• Home
  • About
    • Accessibility
    • Monkeyhouse Board
  • Who's Who
  • Upcoming Events
  • Programs
    • Discounts
    • aMaSSiT >
      • aMaSSiT 2023
    • NACHMO Boston
  • Contact Us
  • C2C Blog
  • Donate
    • Fiscal Sponsorships
  MONKEYHOUSE

C2C Blog

Getting to Know The End Ensemble - Empower One Another Interviews

4/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Dina Shirin
Here's another interview from our collaboration with the Empower One Another series!  Introducing, Erica Nelson of The End Ensemble!  You can catch her on Saturday at OnStage Dance Company!  Then head over to the Dance Complex to see An Animated Addition of the Dictionary of Negative Space at 8pm!

Nicole Harris: Collaboration can be rewarding and difficult. What is one great moment and one challenge you’ve faced during this process?
Erica Nelson:
I loved seeing our dancers, who have never met or danced together before this project, move together as one. It was great to see their interactions, and who danced well or similar to each other. Composing the music was difficult because we composed it as the rehearsal process was happening. I usually prefer to work with music set beforehand so we can have a clear plan and pathway for the choreography inspired by the music, but for this project the dance happened first and the music followed which was a challenge for me.
Picture
Photo by Crystal Perez
N: The End Ensemble’s goal is to “challenge audiences to face new concepts, dark themes and the outright bizarre.”  Can you talk about what that means to you and why you wanted that to be your company’s focus? What’s a specific example of the outright bizarre that you’ve come across so far?
EN: We mainly want to challenge our audiences to be more active in their experience of dance. We want to be unpredictable, and force them to think deeply about the art presented to them, both during and long after the performance. We never want them to settle! As far as the outright bizarre, we also like to mess with our audience sometimes! In some pieces we have presented humor aspects or just general creepy/distorted movement and concepts that are very unusual for the audience to experience.
Picture
Photo by John Long
N: The End Ensemble is based in CT.  How did you wind up in Malden for this project?
EN: I am originally from the Boston area. I grew up here and returned here after college. I danced with a few companies in Boston and became familiar with the dance scene here before I moved to Hartford. Over the years I have stayed connected to the area, which has always been supportive of my company. We try to return to Boston to do a show at least once a year and visit our hometown!
Picture
Photo by Erica Nelson
N: Where else can we find you this Spring/Summer?
EN: The END Ensemble will be presenting work throughout the spring as the resident dance company at Central Connecticut State University. This summer, we will be in New York City at Dixon Place to present a split-bill upcoming choreographers showcase titled ‘8 in Show’ on June 26th. We will also be presenting work and workshops throughout the summer in Hartford as part of ‘Art on the Streets’, a Hartford Arts Council campaign to invigorate the downtown public arts community.
Picture
N: What other local companies/ choreographers do you recommend people check out?  Why?
EN: Check out Contemporarily Out of Order! Another Boston-based female-run company that I danced with for a year, CooCO (artistic director Wendy Bryne) always puts together strong shows that connect her students, apprentices, and professional dancers to the Boston dance community and incorporate all styles of dance.
Picture
Photo by Ray Shaw
Picture
Get your tickets to 
Empower One Another today!
0 Comments

Getting to Know OnStage Dance Company - Empower One Another Interviews

4/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Dancer in all black Foot in front, looks at back hand By stained glass windows
Photo by Kathryn Swayze Photography
Empower One Another was a collaboration between Nozama Dance Collective and OnStage Dance Company.  Here are a few thoughts from Jennifer Crowell-Kuhnberg of OnStage!

Nicole Harris: Collaboration can be rewarding and difficult. What is one great moment and one challenge you’ve faced during this process?
Jennifer Crowell-Kuhnberg: 
My collaboration with Erica Nelson was very rewarding and ran very smoothly. We worked so well together and I felt like we were able to mesh our ideas and styles quite well. I think we each contributed equally to the piece but also felt comfortable to suggest adjustments. Our dancers were also phenomenal in generating movement phrases and improv based on our prompts and allowing us to cherry pick our favorite pieces. 
Photo by Kathryn Swayze Photography
N: In addition to collaborating in the studio you have been collaborating with Nozama on this entire project.  What is something you’ve learned through this experience?
JCK: I have gotten to know Gracie Novikoff so well in the last few months and it’s been a joy to, not only work together on producing this show, but also to build a friendship. We have very similar sensibilities and goals when it comes to our respective companies and it’s been great to learn, share and reflect with her on both our mutual and varied experiences as dance company directors. That Director role can feel isolating sometimes so it was helpful for me to connect with her in that way. 
Dancer in short dress  Looks to side, arms overhead On stage with large group
Photo by Kathryn Swayze Photography
N: Why was it important to you for OnStage to be part of this project?
JCK: It’s my continuing goal to have OnStage be an open space for emerging dance makers and a safe space for experimentation. When Gracie came to me with this idea, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to provide those much needed resources and help support her goal of collaboration for this project. 
I think more companies and choreographers should be seeking out ways to collaborate or support each other. 
Since moving my company to Malden, I’ve also been on a mission to bring more dance artists into this city and hopefully get my local community more involved and more exposed to this type of performance art!
Picture
N: Where else can we find you this Spring/Summer?
JCK: We have so many exciting upcoming projects:

