i realize that i am best at work when alone with myself, my thoughts, music, and space. i think a lot physically (mentally) and in terms of space/movement when on my own and traveling, traveling, traveling forward. momentum propels me. "things that remind me of other things" - the title to a new piece?
movement and relationships. there are so many places where i remember, viscerally and visually, the walks i have taken. walks in philadelphia, trying to find new corners but always ending in familiar places. thinking i've gone somewhere i've never been only to be met with a familiar visage. walks along the river ribble, heavy-hearted and heavy-armed, full of groceries for one. a special trip. walking around peachtree in atlanta, owning your territory. in the cascades, all up & down, literally and figuratively amongst the firs. in new york, alone and lost amongst streets in an unfamiliar neighborhood...here, always: retrace your steps, back to the studio, back to the body. getting lost in the forward momentum, propelled by the beat and one's own headstrong impulses. this doesn't hurt my foot, of course not. only a few blocks more, it costs too much to transit publicly. we tell ourselves stories in order to live.
this is where i am at.
this is MY life. this is not a charade. i am not treading water until my life comes along. this is it. this is me.
how strange it is to be anything at all.
how strange it is to be anywhere at all.
how strange it is to be anyone at all.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Crow
Dear friends,
It has been a crazy summer--I quit my job, in order to try and finally heal this broken bone in my foot which has been a source of pain and frustration for over a year and a half now. Quitting my job also allowed me to travel down South (home) for a few weeks and see family and friends and attend one of the loveliest weddings I could ever imagine. After returning home, I began dancing for a few of my colleagues in their work, and found out my grandmother passed away...
All of this whirlwind connecting to the past has gotten me thinking about community and memory and where we house our memories in our bodies, and how those memories make themselves known; those memories can also be falsified and can betray themselves. I cannot tell you for sure what the next piece I am working on will end up looking like, but I feel like it has something to do with my grieving process and the transient nature of the majority of our relationshps in life.
I grow weary of the melodramatic in dance--as if when we aren't serious or sad then our work isn't to be taken seriously. I am also acutely aware of the "bad art" of making the dance equivalent of what I like to call "bad teenage poetry". I really don't want to do that.
And a friend of mine once told me that my works are always too intelligent--that I overthink things, rely on layering meaning and editing movement too much, and it makes them sort of inaccessible. So her challenge to me was just to do the research, and create the movement without analyzing but trusting that the concepts are there. So that is my goal.
I am making a new work, tentatively titled "Crow", which I want to grow organically. The challenge in this endeavor is that because of all the whirlwind of the summer, I only have one month (a week of which I will be with my grandfather and family) to pull it together. I'm excited to see what is going to come.
Our first showing will be as part of the Philly Fringe Festival on September 11th at CHI MAC (Home of Kun-Yang Lin Dancers) in South Philly. We will have shows at 4pm and 7pm and tickets are only going to be $10!
Here is our postcard!
Our second showing will be at the Open Performance Series in Brooklyn on September 28th at 8pm. It will be held in the “Great Room” at the Space located at 138 S. Oxford St. in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
It has been a crazy summer--I quit my job, in order to try and finally heal this broken bone in my foot which has been a source of pain and frustration for over a year and a half now. Quitting my job also allowed me to travel down South (home) for a few weeks and see family and friends and attend one of the loveliest weddings I could ever imagine. After returning home, I began dancing for a few of my colleagues in their work, and found out my grandmother passed away...
All of this whirlwind connecting to the past has gotten me thinking about community and memory and where we house our memories in our bodies, and how those memories make themselves known; those memories can also be falsified and can betray themselves. I cannot tell you for sure what the next piece I am working on will end up looking like, but I feel like it has something to do with my grieving process and the transient nature of the majority of our relationshps in life.
I grow weary of the melodramatic in dance--as if when we aren't serious or sad then our work isn't to be taken seriously. I am also acutely aware of the "bad art" of making the dance equivalent of what I like to call "bad teenage poetry". I really don't want to do that.
And a friend of mine once told me that my works are always too intelligent--that I overthink things, rely on layering meaning and editing movement too much, and it makes them sort of inaccessible. So her challenge to me was just to do the research, and create the movement without analyzing but trusting that the concepts are there. So that is my goal.
