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Ordway Summer Dance Highlights
Mon, Aug 23, 2010 5:00 PM by Ryan Jones
Thanks to everyone who came to downtown Saint Paul to take part in our Summer Dance Series this year. The events were a great success and we had a blast dancing with you. Enjoy some of these pictures from our weekly dance nights.
We look forward to seeing you inside the theater for Ordway’s theater, music and dance events this season.
Until next time we dance,
Posted in Summer Dance
The Top 10 Reasons to Come to Summer Dance
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 1:07 PM by Ryan Jones
By Arielle Melum
1. It’s outside on a summer evening in Minnesota. If you are a seasonal albino…I mean Minnesotan…like me, you know how to appreciate our wonderful summers. It means spending as much time as possible soaking up sun and breathing in fresh air. Well Summer Dance is the perfect place to spend your summer evenings! Who doesn’t love to watch the sun set over the river amid a sky swirling with pinks and oranges, with a gentle summer breeze blowing across their face?
2. To step outside your comfort zone. Yes you read that right. Stepping outside your comfort zone is a good thing. It’s how we grow, gain perspective, and experience life to the fullest (please excuse the cliché). I’ll bet the most interesting and inspiring people you know are those who haven taken risks. They have embraced the awkwardness and felt the fulfillment that comes from taking chances. lt may feel uncomfortable at first, but after a few minutes of swingin’ to the singin’ you’ll wonder why you were so nervous. I get that it’s scary, and the ways in which your world will expand will be worth facing the fear. You don’t even know what you’re missing.
3. It’s free! It seems the price of entertainment just keeps rising. It’s easy to spend a rather hefty amount on a night out. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many families in a recession who have all that much extra money to spend. But we shall not be deprived of merriment simply because our wallets are feeling a little thin! Summer Dance is free entertainment that involves more than just a walk through the park. You are guaranteed to get your money’s worth. J
4. It’s great for your health. Not only does dancing improve coordination, strength, flexibility, and overall fitness, it’s great for your mental health. Studies have even shown that the Tango can help patients with Parkinson’s improve their mobility, and Ballroom dance can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease. So whether your intentions are to better your body or mitigate your mind, Summer Dance is the place to do it.
5. The food! I don’t know about you, but dancing makes me hungry and thirsty! Luckily Summer Dance has quite the spread to curb your cravings including yummy treats and refreshing drinks from Pazzaluna.
6. To experience St. Paul in a whole new way! If you are from Minnesota or have lived here awhile you’ve probably been to St. Paul a million times. You’ve seen the sights, you’ve walked the streets, and you’ve eaten at the restaurants. But Summer Dance is taking St. Paul to the next level. Now you can recapture your favorite haunts all amidst the backdrop of St. Paul’s skyline.
7. People watching. So let’s say you’re not really into the whole dancing thing for some reason or another. You can still come to Summer Dance because the “dance” is only half of it. The “summer” part involves nice weather, live music, good food, and great people watching! And you know what’s better than watching people walk around? Watching them dance (or at least attempt)!
8. Meet a new friend (or maybe more than a friend). You might be waiting in line to buy a crepe, or laughing as you both struggle to master a dance move when you find someone you connect with (whether it be romantically or not). Take the risk and start up a conversation. You never know, your soul mate just might be in need of a dance partner.
9. Support the Ordway and our mission to spread the joy of art, music, drama, and dance with the community. Because even the greatest Broadway show isn’t a production without its audience. We invite you to experience the joy that the performing arts provides. Summer Dance is only the beginning!
10. Everyone is welcome. Simple as that, everyone is welcome. That’s the great thing about this weekly event. It doesn’t matter if you’ve danced in a company, or just in your bedroom. All levels of experience (and I mean ALL levels of experience) are invited to join us.
So join us tonight and next Thursday at 6:00 pm in Landmark Plaza. Learn more about Summer Dance >
Posted in Summer Dance
A Night of Magic: Summer Dance
Thu, Jul 15, 2010 10:34 AM by Ryan Jones
By: Kristie Gaalswyk (Ordway Intern)
As I walked up to Landmark Plaza, I didn’t know what to expect. Things were still getting set up and I was surprised to see that people were already sitting and walking around waiting for the impending night of dancing. It was great to see everyone mingling while eating and drinking.
