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Links We Like Friday
Links We LikePerformances/Screenings
For a short time we are putting up Crease and There’s a Height Limit on youtube. We usually post on videos our own website, but for a special surprise at Boheme on Thursday, we needed them on youtube. What’s at Boheme? Well, come anytime between 5pm and 10 pm and everything you drink helps our fundraising. What’s not to love? Enjoy!
Links We Like Friday
Links We Like UncategorizedYou’re in for a treat. Links We Like Friday is guest curated by Mary Lane this week.
This is just fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BiViJkz10nw#!
The 2012 Local Dance Commissioning Project from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC have been announced. Congrats to Sydney Skybetter (http://www.skybetter.org/_ and Paul Emerson (http://www.companye.org/)
This is an old one, but a favorite. I find myself watching it every few months. (I started it from the good part) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF5VDdHJsw4#t=0m38s
Mikhail goes “click” http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/dancer-mikhail-baryshnikov-turns-his-camera-on-fellow-dancers-in-miami-photography-exhibit/2012/02/23/gIQAQVbaVR_story.html
Here is another one I find myself watching over and over again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shf7i0UQKog. This comes from husabnd and wife team – Kaeja Dance – who are creating some of the most interesting dance film work out there. Check out more of their stuff here: http://www.youtube.com/user/kaejadance
Mary Lane has been an independent choreographer in the Washington, D.C. region
for several years and in 2009 she established Unevenlane.
Lane began her movement training early in life, and as a two time attendee of The
American Dance Festival, she discovered her aptitude and passion for choreography
while still in high school. In conjunction with her dance training, Lane also studied
the violin as a young child. Though she eventually abandoned her music lessons in
favor of spending more time in the dance studio, her intrinsic respect for musical
composition remained as a defining element of her dancing. Her choreographic
works are influenced by her focus on developing a physical relationship with the
music – layering movement on top of rhythms, scales, motifs and themes – to create
a unique partnership between music and movement that engages the audience on a
deeper level by syncing their visual and auditory senses to create a larger and more
meaningful experience.
Lane has had the opportunity to train and work with Gerri Houlihan, Jeffery
Bullock, James Sutton, Theresa Ruth Howard (Alvin Ailey), Mark Coniglio and
Dawn Stoppiello (Troika Ranch), Nataly Kasporava (Kannon Dance), Dana Tai
Soon Burgess (DTSB&Co), and Maida Withers (Dance Construction Company).
Lane’s work has been presented throughout the Washington, D.C. area as well as in
Lexington, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to directing Unevenlane, she
is currently serving as the Assistant Director of the Community Dance Connection
Theatre, located in Lexington, Virginia.
You can see samples of her work at: http://www.youtube.com/
American Flora
Performances/Screenings
We are ready to get back into our fabulous clothes from American Flora for our show tonight at the Photobooth. Sleek, soft, eco-friendly on the top, and wacky doodle shoes on the bottom. I, for one, am wearing flippers. Oh, excuse me, apparently they are actually called fins. eh. We have a lot of fun in store for you: Frankie Avalon, hula girls, a crazy doll, and my dance debut in fins. This is officially the zaniest Frame show yet.
Quick Facts:
Where: The Photobooth on Montrose at Montrose and Westheimer.
When: Tonight! 8pm
Tickets– no tickets, but we take donations.
Thank you to American Flora, sponsor of the costumes for our monthly series called Framed! at the Photobooth on Montrose. 
Tonight! Tonight!
Performances/ScreeningsLOVE ME at Archway Gallery, plus a fantastic live dance that moves in and out of Archway and onto Dunlavy St. 7:30 pm. 2305 Dunlavy, Houston. Tickets: www.framedance.org/boxoffice.
American Flora
Performances/ScreeningsWe are so stoked about our fabulous clothes for the Photobooth series (happening again this Friday at 8pm!) that are sponsored by American Flora. They are an amazing eco-friendly dance and yoga wear company that is now expanding into even more exciting products. We at Frame Central feel super special, because these products aren’t even up for the public to see yet. However, if you are interested, contact mary@americanflora.com to get your American Flora before they sell out.
Here’s the announcement:
AMERICAN FLORA introduces its latest additions!
Since our launch in June 2011, The Tote Bag has been flying off the shelves!
Originally designed with dancers and yogis in mind, the Tote has taken on a personality and purpose, ranging from beach bag to farmers market tote and everything in between. It’s traveled all over the world!
Our continued enthusiasm to design fun and useful bags has brought us to another place. We’re now offering a Mini Tote, perfect to use as a purse to carry your cell phone, sunglasses and wallet. We’ll be showing the black Mini Tote with black strapping and some surprise colors.
The Cosmetic Bag offers the latest in style and function. An oversized zipper allows the bag to open with ease. Our signature grommet continues to be a show stopper!
All three bags are made from re-purposed billboard tarps, with a black exterior and a unique graphic interior.
Lastly, our excitement turns to our new bath and body product. American Flora’s Coconut & Sugar is a body scrub made with only organic ingredients. We’ve kept it simple. It’s irresistible virgin coconut oil keeps people asking. “Can I eat this?”
