SCHOOL PERFORMANCES AND RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES FOR 2007-08 FROM THE MYRNA LOYCENTER PLEASE CONTACT PETE RUZEVICH AT THE MYRNA, 443-0287, peteruz1@aol.com FOR DETAILS ON SIGNING UP FOR SHOWS AND RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES
September
Locust Dance
September 24-28, 2007
Locust Dance is one of the most successful young dance and music ensembles in Seattle. Amy O’Neill, the companies artistic director, has been recognized as a Creative Capital artist. Their new work, co-commissioned by the Myrna Loy Center, Mockumentary is a seamless blending of dance, video, and music through lots of sweaty dancing, zombies, BMX bikes, and genre bending cinema. Performed by Zeke Keeble, Amy O'Neal, long time locust dancer Ellie Sandstrom, and 5 guest dance artists, the piece mischievously explores the act of self-mythology by interweaving cock-eyed, fictional scenarios that the performers develop about themselves. . This experience is part "mockumentary", part horror film, part dance/theater performance, part hip-hop video, and part rock show.
Residency at the University of Montana
Locust company members with Amy O’Neill will work for 4 days with the Media and Dance programs at the University of Montana. They will teach workshops and work in classes ending the week with a special performance of their work. The residency is being supported by the Myrna Loy Center to help students in Missoula to be aware of Seattle’s performance scene and resources and opportunities for developing new work for the Northwest New Works program.
FERNANDO LEE OF OMSTRAB
September 18 to October 10
Fernando Lee, the artistic director of Brazil’s theater and dance company Omstrab, will return to Helena for two weeks to conduct residency classes at Carroll College tied to their special Latin American studies initiative and to work in elementary school classes teaching movement and theater.
October
VICTORIA MARKS
September 24-27, Second Site Visit (TBA)
Victoria Marks, Professor of Dance at UCLA and noted American choreographer, will do site visits in Helena developing a new dance work. She will meet with the science and theology faculty at Carroll College to discuss their ideas on evolution and then create a performance that reveals the image of teaching evolution at a small Catholic liberal arts college.
November
Ron K Brown/Evidence
Fall 2007 at Carroll
Company in Helena
November 4-5Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Ronald K Brown / Evidence’s focus on the seamless fusion of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word, provides a unique view of human struggles, tragedies and triumphs. Very few companies explore in depth the history of blacks in America through dance. Ronald K. Brown uses traditional dance movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in contemporary culture. Ron K Brown/Evidence reacquaints his audiences with the beauty of traditional movement and rhythms, and provides a new method of dance communication. “I want people to have their spirits lifted. I am interested in sharing perspectives through modern dance, theater and kinetic storytelling. I want my work to be evidence of these perspectives,” says Brown.
The internationally heralded choreographer marks the 20th anniversary of his company with a dazzling new work inspired by the life and art of African American photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris -- a.k.a.“One Shot.” Ronald K. Brown/Evidence has created a challenging and impressive vocabulary of its own by focusing on the seamless fusion of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and providing unique views of human struggles, tragedies and triumphs. The new piece offers a stirring meditation on the idea of having “one shot” in life.
ONE SHOT and the Residency Activities
Providing a unique view of black life in Pittsburgh across the 20th Century, Ron K. Brown will develop special residency materials for the Carroll College Alpha Seminar classes. The materials including materials on “Teenie” Harris’s life and work, examples of photos, and an essay from the choreographer will be part of the Alpha Seminar book of readings for this class required for all freshman at Carroll. The Myrna Loy Center staff will develop a classroom introduction to contemporary dance and to the work of Ron K. Brown. A special performance of the work for middle school and high school students with commentary from the choreographer will also be shown.
So Percussion
November 12-15, 2007
Called "astonishing and entrancing" by Billboard, "brilliant" by the New York Times, the discovery is perfectly appropriate. Coming together in the green pastures of New Haven at Yale's graduate program, So Percussion was created to give fresh voice to what co-founder Jason Treuting calls "funky contemporary music." Devoted to the conceptual dreamscapes of Reich, Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, and others.
