Week four & five

Firstly, sorry I didn't write last week...I promise I didn't miss a thing!

So, I last wrote about my anticipation to see Max's show...ya, AMAZING. He was a part of this project called Life After Dark which was put together by Dana Leong, a multi-instrumentalist who wanted to put together all of his favourite artists from all different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and take a look into their creative processes. So he interviewed each artist, got them to explain three words that capture their approach, and from all of those interviews came the collaboration with everyone in the collective. There was a drummer, keyboardist, spoken work/MC artist, turntablist, tap/body percussion (Max) a Japanese Koto player, and Dana plays trombone and cello. There was a screen above the stage that you watched these interviews on, and then while the music was happening there were stills, and live feed of what was happening on stage, and other projections. At some parts you could watch Max's feet on the screen while it was all going down. The only dissapointing part was that you couldn't hear him very well. You would think, in a very nice professional venue in New York, they would figure out how to properly mic a tap dancer...nope. Regardless of the setback, the show was incredible! I met up with my friend Jen who I met in Heather's intensive, which was a great surprise! After the show we went for a drink, and then...pancakes. Yep...awesome. Pancakes at midnight...perfect.

A few days later I met up with Shauna Hoskin, who I grew up dancing with in Edmonton. We found each other on facebook, which was awesome because I didn't know she was here! Last we were in touch she was doing a show in France. So, we went for lunch and got totally caught up. She will be going on a national tour with Young Frankenstein in the fall. She is so talented, and such a wonderful person. Its so awesome to meet up with friends from home and see them fourish in their success. So far in New York I have been able to hang with 4 friends all from Edmonton, pretty cool I think.

I hung out with Tom Delbello again before he headed to Toronto to perform in The Boys in the Photograph. (the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical) We went to see Julie & Julia...see this movie people! Its amazing!!! Then we went for some wine and nachos, but we didn't even come close to the shennanigans we pulled a year ago. Last year, we tore it up. Pretty much my only night of extreme debauchery last July was with Tom. I don't know if any of you recall the pictures of me kissing the shirtless bartender in exchange for our drinks...haha. (Sorry mom, sorry auntie...) This time, we were too tired, and too chatty...less drinky! Anyways, I will miss having Tom here, but I will get to see him in his show when I get home in the fall.

I haven't yet had the chance to have a private session with Max, but he was recording an album all last week, so he invited me to a rehearsal last sunday. First of all, the people in his company are such wonderful people, everyone is obviously very talented, but aside from that, they are just lovely, kind people who I was very happy to be around. It was a pretty amazing feeling to be able to listen to the complexities of Max's work, but it also really hit home how much I want to work with him. If the opportunity should ever arise, I would LOVE/die to dance in his company. Even just the fact that I get to spend lots of time learning from him, reminds me of how fortunate I feel to be here experiencing all of this. I get to work with him tomorrow and tuesday....so excited!!

I had two private sessions with Heather Cornell last week. First session we basically worked on phrasing, and had very detailed discussions about approach. It was totally awesome, and arose some interesting discoveries about myself. She outlined some challenges in a completely different elemental way than I have ever approached my dancing before. We threw technique out of the door and delved into intention and emotion. Weirdly, I never really made the connection to express myself tap dancing in the ways that are required to approach a song, or a scene, or even a different dance genre. In choreography that has been given to me, sure, but as an improviser, or setting choreography for myself, not really. I guess I just always trusted my passion. I faced a new challenge, and I will be continuing to figure it out forever, really. Tough, but cool. The second session she gave me a new Buster Brown piece... I learned Fascinating Rhythm/Just You Just Me. Its awesome. I love working privately. You get worlds more than class. Class is great for the purposes of class, but to really get into it, and really treasure an experience, there's no comparrison.

I checked out more awesome music! I actually ran into Brandi Disterheft on the street, when I was fully planning on just surprsing her at her gig the next day. Brandi is a Juno award winning bass player from Toronto, who I got to know while working at The Rex. She just finished a Canadian tour of her new album, and is back and forth between New York and Toronto. So, it was hilarious to run into her, and amazing to hear her play the next night. She was playing at 55 bar, and then I stayed for the next show to hear Dave Binney again. My friend Jen came along too, and after the gig... yes....we went for pancakes! Well, this time I actually had 2 eggs and cornbeef hash with a side of hollandaise...but had full intention of pancakes...yep...what health at 2am. Then, we went to this bar called Fat Cat and checked out a jam...til 4am. This bar was so weird but totally cool. There was a full on jazz jam going on, and there was couches to hang, but also pool tables, foozeball, ping pong, chess, and what looked like airhockey or curling on these long tables with sand. Kindof felt like an afterhours club house. Jen and I are gonna go back with our shoes and jam! The next day I saw Rudder, a wicked band from here that I also knew because of The Rex. Henry my sailing friend plays in Rudder. I have to say, that is my absolute favourite band to see live, so far anyway. Their music never ceases to give me crazy goosebumps...everytime. So good. After that show I went to go see my roommate's band, the MK Groove Orchestra. Awesome too. It was great to see my roommate on stage, and hear his work after listening to him practice all the time! hehe. Very cool band, totally glad I checked it out.

A few days ago I hung out with Allison Plamondon again. I wrote about her in my first entry, and it is now gone....boo! Anyways, its always great to hang with her. She is such a huge inspiration to me. She's also from Edmonton. How funny really...both named Allison, both tap dancers/actor/singers, both grew up in Edmonton, lived in Toronto, and now New York. (eventhough I am temporary, one day indefinite!) After we had coffee she was off to meet up with a mentor of hers, Sarah Jane Burton, who I had a movement class with in my first year at Sheridan. So, I came along to say hi, not sure if she'd remember me, but she did, and she was as lovely as ever. What a nice, down to earth lady. So nice to see her and catch up a little bit!

Yesterday I went to Jen's place in Jersey City for a party. She studies Capoeira, which is an afro-brazilian art form that combines martial arts, music, dance, and play. She just received her first belt, so she was having a party after the ceremony with her crew and she invited me along. They played in the backyard for a while so I got a first hand look at what this was all about. So cool...I was just watching trying to figure it all out, but that's impossible on first exposure! I am intrigued though. And really nice people, aside from one particularly ignorant dude who tried to talk to me about tap. Other than that little hiccup, I had a really excellent time! Jersey City is beautiful. Its not far from New York at all, about the same distance to midtown as some areas in Brooklyn or Queens. I'd totally consider living there, so much character!!

That was pretty much my last two weeks! Other than that, the other day I received an email inviting me to an audition for the 2010 Olympic opening ceremonies. The auditon is on September 1st in Vancouver which is also the same time that a Canadian tap conference is happening. I have been in touch with the creative director, but will receive all details in the next few days, so I will keep you all posted what that is all about. Cool though. I feel pretty great and fortunate that I was invited to be considered for that. So, we'll see!

This next week is going to be crazy! Tomorrow and tuesday I work with Max, and on thursday I go up to Brenda Bufalino's house for 2 days...I can't wait. Its gonna be nuts! Till the next entry...

at xo