tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49922172692300791762024-03-17T23:03:57.509-04:00Calamity Co DanceCalamity produces modern & pop art variety shows and creates dance to show around the Boston area. We believe art is an everyday and everyperson activity.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-36693314064349545392017-02-13T16:15:00.000-05:002017-02-13T16:15:18.029-05:00I'm sorry! I just don't GET IT.Art, is a finicky, slippery, fish of a thing.<br />
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Some people love it! Crave it! Marinate and savor it!<br />
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Other people want to toss it back into the ocean where it undoubtedly belongs.<br />
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Still others are somewhere in the between. Taking it as they find it, but not always overtly seeking it out.<br />
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Well, jokes on you, Still Others, because art is EVERYWHERE. Your beloved Super Bowl commercials? That was someone's artistic marketing dream! The jingle of your go-to oil changery? That was borne of a musician's heart! The color scheme of your CPA's office? Yeah, someone said to herself, "These commercial business chairs will look alright with this commercial business carpet, and this wall hanging from Staples is fine."<br />
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Art is, delightfully, everywhere.<br />
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(Here is comes...)<br />
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BUT.<br />
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The trickiest misconception about art is that you have to, you know <b>get it</b>. <i>Understand it</i>. It has to <b>mean</b> something to you every time. And here's the thing. It might not.<br />
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First of all, you're not alone. It happens to all of us, and modern dance especially can create a lot (a LOT) of skeptics who dismiss what they're seeing because they claim they don't "get it."<br />
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One thing is true. There's only one absolute, resolute, person who will unabashedly understand a performance...and that's the person that created it. Everything, everything else is left to speculation (which one could argue is one of the biggest risks / scariest concepts of being an artist, but THAT is another conversation for another day!)<br />
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So what do you do when you're at a show, and there are these cool performers performing and you don't know who they are or what they're doing or why they're doing it and what your face should look like while they're doing it?<br />
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Well, for starters, <i>chill</i>.<br />
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Any artist knows that their art is not for everyone. Any artist putting themselves out there knows they are subjecting their craft and their creation to scrutiny, criticism, and a handful of raised eyebrows. <b>No artist will be offended by your lack of understanding. What is more upsetting, however, is lack of a willingness to understand.</b><br />
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If you're lucky enough to find yourself in the company of a creator. Here are some perfectly appropriate questions you can ask.<br />
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<b>"What was your inspiration in creating this piece?"</b><br />
<b>"How long have you been working on this?"</b><br />
<b>"Tell me about your process? What was easy? What hurdles did you encounter along the way?"</b><br />
<b>"Why did you choose the ::music:: / ::title:: / ::costume:: / ::number of performers:: / ::lighting:: / ::really anything::?"</b><br />
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Or, if you're less looking for conversation, there are plenty of harmless, but still meaningful comments you can make to a creator. Whether or not you enjoy a performance, certainly something sticks with you to make you feel that way. Did a certain performer have an expression on their face that you can't get out of their head? Was there some nuanced movement you noticed? Was the color of the costume so striking you want to buy a couch in the same shade? <b>Any sort of commentary on a work that shows that you truly watched it is compliment enough to an artist.</b> Let them know what you noticed, what had an impact on you, and what made you think.<br />
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And remember, just because you don't LOVE a piece doesn't mean it can't have an impact on you. Anything you spend time thinking about or processing...well, that's an impact. And sitting back, watching a piece and enjoying the fact that people are doing something before you? That's enough too.<br />
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Art is not exclusive. Or at least, it shouldn't be. Create art. Share it. And talk about it. There are so many ways to enjoy something, so find the way that best suits you, and enjoy it...even if it is a fish.<br />
<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-62007025724620895962016-04-08T19:47:00.003-04:002016-04-08T19:47:37.452-04:00Friday TunezSUCH A LONG WEEK.<div>
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Just me? Hope so. I hope everyone else is stunned that it is ALREADY the weekend again! HOW can this be?!</div>
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Anyway, here's a song I started listening to to impress a boy a long time ago. What other reason did collegiate girls have to listen to songs?</div>
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It was old then, and it's even older now. It's My Coco, by stellastarr*. </div>
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Commence dancing around your bedroom. I certainly did.</div>
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Continue dancing around your bedroom. I certainly will.</div>
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-A.</div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-86483517975631470172016-04-01T13:14:00.000-04:002016-04-03T13:14:49.847-04:00Friday TunezHappy April, Fools!<br />
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Enjoy this warm, buttery wonder from down under while you batten down your hatches in preparation for a lovely spring snow storm!<br />
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It's John Butler Trio's "Zebra" and I'm pretty sure I listened to it EVERY DAY during my tenure at BU. Listen to it once, and I'm confident you'll pick up a similar habit.<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
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-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-70904589121385136392015-12-05T10:53:00.000-05:002015-12-05T10:53:10.911-05:00Living in a Calamity - Shop Handmade!Way back in September, in the beautiful warm, sunny, Summer's baby sister part of Fall, Meghan and I (with our pal Ray) sojourned over to Assembly Row, where our friends <a href="http://www.thegrownupnoise.com/" target="_blank">The Grownup Noise</a> were playing a set in the lovely outdoor amphitheater. We ate brie sandwiches and sipped iced coffee from <a href="http://www.paul-usa.com/" target="_blank">Paul</a>. We basked in the sun in the company of already warm friends.<div>
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It was pretty much the best day.</div>
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After the set we made <strike>sure everyone knew that we knew the band</strike> our way over to a patch of lawn by the stage. There was a small open air market set up, that seemed to have a flashing neon sign overhead reading "AMY AND MEGHAN! COME ON OVER! THIS IS ALL THE STUFF YOU LIKE! Ray! Come too! Because they're pretty much gonna make you!"</div>
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And indeed it was. From packets of lavender to (zero exaggeration) superhero capes, all things delightful and twee were available for purchase at this seemingly serendipitous fair. Really, it's quite impressive that we didn't buy it all! But of course, we didn't, and what caught my eye especially were tables upon tables of handcrafted pottery.</div>
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Can we talk for a second, just a second, about how cool pottery is?</div>
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People take goop. Stuff. Gak, nearly. And spin it around and around and dance with their hands and heat it up and all of a sudden you have a legit thing. A very legit thing. From goop to a thing. That's cool, right? Wicked cool! And it's not just brown or gray either; there are colors and details and designs and intricacies. And every piece is somehow different, despite being, essentially the same. It's <b>art you can eat off of</b>, and that is right up my alley. </div>
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So it rapidly became a question of not, if I was going to buy some of this hand-spun goodness, but how much of it, and who from. All of the works were phenomenal, all of the artists had something special about their work, but something about Sarah Kelley's tables caught my eye more than the others, and that's where I hit my stride. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vme2J7YS_Uw/VmMA989--NI/AAAAAAAAB08/xxXXnczVKJ0/s1600/IMG_7325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vme2J7YS_Uw/VmMA989--NI/AAAAAAAAB08/xxXXnczVKJ0/s640/IMG_7325.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, can you blame me? Lookit that ZEBRA bowl! ZEBROWL!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buyer's remorse...wishing I bought EVERYTHING in this photo.</td></tr>
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The pastels, details. The cool tones and the textures. It was just the right balance of pretty much everything. If practicality's your deal, all of these babies are microwave AND dishwasher safe. Sarah herself promised me durability, and she was a total darling to boot. </div>
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Her pricing was already fair, but one of her tables featured items with some sort of "character flaw" and were offered at a buy one, get one price. UM. OKAY. Any and all flaws were completely imperceivable to a plebeian such as myself. <b>Completely imperceivable.</b> </div>
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So what did I buy, right?</div>
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Two items, a delightful mug in a delicate pink, with a cozy indigo interior.</div>
