Monday, October 26, 2020

Heritage Dance Sites:A dance film premiere




On October 24th 2020, artistic director Alexjandra Bodnarchuk and her artistic team premiered Heritage Sites, a dance film set on location in a warehouse in St.Paul.

Bodnarchuk explains in a Q&A how this film deals with owning one’s body and everything that comes with it-whether in water or in a space where others witness it.  Various gestures were explained in details like the hands on the torso symbolic for maternity and the after effects and weight gain or loss. There’s great vulnerability and honesty in the discussion and how dancers view their bodies and how each one of us can release the shame that society places on the body.

In the beginning, hands are placed on the torso, and sounds of splashing inside a bathtub pick up in pace as each dancer explores what movement in water signifies to them. Dancer Sarah McCoulough holds her head under water which is supposed to demonstrate a fear of water she held as a child.  

Cinematographer Arlo Myren’s camera work creates a world that is unfettered and unconcerned with glamorizing dance. In the middle of the film, everyone’s hands are up and the camera zooms in on each dancer, their fists formed in a fight pose, eventually they slap their thighs and do arabesques. Flipping their hair forward, it covers their eyes and the effect reminds me of the film The Grudge (2004).

Artistic Associate, Brandon Anderson Musser’s soundtrack layers in the live sound over a supportive musical landscape that amplifies the vulnerability of the dancers’ performance. The pacing picks up as cinematographer replaces one dancer with another so that it appears as one entity. Dancers scratch and jerk at their wet shirts, and the anxious movements show a struggle with an immovable force. There’s a feeling of anxiety and shame, many of the dancers are without pants. And they transition from tub to floor like dead fish until they start flapping erratically.

Then everyone stands fourteen feet apart and move together in synchronized modern dance moves, including pivots, twists and falls. One can hear rapid feet thudding on the floor and become accustomed to the rhythm and pace of the sound effects that crescendo until they release. The ending shows the dancers flipping their hair back and heaving themselves to the ground with their hands in the same pose that they begin with-holding their torso. We're left with a more powerful image reflective of how the society should value the body.

“We rehearsed in parks, parking lots, checked in, talked, videoed, took extra precautions,” said Bodnarchuk in July. “The pandemic won’t be over for a while, and if there’s anything I learned from doing this project is that artists need to work.”

There will be another viewing of Heritage Sites on November 7th . Bodnarchuk and her team appreciates any additional contribution as they are in a $6,500 deficit. They hope to continue to create work and equitably support those in the process. Tickets at: http://alexandrabodnarchuk.org/premiere, $20 suggested ticket price (additional Pay-As-Able prices available)

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Sunday POST

 





Today's post will link up to The Sunday SalonThe Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves for weekly updates.

           LOOKING FORWARD TO October

Lots of snow in Minnesota this week. I drove for ride share and talked to clients who were hairdressers, and one of my clients coordinates the farmers market. She mentioned the farmer's market is implementing sensory accommodations for the disabled. I also did some improv online with members of
HUGE, and went to my first Drive-in Ballet benefit. Patrons were tooting their horns.  I tried the best to toot mine, but it sounded like one of those aggressive horns.  Which reminds me, they're going to be releasing a movie about aggressive driving, called 'Unhinged' with Russell Crow. Can't wait! I've definitely saw some road road in my life time.  






Pictures from my week








My son hiding from me in the playground


Virtual shows I'm excited about

Gallim: A New Dance by Andrea Miller and Helix Films based on "Boat"
Nov 19th
Tickets at http://www.northrop.umn.edu/events/gallim-2020








Tickets at https://www.givemn.org/story/Tchf9

That was my week, please tell me about yours in the comments below.

CURRENTLY 




Reading



Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Operation Immigration: A young Minnesotan searches for information about his late father’s life

                                                    Photo by Sarah Whiting

Operation Immigration is a film, written and performed by Avi Aharoni, produced by Barbara Brooks and Rick Friede, Renae and Phil Goldman, Jeff and Katherine Tane, Harvey Zuckman and Phil Oxman made available by MJTC on October 17th, 2020. Tickets through October 25th. This one man show is like a homage to anyone who has ever dabbled in homemade film making, and anyone who has reconciled with their inner child.

After picking up a friend and coming home to boot my chrome book, ensuring the volume was on high. I was ready for this experience on YOUTUBE. (If you have a kid you may have noticed families obnoxiously vlogging their experiences on a similar platform- this coming from a very annoyed middle-aged parent herself.)

I was told to show up ten minutes early to prepare myself and read the program. Then I was metaphorically transported to a backyard in the Twin Cities made apparent by deciduous trees and finely mowed grass.

This film was first presented at the Fringe Festival in August of 2019. Under Robert Dorfman’s direction, Operation Immigration introduces you to Avi’s grandparents and eventually his late father, Menachem Aharoni (Shekrola). His father’s story recounts the physical pain he endured so his siblings could survive in Iran, Israel, and eventually Minnesota. Avi talked about his father admirably and how he literally built Israel with his bare hands. “When he’s in his late teens, he was promoted to construction. He would bend steel with his bare hands. I can bend a twizzler in half,” Avi joked.

I couldn’t help notice the video effects. The times Avi moved closer to the camera gives a more intimate story retelling. Sound design by Reid Rejsa, farsi musical interchanges take you back in time to life in Iran.  For this film showing, sound amps are useful (As are for most videos on YOUTUBE). Very few props were needed, but the ones used were memorable like black and white ancestor photographs that laid on the ground, or the use of easels to mount important timeline messages like ‘Operation Magic Carpet.’ The outline made it easy to imagine how anyone could create their family's’ story given the right production team and film editing crew. Normal video challenges like blocking were overcome beautifully. The camera spanned fewer than twenty feet around Avi at all times.

