HOW DO PEOPLE GET INVOLVED?
In January and July/August, dancers will be invited to participate in the next May/November Create-Move-Connect show by the show’s coordinator after The Move and Ecstatic Dance Thursdays, as well as through community announcements on social media. In order to participate, dancers will be asked to fill out an application form, and to pay a $25 registration fee, which will help cover costs of the show.
COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENT
Because this is a community endeavour, we are asking for a registration fee of $25 from each dancer in the show. This $25 will help to cover the rental costs of studios for 1) a dress rehearsal; 2) the final show, and may also help cover equipment rental and show costs. If finances are an obstacle, then arrangements with the coordinators can be made.
If enough tickets are sold for each show to cover all show costs, the $25 registration fee will be reimbursed after the show. Any leftover money made from ticket sales (over and above what the performers are reimbursed) will be invested in a future show for the above costs. Each show "pays it forward" to the next show.
HOW MANY DANCERS AND DANCE PIECES ARE THERE PER SHOW?
Each show needs approximately 20-30 dancers who are available and interested to create and perform in a piece. Each show will be limited to about 9 pieces per show, ranging from solos, duos, trios to larger groups of 4-10 people. All participation is on a volunteer basis.
WHO ORGANIZES THE GROUPS?
Most dancers organize themselves into their own groups, finding people they would like to dance and choreograph with. A few groups of people who don't have groups initially but would like to participate, will be put into a group that already has a choreographer who would like to increase the number of dancers in their piece.
IMPROVISING VERSUS CHOREOGRAPHY:
Some people have asked if they can improvise, since this is what we are all used to doing at The Move, Ecstatic Dance Thursdays and the Contact Jam. A few of the pieces will be improvised work, but the majority of the pieces will be choreographed.
Dancers who are part of this project are invited to transform their improvisation into choreography, except for certain exceptions that have been discussed with the coordinator, which will go ahead as “scores” or improvised works. The goal is to have a majority of choreographed works in the show. If anyone would like to do more of an improvised work, please speak with the coordinator.
Choreography can emerge from improvisation. One approach is to start with improvisation, to see what movements emerge from your natural movements of the dancers in your piece, and even maybe even to have a few people watch and/or videotape everyone’s movement. Then, it may be possible to capture the essence of certain movement phrases, or what “works” in a more structured way by repeating these movements and turning them into choreography – kind of in a “trial and error” kind of way. So a more structured piece could evolve from what started out as “improvisation”. Other pieces might be choreographed by a choreographer that has a certain vision for certain piece.
HOW WILL REHEARSALS WORK?
Groups are responsible for finding their own rehearsal space and planning their own rehearsal schedule. It is possible that people could after the Move during the late night contact jam on Friday (since it is a pretty relaxed atmosphere). For past shows, some groups have rehearsed in party-rooms at condos of group members. Others have rented studio space.
A facebook page will be created where everyone can share ideas about where they are finding space to rehearse.
Groups will have to cover the cost of their own rehearsal space (divide the cost among group members). If possible, groups are asked to please send their rehearsal dates to the coordinator. This is to help keep everyone on track and connect the groups to coaches or “outside eyes” who could attend these rehearsals.
COACHING, “OUTSIDE EYES”, FRAMING AND SHAPING:
A number of people have offered to be “outside eyes”, to shape, frame, and/or help bring the inner performer out. These people have offered to come to rehearsals to give feedback, coaching and support, and help move the creative process along. If you would like to take advantage of having “outside eyes”, you will need to communicate your rehearsal schedule to the project coordinators.
HOW LONG IS EACH PERFORMANCE?
The ideal length will be from 5 minutes, maximum. There may exceptions made for a few longer group pieces (e.g.: up to about 7 minutes), but these would be treated on an individual basis and discussed with the coordinator. There is limited time in the show, which will be about 1-1.5 hours (with an intermission), so the length of the performances also has to be fairly short. You can probably do quite a lot in 5 minutes.
WHAT IS THE RANGE OF SKILL LEVEL?
We have a range of different skill levels and backgrounds at The Move, and the performance will reflect that. Some will have professional experience, and some will have never performed on stage. We are excited about having a mixture of people with a range of experience in the show.
IS IT ALL DANCE?
Multi-media and other art forms are encouraged. However, the focus will be MAINLY on dance, which may be complemented by another form.
The following media/art forms could be incorporated:
• Art decorating the performance venue and also for the sets/backdrops to the dances;
• Projection of artwork/images as backdrops;
• Musicians who would like to accompany dance pieces. Please inquire if you would like a musician to accompany your piece and to collaborate with;
• Poetry/spoken word to accompany dance pieces;
• Clowning or clowning and dance as interstitial pieces and welcoming audience members.
WHAT IS THE VENUE GOING TO BE LIKE?
For the fourth Create-Move-Connect show, the performance will be at Dancemakers! DANCEMAKERS, 9 TRINITY STREET, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA. (See below for a photograph of the performance space)
For previous performances, we have been at Dovercourt House,
The stage area will be set up on one side of the studio on either the 1st or the 3rd Floor of Dovercourt House (along the length of the studio) and a semi-circle of chairs were set up as an audience along the opposite wall.
WHO IS GOING TO WATCH THE SHOW?
We have room for about 90 audience members. The audience will mostly be made up of people we invite (friends from our dance communities, from our extended communities and/or family), although we plan to advertise the show on social media. Everyone is strongly encouraged to invite approximately 2-3 people each, so we will have a large audience for the show and also to ensure that our ticket sales will pay for the show and we will get reimbursed for our initial investment. We will be selling tickets in advance, through an online ticket service. There will be a cost of $15 per ticket purchased in advance, and $20 at the Door, to offset the cost of the show.
DATES/LOCATIONS:
Group Showing: Wednesday April 20, 2016, 8:30pm-10:30pm - This is a group showing of pieces approximately one month before the show, to receive feedback and to gain performance experience. The showing will be for the other Create-Move-Connect performers and crew, only. Please bring your music to this group showing. It is a great opportunity to try out your piece!
Dress Rehearsal: Monday May 16, 2016 6pm-10 p.m.- Dress-rehearsal with music – It is very important that all dancers attend this rehearsal because it will be your only opportunity to try out your piece with your music and to go through your piece in the space where we will perform it, before the show. DANCEMAKERS, 9 Trinity Street, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA
Technical Rehearsal: Friday May 27, 2016, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., Technical Rehearsal. It is very mandatory that all dancers attend this rehearsal so we can set the lights for each piece. DANCEMAKERS, 9 Trinity Street, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA.
PERFORMANCE - Sunday May 29, 2016 - PERFORMANCE DAY!!! PERFORMERS, please ARRIVE at 9:30a.m. for set-up/warm up. The tech run through, IN THE ORDER OF THE SHOW with music will be from 11-1:30. DANCEMAKERS, 9 Trinity Street, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, M5A 3C4. The first performance will be from 2:00-4:30 (audience to arrive at 1:30pm). There will be a break, and the second performance will be from 7:30-9:30pm.
In January and July/August, dancers will be invited to participate in the next May/November Create-Move-Connect show by the show’s coordinator after The Move and Ecstatic Dance Thursdays, as well as through community announcements on social media. In order to participate, dancers will be asked to fill out an application form, and to pay a $25 registration fee, which will help cover costs of the show.
COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENT
Because this is a community endeavour, we are asking for a registration fee of $25 from each dancer in the show. This $25 will help to cover the rental costs of studios for 1) a dress rehearsal; 2) the final show, and may also help cover equipment rental and show costs. If finances are an obstacle, then arrangements with the coordinators can be made.
If enough tickets are sold for each show to cover all show costs, the $25 registration fee will be reimbursed after the show. Any leftover money made from ticket sales (over and above what the performers are reimbursed) will be invested in a future show for the above costs. Each show "pays it forward" to the next show.
HOW MANY DANCERS AND DANCE PIECES ARE THERE PER SHOW?
Each show needs approximately 20-30 dancers who are available and interested to create and perform in a piece. Each show will be limited to about 9 pieces per show, ranging from solos, duos, trios to larger groups of 4-10 people. All participation is on a volunteer basis.
WHO ORGANIZES THE GROUPS?
Most dancers organize themselves into their own groups, finding people they would like to dance and choreograph with. A few groups of people who don't have groups initially but would like to participate, will be put into a group that already has a choreographer who would like to increase the number of dancers in their piece.
IMPROVISING VERSUS CHOREOGRAPHY:
Some people have asked if they can improvise, since this is what we are all used to doing at The Move, Ecstatic Dance Thursdays and the Contact Jam. A few of the pieces will be improvised work, but the majority of the pieces will be choreographed.
Dancers who are part of this project are invited to transform their improvisation into choreography, except for certain exceptions that have been discussed with the coordinator, which will go ahead as “scores” or improvised works. The goal is to have a majority of choreographed works in the show. If anyone would like to do more of an improvised work, please speak with the coordinator.
Choreography can emerge from improvisation. One approach is to start with improvisation, to see what movements emerge from your natural movements of the dancers in your piece, and even maybe even to have a few people watch and/or videotape everyone’s movement. Then, it may be possible to capture the essence of certain movement phrases, or what “works” in a more structured way by repeating these movements and turning them into choreography – kind of in a “trial and error” kind of way. So a more structured piece could evolve from what started out as “improvisation”. Other pieces might be choreographed by a choreographer that has a certain vision for certain piece.
HOW WILL REHEARSALS WORK?
Groups are responsible for finding their own rehearsal space and planning their own rehearsal schedule. It is possible that people could after the Move during the late night contact jam on Friday (since it is a pretty relaxed atmosphere). For past shows, some groups have rehearsed in party-rooms at condos of group members. Others have rented studio space.
A facebook page will be created where everyone can share ideas about where they are finding space to rehearse.
Groups will have to cover the cost of their own rehearsal space (divide the cost among group members). If possible, groups are asked to please send their rehearsal dates to the coordinator. This is to help keep everyone on track and connect the groups to coaches or “outside eyes” who could attend these rehearsals.
COACHING, “OUTSIDE EYES”, FRAMING AND SHAPING:
A number of people have offered to be “outside eyes”, to shape, frame, and/or help bring the inner performer out. These people have offered to come to rehearsals to give feedback, coaching and support, and help move the creative process along. If you would like to take advantage of having “outside eyes”, you will need to communicate your rehearsal schedule to the project coordinators.
HOW LONG IS EACH PERFORMANCE?
The ideal length will be from 5 minutes, maximum. There may exceptions made for a few longer group pieces (e.g.: up to about 7 minutes), but these would be treated on an individual basis and discussed with the coordinator. There is limited time in the show, which will be about 1-1.5 hours (with an intermission), so the length of the performances also has to be fairly short. You can probably do quite a lot in 5 minutes.
WHAT IS THE RANGE OF SKILL LEVEL?
We have a range of different skill levels and backgrounds at The Move, and the performance will reflect that. Some will have professional experience, and some will have never performed on stage. We are excited about having a mixture of people with a range of experience in the show.
IS IT ALL DANCE?
Multi-media and other art forms are encouraged. However, the focus will be MAINLY on dance, which may be complemented by another form.
The following media/art forms could be incorporated:
• Art decorating the performance venue and also for the sets/backdrops to the dances;
• Projection of artwork/images as backdrops;
• Musicians who would like to accompany dance pieces. Please inquire if you would like a musician to accompany your piece and to collaborate with;
• Poetry/spoken word to accompany dance pieces;
• Clowning or clowning and dance as interstitial pieces and welcoming audience members.
WHAT IS THE VENUE GOING TO BE LIKE?
For the fourth Create-Move-Connect show, the performance will be at Dancemakers! DANCEMAKERS, 9 TRINITY STREET, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA. (See below for a photograph of the performance space)
For previous performances, we have been at Dovercourt House,
The stage area will be set up on one side of the studio on either the 1st or the 3rd Floor of Dovercourt House (along the length of the studio) and a semi-circle of chairs were set up as an audience along the opposite wall.
WHO IS GOING TO WATCH THE SHOW?
We have room for about 90 audience members. The audience will mostly be made up of people we invite (friends from our dance communities, from our extended communities and/or family), although we plan to advertise the show on social media. Everyone is strongly encouraged to invite approximately 2-3 people each, so we will have a large audience for the show and also to ensure that our ticket sales will pay for the show and we will get reimbursed for our initial investment. We will be selling tickets in advance, through an online ticket service. There will be a cost of $15 per ticket purchased in advance, and $20 at the Door, to offset the cost of the show.
DATES/LOCATIONS:
Group Showing: Wednesday April 20, 2016, 8:30pm-10:30pm - This is a group showing of pieces approximately one month before the show, to receive feedback and to gain performance experience. The showing will be for the other Create-Move-Connect performers and crew, only. Please bring your music to this group showing. It is a great opportunity to try out your piece!
Dress Rehearsal: Monday May 16, 2016 6pm-10 p.m.- Dress-rehearsal with music – It is very important that all dancers attend this rehearsal because it will be your only opportunity to try out your piece with your music and to go through your piece in the space where we will perform it, before the show. DANCEMAKERS, 9 Trinity Street, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA
Technical Rehearsal: Friday May 27, 2016, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., Technical Rehearsal. It is very mandatory that all dancers attend this rehearsal so we can set the lights for each piece. DANCEMAKERS, 9 Trinity Street, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA.
PERFORMANCE - Sunday May 29, 2016 - PERFORMANCE DAY!!! PERFORMERS, please ARRIVE at 9:30a.m. for set-up/warm up. The tech run through, IN THE ORDER OF THE SHOW with music will be from 11-1:30. DANCEMAKERS, 9 Trinity Street, STUDIO 313, TORONTO, M5A 3C4. The first performance will be from 2:00-4:30 (audience to arrive at 1:30pm). There will be a break, and the second performance will be from 7:30-9:30pm.
Here is the performance space for our third show, which will be taking place at Dancemakers. DANCEMAKERS, 9 trinity street, STUDIO 313 , TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4, CANADA