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And the world's greatest bowl.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green couch courtesy of Matt McKay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E6j00Ff1MYo/VmMA_Q8NN0I/AAAAAAAAB1s/SEEhqbLcMX4/s1600/IMG_7332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E6j00Ff1MYo/VmMA_Q8NN0I/AAAAAAAAB1s/SEEhqbLcMX4/s320/IMG_7332.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner THAT NIGHT by Meghan Riling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What flaw? This bowl is excellently serving its purpose of being a bowl.</td></tr>
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These two pieces have so rapidly become integral to my rotation of dinnerware. I think I use the mug every day. (Who am I kidding? I know I do. I just don't want that to sound as gross as it could.) The bowl brings a little bit of color and art to dinner, which, when I cook, isn't usually something so artistic. And I can vouch for Sarah; these babies have withstood washing, dishwasher washing, and microwaving. They are hearty and real, despite their fun and fanciful designs.</div>
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So enough already, you want the deets right? </div>
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Click <a href="http://www.sarahkellyceramics.com/" target="_blank">here</a> for Sarah's website; featuring actually great photos of her work and upcoming events where she will be selling.</div>
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And <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SarahBKellyCeramics" target="_blank">here</a> for her Etsy shop, if that's your jam.</div>
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I'll save you a few clicks and let you know that she'll be at the Union Square Holiday Pop-Up Market next weekend in Somerville. No, friends. Wonders will never cease. </div>
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I love buying local. I love real people who make real art. And functional art to boot! If, for some reason, you're looking to buy me a gift, I would always accept another piece of Sarah's...or twelve. But I'm sure, besides me, you know someone's whose life would be completed by something zebra.</div>
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Lots of pasta and coffee,</div>
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A.</div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-57455554735899225172015-09-18T20:22:00.003-04:002015-09-18T20:22:37.420-04:00Friday Tunez!Fridays in September, man. I'll take 'em!<br />
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Here's a song I like. It could remind me of a boy [or two] but it doesn't. And I like it even more.<br />
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Limbeck with "Honk + Wave." Listen and feel great about yourself.<br />
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Enjoy this summery Septembery weekend!<br />
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-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-34884808471105153282015-09-11T20:55:00.001-04:002015-09-11T20:55:40.880-04:00Friday Tunez!Congrats to all of us for polishing off the first week of school.<br />
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Here's a song I've been meaning to share for a while, but life got in the way a bit.<br />
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This is a band that I found in the background of super weird house party at BU. Turns out this song was also featured in an episode of Scrubs...and it totally sounds that way, if you didn't already know it.<br />
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Voila! "Shadow" by The Southland<br />
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Imagine college Amy wistfully avoiding reading articles on occupational therapy in StuVi.<br />
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Have a great weekend, all!<br />
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-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-4918901280263722142015-08-22T10:22:00.000-04:002015-08-23T09:46:12.765-04:00Solo Sesh - program!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4WXyBKINxI/VSA9q0jO-vI/AAAAAAAABss/45yEBsN29m8/s1600/program.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4WXyBKINxI/VSA9q0jO-vI/AAAAAAAABss/45yEBsN29m8/s1600/program.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/385985414935364/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> || <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-sesh-tickets-17970319710" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a></h2>
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1. Amy Mastrangelo - dance</h2>
Music by Chvrches.<br />
<a href="https://instagram.com/mamie_a/" target="_blank">Instagram</a><br />
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2. Matthew Dray - theater</h2>
Matt will be performing a piece from "The Weir" by Conor McPherson.<br />
Matt is an actor, as you can probably tell and also a fight choreographer.<br />
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3. "Changing Skin" by Kelley Donovan - dance</h2>
<a href="https://kddcompany.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kelley Donovan Dancers Website</a><br />
Music by Juliet Russell<br />
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4. Emelia Clark - voice</h2>
Emelia will be singing "Somebody, somewhere" from The Most Happy Fella by Frank Loesser.<br />
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BREAK!</h2>
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5. "Trauma" by Tyler Catanella of Paradise Lost - dance</h2>
The music is "Trauma" by Peace Pilgrim (that's Tyler, too!).<br />
<a href="http://paradisemoves.com/" target="_blank">Paradise Lost website</a> || <a href="https://soundcloud.com/thisispeacepilgrim" target="_blank">Peach Pilgrim soundcloud</a><br />
Tyler would like to thank his haterz for fueling his fire and making him strongrr. AS WOULD WE ALL!!<br />
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6. "I Was Made for Mountains" by Liz Anaya (10000questions) - music</h2>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Liz would also like to credit The Fells.</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lizanayaviolin?_rdr=p" target="_blank">Facebook</a> || <a href="https://soundcloud.com/10000questions" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a></span></div>
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7. "A Piece of Rising Sound" - performed by Jennifer Roberts - dance</h2>
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Choreography by Olana Flynn (<a href="http://www.olanaflynn.com/" target="_blank">website</a>).<br />
Soundscore by Ryan Caruso.<br />
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8. "Questions from Cupid" by Mike Simonelli - music</h2>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MikeSimonelliMusic" target="_blank">Facebook</a> || <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAyyktk3BCVGklE3SMbekwQ/videos?flow=grid&view=0&sort=p" target="_blank">Youtube</a> || <a href="http://mikesimonelli.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a><br />
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Many thanks to Terina Alladin and <a href="http://makeshiftboston.org/" target="_blank">Make Shift Boston</a> in general for hosting us tonight!<br />
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<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-81735207390760157482015-07-17T12:10:00.003-04:002015-07-17T12:10:49.164-04:00Friday Tunez!I've been in touch with a lot of my coworkers from my days of retail glory...which prompted me to spark up my ol' PacLove playlist on Spotify: my collection of songs that played on Pac Radio.<div>
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And thank golly I did because otherwise this gem would have gone unshared.</div>
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"Stillness is the Move" by Dirty Projectors.</div>
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Do you love it or do you LOVE IT?</div>
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-A.</div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-24108550261784217362015-07-13T20:24:00.003-04:002015-07-13T20:28:23.082-04:00Living in a Calamity : Peachy keen BEACHY reads!Need some light and fluffy literature for when
your days get hot and heavy? Here are five titles worth checking out. (OMG that's a library pun and I WASN'T EVEN TRYING.)<br />
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<b>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without
me? (And Other Concerns)</b><br />
<i>By Mindy Kaling</i><br />
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I laughed out loud on an airplane
next to a sleeping baby while reading this book. Mindy is
simultaneously the girl you want to be, your very best friend, and
the voice inside your head. Her honest and unapologetic sense of
humor will make you proud you chose to read this book. Also, she
talks a lot about being from the Boston area which automatically
makes you cooler because YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.</div>
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<b>Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls.</b><br />
<i>By Leandra Medine</i><br />
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There's this gnarly rumor going
around that women aren't funny. Leandra Medine in both her <a href="http://www.manrepeller.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>
and this book prove that not only are women are funny, but they
are wearing fan friggin tastic outfits WHILE being funny. I had a
hardtime relating to Leandra's upscale New York upbringing, but
her down-to-earth sense of humor and her unashamed discussion of
her period made me want to live forever at a slumber party at her
house. BE WARNED. If you bring this book to the beach, you will
probably finish it there.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>The Night Circus</b><br />
<i>By Erin Morgenstern</i><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bt8Bzd84nvk/VaRUrD7vslI/AAAAAAAABzE/dzOLIPtOpus/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-13%2Bat%2B8.13.05%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bt8Bzd84nvk/VaRUrD7vslI/AAAAAAAABzE/dzOLIPtOpus/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-13%2Bat%2B8.13.05%2BPM.png" width="129" /></a><br />
Dreaming, swooping, magical
historical fiction that will have you thinking in such vivid black and white that putting the book down and seeing the real
world will not only be jarring, it'll be a little disappointing.
