Week two....

Somehow I deleted my first post, which really makes me upset....because it took me a long time to write and there was some good stuff! So, I hope you got to read it. As for week two...

it started off with learning a new Eddie Brown piece that I had mentioned at the end of my last entry. (As part of Heather Cornell's intensive) This piece is 3 choruses with some parallels to the B.S. Chorus, which made it easier to learn and adjust to Eddie's style. Its absolutely beautiful and super interesting, and I am in love with a new work that I get to practice! In the afternoon classes we got to have one more opportunity to dance with the African Balafon players, a few classes with Andy Milne, and also a few classes playing with grooves, and our own approaches to and arrangements of Cuban and Brazilian tunes. I got to dance and come up with an arrangement with two fellow Canadians, Danny Neilson and Matt Sheilds, who are exceptionally talented, super incredible dancers. There were a handful of Canadians there, and from all of the discussions and display of mad talent, I developed more hope that we can actually gain some recognition as established artists who TAP in Canada!!

Andy Milne...check out his music...www.andymilne.com . Listen to "Three Points of Contact" from Finding Synesthesia. This is from the show that I saw Heather in last summer at The Harbourfront Centre in Toronto...me and only 5 other people were at this performance because the Harbourfront did a HORRIBLE job of advertising!!!! AND IT WAS FREE!!!!! Anyways, its a real shame that not many people got to see and hear what Heather and Andy were up to. They plan to tour it more extensively in the future, so look out for it! In class we played a piece Andy wrote that was in 7/4, and worked different sections, counterpointing them, while finding different lines in the music. There was a distinct bass line, a 2 part body percussion counterpoint, melody, and a few drum lines. It challenged all of us in different ways, and completely opened up our brains!!!
All in all, the intensive was a wicked experience. I felt as if I could go home after these two weeks and have loads of material in my system to practice...but nope, 2 and a half more months of tap bliss for me!

So in the meantime I have taken class with Derick Grant, Barbara Duffy, Andrew Nemr, Lisa Latouche, and I had a private session with BRENDA BUFALINO! I also took another class which was supposed to be taught by Michelle Dorrance who's class I LOVE, but there was a sub, and I don't think I ever wanted to ditch a class so badly in my life. Of course I would never be so disrespectful, but needless to say, I really missed Michelle! As for everyone else...wicked. Derick has such a great teaching style. Its always challenging, and interesting. I tend to surprise myself when I get his choreography. I psyc myself out a bit because stylisically its out of my comfort zone, but if I just chill, I'll be okay.
I am always a fan of Barbara's class. She can get really intense, but I just LOVE her choreography, and she will find interesting ways to continue the challenge of a class if you're starting to feel comfy. My favourtie is her improv class which happens on thursday mornings, but she is out of town this week, and I happen to be going to a baseball game so I'll write on that all next week!
Andrew's class is pretty consistent. I didn't find it too challenging today, but I really respect him as a teacher, and will continue going to his class....and it was cool that he recognized me from last year. So many teachers in New York see so many students in the summer from all over the world, so I don't ever take it personally if someone doesn't remember me, so when they do, its kinda nice.
Lisa Latouche subbed today for Derick, and that was amazing!! Firstly, it was nice to finally connect and say hey since she is a fellow Canadian doing her thing here in NYC with much success! She is super close with my excellent tap friends Cathy and Travis, and is originally from Calgary, but told me today she was born in Edmonton. haa. Anyways, she was so warm, and her class was awesome, and I was so happy to be in touch with her after following her work for the last few years. She dances with Dormeshia every monday at the Cotton Club, so I will absolutely be checking that out soon! And now for Brenda...
so, first of all, in the last week, I have been reading her book for the third time, just to make sure I am familiar with everything Brenda to prepare myself for one on one time with one of my most major inspirations. That just got me so pumped to hang with her...I didn't need the info incase of a quiz or anything, I just couldn't wait to start! So, I get into the studio, and she was like..."did you bring any music" so, I put on my ipod and had to improvise for her. Ya, no pressure, don't be nervous, just improvise for your hero......go. The point was so she could take a look at how I dance and figure out how she is going to teach me. So, for the rest of the hour, I got a very detailed Brenda Bufalino technique lesson. She completely dissected the way I dance and threw new ideas at me on how to approach something as basic as a paddle and roll, (paradiddles) crawls, and riffs. She gave me a series of excersises just focusing on 8th notes. And she murdered my triplets...I thought I had solid triplets, not according to Brenda! She liked my tone, liked my phrasing, but says I lack power and don't approach my dancing like I am hitting all of my notes with enough emphasis. Fair enough. What's exciting is what I will develop from working with her!! I have had loads of material thrown at me, and I completely value my teachers and what my foundation has brought me thus far, but to have Brenda pick apart my techinque was pretty crazy awesome. At one point when I danced a phrase and then she danced the same phrase immediately following, the difference in our tone was like night and day...and I had to stop for a minute, because I got a little overwhelmed with excitement. At the end of the hour, she complimented me as a student. I applied what she gave me as immediately as possible, and she totally recognized that. That was so beyond cool. Next in my Brenda adventures, I will go to her house in the country for two days August 20th-21st to have a 2 day intensive mentorship. I will likely have a few more sessions in September as well. I was beaming the whole day. A top highlight so far, forsure.