It occurred to me quite quickly that people from all walks of life were coming together to share in this one moment. I saw older people, young people, a man with a cowboy hat, a woman in a wheelchair waiting patiently, a group of teenagers in flip-flops standing awkwardly, and even little kids jumping with excitement were there to share in the fun of learning and experiencing Tango.
When the instructors were beginning the lesson, I was curious as to how such a varied group of people would interact in this one space, the dance floor. What I came to see was truly awe-inspiring. Everyone became involved in the learning process. They forgot the people around them, who were either stumbling over the steps or excelling at the sultry movements of Tango. They didn’t even pay notice to the people outside of the dance floor watching with smiles glued to their faces. They were certainly in the moment. Some were fast learners, picking up on the dance moves quite quickly and others struggled a bit, but nobody paid any attention to this. You could tell by their faces that everyone out on the dance floor was lost in the moment and having a great time.
As the lessons went on, people walking by would come to a halt and after time would start making their way into our little cluster. Some would join in the dancing, others would meekly dance on the side trying to catch up on what they had missed, or others would just become one of the spectators watching the magic happening in Landmark Plaza while sipping on a glass of wine or munching on a delicious crepe.
It finally came time for the people to test their newly acquired dance techniques to live music. Mandragora Tango started to play, and the atmosphere changed. As the music began, I decided to walk the perimeter taking in the beauty of the weather, the sun gleaming on the Downtown Saint Paul buildings, and the people who had come together for this one night. There was a pair of older women smiling and swaying to the music as they sat on a nearby park bench, a mother spinning around to the music with her little baby in her arms, two little giggly girls skipping through the dancing couples, and a woman leaning against a parking meter mesmerized by both the music and watching the couples as they danced by. This was truly a sight to behold.
It was refreshing to see how this moment really gave all people, from all walks of life, the opportunity to experience arts and culture. I was truly proud of the Ordway and the downtown Saint Paul organizations for creating such an event as this, an event that makes the arts accessible to all.
As I walked away from the plaza, the music began to fade, as did the smile that I had on my face the whole time I was watching the event. I began thinking to myself; will the beauty of this moment be forgotten? Will people who came together for this one night forget the magic that just occurred in the plaza? My question was quickly answered, however. As I got into my car in the parking ramp, I saw a couple all by themselves in the distance, silhouetted by the setting sun, and they were dancing the Tango moves they had just learned. The smile on my face quickly returned as I drove off into the sunset, thinking about the magic of the night; and how glad I was that a night of Summer Dance shall return tonight where people can learn another genre of dance, Disco.
Let the dancing continue!
Posted in Summer Dance, Dance
Time to Tango!
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 2:08 PM by Paul Escalante
A sudden silence swept across the crowded nightclub as the door swung open and in walked the silhouette of a man. He stood with his hands on his hips, head cocked a little to the left. His face, wet with sweat from the hot sun, flickered in the candlelight and his heavy trousers and boots were caked with dirt. Embedded in the man’s thick dark skin were scratches and scars from a hard day’s work. Upon entering the room he brushed the dirt off his clothes and removed his wool hat.
“José!” shouted a voice from the corner of the room. “It’s good to see you, hombre. You want a drink?”
“No gracias, Umberto” José replied in his thick Argentinean accent as he weaved through the tables toward a woman across the room. “Tonight, solo quiero bailar.”
With that he thrust the woman into his arms, the music began, and they danced into the night.
If only life actually happened like that. But who knows, maybe long ago in the slums of Argentina it did. The history of the tango is not clearly defined, but one story says that it began with the gauchos of Argentina. Ironically, the dance that today is the quintessence of elegance and wealth, with women in glittering gowns and men in tuxes, actually started with the working class. After a long and hot day on horseback in the fields the gauchos would enter crowded nightclubs hoping to dance. (Good luck with that guys.) They had to dance with flexed knees because their pants were stiff due to the sweat of the horse and the women held their heads back to avoid the stench of their foul smelling partners. In exchange for dancing with such a disheveled date, the women placed their hands on the man’s left hip looking for money. Together they would weave through the crowded nightclub, which is why the path of the Argentinean Tango is curvy.
