Thurs 5/28: Chris Participates in NFF/Chronicle of Philanthropy Webchat

The Nonprofit Finance Fund and The Chronicle of Philanthropy are presenting a series of free live web chats called “Financial Management in
Tough Times” - Free Advice for Managing Your Organization Through the Recession.

Misnomer Dance Theater’s Artistic Director Chris Elam will be a guest at this week’s chat, “New business models for arts organizations” which will take place online on Thursday May 28th at 12 noon (EST). Other participants include Clara Miller -  president and CEO of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, Steve Runk - Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and Holly Sidford - a strategic planner, program developer and fundraiser.

Official description from the NFF:

Thursday, May 28, 2009 at Noon (EST)
New business models for arts organizations

Arts organizations face unique challenges in weathering the recession. Many groups are facing a significant decline in their audiences as patrons cut their expenses. Many others are seeing a drop off in charitable support.

This discussion will give arts leaders and those who support them an opportunity to talk about new, promising approaches to overcoming financial pressures, driving profits and business outcomes, managing high capital costs in the current market, and connecting with audiences in new ways.

To join, visit http://philanthropy.com/live/recession_series/ on May 28th at 12noon (ET) and click “Join the Discussion”. If you can’t join us live, check back after the chat for the complete transcript.

To submit questions now, visit http://philanthropy.com/live/recession_series/. Questions submitted in advance have a better chance of being answered.

To read the transcript of last week’s web chat “Nonprofit Financing Options in Recession”, visit http://philanthropy.com/live/2009/05/financing_options/index.shtml.

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Misnomer Dance | Live on the Web Wednesday April 29

Misnomer has been rehearsing next door to the New York Stock Exchange in an old bank vault - a unique space granted to the company by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC).

Join Misnomer Dance Theater for a live webcast from inside the vault on Wednesday, April 29th at 5:30pm EST.

Watch it online at http://www.misnomer.org.

The 30 minute show includes an introduction from Artistic Director Chris Elam, followed by Misnomer’s newest work-in-progress, and an excerpt from Too Late Tulip.



Misnomer Live Webcast April 29th, 5:30 PM EST from Chris Elam on Vimeo.

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Dancer Spotlight: Jennifer Harmer

You’ve been a company member since the beginning. Please describe your experience as the company has shifted and evolved.
Chris and I met in the Dance Conservatory at NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. He was getting his M.F.A. and I my B.F.A. He was looking to cast a trio he wanted to make for one of the student concerts, and a fellow dancer, Chris Yon, recommended me to him. I’ve never really talked to Yon about that recommendation, but I think about the ramifications of it sometimes… that boy really did set the course of my life in a big way!

Anyway, I fell pretty hard for that first piece of work, “Looking Long in the Stampede.” It was a trio set to Tuvan throat singing and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head”, with silences interspersed. The unifying element of the piece was represented by bright green painted index fingers for all three dancers. Chris’ work just made perfect sense to me. I enjoyed creating work that really showcased my personality and emotional make-up as a human being– the universal aspect of that as well as my uniqueness as an individual. I felt at home exploring the balance point between dichotomies such as unbridled joy and sorrow; loneliness and fellowship. It seemed that everything could be felt and conveyed fully in just one piece, that each work was a universal strand of DNA all unto its own. That initial satisfaction with Chris’ work has never left me, and I have been working with Chris for almost a decade.

Misnomer webcast the final performance from the 2008 New York Season to a worldwide audience of thousands. How did you feel on the night of the webcast?
I felt like we were boldly stepping where no dance company had ventured before. It was thrilling to know that people all over the world would be watching us live to help close out our unprecedented two week run at Joyce Soho. I thought I would be more nervous when I got onstage (thinking about it beforehand in the dressing room made me shudder with equal parts joy and terror) but luckily, I forgot all about it once I started moving, and the camera sat quietly and unobtrusively in the back of the house. It was so wonderful to know that my parents would be watching me in real time on their vacation in Cabo San Lucas!

What do you do outside of Misnomer?

I am taking a year off from making new work with Misnomer in order to focus on building my teaching practice. I am enjoying creating a new class format based on the martial art Bagua (a cross between Tai Chi and Shaolin) that functions like an Eastern Calisthenics class. I am excited about it because it combines the best of aspects of modern dance and of yoga– the Chi Gung breathing and zen like quality of a yoga class combined with the movement through space, intense physicality and dynamic range of a modern dance class. I am also teaching Gyrotonic at a wonderful studio in the West Village called ‘Village Gyrotonic’ and continuing to perform with the caburlesque troupe Lady Rizo & The Assettes.

