt that the choreography really blended so well to create that effect that we were in his characters mind. The dancers on the table in front of him, as if he’s projecting his internal anguish. The dancers shaking hands and grinning behind him, as if he senses the rest of the world moving forward and succeeding reinforced the fact that his character continued to do deeper within himself. Loved also the incorporation of the file boxes. So much good stuff. Look forward to seeing more of your work.” – Dan O’Neil, 2010 Source Festival attendee

A critic (a dance professor at GMU) wrote that the movement was distracting because it was not "acted out." More weight was given to the written word, assuming that the words have higher priority, that the staging was absolutely not connected to the dialogue.
This brought up the questions: Why should text be primary? Can more than one thing happen on stage at a time?
These questions have already been answered in dance history - especially with post modern choreographers and with Merce Cunningham.
In a previous article in the same blog, there was a long article about how the dance community lacks internal support and nurture.
This might be a place to start; that dance writers and professionals acknowledge other work with an open mind; and write about the content of the work rather than personal preferences.

Reworking Work

We had a premier but certainly not a finish. Sometimes reaching a deadline is impossible, but there is no choice. After the first showing 'of Bones & Bridges' major rework has ensued. We started by altering the first section so we can introduce three major large pieces of pipe (which later are put together to form a bridge) and still have movement and text that enhances one another to explain the content of the work. These last few rehearsals are getting us closer to where I would like to go, and I am looking forward to the performances at Woolly Mammoth in April. After the concert at Source, which on many levels was a disaster, I look forward to actually going somewhere and feeling good about the outcome.
The group of older dancers, Forty + has continued to feel successful. We are now conducting workshops to explain/enhance and just bring forward issues that older people face. "Upstairs in the Attic" is about clearing out an attic, either in a home where you have lived for a long time, or a parents home. But the other part of it is just the joy of moving that come to anyone at any age. Age certainly can be a restriction. But everyone - and I mean everyone - must constantly adapt to all the changes the body has to offer.

June 14 Travel Tales at Woolly Mammoth

It came. and went but was wonderful fun to put together several older works. Woolly Mammoth is a comfortable space for us. Video works well on the concrete walls of the rehearsal hall. We got a nice mention in the Sentinel Newspaper.

Finished the first edition of Adult Dance Camp on Friday. There were a couple of new people who joined in and we danced every day....5 whole days in a row! We also experimented with some repertory and it was good fun with really nice people. I'll be planning more work for adult dancers and I've been thinking of doing an Adult Dance and Video project in August that would take us across the footbridge of Four Mile Run near the Shirlington dog park. Check the web site soon. There is nothing written up as yet, but I am excited about the possibilities of using this time to experiment with an upcoming project: "Of Bones and Bridges."

Videos from Holmes Run Park

In May, six dancers and I went about an outdoor exploration of Holmes Run Park in Alexandria. We worked in several very different locations/environments/ecosystems/habitats within a short distance starting with "Edge" and "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Water" which were done near the bridge overpass of the creek from Van Dorn Street. Further along the bike path going towards Duke Street we taped "Head Over Heels" in an open expanse of greenery on the Beatley Library side of the footbridge and "LOOK" done in a foresty expanse that connects S Pickett Street to the bike path.
It was a great day for us to move and to video these unique locations. Please take a few minutes to see the results on YouTube.
thanks again to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts Special Opportunity Award 2009 and to dancers Wayles Haynes, Andrea Ligon, Cait Moler, Mike Nadolski, Peg Schaefer, and Ji Shin.
Here's the link:
TAKE A LOOK

Alexandria Commission for the Arts Special Opportunity Award 2009 -

Four Short Videos from Holmes Run

Edge

Rock Paper Scissors Water

Head Over Heels

LOOK

Rainy Days

We are headed into spring and there is plenty of rain to open that doorway. Yesterday I went down to the King Street Garden Park (pictured here on the side) where we perform on May 31 at 4:30 pm (free). It will provide a great backdrop for "Incidence" and I love the location, a junction right as you enter Old Town Alexandria on King Street. Now we won't say anything about what rain does to outdoor performances, will we?
Later that same day we have our spring fundraiser, an annual event to help raise money for the coming year. The performance promises an outdoor showing using the Monroe Street side of the Arlington Arts Center as a projection surface. We do have a few things planned for inside plus food and drink. We received our first ever two hour liquor license in order to host the event and there will be a silent auction table. If you have anything you would care to contribute for our silent auction, please do let us know. That event is also free though we will be asking for contributions for food and drink.
So as this rainy day passes and the newspaper says it will be 80 degrees by Friday, I know we are in store for changes. My hopes for change are never disappointed since that is life with all its impermanence. Catch us while you can.