How much of the story is true is hard to tell, but it is fact that the dance began in the lower class and worked its way up. The name “tango” even means “a place for slaves to meet”. It was first danced to the flute, guitar and violin, probably in the courtyards of tenement blocks in Buenos Aires. People would get together and play the popular music of the time, savoring the moment of peace from a life of hardship. The dance became more than a pastime. It became a language that weaved together the styles of many different cultures, castes and countries. Gradually the various threads joined to create a fierce tapestry of passion and seduction that we know today as the tango.
This Thursday, get ready to learn the secrets of seduction as the Ordway’s third week of Summer Dance continues with the tango! For those of you that haven’t heard, Summer Dance is the place to be every Thursday night. It’s an eight-week program that begins at 5:30 with food and drinks, continues at 6:30 with a free dance lesson from local professionals, and at 7:30 it’s time to show off your new moves to live music! But don’t worry; you really don’t need to be a “good dancer” to come. All levels of skill and experience are welcome, and that includes you. See you Thursday!
Written by Arielle Melum
For more information on Summer Dance visit http://www.ordway.org/summerdance/
Posted in Summer Dance, Dance, Tango
Q & A with dre.dance founder Andrew Palermo
Wed, May 19, 2010 2:25 PM by Ryan Jones
In 2004, Taye Diggs and Andrew Palermo founded dre.dance, a New York based contemporary dance company. Andrew and Taye were friends for many years before they created their company and have worked together on a wide range of projects for over twenty years. Aside from working with dre.dance, Andrew has choreographed multiple shows and has appeared both on and off Broadway. The following is a question and answer with Andrew about his experiences and inspirations for dre.dance. On Thursday May 20th, dre.dance performs their production beyond.words at the Ordway. Hear more from Andrew Palermo before the show at the Ordway Extra, starting at 6:30pm.
How did the idea of forming a dance company come about?
As I was rounding out my time performing in the original company of Wicked in New York, I was beginning to work more and more as a choreographer. I knew I wanted to go into choreography full time, so I approached Taye with the idea of presenting an evening of work together.
Taye and I had been friends since high school and taught many masterclasses together over the years. We share a commonality and respect each other’s work, so it seemed like a good idea to lean on each other, as it were, with our first full evening of dance.
We went to Dancers Responding to Aids and offered to co-produce the show with and for them, benefiting their wonderful organization. They were excited at the idea, having only one request; that we were more than just ‘Taye and Andrew’. Hence, dre.dance was formed.
What is the meaning of dre.dance?
It’s a combo of our nicknames; ‘Drew’ and ‘Taye’.
What do you look for in the dancers you hire for dre.dance?
We really require a lot from our dancers.
First, they must be technically very strong.
Second, they must be extremely athletic. We don’t separate what the boys and girls do. They all throw each other, and themselves around.
Third, they must be able to tell a story. That doesn’t mean that they are always in ‘narrative’ mode. It means that, even through the simplest movement, or lack thereof, they must have something going on inside.
Fourth, they must ‘get’ our style.
Lastly, they must be collaborative and have a passion for performing the work. dre.dance is a family. We need each other to succeed. So, if one person isn’t pulling their weight, or is not jibing with the rest, we all feel it. It has to be a group effort.
What dance movement styles inspire your choreography?
Taye and I really just let it all filter through us. We don’t narrow our choices based on what piece we’re working on. That said, we pull from almost everything: classical technique, jazz, hip hop, theatrical choreography, pedestrian movement, gesture. You name it, we use it.
What comes first, the music choice or the choreography?
It depends on the piece. We’ve worked in every order. Sometimes the idea is first. Sometimes, the music. Sometimes, the choreography.
What event made you decide to start on this journey in creating beyond.words?