So Percussion Educational Shows
Each educational program that So Percussion conducts is focused on participation. So Percussion brings along an assortment of instruments from around the world, introducing their country of origin. Then the students are asked to clap, sing, and stomp along as they learn the characteristic rhythms and patterns of the music. Preferring to work in small group settings or with an ensemble of band/orchestra musicians, So Percussion has developed several programs. For Elementary (K-6) students, discussions are brief and emphasis is placed on the experience of clapping the rhythms and such musical devices as call and response. They are encouraged to dance in their places and give subjective responses to our performances. Middle and High School students are introduced to the same rhythms, but we provide more background and information about the music. After teaching the class to play some rhythms, we give a short demonstration of composed music by Steve Reich. At the end, students are invited up on stage to play the patterns they have learned on real instruments (and show off for their peers!)
January
TEACHER WORKSHOPS THAT ALSO INVOLVE ON SITE CLASSROOM WORKSHOPS
Name of the Workshop: LOOKING THE WRITE WAY: Reading Art as a Catalyst for Writing
Workshop Leader: Melanie Layne
Date: January 23-25, 2008
Workshop will be held at 4 Georgians from 3:45 to 6:45 PM on January 23Melanie will give her workshop (3 hrs). She will also do classroom examples of the theories in the workshop in nine of the classrooms of teacher’s who take the workshop.
Meaningful writing comes from meaningful experiences. Analyzing art provides the engagement and meaning necessary to think critically both as an artist and writer. This workshop explores writing and visual literacy as a process that analyzes art as the foundation for writing in a poetic, expressive way. This strategy has proven effective for all types of learners, including English Second Language and Learning Disabled.
Scott/Powell Performance
January 29 to February 1, 2008
Scott/Powell Performance is a contemporary dance company whose vision is rooted in a dedicated 14-year collaboration between choreographer Mary Sheldon Scott and composer Jarrad Powell. Created in 1994, Scott/Powell Performance has a history of strong artistic vision, and has gained recognition as an important creative force in the Pacific Northwest. Their performance research, marked by strong formal elements devoid of pop-cultural references, has resulted in a series of "mysterious and beautiful works filled with oblique references to the natural world." (The Seattle Weekly) Central to their concerns are man’s estrangement from Nature and wounded struggle to retain humanity. Scott and Powell resist addressing these issues frontally – rather they are revealed through disciplined actions that are abstract and non-literal in their essence. Scott’s choreography uses the rigor of a technical and charged movement vocabulary to expose a physical voice that is elemental and visceral. Powell’s sound scores, lyrical and haunting, create powerful and evocative sonic landscapes that challenge and shape the performance space. Robert Campbell, installation artist, digital print maker, filmmaker and video artist, is a frequent collaborator with the company. Scott/Powell Performance features a powerful cast drawn from Seattle's most compelling modern dance artists.
School and Dance Residency Activities
Mary Sheldon Scott and her company will work in elementary classrooms, Carroll College dance classes, and with the local dance studios. Mary has developed a series of movement workshops for elementary student classes and she will lead master classes for the dance classes. The company’s week in Helena will end with a performance of their new work “Geography,” co-commissioned by the Myrna Loy Center.
February
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Lily's Crossing
Drama for Grades 3 to 8
February 28, 2008
9:30 AM and 1 PM
Myrna Loy Center“Set during World War II, this tenderly written story tells of the war’s impact on two children, one an American and one a Hungarian refugee. Giff’s well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice.” — School Library Journal Lily has planned a spectacular summer at Rockaway Beach at her family’s cozy house on the Atlantic Ocean. But by the summer of 1944, World War II has changed almost everyone’s lives. Based on Patricia Reilly Giff’s moving novel and Newberry Award Winner, ArtsPower’s play explores what happens when people are brave enough to forge new relationships and follow their heart.
March
Keo Woolford
March 3-7, 2008
Acclaimed actor, former boy band star, and Merrie Monarch Award-winning hula dancer Keo Woolford will perform is award-winning dance performance I Land, which weaves together hula, hip-hop, traditional Hawaiian talk story, and spoken word. Woolford's semi-autobiographical journey navigates the many worlds where hula lives: from backyard parties to Hollywood kitsch to the realm of the sacred. Along the way, islands—separated by geography and culture—collide: a hotel hula show and conservatory audition; a Catholic high school and an evangelical church service; a moment of pop stardom and the opportunity to learn from a hula master.
Teaching Hula and Hip Hop
Keo will spend a week in Helena working with school classes and community groups teaching hula and hip hop. This young, dynamic music, dance, film and TV star will be a highlight of the 2007-08 season.