More about Mar 21

Rich Kleinfeldt from Washington Saxphone Quartet came in for a few photos with us last week. As well as playing the NPR theme song (which is heard on NPR all through the US daily), Rich is quite talented with keeping his concentration while dancers leap all about. That's Brianne you see jumping into the frame.
I've been rehearsing with a group of women that comprise our Adult Repertory group - and funneling some of the same material into a reconfigured trio of company members - Andrea, Cait and Whitney. It's been challenging and inspiring to swap material between the dancers, and work with the limitations that are the basis for the choreography.
Hope you can come to see us at The Athenaeum on March 21 at 7:30. We truly look forward to this coming performance with live music. http://www.janefranklin.com/ for tickets - or just give us a call at 703.933.1111 for more information

Its in the Air

After finishing a very full fall season, we are entering a stage of new work. We'll be premiering work with the Washington Saxophone Quartet on March 21, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Athenaeum in Alexandria. This marks our debut performance at the Athenaeum and we are grateful to be performing in this lovely space in the heart of Old Towne Alexandria. We welcome guest performers: a small group of adult dancers, children from Young Dancers Project, and of course the Washington Saxophone Quartet. The Athenaeum offers a close up experience for audiences and an especially great way to get know recent work such as "Incidence." The installation piece by Howard Connelly will look interesting in this location as the dancers will finally have the height, depth and width to be able to use the apparatus completely.
We are offering ticket discounts right now on our web site. One child is free with each adult general admission purchase. Please save the date to come see us on March 21.

Indistinct Boundaries

We are premiering a new piece with Bryan Leister on January 10 at 8 pm at Woolly Mammoth. Bryan is using black and white animations to explore the edge of perception between real and virtual. Indistinct Boundaries blurs the lines between expectations and what actually happens; between virtual and real. It explores the dynamics of polar opposites by animating shadows and by casting shadows of objects that are not there. Bryan Leister has generated the music mathematically through cycles and wave forms and has created animated organic structures based on mathematical algorithms that evolve over time. The dance, created in six parts, is an environment that amplifies and isolates the projections.
You can get tickets online at http://www.janefranklin.com/ or by calling 703.933.1111. We hope to see you there.

Incidence

We are working with an aluminum piece that Howard Connelly created for "Incidence." The whole idea is about chance and change, how we move things along, and how we don't know even when there is familiarity with components. We are developing segments of choreography that will be performed dependent on the visual appearance of the sculpture. The cues for our changes will come when Gina Biver changes the music. The piece will never be performed in the same order. The linear order is what often makes sense, beginning, middle and end, as you couldn't tell a story quite as well without it, though some films do very well with that idea by taking you forward and backward in time, "Pulp Fiction," "Memento." and many others.
Incidence
Dec 4 pay-what-you can preview

Dec 5, 6, 12, 13 at 8 pm

Dec 7 and 14 at 3pm

Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint

916 G Street NW

Washington DC

Tix: $15

At the door or online at

Collaborative Choreography

October 23, 2008—Collaborative choreography for company members and young dancers
As a new member of Jane Franklin Dance, I am learning what it’s like to do collaborative choreography. Each dancer has their own style so in any given rehearsal we might do ten different styles of movement. Jane leads us through the concepts she has and gets us to move in the ways she envisions (hopefully we are anyway). Then Jane watches us dance and molds all the movement into dance pieces. There is never a dull moment. We might have to change the way we are facing, the speed, the direction, cut this part, add that one, do the movement on the floor, in the air, or take solo movement and do it with a partner instead. We have to be ready for anything!
Recently we started a project with young dancers. I was surprised the first day we had rehearsal at how well the elementary school-aged dancers improvised and how interesting their movements were. I thought they would have a hard time following Jane’s instructions and remembering the choreography, but they are doing very well. They’re also good at reminding me how fun dancing can be. We are putting together a piece for “The Music Made me do it” at the TJ Community Center. I am excited to see how it all comes together with the live chorus singers from HB Woodlawn Chamber Chorus.