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Dancer Spotlight: Coco Karol

For Misnomer’s March e-news, we conducted a Q&A with Misnomer dancer Coco Karol.

What do you do you when you’re not dancing with Misnomer?

Outside of working with Chris Elam, I have a very diverse and busy artistic life. In addition to dancing for Chris, I dance with Cherylyn Lavagnino performing contemporary ballet, which, yes, means pointe shoes! I am also currently dancing as a puppeteer for Christopher Williams upcoming show at DTW. In addition to the choreographers I work for, I also have many of my own artistic projects, most of which are centered around installation and collaboration. I have collaborated with various sculptors, designers, painters, video artists, and photographers, performing in festivals such as DUMBO under the bridge arts festival, AUNTS, and at the New York Studio Gallery. In addition, I run a small performance space in Brooklyn which I built and live in called The Petri Space, meant to be a petri dish for the exploration and experimentation of a range of artistic work. There, along with two other women, we feature dance and installation work, along with comedy shows and poetry and prose readings. In conjunction with The Petri Space and an art collective called Subject To Change, we are currently working on spring show that will feature a modern roof top victory garden and engage with themes of community through the metaphor of plants and branches, roots and growth. And when I have a minute to spare you will usually find me with my nose in a book or my fingers covered in watercolors!

What are your feelings on creating new work in the bank vault?

Wow, well its an extraordinary time to be an artist working on Wall street across from the New York Stock Exchange. The poignancy of the metaphors in this run very deep. And I am reminded of that every day as I go to the studio. As the US and global economy are suffering, the artists are going to keep making art despite it all. Artists, dancers, writers, musicians, we are going to keep doing what we do in some form and capacity. We will make space, dance in bank vaults, get creative about how and where and what, but we will continue to make work. When I am rehearsing in the vault, which is underground, I like to think of the image of Wall st. bankers and tourists walking above an empty bank vault with us dancing below. Where stacks of money and credit used to be stored under high security, there are now bare feet prancing around and exploring the many ways to make meaning out of space.

What was it like to work with Bjork in the Wanderlust video?

Working on the set of Wanderlust changed my life and in many ways the way I have been approaching my own work these days. I was struck by how many people, most of them unpaid interns or underpaid artist, came together and created something spectacular, because they believed in the vision and in Bjork. They did it with an overwhelming positivity you rarely find in such a large project. And getting to work with Bjork was really quite magical. the first shot with her, I was uncomfortably harnessed to her back as she sat on one of the yak puppets. When she began to sing, I not only heard, but felt the vibrations of her voice through my back, and they echoed through my chest like some sort of beautiful cymatic sound healing. It was a truly amazing way to begin the shoot. Furthermore, I very much respect Bjork’s work and it was a treat to get to know her a little better as a person, to see her as a loving mother, a woman, and an artist.

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Chris @ SELU

Chris is in Louisiana for a residency at Southeastern Louisiana University. Here’s a quick update sent from Chris on location: “I’ve been having a wonderful time here in Hammond, LA, setting my choreography “Zipper” on students at SELU. The cast is hard-working and enthusiastic, and the town is pleasant and weather is warm! I’ve been spending my downtime on the porch of the campus guest house in a rocking chair - with my laptop, happily productive managing Misnomer!”

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

The University of Southern Mississippi

Chris in Mississippi

Misnomer spent the last two weeks in residency at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. In addition to setting choreography on the students, Misnomer performed for the public on February 7. Everyone had a great time! The trip had special significance since the University is Brynne’s alma mater, and it was the first residency for new company members Jenny and Val.

Jenny’s thoughts on the experience:

University of Southern Mississippi was a wonderful place to go on my first tour with Misnomer. The university was incredibly hospitable and it was a great opportunity to bond with the other dancers. Feeling more integrated as a company member combined with the extremely warm and welcoming students and faculty allowed the work to achieve an energy that I had not felt until performing on the USM stage. It was a great experience and I look forward to future tours with Misnomer!

Brynne shares her alumna perspective:

The USM residency has been such an amazing experience. The university students have been terrific to work with. As a USM alum, I’ve really enjoyed sharing with them my experiences as a dancer in New York City, and teaching them Misnomer repertory. They are so eager to learn and have given so fully of themselves in the artistic and creative process. It has also been such a fulfilling experience to work outside of the university with children in the community and with students throughout the state. I feel that we were able to have such a positive impact by sharing dance and art in such a unique way with the Mississippi dance community.

