lookie what i found!

Wim Wenders has a new 3d dance film premiering at the Berlin Film Festival about the late Pina Bausch.

The visuals look stunning and I cant wait to see it.

PINA - Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost from neueroadmovies on Vimeo.

thoughts?

Female Dance makers.

Earlier today i was thinking about how most of my favorite dance makers are for the most part Female. A departure from the theory that Choreography is a male dominated field. Im not gonna argue and say that there aren't more male choreographers (does not mean they are any good) out there but it seems to me that the people who are starting to make significant impacts and who are worth there salt are women! Something that i have noticed over the past couple years is that most of the shows that i have been to or student choreography showings is that the women seem to be making the best work.

A great example to support what i am talking about is looking back in dance history which i had to study as a student at the North Carolina School of the Arts is all of the female pioneers of modern dance. Martha Graham a trail blazer of American modern dance right along side Merce Cunnningham and Paul Taylor. Her technique is still being taught in schools all across the globe and her impact is still felt to this day not too mention her company is still performing her reps. There would be no Batsheva Dance without her. Next Pina Bausch who started Dance Theater incorporating text, speech, pedestrian gestures and film to her movement. Down the line you have Twyla Tharp who was one of the first Resident artist at American Ballet Theater under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov whom was the artistic director at the time and the one to appoint her.

Now we have a whole new crop of women who are making splashes in the dance world. My favorite choreographer Crystal Pite not only is a world renowned choreographer with her own company Kidd Pivott but she is also artistic associate at the Netherlands Dance Theater with her rep in some of the best contemporary companies out there. Camille A. Brown also a NCSA alumni has her second work being performed with Alvin Aliey this season has also done work for Hubbard Street, Philandanco. She now has her own company too with rave reviews. There also a lot of new Females choreographers on the rise like Emery Lecrone who has staged work with Oregon Ballet Theater, North Carolina Dance Theater and is on fast track to doing a lot more. One of my personal favorite women out there is Celia Rawlson-Hall whom has the potential to become the next Bausch.

Next year im encouraging one of my dancers Alex Jenkins to start developing her own works because its important that she gets the experience because i see that there is a talent there and its always good to have someone help motivate you.

As a male choreographer i know that i have the talent to do great original works because i have the chops to do it but the bar that im trying to reach has been set by all of these great women. It would be an honor and pleasure to share the stage with any one of them.

heres a video of Crystal Pites work with Cedar Lake.

Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue from Caleb Custer on Vimeo.

Cafe Muller Rare Pina Basuch

This morning i got an email from someone who seems to contact me at all the appropiate times. Included in the email was a rare video of Pina Bausche that are making the rounds on the web. I thought that i would share the link with all of you.

enjoy.




B

R.I.P. Pina Bausch

Acclaimed German dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch has died at the age of 68. The recipient of numerous awards and prizes, she left her mark as an innovator in the hybrid genre of "Tanztheater," or dance theater.



I keep thinking how much this week sucks. Im not going to list all of the people that have passed away this week aside from Micheal Jackson because he directly impacted my life. Pina Bausch a modern dance pioneer/ avante garde artists took me a while to get into but her influence can’t be denied. Her usage of set using "form and function" has been a hallmark of hers and numerous other dance companies/choreographers around the world. I’m currently working with set design so ive had been effected through osmosis. Of course I appreciate her work and wish that I saw her company perform last year in Berkeley. Bausch has set the stage for artist such as myself because if i decide to go to the far left and then cut right i can do so because she is the trail blazer for experimental works.

With all the craziness going on in the world right now we should try and take the time to tell the people that we love, admire, or even just friends with what they mean to us. This week is a reminder that life is so fragile and nothing should be taken for granted. You just never know what might happen. I want to take the time to thank all of my family, friends, dancers, supporters and everyone else who have helped me make my dreams come true. Everyone that I have worked with I want to say thank you for your time and energy. Life really is a blessing. Life is what you make of it. I have no money or budget but that has not stopped me for a second to get my dreams out. If you believe that you can do something DO IT! If you fail, at least you tried and you know that you gave it your all. Also we should try to focus on the positive not the negative. It’s too easy to get down or bring others down if your having a bad day but what does that accomplish? Smile at someone today. Watch how contagious a smile can be.




Putting out the good vibes for ya’ll.