–Andrea Ligon

The day after Powhatan Springs Skate Park

We had a crisp clear cool evening at Powhatan Springs Skate Park in Arlington for Breaking Ground. Several male friends joined us at 4:30 on Saturday afternoon and learned the structures we had set for a couple of the sections of the performance. Other sections contain detailed choreography. The dancers had to navigate a landscape of levels, cement, darkness, or the bright light of the projectors. Our new performers had a lot to get used to in a short amount of time, but the number of bodies was a bold move, and I liked having mostly non dance trained males being involved in the physicality of the piece.
Frankly, by the time Saturday rolled around, I was exhausted. There was a lot of delay in getting the final video product, and in my nervousness, I kept trying to move Mac files to work on my PC with an Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 program. There was no success with that, and luckily Julia was able to pull together the DVDs by Saturday morning.
Outdoor performances, particularly in such a large space, are tricky to pull off with video involved. I think most of the people who attended were looking for something different, and here in this large space, they had many different places to look. People first sat on the hill outside the fence surrounding the park. We were waiting, waiting, waiting for darkness. Finally we called everyone inside and people sat around the edges of the park while the piece unfolded. It was almost too dark sometimes, and what can I say, as these things are somehow never in control even when you take so much time in trying to be in control.
Next up our performances at Woolly Mammoth where we'll perform excerpts from Breaking Ground as well as other repertory. We've barely sold any tickets and there is a lot of concern. So ease my mind, please come by on Saturday or Sunday at 8 pm.

Breaking Ground at Powhatan Springs Park

Last night we rehearsed at Powhatan park, a wonderful very large park with street style and round wall elements including one eight foot and one eleven foot bowl. Sean Watkins set up three projectors and DVD players and we were there to combine the video, with the performers, with that very unique outdoor landscape. We have some wonderful music composed by monstah black. Other great pieces of music are from Low End String Quartet, Jon Matis new venture that uses an electric guitar as one of the string instruments. I think it is a powerful combination - monstah's great voice and hip hop electronics with the String Quartet, classical musicians who like to dig into Radiohead, Foo Fighters or their own creations.
There were some rough spots mostly having to do with finding our way in the dark! All of the park's lights seem to be on one circuit. When the lights are off, they are off for the whole area. Dancers were finding their way with the light from only three projectors. We're trying to overcome that obstacle for Saturday night's performance. Another thing for the dancers to deal with is the landscape itself since you have inclines rather than flat surface, cement rather than sprung hard wood. There are things that are easy to do in one environment that are difficult in the other and negotiation in reconfiguring the movement.
Nevertheless, I was very excited to see the dancers against the video which does odd things to your sense of perspective. When the dancers are up against the projections it seems that many more people are a part of the piece. And in a variety of shapes and sizes.
I have directed the video editing completed by Julie Moscato with video from this past spring and summer. It has been taken a lot of energy to catalogue the footage and make selections. Julie has been patiently receptive to my artistic whims and thank goodness for that!
Come on over to the park this Saturday, Sept 20. We are inviting people in at 6:30 and there will be open skating until the performance begins at around 7:15. A beautiful outdoor setting, Powhatan Spring Park is at 6020 Wilson Blvd in Arlington. This one is free but if you miss, the coming two weekends "Breaking Ground" excerpts can be seen at Woolly Mammoth Sept 27 & 28, and on Oct 4 the whole piece as it now exists at an indoor park at 1250 9th St NW, near the Convention Center in WDC. If you need other info, look for it at www.janefranklin.com Thanks again and I hope you can make it.

Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground is a dance/ skate board/ video project that encompasses open skating sessions with youth, informal performances in non traditional spaces, and the development of the artistic work over time. I have always been attracted to dance in a real world context. This project, which we started in April, has brought us from outdoor sessions, to rehearsals where we retranslate what can happen on the incline of a round wall to what must happen when the wall is not there.
The project, originally planned to follow the construction of a new skate park at the corner of Wells & Otis Streets in Mt. Rainier MD, was moved to the completed Langdon Park. (The Mt. Rainier construction has not yet begun and Green Skate Lab has found many obstacles that are blocking their all volunteer effort.) Nevertheless, we were able to interact with the same youth population, as Langdon Park is located in a neighborhood adjacent to Wells and Otis. Additionally we had the help of visual artist Margaret Boozer who has a studio at Wells & Otis. Margaret was instrumental in structuring participation for the youth engagement sessions. The skateboarders are not organized as a set group or club and members are independently coming and going. One might think chaos would arise, but the skate boarders respect one another, take turns sharing the space with each other no matter the variety of age or skill level, and welcomed our participation by easily joining in even though we were doing a different activity.
This generous spirit also arose with Ben Ashworth and his companions at East Coast Round Wall Foundation who introduced us to the fabulous indoor skatepark they are constructing in a vacated building near the Convention Center at 1250 9th St NE. They are restoring a building that might have been abandoned otherwise, and giving it new life as a valuable community resource right in the heart of the city. We have been thrilled to hold rehearsal, donor engagement, and informal performances in this venue.
We have an outdoor performance coming up in Arlington on Sept 20, we'll be showing some new more detailed excerpts at Woolly Mammoth on Sept 27 & 28, and then we'll be at indoor park mentioned above on Oct 4. I hope you can come out and see us. Jane