Malashock Dance Blog

Malashock Blog Series: Behind The Curtain #1

Scott M. — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:54:32 +0000

[Behind The Curtain is a unique opportunity to get exclusive insight into the inner workings of Malashock Dance performances, programs, and events through first-person accounts from those that make them happen. From performers and choreographers to directors, producers, and beyond, our varied cast of contributors will provide an entertaining insiders look at what happens "behind the scenes" at Malashock Dance .]

Series #1 - MALASHOCK THINKS YOU CAN DANCE
As we approach our 4th Annual MALASHOCK THINKS YOU CAN DANCE! Fundraiser on October 9, we’ll be hearing from all levels of participants, past and present, to learn what it takes to raise the much-needed funds that support Malashock Dance’s Education Outreach and Scholarship programs.

Vol. 1 - Paloma Patterson (Malashock Dance Executive Director)

I can’t believe it’s been four years since our very first Malashock Thinks You Can Dance fundraiser! Back then, television dance fever had just started to spread. Luckily for us, a few Malashock Dance friends had the foresight to capitalize on its growing popularity and we ended up parlaying it into the organization’s most successful, creative fundraiser in our 23-year history (well, it may be our ONLY annual fundraiser, but that is beside the point!).

Throughout the years, we’ve definitely learned a lot about producing the event, and as such, it has been through a few incarnations since our 2007 debut. The first year, Mary Murphy (judge on Fox TV’s So You Think You Can Dance) was on hand, contestants only competed in Cha Cha and Waltz, and one champion in each category was named. In year two, we opened up the styles and crowned one overall winner in the 2+ hour show. Last year, we hired a professional emcee, cut the show to 90 minutes, and encouraged more theatrical performances.

For this year’s event, we decided to turn up the heat by re-branding the event (thanks Bailey Gardiner!); moving to a brand new location in North Park; and for the very first time, awarding the championship title to both a man and a woman - an important new direction, as thus far, no male contestant has ever won!

Most importantly, we’ve found the biggest reward of this fundraiser has been the tangible power in the community of dance itself. Not only does it support one of San Diego’s premier dance companies, it funds our Education Outreach & Scholarships programs that bring much needed arts education to nearly 3,000 under-served local students. It also provides important jobs to working professional dancers and enables our celebrity contestants to either discover, or re-discover, a love for the art-form. Many continue their lessons well after the lights have gone down, simply because they’ve found that dance enables them to access an unparalleled level of self-expression, fun, and physical exercise!

Every year we joke that it may be our last. We keep waiting for the momentum to dissipate, but it just hasn’t happened. We already have a waiting list for contestants in 2011 and could not be more excited about this year’s event! It’s going to both air in prime time on Cox’s Ch.4 and include an introduction by the one-and-only Mary Murphy. Maybe all of San Diego really does think they can dance… and we’re here to make that dream come true!

- Paloma Patterson 8/27/10

http://www.malashockdance.org/thinksyoucandance

Summer Intensive Success!

generaladmin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:19:40 +0000

It is hard to believe another MALASHOCK DANCE SUMMER INTENSIVE is over. If flew by in a blink of an eye. The students were wonderful dancers and wonderful people to boot.

During the first week, I reset John Malashock’s TRIBES. Luckily, I had just taught this piece to the Malashock company dancers so it was fresh in my head. I taught the 1st section which is basically 6 solos followed by giant leaps, high kicks and backache inducing arches to the floor. Well then, what to do? I taught them the piece and it was looking terrific — do I really want to spend another week cleaning? Naw, let’s teach them some more repertory! After going home and culling over the possibilities, I decided on THE CURSE OF MILHAVEN section from LOVE & MURDER. THE CURSE OF MILHAVEN follows the homicidal exploits of a 14 year-old girl named Loretta (but you can call her Lottie) who violently murders half the town. With music by Nick Caves and The Bad Seeds and hilarious choreography by John Malashock, this piece is a hoot and a half. And the dancers — they had a blast. They reveled in the twisted, morose movements (nicknamed "Monster Sit-Ups", "Frankenstein Hands", and "Zombie Hip Hop").

Bradley Lundberg, company member with Malashock Dance, set a section of his work SWEET SUITE, to the music of Coldplay, and Keith Johnson, Artistic Director of KEITH JOHNSON/DANCERS, set two sections from DIVINITY BLUEPRINT with music by Johannes Brahms. Brad and Keith did a great job with the students and their pieces looked amazing.

