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

Another Staunch Fan

I have known Jane Franklin for a number of years, but I had not the pleasure of seeing her work until recently. My first experience came with an invitation to observe a rehearsal of the Forty+ ensemble. I arrived at the rehearsal room to be greeted by four women plus Jane stretching in preparation to dance. Several other ladies, some with gray hair, arrived and took their places quietly as the group began a warm up. To me the warm up alone was a pleasure to watch with its smooth and subtle movements. Then the group began to practice their current piece. The music surrounded me and the women as they moved lithely across and around the room. The piece isn’t perfect yet and it was interesting to see Jane work out a step and then work it with the ladies. There was no verbal criticism, just the sense that everyone was there to give the best they could at that time and eventually the piece would be ready for public performance. I left hoping to come back another time and eager to share my very pleasant lunch break.

On Friday evening, September 24, I arrived at Show of Hands on Del Ray Avenue in Alexandria not sure what to expect. Show of Hands is a wonderful arts and crafts consignment shop full of beautiful and unique treasures. They had opened an area at the back of the store so that the dancers could give all those attending a Season Preview. We were teased with excerpts from various pieces that are planned for performance in the coming months. Most delightful to me and to the two small children sitting next to me, was the excerpt from the “Mouse of Amherst.” Four “mice” cavorted about the space, grooming their imaginary whiskers, wiggling their noses and rolling to their backs with their feet waving in the air. I was totally intrigued and ready to gather up children to enjoy this wonderful story of a mouse that lives in the house of New England poetess, Emily Dickinson. I hope I can find many little friends to enjoy this terrific performance in October. There were other excerpts, all delightful, lovely to watch and provocative to the thinking. I’m hoping to be at many of the performances. Jane, you and your dancers have another staunch fan.

Linda M. Vitello, Board Member

Photo by Maggie Mudd Photography

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.

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