Preview: The Next Step

THE MARK dance company is presenting their first evening length show this weekend as part of the Charlotte Dance Festival so I thought I'd write a preview:

Being a dancer/choreographer, myself, I find the mark of good performance work is that it gives me the itch to jump in the studio and create.  And that is just what I wanted to do following one of Arlynn Zachary’s final rehearsals for THE MARK dance company’s upcoming performance as part of the Charlotte Dance Festival.  THE MARK will be presenting their first evening (or rather afternoon) length show,  The Next Step on Saturday at 12pm in the Duke Energy Theater.  The show will serve as a showcase of work spanning the four years of the company’s existence.  

I find myself inspired by Artistic Director Arlynn Zachary’s unique and powerful movement qualities, her creative use of props and the diversity of the work being presented in The Next Step.  Arlynn has always exhibited a very specific and detailed style of movement and has found dancers to match her intensity and captive stage presence.  

The afternoon of work includes process-based explorations including “Describe This!” and “Re-Set” which will serve to allow audiences a peek into the rehearsal and creation process of modern dance.  Both works will educate audiences and hopefully add context not only to the other works presented in The Next Step, but also works seen throughout the weekend of the Charlotte Dance Festival.  The development of these pieces is fascinating and the movement fully developed and lovely.  

“Figure 8” and “Axiom” explore fascinating uses of mundane props.  “Figure 8” is a chair dance with the chair acting as a support allowing the three dancers to showcase the strength and control of their beautiful bodies.  This work is made all the more alluring by Arlynn’s casting choice, including dancers of three diverse body types.  “Axiom” will encourage audiences to rethink the ballet barre and it’s purpose in the dance studio.  

Filling out Zachary’s diverse movement style are “Paloria” and “Q.C. Me”.  “Paloria” pays homage to the traditional modern dance of our fore-mothers and fathers.  Set to eloquent choral music, Arlynn’s detail- oriented choreography is well served in this space.  The dancers move as one with heads tilted to the same degree of precision.  “Q.C. Me” fuses modern dance and jazz movement and explores the role of women in the business world. This piece is fun, elegant and distinct from the other works presented in The Next Step.  

Allow yourself to be “marked” by the eclectic body of work presented in The Next Step.  This showcase is full of powerful dancers exploring unique and diverse movement experiences.  

THE MARK dance company’s The Next Step

Saturday March 19th, 2016

Duke Energy Theater, Sprit Square

Tickets: $15-$25

Presented by: Charlotte Dance Festival

To Purchase Tickets: http://www.blumenthalarts.org/events-performances/coming-performances/detail/the-mark-dance-company-the-next-step

Ophelos- July 27-28, Aug. 3-4 7:30pm Upstage

Taproot Ensemble

Presents

OPHELOS

Created by Taproot Ensemble

Inspired by the Scandinavian folk tale of Amleth with text from Shakespeare's Hamlet

Ophelos brings to Charlotte a whole new type of theater event.  It is an original production designed to give the audience a performance experience which breaks down the fourth wall, with action taking place throughout Upstage.  The bar becomes both seating and set.  The show was developed collaboratively using dance, theater, music and visual art to tell a timeless story inspired by the ancient folktale Amleth using wordage from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  The work centers around Ophelia, and her struggle to turn Hamlet away from the violence that society is encouraging upon him. Ophelos transcends time using Shakespearian language, 1930s inspired costuming, original music, modern dance techniques and a unique understanding of multidisciplinary performance. 

Taproot Ensemble works collaboratively to bring together artists from different disciplines to explore ideas and concepts.  They are committed to creating as a whole, often working outside their individual fields of expertise.   Each artist transcends their own medium to develop performance that is greater than the collection of the parts.  Additionally Taproot is interested in community involvement.  To date they have held two public showings of Ophelos as a work in progress with a focus on receiving feedback.  Moving forward they plan to open rehearsals to outside parties to offer criticism in order to develop a stronger product. 

“Creating Ophelos has been the most rewarding collaborative experience I have ever been a part of.  Each artist has truly brought something exceptional to the experience.  I am elated to be a part of this show”. –Camerin Watson (Ophelia, Taproot Ensemble Core Member).

PERFORMANCE DATES

July 27-28, August 3-4 @ 7:30pm

Tickets available at www.upstagenoda.com

Sliding scale $10-$20

Presented at UPSTAGE

3306 N. Davidson St. Charlotte, NC 28205

704-430-4821

www.upstagenoda.com

www.TaprootEnsemble.com

Working With- THIS WEEKEND

MARTHA CONNERTON/KINETICWORKS 

and the KINETICollective

Present

“WORKING WITH” 

A collective evening of works by Charlotte choreographers in collaboration with other art forms and technology.

Charlotte resident choreographers Martha Connerton, Camerin McKinnon, Bridget Morris, Jessica Stewart, and Arlynn Zachary are teaming up to present “WORKING WITH” an evening of collaboration blending dance with other art forms and technology.   The concert is produced under the umbrella of Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works as the second annual KINETICollective concert.

The KINETICollective, a subsidiary of Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works, is a support and networking organization for professional choreographers, dancers and dance students.  In addition to pooling resources to produce events, the KINETIColletive offers professional development workshops, discounts on classes, tickets and studio rentals at Aris’ Heart, the home studio of Kinetic Works.