I am making a new work, tentatively titled "Crow", which I want to grow organically. The challenge in this endeavor is that because of all the whirlwind of the summer, I only have one month (a week of which I will be with my grandfather and family) to pull it together. I'm excited to see what is going to come.
Our first showing will be as part of the Philly Fringe Festival on September 11th at CHI MAC (Home of Kun-Yang Lin Dancers) in South Philly. We will have shows at 4pm and 7pm and tickets are only going to be $10!
Here is our postcard!
Our second showing will be at the Open Performance Series in Brooklyn on September 28th at 8pm. It will be held in the “Great Room” at the Space located at 138 S. Oxford St. in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
NEW WORK and upcoming shows!
Somanaut dance is presenting NEW work tomorrow at Temple University's Conwell Theatre as part of Endings. The show is FREE so come one, come all! Conwell Theatre is on the 5th Floor of Conwell Hall, at the corner of Broad & Market, one block north of the Cecil B. Moore SEPTA stop.
This new piece, "Observer Effect", explores the layering of quantum and classical physics, neurophysiology, and social psychology/interpersonal relations. It is performed by Meredith Steinberg, Renee Amirault, Cassandra Cotta, Emily Storz, Julee Mahon, and Kiara Aguayo.
Show starts at 7:30, reception to follow!
The concert features work by Gregory King, Eun Jung Choi, Frances Gremillion, Guillermo Ortega Tanus, Rebecca Weber, Kavin Grant, Meredith Steinberg, Rori Smith, Jessica Warchal-King, Megan Mizanty, Danielle Green, Michael T. Roberts, and Shaness Kemp.
Performed by members of the Temple University dance community.
AND!
Next Friday, May 13th, we are reviving "Catastrophe Theory Series IV and III" as part of CHI Movement Arts Center's InHale Performance Series! The work will be performed by original cast members Alie Vidich and Allison Modderno.
InHale is located at 1316 S. 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147. Tickets are $10!
This new piece, "Observer Effect", explores the layering of quantum and classical physics, neurophysiology, and social psychology/interpersonal relations. It is performed by Meredith Steinberg, Renee Amirault, Cassandra Cotta, Emily Storz, Julee Mahon, and Kiara Aguayo.
Show starts at 7:30, reception to follow!
The concert features work by Gregory King, Eun Jung Choi, Frances Gremillion, Guillermo Ortega Tanus, Rebecca Weber, Kavin Grant, Meredith Steinberg, Rori Smith, Jessica Warchal-King, Megan Mizanty, Danielle Green, Michael T. Roberts, and Shaness Kemp.
Performed by members of the Temple University dance community.
AND!
Next Friday, May 13th, we are reviving "Catastrophe Theory Series IV and III" as part of CHI Movement Arts Center's InHale Performance Series! The work will be performed by original cast members Alie Vidich and Allison Modderno.
InHale is located at 1316 S. 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147. Tickets are $10!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Upcoming Shows and The Melting Point of Feathers video
This is long overdue, but the video of "the melting point of feathers" has finally been posted to youtube!
Unfortunately, the video was not from a night where we had a perfect run, but the dancers performed beautifully, and I am so proud.
We are keeping our fingers crossed to perform sections in some upcoming festivals!
In the meanwhile, you can see the scheduled Somanaut Dance performances coming up:
- "The Uncertainty Perception" (working title) will be performed as part of ENDINGS at Conwell Theatre, Temple University, Philadelphia - May 6th, 7:30pm. FREE!
- "Catastrophe Theory Series IV and III" will be performed as part of INHale Series at CHI Movement Arts Center in South Philadelphia May 13th, 7:30pm. for tickets, click here.
Unfortunately, the video was not from a night where we had a perfect run, but the dancers performed beautifully, and I am so proud.
We are keeping our fingers crossed to perform sections in some upcoming festivals!
In the meanwhile, you can see the scheduled Somanaut Dance performances coming up:
- "The Uncertainty Perception" (working title) will be performed as part of ENDINGS at Conwell Theatre, Temple University, Philadelphia - May 6th, 7:30pm. FREE!
- "Catastrophe Theory Series IV and III" will be performed as part of INHale Series at CHI Movement Arts Center in South Philadelphia May 13th, 7:30pm. for tickets, click here.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
new videos
I have recently been able to upload videos to my youtube channel (somanautdance), and here are links to two of our most recent performances:
1. Appaloosa
Presented at the December ETC Performance series at the C.E.C. in Philadelphia. This video is from Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. This piece was created in collaboration with Megan Mizanty, and celebrates the beauty and joy of horses through movement and sound; it is danced my Becca Weber, Megan Mizanty, and Colleen Ryan.
2. Catastrophe Theory Series
Presented on Oct. 1-3 at the Wilmington, DE Fringe Festival and performed at Opera Delaware, this rendition of the entire Catastrophe Theory Series was presented as part of Movement Brigade's Absurd Commentaries show. It was danced by the second cast, including Alie Vidich, Ellie Goudie-Averill, and Becca Weber, with help from the rest of the Absurd Commentaries cast.
3. Catastrophe Theory Series
Presented at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in September as part of Mascher Space Co-Op's Fresh Juice showcase, this was the seminal performance of the entire Catastrophe Theory Series, with performances original cast members Alie Vidich and Allison Modderno, while understudy Kari Friesen performs the last solo (Catastrophe Theory II). (Please note this video is in sections due to time restrictions on youtube)
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Coming soon: the melting point of feathers!
1. Appaloosa
Presented at the December ETC Performance series at the C.E.C. in Philadelphia. This video is from Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. This piece was created in collaboration with Megan Mizanty, and celebrates the beauty and joy of horses through movement and sound; it is danced my Becca Weber, Megan Mizanty, and Colleen Ryan.
2. Catastrophe Theory Series
Presented on Oct. 1-3 at the Wilmington, DE Fringe Festival and performed at Opera Delaware, this rendition of the entire Catastrophe Theory Series was presented as part of Movement Brigade's Absurd Commentaries show. It was danced by the second cast, including Alie Vidich, Ellie Goudie-Averill, and Becca Weber, with help from the rest of the Absurd Commentaries cast.
3. Catastrophe Theory Series
Presented at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in September as part of Mascher Space Co-Op's Fresh Juice showcase, this was the seminal performance of the entire Catastrophe Theory Series, with performances original cast members Alie Vidich and Allison Modderno, while understudy Kari Friesen performs the last solo (Catastrophe Theory II). (Please note this video is in sections due to time restrictions on youtube)
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Coming soon: the melting point of feathers!
Friday, December 3, 2010
December ETC Performance Series
Somanaut Dance will be premiering a new dance work at the December Madness Performance of the ETC Performance Series at Philadelphia's own Community Education Center.
image via ncssm.edu
The piece, titled "Appaloosa" is a contemporary dance work celebrating the movement of horses, developed in collaboration with Megan Mizanty, and will be performed by Becca Weber, Megan Mizanty, and Colleen Ryan.
Come out THIS weekend, Dec. 4th & 5th at 8pm to view Appaloosa! Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 students/seniors/dance pass holders.
For more info: http://www.philadelphiadance.org/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=3368 or http://etcseries.org/wordpress/
image via ncssm.edu
The piece, titled "Appaloosa" is a contemporary dance work celebrating the movement of horses, developed in collaboration with Megan Mizanty, and will be performed by Becca Weber, Megan Mizanty, and Colleen Ryan.
Come out THIS weekend, Dec. 4th & 5th at 8pm to view Appaloosa! Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 students/seniors/dance pass holders.
For more info: http://www.philadelphiadance.org/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=3368 or http://etcseries.org/wordpress/
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Melting Point of Feathers
After a wonderful run of the "Catastrophe Theory Series" in both the Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE fringe festivals, Somanaut Dance (becca weber) is proud to be premiering a new work this weekend!!!
(photo via Bill H.)
(photo via Bill H.)The piece is called "The Melting Point of Feathers" and it is the somatic re-telling of the tale of Icarus and Dedalus featuring performances by Temple students Megan Mizanty, Sophia May, Taylor Green, Gracianna Coscia, and Emily Storz, with lighting design by Colleen Hooper. It will be presented as part of Temple University's Student Dance Concert this weekend in Conwell Theatre. Information is as follows--hope you can make it!
Friday, November 12 at 7:30pm
Saturday, November 13 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Student Dance Concert
A juried selection of the best dances of the season, this concert is choreographed, designed and produced entirely by the students.
Tickets: $20 general admission / $15 students and senior citizens / $10 with Dance USA Philadelphia Dance Pass / $5 with student OWLcard
Conwell Dance Theater - 5th Floor, Conwell Hall
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