John and I both set new work. I premiered UNTAKEN with music by KODO and John premiered PAPER SKIN with music by The Balanescu Quartet and Zoe Keating. It was a real privilege to create movement on these dancers. They had stupendous memories. Yowza! I was so proud of their performances.

To round out the workshop, we had Tsukuru Matasamuru from The Jeffrey Lamont Brown Photography Studio come and take dance photos of the students. You can see them prominently displayed on their respective facebook page profiles.

Jess Humphrey taught a wonderful Contact/Improv class and was a favorite with all of the students. Assisted by Malashock Dance dancer Christine Marshall, I led a Partnering Workshop (who knew these guys and gals were so bendy!). During the last week, John led a Dance Stories mini-workshop. The students delved into their personal histories to help create choreography.

The Summer Intensive Performance at The Saville Theater looked SO GOOD! They absorbed so much material in two weeks and performed it breathtakingly. It was so exciting to watch them all come alive and dance so enthusiastically.

Now Molly, John and I are preparing for THE MALASHOCK DANCE SUMMER INTENSIVE 2011. Stay tuned!

-Michael Mizerany

Associate Artistic Director

Hopping back over the Pond

generaladmin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:15:42 +0000

Now it is time for me to write my farewell blog as I return home to the UK next week. I look back and I can’t believe 3 months passed so quickly. I have, as expected, thoroughly enjoyed my time in San Diego and working with the Malashock Dance team. It’s been a busy time! Spring Showcase, Chagall Premiere, Floating World Studio Series, and the Summer Intensive just to name a few of the events Malashock has organized in such a short space of time with just a few passionate people involved.

In this 3 month internship I have been given a large amount of responsibility and freedom to work within the team. I have been able to build knowledge and skills base for working in the field of arts management. I have been able to observe the challenges and problem solving that goes into an arts organization particularly at a time where arts funding are being cut. The largest change I have noticed in myself is my growth in self-confidence and self worth. As a recent graduate it is difficult to believe in yourself that you can provide something even without the years of experience others can provide. But Malashock Dance Company & School gave me the opportunity for me to prove to myself that I have ideas of value and skills to offer to the arts industry. With this new sense of value I can confidently go into the Arts World with the ability to present myself, and quantifiably prove the value I have to offer.

From my time at Malashock Dance I have been most proud of the Shockwaves Newsletter I redesigned and the Dance about Diego Blog I have set up with Voice of San Diego. I am glad that I will be able to continue writing this blog even after I have returned to the UK. Please show your support for the arts in San Diego and Malashock Dance by reading and getting involved in conversations on this blog .

Thank you, Malashock Dance, for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working with Malashock Dance in the future and returning to San Diego soon. I have made some great life-long friends and I hope I will see them all soon. In the words of a famous ‘Californian’, “I’ll be back”.

Summer Intensive has begun!

generaladmin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:50:05 +0000

The Malashock Dance studio is buzzing with the energy of the next generation of up-and-coming dancers! The Malashock Dance Summer Intensive is filling the studio with the sound of dancer’s feet brushing, sliding and pounding the studio floor accompanied by the evocative musical selections of their choreographers. These young dancers are eager to learn and ready to move. Their attention is focused and their bodies are instruments of expression, waiting to “upload” the latest choreographic explorations of the faculty. Their willingness to become as vulnerable as clay before a sculptor is quite inspiring, and by the end of the first day of classes, the group of 20 dancers transformed from complete strangers to intimate partners who were lifting, catching, and taking risks with one another. When challenged to reach beyond what they think they can achieve, and given the tools and support to take healthy risks, dancers will transform. They transform their body, their idea of what is possible, the choreography, and even the staff and faculty who facilitate their experience.

I am looking forward to seeing these young talents take the stage on July 17 at the Saville Theater at San Diego City College to perform the repertory and new works developed during these two very intense weeks with Malashock Dance!

Malashock Dance School Students can purchase 2-4-1 Tickets to the Summer Showcase.

Adults: $15

Children/Seniors: $10

Purchase tickets here

The performance is July 17 at the Saville Theater, City College at 8pm. We hope to see you there!

Malashock Recommends: YDance! Camp (5-8yrs)

generaladmin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:32:53 +0000

YDance! is a week-long dance camp held at The Malashock Dance School, that is made possible by a partnership with The Peninsula Family YMCA. During these busy summer months, many families are looking for camps that will keep their kids happy, active, and curious for a week or so.