Visit our blog often for news and updates from home and from the road!

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Chris @ NYU Arts Colloquium

On Monday January 26, Chris Elam will participate in an arts colloquium at New York University’s John Brademas Center. The event, “Moving Forward: A Renewed Role for American Arts and Artists in the Global Age”  explores how the Art and Artifacts Indemnity Act can be expanded to renew support for visual and performing arts on a national level.  Chris joins fellow participants from many leading arts and cultural affairs organizations for a day of presentations and discussion on this issue, which will result in a proposal sent to congress.

Click here for more info.

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Being Together Online & Around The World

The online community was abuzz about Misnomer’s December performances of Too Late Tulip, Rock.Paper.Flock., and Zipper, which were broadcast live on the web to a worldwide audience on December 14th, 2008.

Rock.Paper.Flock @ Joyce SoHo

Rock.Paper.Flock @ Joyce SoHo

We’ve compiled some commentary from various blogs below. Click here to view the webcast archive. Have something to add? E-mail us your feedback.

Move the Frame: “It could greatly expand the potential of the audience/choreographer relationship.”  Read full post

Tonya Plank: “One thing about Elam — his movement language is so original, something I can’t say of many other choreographers. I’m sure this is the effect of having lived and studied abroad, working in a variety of non-Western cultures. The movement is somehow still evocative of the familiar though, and emotionally moving — the creatures he creates can be funny, sad, pathetic, cute, always endearing.” Read full post.

MYGREENBLANKET: “Misnomer toys with the audience, making us laugh, think, and evolve with them.” Read full post.

Dancing Perfectly Free: “Rock. Paper. Flock.” strives to demonstrate the creative process.” Read full post

Dance Advantage: “The experience was altogether different from attending a live performance in the traditional manner. I didn’t dress up, I didn’t have to find a place to park, I didn’t have to find a babysitter, and people, who could talk throughout the entire performance, came and left when they wanted!” Read full post

A Time To Dance: “It was truly a new experience for me and many others.” Read full post

GOTHAMIST: “At turns funny and captivating, Being Together  sent us out into last night’s deluge feeling somehow more centered.”  Read full post

Flavorpill: “Chris Elam is a rare bird: a downtown New York choreographer who appeals to a wider audience” Read full post

exploredance.com: “Misnomer Dance Theater definitely has an edge worth checking out, if even from your own computer screen.”  Read full post

No Expectations:”Super cool idea and great use of technology.” Read full post

Dance Outlook: “I went in to this having no prior experiences with the company and no expectations. Their dancing, especially partnering, blew me away.” Read full post

The Winger:“If you missed the live feed of Misnomer Dance Theater’s performance last week (or if, like me, you live halfway around the world from New York and had to go back to bed partway through the concert!), you’re in luck: the video is online.” Read full post

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

January 28th performance at LIU

CATCH A FREE MISNOMER PERFORMANCE:

Hot off the heels of ten performances at the APAP conference, Misnomer heads to the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University for a full performance, free and open to the public!

As part of the Afternoons @ LIU series, presented by LIU Brooklyn Campus’s Dance Department and the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, Misnomer will perform 3 dances: Breakfast With You, Rock. Paper. Flock., and Tin Man, followed by a 15 minute Q&A. 

Click here for directions and more information. See you on January 28th!

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Being Together | Last night’s webcast

First, a big thank you to everyone who made last night happen. Thank you.

We’ve posted the archive here.

Here’s a few interesting numbers on the webcast:

  • We had a total of 1800 computers connected to last night’s webcast. That’s at least 1800 people (not counting children watching with parents, and friends watching together ;-).
  • If we include the audience in the theater, that’s 1880 people watching dance together at the same time.
  • There were 19 countries/territories present including Greece, Turkey, Romania, Canada, France, Ireland, Australia, and Israel.

Click around to read about the webcast on other blogs:
Dance Advantage “Being Together” Not a Misnomer
Dance Outlook What did everyone think of Misnomer?
The Winger Misnomer Dance Theater: Chris Elam’s “Being Together” (Live Performance Feed)
Swan Lake Samba Girl Remember Misnomer Live Online Tonight

RELATED LINKS:
Read about the live webcaston misnomer.org
Read blog posts about Being Together
Watch Video of Being Together

Socially Bookmarkit! These icons link to social bookmarking sites ! Whoa, baby.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon