dance

William Forsythe on ‘Choreographing Your Own Role Within the Choreography’

In his beautiful kinetic choreographies of pendulums, artist William Forsythe draws our awareness to ways we negotiate and choreograph our paths…

Wake UP with Jumpin Jive + the Nicholas Brothers ‘Pure Genius’ Dance

When we saw the great Cab Calloway singing Jumpin Jive, we had to check out the wild lyrics. We were doubly knocked out by the dance routine that went with it.

The Line of Least Resistance (Trisha Brown)

We when first watched this beautiful two minute video, we knew nothing about it, who made it or who its subject was. We thought only: THAT is how we want to be…

Breakfast with Merce Cunningham

I was delighted to discover that watching a Merce Cunningham dance first thing in the morning had a similar effect on my brain and mood as reading poetry, resonating throughout the day in unexpected ways.

Poetry in Motion: James Brown Dancing WITHOUT Music

Out of the blue, we had the idea to TURN THE SOUND OFF on a video of James Brown demonstrating dance moves. It is a revelation.

Inspiration from Merce Cunningham

This video of Merce Cunningham’s ‘Scenario’ is a lovely thing to look at first thing in the morning AND its costumes by Rei Kawakubo gave us inspiration for Halloween creations. But the best costume idea we’ve heard was from Chris Eldredge.

Practice Losing Farther, Faster (Elizabeth Bishop)

The other day we came across the shorn trunk of huge tree that had been taken down by the Parks Department. We looked close and tried to count the rings but got lost in the swirls and changes in its three-foot span. It is one of those everyday losses that reminded us of others, and of the Elizabeth Bishop poem “One Art”*, in which the antidote to loss lies hidden.

A Mentor’s Wisdom: ‘Jump back and kiss yourself and count the blessings’

(Video link here.) In 1983, James Brown and band were playing the Beverly Theatre in Los Angeles with legendary blues man B.B. King. Halfway through the set, Brown asked “another fantastic people” to join him onstage: 25-year-old Michael Jackson watching the show ignognito in the audience. Brown’s words are as astonishing as Jackson’s 30…

Jumps + Leaps (Nick Cave Does Pogo Sticks)

(Video link HERE.) Some fab, out-there LEAPS from performance artist Nick Cave. And just in case you’re inspired, here’s where you can get a Pogo Stick that will hold a person up to 160 pounds.

Murmuration: Thousands of Starlings Move as One

(Video link HERE.) In this homemade video of murmuration, thousands of starlings flock over a river in Ireland, moving as one. It is a mystery of nature, happening in smaller scale daily, often unnoticed. Each bird in the flock appears to be connected…listening to every other. The mystery is how birds that are hundreds of feet apart “know” when to turn in unison and create such joyous beauty.

70’s Soul Inspirations for Moves, Fashion, Hair, Grooves

This great compendium of soul dancing from the 70’s: mellow music with endless, fabulously expressive improvisations…in dance moves…fashion…hair do’s…is a morning groove to carry on through the day.

A Maker’s Tango for the New Year

As we find ourselves looking around at a New Year, we’re thinking about what we want to do, make, see…As always the world offers endless possibilities. Sometimes only thing to do is.. dance!

New York City Ballet en pointe toe shoes

en pointe: is suffering for one’s art a myth?

New York Magazine published a remarkable photo essay by Henry Leutwyler Behind the Curtain at the New York City Ballet. We can’t help viewing his image of a ballerina’s feet — one pointe shoe on, and one off — as a powerful metaphor for the often-hidden and difficult “inside” of a creative work that appears effortless…

ely kim’s 100 days/dances/locations/songs

Ely Kim‘s video BOOMBOX was his response to an assignment in a graduate level design workshop at Yale: document something for one hundred days. All he used was a video camera and his ability to dance to create his brilliant, funny, totally original film with high levels of uninhibited joy, which is what you will feel as…