The Malashock Dance School is proud to facilitate a camp where 5-8 year-old students are engaged in a variety of healthy, creative, physical activities that will explore dance as a medium for creation, performance, and even story telling. Students involved will become active as choreographers, building self-esteem and social cooperative skills along the way. They will explore the possibilities of space, time, and energy as they play games, learn dances, and identify new ways of moving. Sounds fun, right? Well, don’t tell the kids, but there happens to be a few other reasons why dance camp is a great choice…

·   In addition to being listed as a core academic subject in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, dance is an opportunity for students to explore kinesthetic learning, or learning by actually carrying out a physical activity, rather than listening to a lecture or merely watching a demonstration. This is the least used learning style in a traditional classroom setting, and may be a hidden strength of your child!
·   The arts, including dance, teach children to absorb information and communicate effectively using words, images, sounds, and movement. These are the tools they must master in order to develop the creativity and determination necessary to compete in the global information age.
·   The Malashock Dance School is committed to your child, and our community. By supporting partnerships like YDance! you will also reap the benefits of both established organizations and all they have to offer!

YDance! Camp will be held from 9am-12pm August 16-20, 2010
The Malashock Dance School
2650 Truxtun Road Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 260-1622
www.MalashockDance.org

Registration, payment, pick-up, and drop-off are through the Peninsula Family YMCA
4390 Valeta Street, San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 226-8888‎
‎www.peninsula.ymca.org

Malashock Dance through Summer

generaladmin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:51:28 +0000

The Malashock Dance Summer Intensive is fast approaching and it will be two weeks of non-stop dance featuring classes in technique, new works, repertory (not only Malashock repertory but also repertory by guest artists Keith Johnson and Bradley Lundberg), as well as mini-workshops in Dance Photography, Partnering, Contact Improvisation and Dance Stories (with John Malashock).

With regard to my piece for my New Works class, I have found some wonderful music by KODO that is both exhilarating and inspiring. Anyone who knows my movement, knows the piece with be fast-paced, somewhat leggy and a lot of fun. In repertory, I will be resetting sections of TRIBES (choreography by John Malashock), which was just performed at the Jewish Arts Festival this past June.

New works, repertory and more will be performed at the Summer Intensive Showcase at The Saville Theater on July 17th. And remember, if you would like to be an apprentice or company member with MALASHOCK DANCE, you can use the Summer Intensive as your audition. We have a full season of rehearsals, performances and touring, including:

CHAGALL/TRIBES at Oceanside Museum of Art in October 2010, MALASHOCK/RAW in November 2010 and the premiere of THE FLOATING WORLD at the San Diego Museum of Art over four weekends in April 2011.

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE

For class schedule, more information and payment option please visit:
http://www.malashockdance.org/the-school/workshops-a-special-events

Located at Dance Place San Diego, NTC Promenade
2650 Truxtun Road, Suite 202
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: 619.260.1622
Fax: 619.523.0603
Email : info@malashockdance.org

Summer Intensive Fee: $600
Partial Fee (Technique/repertory only): $350
Drop-in Technique Class: $18
10 Technique Classes: $160

Students registered in San Diego Dance Theater’s Summer Workshop receive $100 discount from tuition.

Purchase tickets for the Summer Showcase Performance here:
https://app.etapestry.com/cart/MalashockDanceGroup/default/category.php?ref=712.0.239377431

Academics in Motion: Freese

generaladmin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:05:15 +0000

What is Academics in Motion: Freese and how did it come about?

The Academics In Motion Program was originally developed through a partnership with Freese Elementary’s Arts Magnet coordinator Mary Pat Hutt, Paloma Patterson (former Education Director and current Executive Director for Malashock Dance) and Molly Puryear (former Teaching Artist and current Education Director for Malashock Dance). The program is designed to provide integrated dance classes to this under-served, primarily low-income, ethnically diverse group of students. We are able to provide the classes at Freese Elementary free of charge to the students, removing financial and transportation barriers that often prevent students from taking dance lessons. We have been able to provide professional teaching artists who could develop curriculum that integrates California Visual and Performing Arts standards with the students’ academic curricula strands for 3 consecutive years.

What are the aims/plan for this program?

Our aim was to provide quality dance instruction that would breathe life and creativity into the classroom, increase the cognitive, social, and artistic growth of the students, and provide opportunities for integrated classes where multi-modal learning approaches are utilized.