Malden Dance Mile OnStage is collaborating with Monkeyhouse to produce the first-ever outdoor dance and movement festival to Malden. Find us on the Malden Community Trail on Saturday, April 27 from 12-3pm for performances, choreography games, dance class demos and more, featuring tons of local performers!

Later that evening, OnStage will be performing at the West Medford Open Studios event at 4pm at 400 High Street in Medford!

I will be showing work at the AS220 Modern Movement Festival in Providence, Rhode Island on April 25 and 27.

OnStage Dance Company’s Season Seventeen Performance will be held at the BU Dance Theater on June 15!

And I am currently auditioning dancers for a reboot of a special project called “What Is Love?” which will debut in July at OnStage!
Picture
N: What other local companies/ choreographers do you recommend people check out?  Why?
JCK: Obviously I want to encourage everyone to check out the other performers in this series and support the other projects they have going on!

Nozama Dance Collective
Lacey Sasso & Co

Kaleidoscope Dance Company
The End Dance Ensemble
Cayley Dorr
Picture
Get your tickets to 
Empower One Another today!
0 Comments

Getting to Know Lacey Sasso - Empower One Another Interviews

4/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Dancer in black, one Arm bent, one reaches across  Her back, sits on knees
All images by Olivia Moon Photography
by Nicole Harris

​Here's another interview with the wonderful Lacey Sasso!  On Saturday go see her and her company at Empower One Another on Saturday at 4pm to catch a Skort (post show conversation) with ME!  Then join us at the Dance Complex to see An Animated Addition of the Dictionary of Negative Space at 8pm!   

​Nicole Harris: Collaboration can be rewarding and difficult. What is one great moment and one challenge you’ve faced during this process?
Lacey Sasso:
As a unit, we decided to fully collaborate, meaning that every dancer has contributed movement, ideas, choices, etc.  This decision greatly shaped our creative process by opening the door for everyone to have a voice.  At times, we almost had too many ideas; this is where we had to step back as a group and really discuss what should come next, what made sense, and what might be an idea for later.  The most difficult part of the process was scheduling.  As artists, we all have multiple jobs and creative projects, so simply getting our bodies in the space at the same time was a large hurdle.
Dancer amid black  Bent knees, fist against her head Looking down at ground
N: In addition to running a company you have a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy.  How does your work in those fields impact your work as a choreographer?
LS:
As time moves on, the work I do both as a therapist and an artist blend more deeply together.  Some of my choreographic work tackles specific psychological ideas such as the theory of attachment, which is explored in our work, Deeply Rooted.  Some of the repertoire is inspired by the themes, movements, and diagnoses that I work with on a daily basis.  For example, the company is currently working on a piece entitled Entwined Days which will debut on May 10 and 11 at the Dance Complex.  This piece is a visceral and emotional response from my work with clients who have experienced trauma, or who deal daily with intense anxiety and life altering depression.  The movement is a method of processing my therapeutic work while also trying to honor the stories in which I am entrusted to keep safe as a therapist.
White woman on stage Rope over shoulders, leg out Surrounded by black
N: You used to dance with Undertoe Dance Project in New York City.  My understanding from when I’ve seen their work is that they are a combination of jazz/contemporary and tap dancers.  Are you also a tap dancer?  If so, does tap dance ever appear in Sasso & Co?  How does working rhythmically impact your current choreography?
LS: Yes, I am a tap dancer!  I performed as both a tap and jazz dancer in my first season with Undertoe Dance Project, then focused specifically on jazz for the remainder of my tenure with the company.  There currently is no Sasso & Company repertoire where tap is featured, however I am always open to collaborating across genres.  Rhythm plays a large role in my movement and teaching style.  I often find myself teaching movement with sounds or specific attention to parts of the music, rather than focusing on counts.  I love syncopation and greatly enjoy finding ways in which movement can both support and oppose music.
In a sea of black Two dancers in red, one leans The other supports
N: Where else can we find you this Spring/Summer?
LS: Sasso & Company has a fun and exciting performance schedule this Spring!  Our spring season culminates with our full evening length performances of Days Gone By at the Dance Complex on Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11!!  We will be debuting new work as well as performing some of our favorite pieces of repertoire. You can also catch us at goodTHANGpassing on Friday, April 19 at 2:30 pm in Somerville, and we are performing at the Providence Movement Festival on Thursday, April 25 and Saturday, April 27th at AS220 in Providence, RI.  
Text: #IfNotYouWho Supporting the Dance Community against blue and gold background
N: What other local companies/ choreographers do you recommend people check out?  Why?
LS: Lynn Frederiksen and Paul Kafka-Gibbons also known as Lynn and Paul Dance - they create work that has a classical modern base, but often has a humorous element involved.  I love humor in dance and find it incredibly hard to create.

Colleen Roddy - creates innovative partnering mixed with athletic framework.  She's always pushing the bounds of movement and never afraid to try something new.  

Erin McNulty -- she has a gift for combining technical elements with gesture and creating a dynamic is both bold and smooth all at once; it's beautiful.
Three photos of dancers on stage are the background to text: Nozama Dance Collective &. OnStage Dance Company present; Empower One Another a collaborative performance series
Get your tickets to 
Empower One Another today!
0 Comments

Getting to Know Kaleidoscope Dance - Empower One Another Interviews

4/8/2019

0 Comments

 
Black and white photo, Two dancers hold hands, lean back In front of brick wall
Stephanie Espinal
Here's another company who will be part of Empower One Another on April 13th!  Don't forget, you can get your tickets to see all of these amazing companies during the afternoon show, catch the Spork (post show conversation) with Monkeyhouse and then head over to the Dance Complex to catch Karen's I-ARE Residency Showcase in the evening! 

Nicole Harris: ​Collaboration can be rewarding and difficult. What is one great moment and one challenge you’ve faced during this process?
Jackie Bowden: 
One great moment we had in our collaboration process was finding our vision for the piece itself. We had a great time coming up with topics and discussing issues we have in society today. One challenge we faced with this collaboration was communication. It’s difficult to translate feelings and ideas associated with a piece since we do not share a brain, a lot of thoughts and feelings get misconstrued in the process.
N: Kaleidoscope was started by yourself and Jessica Prince just a couple of years ago.  What made the two of you want to create work together? What are the commonalities between your individual choreographic styles?
JB: 
We both danced together throughout our years at Salem State University. A few times before we even graduated we joked about creating a company together and how great it would be. Once school was over, we wanted to find an outlet for our choreography. What once felt like a far future dream turned into a current reality and we decided to finally put in the work and get Kaleidoscope going! We both enjoy the process so much of choreographing pieces. Our work has both similar elements that bring us together and unique elements that set us apart.
Three dancers look down, Lunge different ways with one arm Up, wearing dresses
N: As co-directors, how do you create work?  Do you choreograph things together? Do you each tackle different projects?  If so, how much impact does the other choreographer have on your work?
JB: 
As co-directors we have a sort of give and take approach to our work. We do keep our pieces separate for the most part and it’s also great for when we have a block in our creative process to bounce ideas off of each other.
Text: #IfNotYouWho Supporting the Dance Community
N: What other local companies and choreographers do you recommend people check out?  Why?
JB: 
We recommend people check out Angelina Benitez and her work. She helped Kaleidoscope Dance Company get started as a dancer and has since ventured off to create her own work and perform in various performances!
Picture
Get your tickets to see
Empower One Another today!
0 Comments

Empower One Another Interviews - Nozama Dance Collective

4/6/2019

0 Comments

 
Collage of dance images. Text: Nozama Dance Collective and OnStage Dance Company present Empower One Another a collaborative performance series
One of my favorite things about my job is that amazing people like Gracie (Nozama) and Jen (OnStage) reach out to me when they have exciting projects like Empower One Another and ask me to interview the artists and host their post show conversations! 

Get your tickets to see six female run dance companies/choreographers on April 13th.  You can catch the matinee, check out the Spork (post show conversation) with yours truly and then head over to the Dance Complex just in time to see karen Krolak's I-ARE Residency Showcase in the evening!  It's a perfect day of dance!  But first, check out this fabulous interview with Gracie Novikoff about Nozama's role in this show and her experiences in collaboration!  (More show at ticket info at the bottom of this post!)

Nicole Harris: Collaboration can be rewarding and difficult. What is one great moment and one challenge you’ve faced during this process?
Gracie Novikoff:
When Jen (of OnStage Dance Company) and I were coming up with the concept for “Empower One Another”, we were primarily driven by the idea of bringing Boston dance companies and independent choreographers together. We wanted to not only promote collaboration, but support for one another and to build a network in which directors can share the highs and lows of managing a company in Boston. With that, the overwhelming reward of “Empower One Another” has been to see six companies share their visions, talents, and experiences to work together and create beautiful new art. I am also thrilled to see the companies creating works under the themes of female empowerment, as this is what drives my company Nozama Dance Collective’s entire mission. At the same time, working with others can be tricky when you all have strong, powerful ideas that are worthy of being shared. With our partner company, Kaleidoscope Dance Company, they are also directed by not one but two incredible women. Along with my co-director Natalie, that makes four collaborative partners with bold ideas. Finding space and time for all four of us to be heard in this process has been tricky, especially when even the co-directors disagree with one another! But overall, that challenge has made me even more proud of this process.
N: ​In addition to collaborating in the studio you have been collaborating with OnStage on this entire project.  What is something you’ve learned through this experience?
GN:
Working with Jen from OnStage Dance has been a gift. She is not only an experienced instructor and choreographer, but studio owner. She also single-handedly runs a 60 person company, which is a phenomenal feat. Jen juggles all of her tasks and jobs so seamlessly, and I have learned an incredible amount from her. She has taught me about prioritization, time management, and how to push beyond one’s limits. Our partnership materialized into “Empower One Another”, which is such a dream and accomplishment to me. I cannot wait to see what else our partnership creates!
N: ​Where did the idea for this concert come from?
GN:
Unfortunately in the Boston dance community, there is not nearly as much support between companies as we would like to see. Companies do not often attend one another’s shows, or take one another’s classes. Companies are insular, and do not often collaborate or help one another with things such as fundraising or networking. Jen and I wanted to tackle that, and bring companies together to collaborate and share one another’s gifts and creative visions. At the same time, we wanted to help form a network between Boston dance company directors and choreographers. Managing a company is hard work, and doing it without any support is nearly impossible! Having the six company directors meet for a Round Table Discussion about how we all tackle the challenges of managing companies was a massive priority for Jen and I. The “Empower One Another” performance is the exciting culmination of this collaboration, but we know that the partnerships will last beyond the show as directors continue to lean on one another for support.
N: ​Where else can we find you this Spring/Summer?
GN:
Nozama Dance Collective has a lot of exciting things coming up! We are launching our Spring Company Class Series, in which we will teach master classes at Green Street Studios on 3/18, 4/19, 5/6, and 5/20. Additionally, we have our annual concert “Uplift” at Green Street Studios on August 9th and 10th. We are also looking forward to performing in a few festivals and concerts around Boston, so keep an eye out for us!
Text: #IfNotYouWho Supporting the Dance Community
​N: What other local companies or choreographers do you recommend people check out?  Why?
GN:
SO many! It is so hard to pick just a handful. The Boston dance community is filled with incredible talent, visions, and creativity. Personally, I am drawn to choreographers who tell poignant, empowering stories about the female experience through their work. Putting the other artists of “Empower One Another” aside, I am forever drawn to Colleen Roddy’s choreography. I am also inspired by the work of Luminarium Dance, particularly because that is another company managed by two incredible women who collaborate together so well. But honestly, if you have a free night, just check out the Dance Complex or Green Street Studios and check out whatever is happening! There is no bad dance experience out there. Support other artists! They will support you back!
Get your tickets to
Empower One Another today!
0 Comments
    Created with Tagul.com