Where: 

Actors Theatre of Charlotte,  650 Stonewall Street, Charlotte,  NC  28202

When:  

 March 15 and 16 8PM   March 17  3PM

Admission:

$15 advance purchase by 3/14 at www.mckineticworks.org

$20 at door

$10 Seniors 60+/Students w/ID/Youth 12-/KinetiCollective Members

Info and Tickets:

www.mckineticworks.org

338-1533

marthacon2@aol.com

Package Deal with Open Door Studios “Peter and the Wolf”

Matinees Saturday March 16 at 10AM and 2PM

Buy tickets for “WORKING WITH” and “Peter and the Wolf” for $25

www.mckineticworks.org  advance purchase only.

“WORKING WITH” will feature the following works:  

“SENT. RECEIVED.” by Jessica Stewart, a visual representation of how we send messages, exploring ways in which mainstream forms of communication have changed with the evolution of technology.

“INSIDE THIS PAINTED MIND” by Arlynn Zachary, in collaboration with painter, Corina Brown. Who will be painting an abstract painting onstage while the work is being performed.  The work will be auctioned off in the lobby on the final day of performances.

“COME DAWN” by Bridget Morris, based on the tragic true story of Tom Dula (Dooley), hung for the murder of his girlfriend, Laura Foster in Statesville, NC, 1868.  Music by Craig Bove.

“LAS HERMANAS DEL CORAZON” by Martha Connerton, a duet created using a computer program that issues random assignments for points of body contact, weight bearing/sharing, timing and dancer identification.  Created in collaboration with dancers Emily Morgan and Kim Diepold, the work took on a sisterly personality.  Ms. Connerton blended music by Mexican and Brazilian musicians and incorporated bedsheets painted with designs from Milagro Hearts, (small metallic tokens that are used as prayers in Mexican chapels).

PRESS/PLAY by Camerin Watson is a study on the impact of environment on individual expression.  Dancers took part in the creation of the work by allowing their derivative of the original phrase work to be effected by costume and music.  Dancers and choreographer Camerin Watson then worked together to solidify each section with a focus on dancer expression and personal strengths.  

Working With- THIS WEEKEND!!!

Open Rehearsal (in search of additional dancers)

The Wake Project has just been accepted to present a full-hour long show at the 11th Annual Greensboro Fringe Festival Jan.31st, Feb 1st and 2nd, and we are in need of some additional dancers.  On Friday, Nov. 2nd, The Wake Project will be hosting an Open Rehearsal to help in that search.  An open rehearsal gives both dancer and choreographer a chance to evaluate the workability for both parties.  Please contact Camerin at thewakeproject@gmail.com for more information. 

Open Rehearsal:

Friday Nov. 2nd from 4:30-7pm

Aris' Heart Studio 1609 Nassau Blvd. Charlotte NC

Belk Charity Sale

Dear Friends and Dance-Supporters,

The Wake Project is proud to be a part of the Belk Charity Sale on November 3^rd, 2012. Proceeds will benefit The KinetiCollective, a subsidiary group of Martha Connerton/ Kinetic Works, formed to bring dancers together as a network community for growth both within the Charlotte dance-arts, as well as, our growing outreach to our many audiences.

The Belk Charity Sale is one of two sales a year that Belk holds to donate money to different local charities and non-profit organizations. The KinetiCollective is using the money raised from the Belk Charity Sale in order to help fund their upcoming dance concert to be held March 15 – 17 at Actor’s Theater of Charlotte. The local-based companies collaborating on this event are: Echo Contemporary Dance Company, Kinetic Works, Streamline Movements, THE MARK, The Wake Project, and Open Door Studios.

How the Sale Works:

1.     Belk is offering a one day charity sale on Saturday, November 3^rd from 6 - 10am (this happens before store hours normally open).

2.     Customers can ONLY  get into this special event with a purchased ticket (tickets are $5 and all money from these tickets go to the designated non-profit organizations who are selling them).

3.     The KinetiCollective will receive 100% percent of the money for tickets sold by our company members (prior to November 3^rd).

4.     Customers who purchase these tickets not only get into this special event, but are also given back a re-fund of the $5 when presenting their ticket and paying for their items at the register (so basically, by purchasing the tickets the customer is “fronting” the money ahead of time and if they don’t go to the sale, or don’t buy anything, they are out that $5. But, if they do go to the sale and do purchase items then it is actually Belk who is donating the $5 to our organization).

Incentives for Customers to Buy Tickets:

1.     Entrance into special sale.

2.     There is a FREE gift card to the first 100 costumers at each store location (gift cards will range from $5 -$1,000).

3.     Every single item in all Belk stores (excluding Fragrances and Cosmetics) is 20%-70% off. This includes all specialty never-on-sale items. Red Dot items will be 45% - 75% off.

4.     Customers can earn Double their rewards points with the use of their Belk Rewards/Premier cards, or Triple their points with their Elite Card.

How to Purchase Tickets (Please, choose one of the following choices):

1.     Contact Camerin Watson at thewakeproject@gmail.com

The Belk Charity Sale is really a wonderful opportunity, not only for the organizations that are being donated to, but also for the vast amount of customers who will be getting such special limited sales just in time for the start of Christmas holiday shopping!

Thank you for all of your support and we hope to see you at our spring concert!

The KinetiCollective

We put the DNC in DANCE!

The Wake Project in conjunction with area choreographers and the Quasimodo Project will be dancing around Charlotte as part of the DNC.  Keep an eye out for us when you're uptown :-)