This book is about a MAGIC CIRCUS, okay? And the fascinating
people that populate it. Oh yeah, superb love story too.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
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<b>Sloppy Firsts</b><br />
<i>By Meghan McCafferty</i><br />
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Were you ever a teenager? Who
had like, crushes on boys and tests to take and parents and
friends and QUESTIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE? Jessica
Darling is you. She is you. She is you to the point that you will
start looking over your shoulder and wonder how this woman
(McCafferty) has been following you and writing about your life
without you noticing. Though told from the perspective of a
teenager, this book is in no way juvenile or immature. Only read
it, however, if you're in for the long haul, as there are four
more after it and you're gonna wanna know what happens.<br />
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<b>Eat My Heart Out</b><br />
<i>By Zoe Pilger</i><br />
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This story is bizarre and strange and a little uncomfortable at times...but it is for just those
reasons that I could not put it down. I've read some pretty
scathing reviews of this book, but I liked it because it was
fresh, it was wild, and it was pretty absurd. Read this book if
you're ready for a female pro/antagonist who is absolutely out of
her mind, and are ready to feel like your life isn't as upside
down as you sometimes feel that it is. <br />
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As for me, I'm currently reading "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins, as well as "11/22/63" by Stephen King. Yeah, I'm a two-books at a time kind of girl...but not in an impressive way. I've been reading the Stephen King once since January, so I'm hoping I'm on track to finish by 2019.<br />
<br />
What keeps your pages turning in the summer? Anything I need to add to my queue? Let me know!<br />
<br />
-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-1102566559104983252015-07-10T06:00:00.000-04:002015-07-10T06:00:01.175-04:00Friday Tunez!Here's the latest song my next door neighbors are sick of hearing from it being piped directly from my bedroom window to their backyard.<br />
<br />
<br />
It's "Boston Town" by Della Mae and it makes me proud to be a woman. I can't play an instrument and I'm certainly not a laborer...but goddamnit, I'm a woman!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kwJkgQna3I8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kwJkgQna3I8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br />
What's the soundtrack to your summer so far?<br />
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-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-74098223174433987102015-07-09T11:14:00.000-04:002015-07-09T15:20:54.857-04:00Living in a Calamity : Demystifying the Summer Vacation When you're a <s>teacher</s> educator, you put up with a lot of sh*t. This may include but is certainly not limited to: disinterested students, disillusioned coworkers, snow days, making-up snow days, the Common Core curriculum*, the general public's lack of regard for students with disabilities and, on some very special days, actual and legitimate fecal matter...you know, sh*t.<br />
<br />
But I think the biggest frustration we all deal with is our very own out-of-the-education-field friends reminding us how easy we have it, because we get snow days, and vacations, and SUMMERS off. And you now what? Yeah. When you look at it from that excruciatingly narrow lens, it totally is a great gig.<br />
<br />
So I'm not here to pontificate or justify all the great things and hard work that goes into a school year, plenty of other <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5yg0u1MkDI">more eloquent people</a> have done that for me.
Instead, I'm going to tell you how we're spending that time, if to serve no other purpose than to give the rest of you something to read when you get out of your 12-month job tonight.<br />
<br />
Without further ado...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What Teachers [who are also dancers] Do During Summer! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Meghan loves the Common Core. Especially #1 in the Math Practices! OMG!</span><br />
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<b><u>WE TRAVEL! </u></b><br />
<br />
I recently visited my brother and his family in Florida. While of course we can travel during our mid-year breaks, it's a tad easier to travel during the summer, and the likelihood of running into your students in the airport vastly decreases. See, when all the [public] schools in Massachusetts go on vacation at the same time, travel prices skyrocket. (Though, when your older brother lives in “The Happiest Place on Earth” tickets are pretty steadfast at astronomical.) I'm also taking advantage of mid-week bus pricing as I cart my heart to and from New York City. Meghan is currently in the midst of three weeks in Park City Utah, which is an exciting, novel experience for her and a sad, lonesome one for me. Additionally, Meghan goes on a charming yearly trip with her high school friends. While in years past they have rented a house down the Cape, this year they are braving the great north -Lake George!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nbAgyuvghgw/VZ6LcwRNRNI/AAAAAAAAByI/byXg6h8mUtE/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-09%2Bat%2B10.54.04%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="579" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nbAgyuvghgw/VZ6LcwRNRNI/AAAAAAAAByI/byXg6h8mUtE/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-09%2Bat%2B10.54.04%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park City, Moootah. Not Pictured: Meghan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>WE DANCE!</u></b><br />
<br />
I really hope this comes as no surprise. Meghan performed with JAE at the top of the summer as a part of sweet Somerville's Dancing in the Streets Festival. While in Utah she has taken it upon herself to create a dance studio in the gym facility, and even proctored a modern dance class to her fellow math-enthusiasts. As for me, I'm rehearsing with Luminarium (with occasional performances scattered throughout, obviously will keep you posted.) Both of us are preparing work for upcoming Calamities. DON'T YOU EVEN WORRY.<br />
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<br />
<b><u>WE EXPLORE!</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
Today, I did something that I have done maybe one or two times before. I took a yoga class. My very sweet, warm friend <a href="https://www.breathingroomboston.com/yoga/rise-and-flow-vinyasa/" target="_blank">Katie McGrail</a> taught a beautiful class this morning at The Breathing Room in Harvard Square. It was pretty new to me (as new as a true yoga class can be for a dancer) but I left invigorated physically and mentally. I was proud of myself for taking the time to attempt something foreign, which for me, would not have been as easy to do in the throes of the school year. Meghan is exploring Utah.<br />
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<b><u>WE DO BORING THINGS!</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
I need a physical and my brake pads need to be replaced. I'm also scheduled for a teeth cleaning in August. I also have a LOT of laundry to do. Will be Instagramming these adventures, so follow along as you like.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>WE WORRY ABOUT OUR STUDENTS!</u></b><br />
<br />
Yeah. I'll admit it. I can't help it. I don't pretend to be anyone's hero but I hope the ones that need to feel cared about know that they're still cared about, even if I'm not there to ask them to “use respectful language” and “please not play basketball in the library.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>WE WORK ON BEING TEACHERS!</u></b><br />
<br />
If you're Meghan Riling, you go to Park City, Utah to do math. That's right. Meghan went to Utah to add, divide, and think about things like variables and, I'm sorry to say, fractions. Meghan loves math, guys. She like, really loves math. Similarly, I (along with several of my coworkers) am taking a self-directed course (for college-level credit) on curriculum planning for next school year. In other words...I am paying money to prepare myself for September. On paper, I'm prepping materials and activities for students. In practice, I'm hanging out with my coworkers and chatting casually about how we're going to keep ourselves sane from the next September to June. I imagine anything I produce will be extremely boring to anyone who is out of the field, but if you're interested in hearing about my tortilla-themed cooking group, I am VERY eager to share.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JUqK3Iy7GNQ/VZ6MMCT3wWI/AAAAAAAAByQ/ls64ZRjfREU/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-09%2Bat%2B10.58.24%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JUqK3Iy7GNQ/VZ6MMCT3wWI/AAAAAAAAByQ/ls64ZRjfREU/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-09%2Bat%2B10.58.24%2BAM.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meghan and math items. Not pictured: ME! =(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And finally...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>WE SLEEP IN LATE AND GET PEDICURES! </u></b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5CQxu5kPqo/VZ6OYlBJIzI/AAAAAAAAByc/EJ-RkZ-RD5Y/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-09%2Bat%2B11.07.33%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5CQxu5kPqo/VZ6OYlBJIzI/AAAAAAAAByc/EJ-RkZ-RD5Y/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-07-09%2Bat%2B11.07.33%2BAM.png" width="481" /></a></div>
YUP. BYE.<br />
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Happy hard-earned summer to all you educators and non-educators alike, =)<br />
-A.<br />
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P.S. - Plz share your plans or invite us to hang out in the comments section!Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-7913650405977527522015-06-01T11:00:00.000-04:002015-06-01T12:59:35.269-04:00DANCE MUSEUM - tunez!For the improv games in the dance museum, we made up a playlist of all sorts of summery and delightful songs. Some are old favorites that we've used before, and some are new finds that I've picked up over the last coupla months.<br />