    Categories

    All
    [82]
    Abigail Ripin
    Acro
    Adelphi University
    Advice
    Aftab Dance Group
    Aisha Cruse
    Alexander Davis
    Alexandra Nunweiler
    Alexandria Nunweiler
    Alexa Romancewicz
    Alive Dance Collective
    Amanda Whitworth
    AMaSSiT
    Amy Foley
    Anne Goldberg Baldwin
    Anne Goldberg-Baldwin
    April
    Artweek Boston
    August
    B-A-R Dance
    Bar Harbor
    Betsi Graves
    Bharatanatyam
    Birthdays
    Books
    Boston
    Boston Community Dance Project
    Boston Dance
    Boxing
    Brenna Banister
    Brett Bell
    Bridges Dance Theatre
    Broadway
    Caitlin Canty
    Caleb Howe
    Carli DiMeo
    Carmen Rizzo
    Cassandre Charles
    Cayley Dorr
    ChoreoFest
    Choreographer
    Choreography
    Choreography Mentorship
    Choreograpy
    Christopher Croucher
    Claire-Solene Becka
    Clayton Raithel
    Cnc Little Library
    Collaboration
    Collective Moments
    Colleen Walsh
    College Of The Atlantic
    Community
    Connections Dance Theater
    Connexa
    CoolNY
    Dance Complex
    Dance Film
    Daniel Foner
    Dani Robbins
    David Makransky
    David Parker
    Deepa Srinath
    Derick K. Grant
    Design
    Dictionary Of Negative Space
    DrumatiX
    Elizabeth Powers
    Ellice Patterson
    Elyssa Berg
    Emma Morris
    Empower One Another
    Endicott College
    Erica Nelson
    Erin McNulty
    Erin Saunders
    Eva Yaa Asantewaa
    Events
    Evolve Dynamicz
    Faneuil Hall
    Felipe Galganni
    Firk II
    Fleur D'Orange
    Geetika Bajpai
    #geochoreography
    #getcaughtreading
    Gracie Baruzzi
    Gracie Novikoff
    Grant Jacoby
    Green Street Studios
    Guest Artists
    Gwen McGovern
    Hannah Ranco
    Heather Brown
    Hip Hop
    Holiday
    Ice Skating
    #IfNotYouWho
    Illumination
    Impact Dance Company
    Improvisation
    Impulse Dance Center
    Interns
    Interview
    Jackie Bowden
    Jason Ries
    Jennifer Binversie
    Jennifer Crowell Kuhnberg
    Jennifer Crowell-Kuhnberg
    Jenny Oliver
    Jessica Prince
    Jessica Roseman
    Jordan Rosin
    Josh Bergasse
    Jo Troll
    July
    June
    Kaleidoscope Dance
    Karen Krolak
    Katrina Conte
    Kaylee Mahan
    Kaylee Mayan
    Kelley Donovan
    Kelsey Griffith
    Kelsey Saulnier
    Kim Holman
    Kinetic Synergy Dance Company
    Kristin Wagner
    Lacey Sasso
    Laura Neese
    Libby Bullinger
    Lisa Giancola
    Lisa La Touche
    Local Dance
    Luminarium Dance
    Lynn Modell
    Madison Florence
    Malden Dance
    Malden Dance Mile
    March
    Margaret Wiss
    Marissa Chura
    May
    ME
    Mentoring
    Mentors
    Michela Doherty
    Michelle Boilard
    Mohiniyattam
    Musing
    NACHMO
    NACHMO 2022
    NACHMO 2023
    NACHMO Boston
    NACHMO Recommends
    Natalie Schiera
    Nick Daniels
    Nicole Harris
    Nicole Laliberte
    Nicole Zizzi
    November
    Now + There
    Nozama Dance
    NSquared Dance
    Olivia Scharff
    OnStage Dance Company
    OnStage Summer Performance Series
    Paradise Moves
    Pearl Young
    Portuguese
    Priya Bangal
    Program
    Public Art
    Que Unlimited
    Rachel Roccoberton
    ReAct ReBuild ReCollect
    Repost
    Ricochet
    Roger Williams University
    Ruth Benson Levin
    Sam Mullen
    Sapna Govindan
    Sarah Craver
    Sarah Feinberg
    Sarah Friswell Cotton
    Sarah Grace
    Sarah Ready
    Scott McPheeters
    Skooj
    Soufiane Karim
    Soumya Rajaran
    Spring Fling Fundraiser
    Tap Dance
    Teresa Dominick
    Tess Liddy
    ...that's What She Said
    The Dance Complex
    The End Ensemble
    The Ume Group
    Tova Teperow
    Translation
    Turning Key Dance Company
    Tyler Catanella
    Uplift
    Vault Grant
    Vault Program
    Virginia Commonwealth University
    Voetstoots
    Zackery Betty Neagle

    Missed an older post?  Find it here!

    Archives

    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
    • Accessibility
    • Monkeyhouse Board
  • Who's Who
  • Upcoming Events
  • Programs
    • Discounts
    • aMaSSiT >
      • aMaSSiT 2023
    • NACHMO Boston
  • Contact Us
  • C2C Blog
  • Donate
    • Fiscal Sponsorships