THE ARTS PLUS SCHOOL SHOW FOR 1-3RD GRADERS
The Velveteen Rabbit
March 19, 2008
9:30 PM and 1 PM
At the Helena Middle School"When a child loves you for a long, long time...then you become Real." So says the Horse to the Velveteen Rabbit in Margery Williams' famous and much-loved literary classic. A plush rabbit, given as a gift to a young boy, yearns for the day the boy will choose him as his special playmate, so that he can become real. This innovative production combines the theatrical magic and signature style of Enchantment Theatre with the musical magic of Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award-Winning Composer/Arranger Don Sebesky. With an original musical score, live singers, life-sized puppets, masks and magic, Enchantment Theatre Company brings to life this charming tale of love and devotion, creating an unforgettable theatrical experience for the whole family.
April
Nora Chipaumire
April 9-10, 2008
Nora Chipaumire is a remarkable solo dance artist who investigates the collaborative process within cultural, political, economic, and technological ideas. Her work is transitional, unafraid and eager to burn cultural, creative, and geographic boundaries. She creates provocative and politically relevant multimedia dance work, illuminating what it means to be African/woman/black/human in an increasingly borderless world. Her work is inspired by art from her native country such as shona sculpture and chimurenga music entities of African contemporary life. Nora was born in Mutare, Zimbabwe during the chim urenga chechipiri, or second war of liberation. A self-exiled artist now based in New York, she has been a featured dancer with the world renowned Urban Bush Women for three years. A powerful and inspiring performer and teacher, Nora has been described as "a defiant boxer staring down an unseen enemy" (Claudia La Rocco, Associated - art that results from the often violent convergence of rural, urban, African, non - African, cultural, economic, colonial and technological ideas. With a singular and unassailable voice speaking to her experiences as a woman from the African Diaspora, she is contributing to and furthering the new African contemporary dance movement emerging across the nation.
Master Classes
Nora will conduct two master dance classes while in Helena before her performance.
TEACHING TOLERANCE THROUGH DRAMA
Feeling safe in a learning environment determines how much and how quickly students learn. A safe and active environment is created in this tolerance workshop. The workshop is designed for fourth and fifth graders. However it has been done successfully with grades one through six and even with adults.
Teaching Tolerance Through Drama teaches pantomime, improvisation, communication skills while addressing many of the National Standards of Learning for Arts Education, Civics and Government, English, Reading/Language Arts, and Social Studies. The workshop also addresses Standards for Character Education by increasing students' abilities to identify others' feelings, take others' perspectives, and respond empathically to others. It aims to decrease aggressive behavior in students through: applying a problem-solving strategy to social situations and practicing behavioral social skills.
All that -- and it's fun besides!
Contact Beverly Fox at (406) 443-3581 or e-mail beverlyfox@mt.net
Note: Click HERE to see Four Georgians students in Tolerance workshop.
Teaching Tolerance Through Drama may be a perfect tie-in to "One Big Read", Lewis and Clark Library's community and county effort (Oct. 13 - Nov 13) to encourage all of us in reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
Video Editing Classes Individual workshops are available by appointment. The workshops focus on the fundamentals of digital editing, but can be tailored to meet the needs and experience level of any student. Classes are $40 each or four for $120. Each session includes one hour of interactive instruction, plus one hour of individual work using the Myrna Loy editing suite.
Benji Cosgrove, who holds an MFA in Media Arts from the University of Montana, will customize sessions to fit the interests and ability of each student. Workshops range from the basics of non-linear editing to complex title designs, special effects and outputting movies to DVD.
Video Editing Suite Rentals The Myrna Loy editing suite uses a Power Mac G4.
Software includes:
· Final Cut Pro
· IMovie
· Premier
· After Effects
· Photoshop
· Illustrator
· DVD Studio Pro
· IDVD
· Cleaner 5
Each class is held in the Myrna Loy Center's Editing Suite. Please call Benji at the Myrna Loy for more information - 443-0287.
Our digital editing suite is also available for rental at $20 an hour with a minimum of one hour. For reservations contact Benji.
Myrna Loy Center
15 North Ewing
Helena, Montana 59601
Office: (406) 443-0287 Fax: (406) 443-6620
myrnaloy@mt.net
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