This piece was inspired by a CNN feature about a woman with ‘severe autism’, Amanda Baggs. Ms. Baggs makes videos that shed a light on ‘a day in the life’ for her. The video that really exploded and struck a chord with me is entitled ‘In My Language’. The crux of the message of this video is, ‘just because I (Amanda) speak a different language than you (neuro-typical people), it doesn’t mean that it’s not valid, and maybe you should learn to speak MY language, and not the other way around’ (paraphrased). This message blew me away and led us on our way to create the work.
What are the major lessons you learned while creating this dance piece?
I’ve been thrust into this wonderful community of people affected by the autism spectrum. It’s been a beautiful lesson in how to work with people with special needs while not attempting to strip away who they are at their core. I’ve now taught dozens of classes with people on the spectrum as well as workshops for parents and caregivers to utilize movement therapy. None of this would have happened without ‘beyond.words’.
I think, most importantly, I’ve learned to judge people less. We all have our idiosyncracies, passions, habits; things that make us ‘different’. If someone behaves differently than I do, that doesn’t make it wrong, or them dysfunctional, but simply different than me.
What do you want people to take away from “beyond.words”?
That the only way to understand someone, and potentially make their experience in this world a more realized one, is to approach them with openness and love. Trying to cure someone is definitely not the only way.
Are you creating any new works for dre.dance right now?
We just premiered ‘dre.diohead’, and evening of dance to music by the iconic band, Radiohead, in NYC two weeks ago! And now, we’re presenting it at the Ordway’s wonderful school performances this Tuesday and Wednesday.
We’re also just starting to germinate on the next piece. Keep your eyes out!
Where do you see dre.dance in ten years?
Hopefully all over the world!
www.dredance.com
www.facebook.com/pages/dredance/18881769562
www.youtube.com/dredancetube
www.myspace.com/dredancenyc
Posted in dre.dance, Dance, Behind the Scenes
Upcoming events with Andrew Palermo, Artistic Director of dre.dance
Fri, Apr 9, 2010 3:35 PM by Ryan Jones
Andrew Palermo, Artistic Director of dre.dance, is visiting the Twin Cities one month prior to the company’s public performance at the Ordway!
You are invited to two upcoming events with Andrew Palermo…
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Dance Master Class with Andrew Palermo
Tuesday, April 13
6 – 7:30pm
The Directors Studios
(1170 15th Ave SE, First Floor, Minneapolis 55414; http://tdstudios.us/)
$10; Please RSVP to Amy Miller at 651.282.3017 or amiller@ordway.org
Andrew Palermo's dance class is a combination of contemporary modern, jazz, hip hop and theatrical techniques. It consists of a contemporary modern/jazz warm-up with strengthening elements, followed by technical sequences and phrases, concluding with combinations from the dre.dance repertoire.
Palermo's unique ability to reach students of all experience levels provides a fun yet challenging atmosphere enabling students to improve their technique while enjoying dances to popular music in a relaxed yet inspirational atmosphere.
Dancers of all levels encouraged to attend!
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Lecture and Demonstration with Andrew Palermo
Thursday, April 15
6:30 – 8pm
The Ordway, McKnight Theatre
Short reception to follow in the McKnight Lobby
Attendance is FREE; please contact Amy Miller with questions and to RSVP at 651.282.3017 or amiller@ordway.org
Andrew Palermo will speak about beyond.words, a dance piece developed following intensive study through workshops, residency, and interviews with people on the autism spectrum. He will explain the piece’s creation and evolution, and will demonstrate examples of movement from the piece.
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For more information about dre.dance and Artistic Directors Andrew Palermo and Taye Diggs, please visit their website at dredance.com
Posted in dre.dance, Master Classes, Dance
DanceBrazil
Fri, Feb 19, 2010 11:43 AM by Kate Scarrella
As a huge fan of dance I am extremely excited for the Ordway’s Main Stage to be graced by DanceBrazil. For those of you not familiar with the company let me give you a little background. Founded by Jelon Vieira, this company has performed for audiences for over 30 years. It was developed and is successful because of its ability to speak to a broad range of the North American community. The company was developed from Grass roots workshops at NYC and has received both critical and popular acclaim since its premiere. The style is a combination of Afro-Brazilian movement, contemporary dance and capoeira.