Another highlight, which happened purely by chance, was having lunch with Harold Cromer. Harold was in a vaudeville act called Stump and Stumpy with James Cross, and continued on to have extensive solo success following his vaudeville days. He has been honoured as a living legend and is a celebrated presence amongst the tap community. So, he hangs out at a few diners around mid-town/hell's kitchen close by the studios and all the theatres. After Barbara's class on sunday, I was going out for one last lunch with Jussi and Hanaleena, two friends from Finland who were here for the intensive, and we ran into Harold! So, accompanied with lunch was a very entertaining, detailed, opinionated history lesson on composers, music theatre, tap now, tap then, and all the rest. Jussi and Hanaleena had to leave after about an hour to catch their flight, but I continued to hang out with Harold for an additional two and a half hours. He just ordered two scoops of chocolate ice cream and had a full cup of coffee, I couldn't leave him there to fly solo, and wouldn't abandon the lesson I was suddenly in. He opened up my eyes to a lot of re-examining of musical history that I learned, but we got into some pretty strong disagreements! All in all, it was an irreplaceable experience to hang out, discuss history, agree, disagree, and sing songs together in a random diner with Harold Cromer.

I checked out some awesome music at 55 bar. On saturday I saw KJ King, and on tuesday I saw Dave Binney play with Dan Weiss. These guys have played at The Rex many times, so it was cool to go and see them and say hey. Tomorrow I am going to a Mets game with Dave...as for you friends of mine that have gone to Jays games with me...I think I'd better behave myself at a baseball game this time, a bit anyways. haaa. So, that should be fun.

Last night I got to meet up with Pam and Jess Pecush who were visiting for a few days! I have known these girls since I was at least 10 years old, back in the day at Sandra Gray Dance School . Jess has been living in Toronto for the last year, and Pam is back in Edmonton after a short stint in Toronto and before living in NYC for a 9 month internship. It was so nice to have dinner and catch up! We went to a restaurant in Little Italy, and then I took them over to Greenwich Village to 55 Bar to hear Dave and Dan. But, before the music we planned on checking out, at our dinner table, a dapperly dressed little man approached our table, and offered us a list of song requests to choose from. So, to our surprise and medium delight we were serenaded by this random man. Now, we didn't see exactly where he came from to approach our table, so all of us assumed that his gig was part of the entertainment of the restaurant....ya...nope. So, he sang us a little song, and we politely applauded and thanked him, and he just stood there, awkwardly looking down. haaa. We all looked at each other in paralyzing awkward silence, and then we all reached for our purses, hovering to cover the bills in our wallet, and then tipped the poor gentleman. The wine had gotten to us, so our reaction time on its own was slow, but the post serenading actions of this man did not improve the situation. It was hilarious.

In other news, my roommate Mike gave me a lesson on how to put on a record. I watched closely, but am still afraid to touch his record collection. I have a new roommate as well named Jessica. She moved in yesterday and we had a pretty awesome chat. We were talking about Canadian tv, and her first question was "have you heard of Kenny vs. Spenny" I just laughed, then told her the story. For those of you that don't know, I went on a date with Kenny about 4 years ago, just before the show got big. The date obviously didn't go anywhere...maybe because of the fact that name dropping didn't impress me too much, or perhaps it was the countless cracks on his age...at the time I was 21. haaa. Memories. Anyways, everything to do with home is pretty solid.

That's pretty much it this week...
I get to start working with Max after his gig on August 4th...MUCH looking forward to that. Body percussion, afro-cuban land here I come.

till my next entry, hoping i don't accidentally erase this one as well...

at xo