<br />
We thought you might be interested in checking them out!<br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/1212587916/playlist/3uYWHasyI5bySiMvNQkrgQ" target="_blank">SPOTIFY</a></span></h4>
Here's a link to a playlist of all the songs on Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/1212587916/playlist/3uYWHasyI5bySiMvNQkrgQ" target="_blank">PLAYLIST</a>!<br />
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<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/CalamityCoDance" target="_blank">YOUTUBE</a></span></h4>
And here are links to them on youtube in case that's what you're into:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deeq8HcWzzk" target="_blank">Cayucos</a> by Cayucas<i> (our opening song)</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3lA-3Q_QUU" target="_blank">Whistle</a> by Sporto Kantes<i> (our closing song)</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RklMv6-M3XM" target="_blank">Gasoline</a> by Alpine<i> (video with modern dancers!)</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t2H1Ke4MXE" target="_blank">All the Time</a> by Bahamas<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPkMh7bR4PE" target="_blank">Caught Me Thinking</a> by Bahamas<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhutIEUq8k" target="_blank">We Are Golden</a> by Mika<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG251178bDQ" target="_blank">Waiting by the Telephone</a> by Bleached<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt8jq_YSyxk" target="_blank">Parentheses</a> by The Blow<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wJv7KjfiTc" target="_blank">Take the Kids Off Broadway</a> by Foxygen<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W3MpOU3OUU" target="_blank">Koop Island Blues</a> by Koop <i>(also in <a href="https://dearmove.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/5-07-13-meghan/" target="_blank">this Dear Move entry</a>)</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEuMtOkBxN4&index=1&list=PLA5961C14F48C7278" target="_blank">Come to Me</a> by Koop<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVoXb2xDVSc" target="_blank">Hydra Fancies</a> by Of Montreal<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnTLNJcOYY" target="_blank">Bill Murray</a> by Gorillaz<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t2-rJo5bdw" target="_blank">You Came Out of a Lady</a> by Rubblebucket<br />
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And here is a picture of what we looked like after dancing to all these songs multiple times right in the burning sun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-adP7q44Afpw/VWs3buGCx4I/AAAAAAAABxc/igFe3O-GSDw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-05-31%2Bat%2B12.29.15%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-adP7q44Afpw/VWs3buGCx4I/AAAAAAAABxc/igFe3O-GSDw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-05-31%2Bat%2B12.29.15%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-55660004366115197652015-05-31T12:00:00.001-04:002015-05-31T12:00:28.777-04:00DANCE MUSEUM - improv games!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0sJbVN_SWKE/VWsfUnKNZyI/AAAAAAAABw4/sSuynUUb5mo/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-05-31%2Bat%2B10.46.06%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0sJbVN_SWKE/VWsfUnKNZyI/AAAAAAAABw4/sSuynUUb5mo/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-05-31%2Bat%2B10.46.06%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meghan and her very professional sign.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First of all, we wanted to give a humongous thank you to everybody that made the Dance Museum possible yesterday! We feel very lucky that we live in a place where we get to know people that share our enthusiasm for bringing dance into casual environments out in the world. My heart is especially warmed by all the dancers we know that don't just love dance, and who pour an amazing amount of energy and time into their practice of dance, but who have so much FUN with dance.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BU15GOzsK6s/VWshQQa4PxI/AAAAAAAABxE/nQHTtIta2-8/s1600/Kara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BU15GOzsK6s/VWshQQa4PxI/AAAAAAAABxE/nQHTtIta2-8/s1600/Kara.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tara, flying.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p72z_dIoXw8/VWshUBATrEI/AAAAAAAABxM/ZZU_g3U8QtM/s1600/tara%2Band%2Bcrowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
We went into the event yesterday with only a very general plan -- Luminarium had a bunch of games they would play over the course of the event here and there, Kara and Tara had a series of 3 related pieces that they would repeat twice, Gracie and Natalie from Nozama had a piece, Amy and I had a piece, and I had a bunch of short improv structures that I would pop in here and there, that could be played by both our dancers and audience members. There was no set order. Instead, Amy and I would feel the vibe and plan the next one or two dances as the evening went along.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p72z_dIoXw8/VWshUBATrEI/AAAAAAAABxM/ZZU_g3U8QtM/s1600/tara%2Band%2Bcrowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p72z_dIoXw8/VWshUBATrEI/AAAAAAAABxM/ZZU_g3U8QtM/s1600/tara%2Band%2Bcrowd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie (center) and Tara (right), joined by lots of audience members!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Matt came along and took tons and tons of pictures, so stay tuned for those!!<br />
<br />
Here are some of the games that we played!<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">IMPROV GAMES</span></h2>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">RUNNING</span></h4>
I borrowed/modified this game from <a href="http://www.laurensimpsondance.com/" target="_blank">Lauren Simpson</a>, who once performed in my backyard! In this game, everybody stands in a big group. You pick either one or two people. Your goal is to stay the same distance from the people you chose. So if they move, you move. As the game went on, I asked the participants to switch who they were following a few times. You can also add rules such as, you have to stay low, you have to move very slowly, you have to choose a particular body part rather than a full person, and so on. We had quite a few audience members join in, and they seemed to have fun!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">MAKE A PHRASE</span></h4>
We did this twice -- once, it was just Natalie and Gracie and me, and the next time we had a whole big group, including some audience members.<br />
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One person starts in front of the group and makes up a simple dance move. They repeat that one move, and everybody else does, too, over and over. When another person in the group feels ready, they run to the front and add a second move. They repeat the two moves over and over, until a third person runs to the front and adds their own move to the end. We did this for the length of a 4 minute song, and ended up with about 8 moves, created by trained dancers and audience members alike!<br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">GRAVITY</span></h4>
This is a new idea I've been working on. I was originally developing it with <a href="http://scottdanek.com/" target="_blank">Scott Danek</a> who was going to play some very minimal music while this happened.<br />
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You start standing and try to stay absolutely still. Wait to feel how your body naturally sways (sometimes this is easier with your eyes closed). Instead of correcting the sways to stay standing, follow them. They will gradually bring your body lower. Also pay attention to one other natural force in your body -- your breath. When you breathe in, let the breath bring your body higher up, and when you breathe out, feel how that brings you lower. In my experience, you end up lying on the ground in about 7-10 minutes. I think it would be cool to present in a gallery setting, and have 3 or 4 dancers start in different positions.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">COPY CATS</span></h4>
This was very simple! You either walk, or copy a movement or pose that you see somebody around you doing -- be they an audience member or another performer.<br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">JAMMIN'</span></h4>
To close out the show, we put on a fun song and bopped around! No rules, just dance.<br />
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<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-47121027213654921062015-05-30T09:58:00.002-04:002015-05-31T10:18:48.269-04:00DANCE MUSEUM - 5/30Hi everybody!!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGrAnNin4is/VWnCAM7AVOI/AAAAAAAABwk/stAQaP7fr9c/s1600/dance%2Bmuseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGrAnNin4is/VWnCAM7AVOI/AAAAAAAABwk/stAQaP7fr9c/s640/dance%2Bmuseum.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today's the day! Back in January or so, we emailed the <a href="http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/" target="_blank">Somerville Arts Council</a> about running another DANCE MUSEUM through their UnionArts initiative, and they said yes! Then in February we picked a date that seemed like a million years in the future - May 30th - but it turns out that after only a few months, May 30th actually exists and is happening right right now! And not only does it exist, but the skies are blue and the air is warm.<br />
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Come by Union Square (like, right in the square, smack dab in the plaza) and check out these dancers who will be performing:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Tyler </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Catanella*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Kara Fili</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Nikki Girroir*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Merli V. Guerra*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Kimberleigh A. Holman*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Amy Mastrangelo*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Gracie Novikoff+</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Jarid Polite*</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Natalie Schiera+</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Ellie Valliere</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Tara Weaver</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"><br /></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">*<a href="http://www.luminariumdance.org/" target="_blank">Luminarium Dance Company</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">+</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nozamadancecollective?fref=ts" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" target="_blank">Nozama Dance Collective</a><br />