What is capoeira you may ask? It is a combination of traditional dance and martial arts. This style was formed in Africa and adapted in Brazil as a modern form of fighting enslavement. After studying up on the event I wanted to learn more about it and was curious about how it works so I went to the DanceBrazil website to investigate. The idea of martial arts combined with dance movement was intriguing and I was wondering what this show was really like. I was so happy to see that the website had a video and I was amazed at how beautiful the dance was. The creator Jelon Vieira is extremely talented and has really inspired his home country with his teachings. Jelon teaches in both Brazil and the United States and has taught a few famous people such as Pele the famous Soccer star as well as actors Wesley Snipes and Eddie Murphy. It turns out that Jelon choreographed a capoeira dance sequence in the movie Boomerang and that is when he taught Eddie Murphy. Unfortunately part of the movie was cut and that included the capoeira dance sequence. What a bummer, I would have loved to see that. In 1993 Jelon and the Carver Center Director Jo Long formed Ilê Bahia de San Antonio, the House of African-Brazilian Arts. This organization was formed as a professional training center to learn Afro-Brazilian style with a special emphasis on at risk, minority youth. When home in Brazil it is important for him to teach & inspire the children & youth there as well to help build their self esteem, self discipline and make them a vital part of the community
On February 19th DanceBrazil will be coming to the Ordway and debuting two new shows. The first one is entitled “Memoria” and it celebrates the African culture and its deep roots within the Brazilian culture. The second performance “Banguela” follows the spiritual preparation that capoeiristis go through before a roda; it is an interlude before the game. Also there is a pre show Ordway Extra for all ticket holders in the Marzitelli foyer that will feature local capoeira master Yoji Senna and TU Dance Members. They will discuss the history of capoeira and what it is like to dance in the style. It is sure to be a special evening.
Check out the link below to learn more about DanceBrazil and to see this amazing style of dance.
Posted in DanceBrazil, Dance
Feb Dance Master Class Series with TU Dance & DanceBrazil
Thu, Feb 4, 2010 2:58 PM by Ryan Jones
Ordway invites you to attend the February Dance Master Class Series with TU Dance and DanceBrazil. 3 classes are available and they are $10 each.1 free class in the series is available with a ticket to the public performance of DanceBrazil at the Ordway on Friday, February 19. Please contact Amy Miller with questions and to RSVP for classes at (651)282-3017 or amiller@ordway.org
Afro-Brazilian Dance with TU Dance
Thursday, February 4
Doors 4pm
Class 4:30 – 6pm
Roy Wilkins Studio #3
Downtown St. Paul (entrance on 5th Street, between the Excel Energy Center and Ordway Stage Door)
Marciano Silva dos Santos, TU Dance member, will teach an Afro-Brazilian dance class that explores the movements of orixás (Orishas) introduced outside of the sacred space of Candomblé. Elements such as jumps, turns, floor work, and rhythmic sections will be used to work on flexibility and strength. A harmonious relationship between body and sound will allow participants to note the constantly evolving dynamics in relationship to principles such as coordination, relaxation, breathing, and undulation. Afro-Brazilian dance is polycentric movement that builds concentration and has a spiritual focus.
Modern Dance with TU Dance
Thursday, February 11
Doors 4pm
Class 4:30 – 6pm
Roy Wilkins Studio #3
Downtown St. Paul (entrance on 5th Street, between the Excel Energy Center and Ordway Stage Door)
Toni Pierce-Sands, Artistic Director of TU Dance, will teach a modern dance class based on the Lester Horton technique.
Capoeira Master Class with DanceBrazil
Thursday, February 18
Doors 5:30pm
Class 6 – 7:15pm
Ordway Center, Drake Room (enter through the 5th Street Stage Door)
Company members of DanceBrazil will teach an introductory class on capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art form. No previous experience in capoeira is required.
Posted in Master Classes, DanceBrazil, TU Dance
This blog is a group effort by Ordway staff, actors, artists, musicians, dancers and all those involved in the creative process of performances, programs and events at the Ordway to provide a behind the scenes look at what happens onstage, backstage and in support of the work presented at the Ordway. We also hope to discuss pertinent topics in our industry.
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