Avi gave the impression of multiple characters by imitating the members of his family and their connections.  The sound of crickets allowed scenes to change in pace. I found myself laughing when he did a Hamilton style rap to the rhythm of a Beastie Boys song. In fact, the more I watched Avi's performance, the more I was reminded of children's puppet shows.  Avi certainly knows how to get at the heart of a character-no matter their age, and he will do whatever it takes to show that character's richness.

Avi says "You know through research of my father's story I learned a lot about myself. I have worked and continued to work with kids.  I fell in love with it when I got my first job as a teacher... you really start to understand how truly complex and rich kids are, even today I tried capture and emulate children's sense of play, their vulnerability, their natural ability of being in the moment, every toddler is a natural performer, and I don't know if we grow out of it as we get older or change by our surroundings but that's where we all begun."

Avi poses questions about identity, like “Am I a foreigner? Who am I?” And he talks about how identities don’t define him, yet he questions about where he fits in. He discusses oppression, “We love labels, we don’t feel satisfied.” Avi reminded the audience that we’re all immigrants, “If you’re not a Native American, you came from somewhere else.”

The film is current and intensely emotional. Avi thanked Barbara Brooks for the opportunity and Jo Holcomb for the invaluable wisdom. Watch on YOUTUBE Operation Immigration. Tickets available through October 25, 2020 at http://mnjewishtheatre.org/

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Sunday Post #amwriting #amjoy

 




Today's post will link up to The Sunday SalonThe Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves for weekly updates.

           LOOKING FORWARD TO october

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

This week I had some challenges and I had to remind myself of my goals and intentions.  It wasn't easy but I made it through the week.  I saw a great panel discussion about disability and comedy presented by HUGE theater.
I thought about getting a turtle and then thought fish may be all I can handle for now.  I took some great fall leaf pictures. We interviewed a comedian on our YouTube channel.





And guess what?!!!!! OUR channel interviewed broadcasting host 'Moon' aka Larry from the former 'Moon and Staci show' on KS95.  Moon talked about some of his trials with MS and how he got to meet Elton John and then was quickly escorted away by security.

Shows in the Twin Cities



'Operation Immigration' by MJTC

Tickets on Sale Now!
October 17 - 25, 2020
"I am part of the whole picture that makes up our country. The descendant of an immigrant who came here with the promise of a better life. Maybe just like you." - Avi Aharoni






That was my week, please tell me about yours in the comments below.

CURRENTLY reading










Saturday, October 10, 2020

Sunday Post #amwriting #amjoy

via GIPHY


 Today's post will link up to The Sunday SalonThe Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves for weekly updates.


Weekly Memories

Why am I celebrating podcasts?  
Because there fun!
I got this idea from a friend

I learned about a few podcasts this week including one called Happier in Hollywood, and another called By the Book.


By the Book -is half reality show, half self-help podcast, and one wild social experiment. In each episode producers choose a different self help book to live by - following every rule, down to the letter - to find out which ones might actually be life changing. 

 

Happier talks about what it's like for writers to work in Hollywood.  The producers are Liz and Sara who have written for the final season of Angel, as well as the The ShieldWomen’s Murder Club (which they created), Vampire DiariesLie To Me, and The Family 

I have always enjoyed learning how writers in Hollywood got their start. I know that Nora Ephron got her start by being the first woman editor for Esquire magazine and directing her own screenplays.  

Lastly, it was my birthday earlier this week and I really felt the love with tons of facebook messages and calls.
****
I also included a clip of my talk with Regan Linton, a Colorado Actress and Director who performed at Mixed Blood Theater in 'Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time,'





Shows I'm excited about

TITLE: Heritage Sites, a dance film Virtual Premiere
DATES/TIME: October 24 & November 7, 2020 // 5:00pm, & 7:00pm
TICKET COSTS: $20 suggested ticket price (additional Pay-As-Able prices available)
LOCATION: Online


Title: Ballet Co.Laboratory’s third annual fundraising
DATES/TIME: Saturday, October 24 will celebrate the company’s return to
Tickets:Tickets
General admission tickets are $55 per person ($20 tax-deductible) / VIP tickets are $150 perperson ($115 tax-deductible) and include a premiere reserved parking spot. Tickets are available for purchase online at balletcolaboratory.org/season or by contacting Ballet Co.Laboratory at 651.313.3967.
Location: St Paul Drive-In Forward






pictures from my week




I Weekly Memories

Reading:









Saturday, October 3, 2020

Sunday Post #amwriting

via GIPHY

 

Today's post will link up to The Sunday SalonThe Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves for weekly updates.


Weekly Memories

Why am I celebrating a Robert Louis Stevenson Quote?  
Because it helps!
I got this idea from Denise @ denisedyoung.com

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”  (Robert Louis Stevenson)


Have you ever had a week where you felt you didn't do much?  Or felt like you should have accomplished more.  Well, here's me trying to celebrate the things I did accomplish.

I sent my Dad a Halloween card with a gift
I looked for some apps to help me organize my 'to do' lists better.
I invited a friend to improv online
Read some motivational Quotes
Got inspired by fellow bloggers and collected some great books.



Upcoming virtual shows I'm excited about
The Thanksgiving Play 
On demand October 9–16.

Produced by the Guthrie

                                    Carlyle Brown’s Down in Mississippi October 3–4, via Zoom

Lastly, I also picked up comedian Kenny Zimlinghaus driving Ride share.  Kenny  is touring (with social distancing will come to your home.  He has been doing stand-up comedy for over 16 years and has performed all over the country. His debut release “Night Pageant” is on I-Tunes.


I Weekly Memories

Reading:






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