Reflections by Denise Wilborn
Performances/ScreeningsLOVE ME at Archway Gallery on Thursday, 7:30pm.
Denise Wilborn, cast member of LOVE ME, reflects on seeing the film the first time:
Step. Step. The first time I saw our film, I did not know what to expect.
My sister was there. Friends from work were there that night. What would
they think? Would they see me somehow differently? Was this endeavor,
digging up my experiences of love, too personal and too tender to share with
the world? I was pretty much on pins and needles during my first viewing.
What words did Lydia select from my reflections? Which of my movements or
phrases of choreography did she keep? What of me was pruned and left on the
“cutting room” floor? As I relaxed, I saw not the isolated pieces of 13
dancers’ movements and words, but rather the whole we created together as we
quickly transformed through trust into a dynamic creative community. My
words blended with Loueva’s words and Donna’s words and Neil’s words.
Alex’s stretch complimented Norola’s reach complimented my bend. A story
mosaic unfolded as the myriad of dance expressions and word utterances
became, not my story, but rather, our story. I was not alone on the big
screen. We were up there together.
Turn. Lift. The second night my husband of 29 years was in the audience.
He supported me in so many ways in my previous dance life. He seldom saw me
from a comfortable seat in the audience because he was back stage cuing
lights, pulling curtains, and dodging dancers. Never had we sat
side-by-side at any of my dance concerts. Tonight was different. How
intimate. How close. This night I watched ‘Love Me’ with different eyes as
I saw nuances I missed the night before, of word, dance, and story. I
listened more closely to my friends’ reflections, my friends hearts. I
heard the sadness, disappointment, challenge, and joy love brings each day
to our lives. I also closely watched my husband. What was he thinking?
What was he wondering? Did he know he is the reason I could, can, risk
words and steps each and every day? From the screen came my words, “You are
firecracker red, intense, sparkling, bright against the dark, fiercely
faithful, brilliant, alive.” Did he hear my words and know they are his?
Recover. The third time I watched ‘Love Me’ I was excited, relaxed,
comforted, and knowing. Or so I thought. Another friend joined me, unable
to be there for the previous screenings. One of the 13 dancers was seeing
our film for the first time. As I experienced their initial reactions, I
realized how unique each of us is as dancer, artist, person. We all bring a
personal collage of expectations, perceptions, beliefs, emotions, and
experiences into the theater. While we all viewed the same film, each of us
answered back according to ourselves. We all try to make sense of life, and
love, in many different ways. Everything old is new again.
Repeat. I will be there again. Same film. Same words. Same dance. Same
dancers. Different space. Different audience. I wonder what I will come
away with this time? I wonder whose words will touch me? I wonder who in
the audience will be encouraged, challenged, to trust, dance, write, create,
and love? I wonder…
Your Weekly Guide
Performances/ScreeningsWe have a LOT of Frame coming at you this week. Reminder, the audience member who attends and documents attendance at the most Frame events in February will receive a trophy and the title of Fanatic Frame Fan.
Thursday 7:30 pm at Archway Gallery, LOVE ME and break out live dance surprises
Friday 8pm at the Photobooth on Montrose, the second in our installation series. This is quirky and fun. No serious faces allowed. Great celebration of the weekend.
Saturday evening you may or may not see us breaking into dance around the Houston Theater district. We may or may not be there… 7- about 8:30pm.
We love people, fans, friends, dancer lovers and dance questioners. Come hang with us. We’re fun, and you’re always welcome.
Sometimes the making is difficult
Performances/ScreeningsA lot of the process of making LOVE ME was difficult. Difficult for non-dancers to dance, difficult for us to process difficult parts of our selves, difficult to work in a new group of people/strangers, difficult to be honest with ourselves, difficult to let go of control and let the process happen. But I know that that is why the end result is so honest and real. We fought ourselves. And we won by making something beautiful out of the rough parts of ourselves. Here’s what Norola Morgan wrote about the second rehearsal:
After the ease of the first rehearsal, this one seemed more difficult somehow. I didn’t feel as relaxed or at ease. I didn’t flow. I felt awkward, edgy, off balance, confused. The music was extra loud, and I had a hard time hearing Lydia’s directions. I wondered: is the music being so loud purposeful, to add an extra element of difficulty to the communication? Also, the writing prompt “I knew I stopped loving you….” prompted some anxiety. Seriously? Who wants to explore something like that? What if it ends up in the film, and people see, that person sees? Well, I agreed to be open for this project…so, I dribbed and drabbed some thoughts onto the page in fits and starts. Ow, hurtful. Ow. Sigh. Well. Ow. But, true. Can’t leave this journal laying around the house.
Then, another prompt: if it wasn’t so scary, I would tell……….and no stopping writing this time! Oh, Lydia noticed the writing fits and starts the first time. Well, easier to write this time. Fearlessness is my friend. So easy to write, harder to say.
Then, 6 gestures from 6 words pared down from 12 words from our writings. Man, am I slow. These six will part of the larger whole. Hmmmm.
LOVE ME screens this Thursday at Archway Gallery. 7:30 pm. Tickets here.