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<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-17386563222032349922015-05-15T22:00:00.000-04:002015-05-17T22:00:27.535-04:00Friday Tunez!So I watched a cute little movie that I would have never known about if it weren't for the "Recommended for You" section of Amazon. I like my movies light; I like my movies fluffy; I like my movies girly and predictable, and so enter "Lola Versus." It wasn't fantastic, it wasn't terrible, but the soundtrack was pretty great. So great, I'm struggling even now, trying to decide which song to share from it.<br />
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Ooooooooookay, it's gotta be Ani.<br />
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Here's Ani DeFranco with "Both Hands." The scene in the movie in which it plays is pretty cute; tangibly and painfully awkward, but in a delightful way.<br />
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I'm including a studio version, but like all things Ani...it's worth tracking down a live version. OH WAIT HERE'S ONE NOW.<br />
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Man, everything that is awesome about performing...you can see it in her face. I love it.<br />
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It's a great song. By a great artist. Off a great soundtrack...but don't look it up just yet so I can feature more songs from it and you'll all think I'm poetic and deep.<br />
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Thanks!<br />
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-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-75492758352923852402015-05-09T19:10:00.003-04:002015-05-09T19:11:04.683-04:00Calamity #9 - here are some pics!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had SO MUCH FUN at Calamity #4! There were a lot of Calamity newbies, both on the stage and in the crowd. <a href="http://www.aeronautbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Aeronaut Brewing Co</a> was an amazing host. Beer does seem to make people a little more enthusiastic about modern dance. And my goodness! There were just so goshdarn many people there. Thank you to everybody for coming and making it such a special night.<br />
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Here are some pics of the many wonderful performers. If you want more, there are about a million in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.819962161428566.1073741832.363450440413076&type=1" target="_blank">this album</a> on facebook.<br />
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Thanks so very much to Matt McKay for taking all these amazing pictures.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nghxgXcWlNA/VU6S5ombv3I/AAAAAAAABvE/jNeVcqbfb_E/s1600/gabi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nghxgXcWlNA/VU6S5ombv3I/AAAAAAAABvE/jNeVcqbfb_E/s1600/gabi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabi, being a divine presence.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t5HKzT6amlI/VU6S6N44V8I/AAAAAAAABvQ/XohCuPASGjI/s1600/lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t5HKzT6amlI/VU6S6N44V8I/AAAAAAAABvQ/XohCuPASGjI/s1600/lock.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Bones about to get locked up.</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yyf0-O-F6Ak/VU6S6dC7GzI/AAAAAAAABvg/eiAiSGA1hvk/s1600/meghan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yyf0-O-F6Ak/VU6S6dC7GzI/AAAAAAAABvg/eiAiSGA1hvk/s1600/meghan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Due to the fact that Matt is Meghan's boyfriend, there were many pictures taken of her.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvM7iIKwr-M/VU6S6YaVi2I/AAAAAAAABvY/AJY4pJtfzjg/s1600/terina%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvM7iIKwr-M/VU6S6YaVi2I/AAAAAAAABvY/AJY4pJtfzjg/s1600/terina%2B2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terina is on a whole other level.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Jt8Muda4tg/VU6Np-JqABI/AAAAAAAABtw/0GW9ct-zTdc/s1600/amy%2Band%2Bmeghan%2Band%2Bbeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Jt8Muda4tg/VU6Np-JqABI/AAAAAAAABtw/0GW9ct-zTdc/s1600/amy%2Band%2Bmeghan%2Band%2Bbeer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here Meghan is sampling the Aeronaut wares while Amy does important things.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vSuy6xxs8Do/VU6Np_AqjoI/AAAAAAAABts/RSg0KHYw5x4/s1600/amyko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vSuy6xxs8Do/VU6Np_AqjoI/AAAAAAAABts/RSg0KHYw5x4/s1600/amyko.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Amyko reminded us why we like her dancing so very much.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pq7CQBnMZ2M/VU6NqtW6BeI/AAAAAAAABt4/TU9qO2loQso/s1600/andrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pq7CQBnMZ2M/VU6NqtW6BeI/AAAAAAAABt4/TU9qO2loQso/s1600/andrew.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew blowing our minds with a light, a printer, and a cellist.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aab4FFZCg-0/VU6Nr36uvrI/AAAAAAAABuU/xynALEuTAY8/s1600/jonah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aab4FFZCg-0/VU6Nr36uvrI/AAAAAAAABuU/xynALEuTAY8/s1600/jonah.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Jonah making beautiful music.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Se9NqFPyXc/VU6Nqx2Gz5I/AAAAAAAABuA/xLKGEhnN9n8/s1600/brandon%2Bsword.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Se9NqFPyXc/VU6Nqx2Gz5I/AAAAAAAABuA/xLKGEhnN9n8/s1600/brandon%2Bsword.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Bones' Circus of Marvels luckily brought a ton of swords.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPR3poFaYBA/VU6NrAXp8_I/AAAAAAAABuE/Yx7ZcMO9NEg/s1600/cassandre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPR3poFaYBA/VU6NrAXp8_I/AAAAAAAABuE/Yx7ZcMO9NEg/s1600/cassandre.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassandre, being an absolute treasure.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18Qwo6aTmNE/VU6NrkRscHI/AAAAAAAABuM/PbIayrlg1nc/s1600/dorothy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18Qwo6aTmNE/VU6NrkRscHI/AAAAAAAABuM/PbIayrlg1nc/s1600/dorothy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Dorothy just casually popping her entire body through a tiny hoop.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHJaLB12gIM/VU6Nr1sqzRI/AAAAAAAABug/6_uX81deQgs/s1600/kristina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHJaLB12gIM/VU6Nr1sqzRI/AAAAAAAABug/6_uX81deQgs/s1600/kristina.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristina riveting us with a Walking Dead monologue.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CzQl6PS2iVE/VU6NsRdsC4I/AAAAAAAABuc/nyg8FSR72Xo/s1600/terina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CzQl6PS2iVE/VU6NsRdsC4I/AAAAAAAABuc/nyg8FSR72Xo/s1600/terina.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terina and Gabi were pure magic!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><div style="text-align: start;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKLeYE-i-eU/VU6S5qYy7TI/AAAAAAAABvI/cibeNhQzoBU/s1600/bunny%2Bhop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKLeYE-i-eU/VU6S5qYy7TI/AAAAAAAABvI/cibeNhQzoBU/s1600/bunny%2Bhop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Molly's Bunny Hop!! Thanks to the audience members that hopped in.</td></tr>
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<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-55205403827290240772015-05-08T07:00:00.000-04:002015-05-08T07:00:10.103-04:00Friday Tunez!So it's been a while since we shared a song. There are so many great songs, and now that it's finally warm and tingly outside, WE CAN SING THEM ALL WHILE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND NO ONE WILL GET MAD. [maybe]<br />
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In order to more thoroughly pump myself up in the early mornings of these spring days (though granted, it doesn't take much) I've been making a point of exploring new tunes as I get ready for work.<br />
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And here's what I discovered today. Pardon me if it was once hip and now is not, but I think it's great, and I hope you will too!<br />
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This is St. Lucia's sexy song "All Eyes on You."<br />
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Have a great weekend, everyone!</div>
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-A.</div>
<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-10612669197342356332015-04-04T12:39:00.003-04:002015-04-04T15:41:11.744-04:00Calamity #9 - program!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4WXyBKINxI/VSA9q0jO-vI/AAAAAAAABso/KIWSHfPdIM0/s1600/program.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i4WXyBKINxI/VSA9q0jO-vI/AAAAAAAABso/KIWSHfPdIM0/s1600/program.png" /></a></div>
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<h2>
1. "Oya and Mari Jiwe"</h2>
an afrofuturistic dance by Terina Alladin and Gabriela Silva<br />
music: "Little Pocket Size Demons" by Vijay Iyer Trio<br />
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<h2>
2. Dr. Bones' Circus of Marvels</h2>
a sideshow act - debuting a new marvel just for us! (<a href="http://drbonesmarvels.com/" target="_blank">website</a> || <a href="http://facebook.com/drbonescircusofmarvels" target="_blank">facebook</a>)<br />
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<h2>
3. "Back"</h2>
a dance by <a href="http://instagram.com/mamie_a" target="_blank">Amy Mastrangelo</a>, performed by both her and <a href="http://www.meghanriling.com/" target="_blank">Meghan Riling</a><br />
music: "Running If You Call My Name" by HAIM<br />
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<h2>
