Monday, August 31, 2009

Laboratory Dancers In Full Swing!

Laboratory Dancers are holding an audition for their upcoming show! The show will take place at Hamlin Park. Dates are February 11 - 12, 2010. There will be two pieces, one each by Artistic Co-Directors Emily Lukasewski and Alexandra Subak. Dancers are welcome to audition for one or both pieces. Please arrive early and ready to move!

Tentative rehearsal times are Wednesdays from 5-9pm and Sundays from 1-5pm. If you have any scheduling conflicts regarding the audition or rehearsal times, please contact us at laboratorydancers@gmail.com as an alternate audition date is being planned.

AUDITION INFO:
Friday, September 11, 2009
7:00pm - 9:00pm
4057 Damn (near Damen and Lincoln/Irving Park Brown Line)
Enter on Belle Plaine

Also feel free to drop in on Laboratory Dancers Company Class, happening every Sunday from September 6 - October 25 from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Rumble Arts Center (3413 W North Ave)! Classes include live accompaniment, guest teachers, and stimulating material to suit everyone, regardless of background or experience! This class is open to everyone, even beginners, with just a $5 suggested donation. You will not want to miss it!



Laboratory Dancers is an inclusive artist collective located in Chicago. We are an evolving project-based vehicle for creating and presenting all kinds of art from dance to magic.

Laboratory Dancers strives to fertilize a breeding ground for people to come out and create provocative conversation starters through any means or medium. We wish to provide a catalyst for production of ideas, a stage for the slow digestion of ideas and a collective of people to instigate the exchange between consumption and production.

Welcome to our Laboratory.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Swan Lake Revamped

The ballet Swan Lake is a staple of classical theatrical dance in the West. It stands serenely on a pedestal, worshiped by little girls in tiny tutus. Who would dare to attempt such a daunting task as re-interpreting Swan Lake? Idan Cohen.

This Israeli choreographer's vision is realized through three female dancers who stay on stage throughout the entire piece. The work is given a complete aesthetic overhaul, with dark colors and twisted shapes. For more information, check out the link below for a full article from the Jerusalem Post titled When the Cygnet Grows Up.

Idan Cohen's "Swan Lake"

Idan Cohen’s Swan Lake. Photo by Marek Weis.



Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Coming up in August!

August 22, 7:30pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
Chicago Dancing Festival Finale
Artists presenting work that night include Lar Lubovich and William Forsythe.
FREE
See full line-up


August 26, 7:00pm
The Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre

River North's Artistic Director moderates a conversation/stage rehearsal with his dancers.
$10
RSVP: culture@centeronhalsted.org OR 773.661.0763


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Getting Off the Ground

I have recently begun thinking more seriously about the enormity of a task like getting a new dance company up and running. The very idea is daunting enough that I'm sure many people never even try. Many more try and give up. And I'm beginning to understand why.

For starters, there's the dolla$. I mean, one of the most basic principles of fund raising is that the more you spend, the more you make. Well, when you're just starting out (especially when you're just starting out as a recent college graduate who doesn't even have insurance) your back is really up against a wall, finance-wise. So what are we to do? Especially in an economic climate as bleak as ours currently is. We aren't even supposed to feel the relief of the supposed upswing that we're in for a few more years!

The only answer that I can see is to get creative and recognize that patience is a virtue. Big shows and official status and regular paychecks may be years off. In fact, they're almost definitely far off in the future. But creative thinking and perseverence are really the only options we have. Arts work has never been easy, but a few have always made it to the big time. As time goes on, I'm starting to think it's hard work and not luck that makes the difference. Luck obviousy helps, but the work is so very hard. It's harder than I thought and I've been hearing horror stories about how hard arts work is since I was 14. But the biggest rewards come to those who wait and work and beat the odds.

I'm just going to put my nose to the grindstone and fight for my reward, even if it takes years.

Followers