Improvement noticed in the class by other school teachers and dance instructor?

Classroom teachers have witnessed improvement in attendance and test scores, shy children coming out of their shell to become expressive movers, and an increase in students’ awareness of their body language and posture.

"I have noticed the students making connections and relevant applications between the arts and their science, math, and language arts curricula. I have noticed increased social cooperation and self esteem in students who rarely feel successful in other academic settings. When the barrier of language is taken out of the equation, we see children that often struggle to communicate verbally suddenly become animated, expressive and quite focused." - Molly Puryear, Education Director Malashock Dance and Facilitator of this program

“The Malashock dance classes challenge our students to express themselves in new and dynamic ways. They are given the opportunity to grow in independence while simultaneously learning the value of interdependence as well. Those lessons will serve them well throughout their lives, whatever paths they might travel.”

-Mary Pat Hutt-Arts Magnet Coordinator at Freese Elementary

A comment on the experience from Malashocks’ perspective:

“This program has been one of the most moving and powerful experiences of my career! The dedicated and invested administration and faculty have demonstrated their commitment to educating the whole child; valuing the many different ways that students connect to the arts and to academic curricula.” - Molly Puryear

Is it continuing? What is the future of the relationship with Freese and Malashock?

The program will continue next year, serving 280 first, third, and fifth graders for 10 weeks each. This year, Julianne O’Brien Pedersen will be the teaching artist, bringing over 15 years of experience to the program!

How does someone get in touch to book a program at their institution?

Please visit http://malashockdance.org/outreach-programs for more information about helping to support the program, and for more information about all of Malashock Dance’s thriving Education Outreach programs or contact Education Director, Molly Puryear to book a program at your school or institution Molly@malashockdance.org

Fathers Day Dance Off!

generaladmin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:04:50 +0000

Last Saturday morning faculty member Diana Nicastro, invited Dads to attend the Creative Dance classes in honor of Fathers Day 2010! The turnout exceeded our expectations. One enthusiastic Dad said "We had fun."

Here is the evidence

Our creative dance classes are offered for children ages 3-6 every Saturday morning at Dance Place San Diego in Point Loma. Bring your child and begin this process of self-discovery and fun! Details about all of our classes, tuition, and registration are available at www.MalashockDance.org/the-school

Creative Dance I
Ages 3-4
Saturday, 9-9:50 a.m.

Creative Dance II
Ages 4-6
Saturday, 10-11 a.m

CHAGALL & TRIBES at the Jewish Arts Festival

malashockdance — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:27:07 +0000

CHAGALL and TRIBES came together wonderfully at the Jewish Arts Festival. The performances went smoothly and the reviews were stellar. The music from Hot P’stromi was amazing. It is always a privilege and also a challenge to perform with live music. It never sounds the same as the CD. The tempos change, and, occasionally, complete measures of music disappear. That being said, it really kept the dancers on their toes, so to speak, and also kept the performance alive and fresh.

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director
Malashock Dance

Did you miss the Jewish Arts Festival? Malashock Dance teamed up with Yale Strom for a reprise of their 1996 collaboration, Tribes , and the premiere of three sections of their collaborative work in progress, Chagall .

Keep up with the development of Chagall on our website!

Read the Reviews from SanDiego.com and SDNN

Why do I Dance?

generaladmin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:23:03 +0000

Contemporary Technique Class for 10-14 year olds created a short composition about why it is they dance. The question came about as a result of the second installment of our new Dance About Diego Blog. This question allowed for an insightful reflection on their choice to dance. Their answers informed their movement; both words and movement combined to create the piece. They were able to have real ownership of this project as a result. Here is a video of the results of their work and some quotes from the students on the subject:

Watch "Why I Dance" on YouTube

“I dance…

To express my emotions
Because it’s good for my heart
To tell a story” – Malashock Dance Student

“I dance…

To entertain people
To stay healthy
Because I enjoy it” – Malashock Dance Student

“Because I love it. It’s an art of expressing yourself. I love the stories that dance tells (I like stories). Because it makes you your own individual.” – Malashock Dance Student

“I dance to get exercise. I dance to escape from the real world. I dance to have fun.” – Malashock Dance Student

“Dance makes you stronger. Increases balance. Increases flexibility and is Fun!” – Malashock Dance Student

To read more about Why Malashock Dance Company Staff choose to dance and work in this industry please visit our new blog, Dance About Diego: www.voiceofsandiego.org/peoplespost/dance/