4. Andrew Eckel with Jonah Sacks </h2>
music for your brain and ears (<a href="http://www.andreweckel.com/" target="_blank">website</a>)<br />
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BREAK!</h2>
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5. "We're Barely Holding On"</h2>
a dance by Amyko Ishizaki! (<a href="http://www.artcitycambridge.com/" target="_blank">website</a>)<br />
music:"My Darling" by Ingrid Michaelson<br />
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<h2>
6. Kristina Spinney</h2>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a monologue from "The Walking Dead" by Scott M.Gimple and Glen Mazzara</span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">also, a monologue from "Patter for the Floating Lady" by Steve Martin</span></span></div>
<br />
<h2>
7. Cassandre Charles aka Jolie LaVie</h2>
a bluesy burlesque!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
BREAK!</h2>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<h2>
8. Jenny Chalikian</h2>
comedy!<br />
<br />
<h2>
9. "Bunny Hop"</h2>
a dance by Molly Hess, performed by her, Cassandre Charles, Mega London, and Leah Rilkin<br />
<br />
<h2>
10. A Dance about Beer</h2>
group improvised dance!!<br />
<br />
<h2>
11. True Love</h2>
Amy and Meghan will sing a medley of songs by their first loves - New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, *NSYNC, and Hanson -- along with a tune by our newest crush, One Direction.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-2712092060503885022015-02-17T12:08:00.000-05:002015-02-17T12:20:02.594-05:00DEAR MOVE: 2-17-2015 meghan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRHiE_H9_dI/VON1HzyfaMI/AAAAAAAABrM/dq62Y2BpzdA/s1600/dearmove-square14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRHiE_H9_dI/VON1HzyfaMI/AAAAAAAABrM/dq62Y2BpzdA/s1600/dearmove-square14.png" height="320" width="313" /></a></div>
<br />
Almost a year ago, we maintained an improv dance blog called <a href="https://dearmove.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">DEAR MOVE</a>. One dancer would quickly record a video of something they did, and then the next dancer would respond to their video with one of their own, which referenced the first in some way. It's something of an improv exercise, meant to have the dancers play with new ideas.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to take part, <a href="mailto:calamitycodance@gmail.com" target="_blank">shoot us an email</a>! We're always open to have more dancers participate!</span></b><br />
<br />
The DEAR MOVE blog fell off as we focused on this one, but then we realized we could easily bring it over here as a semi-regular column. So, here we go! As a belated valentine to you all, and a revitalization of DEAR MOVE, here is my response to <a href="https://dearmove.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/4-20-14-amy/" target="_blank">Amy's last video</a>. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tE79eA4ZRx8" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-51326161370899486312015-02-11T14:43:00.001-05:002015-02-11T14:44:37.302-05:00Make Stuff - paper jewelz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZowLHEoHNj8/VNuwAiHAvpI/AAAAAAAABqo/EGwLUWQiE2A/s1600/blue%2Bearrings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZowLHEoHNj8/VNuwAiHAvpI/AAAAAAAABqo/EGwLUWQiE2A/s1600/blue%2Bearrings.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently I was wishing that
I had some bigger earrings, and couldn’t think of any particular supplies that
I had to make what I was interested in. I opened my drawer full of assorted
junk that I save in case it could one day become a craft of some kind. I didn’t
find too much that seemed useful, until I came upon some paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, most of this jewelry
won’t last for very long, but it’s pretty much free, and the parts can just be
used again to make something new when the paper parts give out. The paper is old from old shopping bags and cards I bought to make business cards that didn't end up existing, which were mostly just going to get recycled anyway. So it doesn’t
waste resources. Since it’s quite inexpensive to both myself and to the
environment, I can make things that are maybe a little wilder and bigger than I
would otherwise.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bor3l_omVlg/VNuwMLkdieI/AAAAAAAABqw/JBQRhfkW94Q/s1600/other%2Bpink%2Bdub.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bor3l_omVlg/VNuwMLkdieI/AAAAAAAABqw/JBQRhfkW94Q/s1600/other%2Bpink%2Bdub.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also did this weird thing
where I essentially made, like, a set of matching jewelry. Don’t get any ideas;
I don’t wear them together. I never wear anything that matches. (Though Amy sometimes does and she <a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/cheeky-pop-monochromaybe.html" target="_blank">werks it outt</a>.)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa-RkV_CvIQ/VNuwR9VAFNI/AAAAAAAABq4/neCe0IszaEU/s1600/bracelet%2Bdouble.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa-RkV_CvIQ/VNuwR9VAFNI/AAAAAAAABq4/neCe0IszaEU/s1600/bracelet%2Bdouble.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve worn these black
earrings 3 or 4 times and they’ve held up well. They also get compliments, but
I think that might be party just because they’re gigantic and people therefore
feel compelled to mention them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq2OR-YRVoM/VNuv5wYL66I/AAAAAAAABqg/srDUewG3y4U/s1600/black%2Btriangle%2Bearrings%2Bdub.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq2OR-YRVoM/VNuv5wYL66I/AAAAAAAABqg/srDUewG3y4U/s1600/black%2Btriangle%2Bearrings%2Bdub.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve also worn the pink
necklace (that fringey one up above) a handful of times, but the fringe is a little more delicate. It's perhaps a little worse for the wear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway! Make some silly stuff. As some art class artwork behind the copier at school often tells me, Marilyn Monroe did in fact state that "it is better to be absolutely ridiculous than to be absolutely boring."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Meghan</span></div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-73717291657298223662015-01-27T18:33:00.001-05:002015-01-27T19:05:39.700-05:00SUPERBOWL XXLMNOP or Boston Dance as a Spectator SportI like to think that I studied dance in its classical age. You went to the studio. You took classes. You wore a leotard and tights and maaaaaybe a ballet skirt if your teacher was feeling generous. You had a recital. You FINALLY got on pointe and were thrilled to brag to all your non-dancer friends about your blisters. When people asked what sport you played after school, you smartly answered, "dance."<br />
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It was toward the end of my high school career that competition dance was settling into place. As a retired cheerleader, I knew the thrill, I knew the drill. It was novel to take our recital dance from last year and get a trophy for it! We were no longer a class, but a team, and we had prevailed over the adversaries! Still for me, my favorite part of dance was that, well, it wasn't a sport. There were no statistics. There were no teams to beat. Aside from the snarky looks you'd get from the super trinas when you fell out of a double pirouette, dance class was not a competition.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is from 2003. My dear friend Kate is currently minutes away from having her PhD. I'm sure if they saw her performance in "The Gods Love Nubia" Berkeley would have given it to her on arrival.</td></tr>
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Here's what you might not know about me. I started dancing when I was thirteen years old. True, I took ballet and tap as a tiny tot but my family moved and we never found a dance studio in time to continue lessons. I stayed busy. I became one hell of a pee-wee soccer goalie, which I no sooner left behind to focus squarely on being captain of my pop warner cheerleading squad. It was only after going to a friend's dance recital in seventh grade that I was like, "oh yeah! that's what I'd like to do!"</div>
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So maybe that's where my disinterest in competition stems from. The fact that the formative years of my dance career were spent playing catch up to the "older girls" at my studio, who were all actually around my same age. <b>I was in a constant competition with myself.</b> To do better than I had the day before. To learn all the things in a few weeks that those other girls had learned over the course of a few years. To prove that just because I was untrained didn't mean I was bad. TO DO GODDAMN PICKUPS ACROSS THE FLOOR. And that was enough competition for me. I didn't need rhinestones down my part or matching jackets with our names on the sleeves to feel like I was a part of something. Because at the end of a class, at the end of an afternoon of classes, I knew that I was improving, and that I was doing something cool. It felt good to make progress and to keep up with combinations and across-the-floors. It felt good to <i>dance</i>. </div>
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AND SO FINALLY, we grow up and go to college and we dance around Boston and aside from Dance Moms and SYTYCD and little girls in two piece leotards with 12-pack abs and tilt kicks, THE COMPETITION IS FINALLY OVER.</div>
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Or is it?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In college, I even made a dance about it.</td></tr>
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It may be just me. I hope it's just me! It's probably just me, but I feel like there is a lingering tension hanging over the Boston/Cambridge dance scene. We like each other's Facebook pages. We follow each other on Instagram. We share smiles when we pass each other between rehearsals. WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT DANCE IN BOSTON.</div>
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But do we?</div>
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How often do we go to each other's shows? Do we ever attend each other's open classes? When do we go to classes anyway, not just our own cloistered rehearsals? Yes, yes, of course, we're all SO busy and we'll try SO hard to make it to the next one, just make sure to tell me in advance when I can get tickets. </div>
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How often do we actually watch each other's videos just to see what we're all up to, instead of comparing our choreography, our styles, and our skills to whomever we're watching?</div>
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CAUTION: I'm about to be brutally honest.</div>
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I think that deep down, <b>we're all a little afraid to see each other really succeed</b>, for fear that someone else's success will detract from our own. <b>Like there is a finite amount of love and appreciation for dance in this city, and we're all clamoring for it.</b> </div>
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And I suppose, in a way, that's true. If your show is the same night as my show, then I certainly won't be at your show, and I would never expect to see you at mine. And likewise, our respective audiences can pretty much only choose one or another, and even that is probably based on which show their "people" are performing. Because I'm pretty confident that if your mom is going to go to one dance show, she'll pick yours over mine. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(INSERT BITING BUT STILL CHARMING YOUR-MOM JOKE HERE.)</span></div>
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And anyway, if Ailey is in town, we're all screwed.</div>
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Hell, if Ailey is in town, we'll all probably be in THAT audience. </div>
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...</div>
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Boston is not a major dance city. Suburban ballerina babies get Nutcracker tickets in their Christmas stockings every year. (Riverdance, if you're me.) The incredible break dancers at Faneuil Hall draw tourists that marvel at something so modern happening on such hallowed historical ground...cobblestones, no less! Our favorite Disney musicals come to life every February...on ice! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0GP7591Jh4/VMgdSJ2safI/AAAAAAAABpY/1Q3hVc2OvXI/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-01-27%2Bat%2B6.13.15%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0GP7591Jh4/VMgdSJ2safI/AAAAAAAABpY/1Q3hVc2OvXI/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-01-27%2Bat%2B6.13.15%2BPM.png" height="315" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DID SOMEONE SAY NUTCRACKER?? #LadyDross2004</td></tr>
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And yet here we are.</div>
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And kudos to us! We're still making dance. We're still dancing. Dance is still our priority.</div>
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We should be celebrating each other, not scorning each other. We should be supporting each other. A daunting task when we're trying to support ourselves, but is there not strength in numbers? We should actually and actively invest our interests in each other. It's possible to learn from each other without stealing ideas. It's possible to inspire each other, without taking away from our own vision. It's possible to watch a company that is similar to yours and enjoy their show. It's possible for a white girl from Connecticut to dance in a Haitian troupe. It's possible to make dance for dance's sake, and it's possible to enjoy dance for dance's sake. </div>
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And yes, some competition is innate. We use the same performance venues and rely on the same rehearsal spaces. We're vying for the same grants and similar audiences. We all want listings in the same event calendars. We know each other's technical strengths and weaknesses because WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER. <b>Guys, we ARE the Boston dance scene.</b></div>
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So let's be proud of each other and ourselves. Let's be friends instead of rivals. Let's make recommendations and mean them.<b> LET'S GO TO EACH OTHERS SHOWS WHEN WE CAN</b>. We all love to dance, we all just want to dance, and none of us is intending on preventing each other from doing that. If we foster a culture of love and support and positivity within our dance community, we will grow and expand. Our audiences may not be so predictable. We may start selling out Monster seats. </div>
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Who knows, maybe we can even get matching jackets with our names on the side.</div>
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Merde, everyone. And I mean it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2005, we didn't even part our hair!</td></tr>
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-A.</div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-54986746650142276972015-01-09T20:14:00.002-05:002015-01-09T20:14:35.653-05:00Friday Tunez!Here's a hot tune to keep you toasty on a brrrrrrrrreezzy night in Camberville.<br />
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It doesn't claim to be recent, but I don't claim to be hip.<br />
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And I just can't drag myself away from Haim. This is "Running if You Call My Name."<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CYc4pjUvcK8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Have a great weekend!<br />
-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-28982458538358547162014-12-31T16:01:00.000-05:002014-12-31T16:01:56.923-05:00Happy year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wsrRxDTwUM/VKRgF7lXcwI/AAAAAAAABow/okrVDfQTNL4/s1600/Photo%2BDec%2B31%2C%2B2%2B39%2B31%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wsrRxDTwUM/VKRgF7lXcwI/AAAAAAAABow/okrVDfQTNL4/s1600/Photo%2BDec%2B31%2C%2B2%2B39%2B31%2BPM.jpg" height="522" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy new year to you all!<br />
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We really enjoyed 2014. We went to New York City, we did 4 Calamity shows in Boston, we performed at Jose Mateo, we worked on an outdoor dance museum with Art City Cambridge -- we have been busy.<br />
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Here are a few of our favorite posts from this year. See you in 2015!<br />
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/watch-freaking-movie-wednesday-marie.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9gUCAfbHsQ/U-KU2KhXEYI/AAAAAAAABRk/MrUGnriDaJ4/s1600/A0FFCD58-64FB-42E2-8CA8-4048E4E972C4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/watch-freaking-movie-wednesday-marie.html" target="_blank">Watch a Freaking Movie: Marie Antoinette</a></div>
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Amy recommended a few flicks - this is certainly the prettiest.</div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/make-stuff-neon-rope-earrings.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry0Cb2bNW94/U-GKFZBH9MI/AAAAAAAABPs/rSV1NqVaANA/s1600/yellow%2Byelling%2B-%2Bw%2Btext.png" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/make-stuff-neon-rope-earrings.html" target="_blank">Make Stuff: Neon Rope Earrings</a></div>
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I wrote a handful of DIY posts. This was the first and the one for which I took the most slightly embarrassing selfies.</div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/cheeky-pop-monochromaybe.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6_cTtGi2mk/U9sRUdMp90I/AAAAAAAABO0/LyqR_jsfBu4/s1600/photo%2B3%2B%283%29.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/cheeky-pop-monochromaybe.html" target="_blank">ChEEky PoP: MonochroMAYBE</a></div>
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Amy's stylin' and very adorable.</div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/07/hardcore-and-piiink.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsIgky5_z2o/U9MAppNrrSI/AAAAAAAAA1A/YVeRheL_t2Q/s1600/old%2Bheader%2Bwith%2Ban%2BX%2Bthru%2Bit.png" height="169" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/07/hardcore-and-piiink.html" target="_blank">Hardcore and Piiiiink: Blog Redo</a></div>
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I had a lot of fun redoing the blog this summer. I learned a lot about design and a bit about code.</div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/wall-art-interactive-improv-piece.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg_Vv3QuRbE/U_y9YI5OynI/AAAAAAAABYM/6F3WG-RJUwo/s1600/audience%2Bpix%2B7.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/08/wall-art-interactive-improv-piece.html" target="_blank">Wall Art: An Interactive Piece</a></div>
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We like art of all kinds, and especially art made by the audiences at our show. We get so lucky with the creative people who come to hang out.</div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/10/how-ot-makes-me-better-dancer.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wt3zXldflI/VDGcfepWG9I/AAAAAAAABd4/KRy-AUsJAXQ/s1600/photo%2B2%2B%289%29.JPG" height="390" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/10/how-ot-makes-me-better-dancer.html" target="_blank">How OT makes me a better DANCER</a></div>
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Amy wrote a bit about how her job influences her work as a dancer. Expect more of these self-collaboration pieces in 2015!</div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/11/calamity-8-it-was-great.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUzC2tl8wMQ/VGJvWvDNDzI/AAAAAAAABkI/iuKznz8yWNk/s1600/amy%2Band%2Bmeghan%2Bblur.png" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.calamitycodance.com/2014/11/calamity-8-it-was-great.html" target="_blank">Calamity #8! It was great!</a></div>
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Here are some of the pictures of all the acts from our November show, Calamity #8!</div>
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<br />Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-56866493055390267812014-12-26T15:43:00.003-05:002014-12-26T18:03:48.710-05:00Weekend links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbEbftC2omk/VEAYeEpnwkI/AAAAAAAABfU/p5veZWl8sDI/s1600/links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbEbftC2omk/VEAYeEpnwkI/AAAAAAAABfU/p5veZWl8sDI/s1600/links.png" /></a></div>
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I hope that people who celebrate holidays have been enjoying them! Amy's down in Florida visiting her nephew (and her brother and her sister-in-law), and I'm at my parents' place in Connecticut for a few days. Time off is definitely an upside to working in the public school system. It means I have time to do loads of grading, being sick and unable to move, and Calamity stuff that I can't usually get to. I also get to actually get enough sleep, which brings me to my first link...<br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/12/02/no-youre-not-sleeping-enough-and-its-a-big-problem-15-scary-facts-in-new-natgeo-doc/" target="_blank">Washington Post - No, You're Not Sleeping Enough</a><br />
It's very of-the-moment to be into healthy eating (or maybe I just hang out with healthy people), and I hope that healthy sleep habits catch on, too. My inner trend-caster tells me they might, as people connect the healthy eating and the work-life balance points of focus.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lillianstestkitchen.com/episodes/cooking-episodes/sides/crispy-carrots-that-can-get-it/" target="_blank">Lillian's Test Kitchen - Crispy Carrots that Can Get It</a><br />
Speaking of hanging out with healthy people, I hang out with Lillian, and she's really healthy. She's also adorable, as you already know if you've been to one of our shows in which that she has danced or told a corny joke, and will soon find out if you watch this video. Anyway, I'm definitely going to make these carrots while school's out for winter break.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/12/how-self-tracking-apps-exclude-women/383673/3/" target="_blank">The Atlantic - How Self-Tracking Apps Exclude Women</a><br />
About a month ago, a group of students at my school asked if I would help them out by being the advisor of a feminism club. I was extremely on board. Having to explain to many people at school (a) that dudes can be feminists, too and (b) that there is in fact a reason we say 'feminist' instead of 'equalist' has re-opened my eyes to the countless insidious ways in which our world is set up for men. I thought this article about seemingly innocuous self-tracking apps was a good example.<br />
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<a href="http://www.heritageradionetwork.com/episodes/7359-After-the-Jump-Episode-99-Changing-Pay-Rates-for-Creatives" target="_blank">After the Jump (Design Sponge Podcast) - Changing Pay Rates for Creatives</a><br />
I love this interview. Money is something we definitely never have enough of inside of Calamity, as we wish to be able to include all people in our audiences and also respect the years of training that have led to our artists' performances. It was interesting to hear about these topics from people in other fields.<br />
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<a href="http://www.earwolf.com/show/with-special-guest-lauren-lapkus/" target="_blank">With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus</a><br />
This is a fairly new podcast with a bizarre and excellent concept. Each week, a different comedian comes and creates a fake podcast of which they are the host. Lauren Lapkus, as one of her many characters, always plays the guest. You'll know her if you ever listen to other podcasts on the <a href="http://www.earwolf.com/" target="_blank">Earwolf network</a>, or if you recall the <a href="http://orange-is-the-new-black.wikia.com/wiki/Susan_Fischer" target="_blank">lady prison guard</a> from Orange is the New Black.</div>
Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992217269230079176.post-82704866645836823932014-12-22T17:35:00.000-05:002014-12-22T17:38:38.451-05:00A Post about Process, Or: Why We Painted our FacesThere are some pieces that you'd like to make. You get a fun idea; a quirky movement pops into your head; you're inspired by a new song. With time and oh, I guess some effort, you end up building a pretty great dance around it.<br />
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And then there are some pieces that you HAVE to make. Ideas you need to get out of you. Thoughts, concepts and dare I say, <i>emotions</i> that are so stuck, so stagnant, that you actually, viscerally need to expunge them from your body, before they suffocate you.<br />
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And in this case, the word "expunge" is an SAT-level euphemism for DANCE.<br />
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That's where "Severely, Sincerely" came from.<br />
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:DANCE BREAK:<br />
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As I mentioned in a previous post, I pride myself on people-pleaser pieces. I like to make pieces that I, as an audience member, would like to watch. (Pardon my slight narcissism in boldly assuming that I have ever succeeded in ever pleasing any portion of an audience.) I like to make silly pieces that are fun to dance in, and otherwise upbeat.<br />
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"Severely, Sincerely" started as a stream of consciousness. I, as girls tend to do, was mentally ruminating on some old situations, old conversations, long since cold, that despite having no bearing on my current day-to-day, remain in my past unresolved and untethered.<br />
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Oh, you couldn't guess? They're about a goddamn boy.<br />
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I heard a old song, that reminded me of one night, far removed from my memory in such a way that I know it happened, but I only remember enough to make the details work in my favor. Overcome with a flashback, a mental picture of a night sky, I quickly opened a word document to get the feelings that I had stuffed down so long ago, out out out of me for the very first, and very last time.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Was this really the song we heard that night? Maybe, maybe not. But at least we'll have a soundtrack!</span></div>
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It was a good first step. I felt lighter, but I wasn't done. This document would sit in my computer for months, untouched, as I racked my brains for the next step of the process.<br />
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Knowing full well that I was headed in the direction of dance, I finally asked Meghan and our dear Molly to think upon a time that someone had let them down or had otherwise hurt their feelings. It didn't have to be deep, it didn't have to be superficial, it just had to be a time that someone made them feel kinda crappy.<br />
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A few days later, we shared our experiences very matter-of-factly. We didn't embellish our emotions but talked, removed from our respective situations, on the black and whites of what had happened. From our three distinct stories, came some trends of not only sentiment, but also of logistics -the actions in each of our tales echoed those of the two others.<br />
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From here, I decided upon 5 notions that would fuel and inspire movement. These were;<br />
"forgot"<br />
"making and breaking plans"<br />
"messages"<br />
"not cool enough" // "being passed over"<br />
"excuses"<br />
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Each of these five notions were assigned a movement vocabulary varying in length. "Forgot" included a very literal swiping over the forehead and a turning sequence, while "messages" had us trapped in our own personal inbox.<br />
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Then, each of us was given a sequence of the notions; creating a fluid piece of movement that was similar, but not entirely unison.<br />
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So then, why did we paint our faces?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7bNYjRQqC8/VJicUyzLa3I/AAAAAAAABog/QG9o730xJkc/s1600/face%2Bpaint%2Bon%2Bmeghan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7bNYjRQqC8/VJicUyzLa3I/AAAAAAAABog/QG9o730xJkc/s1600/face%2Bpaint%2Bon%2Bmeghan.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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First all, because I wanted us to.<br />
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But I put on my mature choreographer pants and knew I needed a more valid reason and a logical way to incorporate this action into the piece. Things are about to get literal.<br />
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I had wrote down what had happened to me, but putting it down on paper hadn't been enough. I had to use my body to really tell the story.<br />
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Are you getting it?<br />
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In the piece, we are stumped with our notebooks, trying to write down our experience. It is only when Molly drags the crayon across her skin, that we realize we have been using the wrong medium all along. In the same way that the current versions of ourselves are the product of our past experiences, we are literally wearing our stories on our face as a way of finally getting it out of the recesses of our minds.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCZTzjNAkAE/VGJVYyokZvI/AAAAAAAABjE/Zp8mv4mzcOw/s1600/photo%2B(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCZTzjNAkAE/VGJVYyokZvI/AAAAAAAABjE/Zp8mv4mzcOw/s640/photo%2B(24).JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battlescars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Does that make sense? No? Then it was just because I wanted to use face paint. Because it's awesome and great and fun.<br />
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And that's the cool thing about dance. It doesn't have to make sense. It was okay to me, as the choreographer, if the audience didn't "get it." I got to tell my story, in my way. And I also got to paint my face.<br />
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What moves you? How to you transfer your visions into reality? Tell me all your secrets in the comment section!<br />
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-A.Calamity Co Dancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16770770206449767553noreply@blogger.com0