Dancing while Flying

I am a Senior at Bennington College in Vermont. Each winter we have the unique opportunity to take seven weeks to enter the work force and engage in our education with real life expedience. This winter I will be interning with Bandaloop in Oakland, CA. Pioneers of verticle dance, Bandaloop melds the worlds of mondern contemporary dance and aerial arts. I will be reflecting on my experience here with photos, videos, and short essays.

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Final Reflection

There is so much to learn, and not enough time to learn it all. Between indulging in reading for pleasure, taking an amazing schedule of movement classes, and feeling at home in the professional world, it isn't easy returning back to Bennington for my final term. Like my previous Field Work Terms, it seems that by six weeks it feels like home, and shortly after I'm picking up to move on again. This transience has been healthy, however, because each year I have been able to craft my experience to something closer to what I dream about. For many reasons, I believe I really struck the perfect balance this year. But, all I want to do in reflection is rave about my amazing supervisors and all of the incredible members of Bandaloop as a tiny Oakland non-profit dance company. 

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Work on the wall

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A little floor ditty in class at Bandaloop

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Time Flies and so do Maggies (Episode 6)

My second to last week with Bandaloop is drawing to a close and I am definitely feeling the time crunch, as well as the bitter sweet sense of things ending. This week was packed, once again, with exciting events. We hosted an open rehearsal on the Great Wall of Oakland (GWO) for Bandaloop’s Public Canvas project. The rehearsal doubles as a film/photo shoot for the California Tourism Board, and we literally rolled out the red carpet for the film crew and a few other guests. It is so amazing to see to observe how the material generated in the studio translates onto the GWO.  The company is working with a new counterbalance system that has introduced a new level of dynamics to their material. Previously, most of their movement was restricted to a horizontal plane on the vertical surface. However, using a closed shiv system, dancers can propel each other through the vertical space. I can’t wait to see what else they discover on this system. The physical intelligence of the company members is mesmerizing. I am building an even greater appreciation for the beautiful work they do now that I have spent a few short hours in a harness myself. For those of you who will be in the area, I highly recommend checking out this new project. It is gearing up to be a fantastic show. (check out what Bandaloop is up to here: http://bandaloop.org/blog/)

The other highlight for the week was this weekend’s Winter Workshop at the Bandaloop Studio in west Oakland. I am so grateful that I was allowed to participate, and despite a few more gnarly harness bruises, I am completely hooked on the form. I’ve stated to explore pulling flips and jumps while running in a pendulum (it is exactly what it sounds like). you have to relax into the tidal pulse running back and forth along the wall and jump at just the right moment to lift off and fly. It feels fantastic. I’ve learned quickly that you have to loose yourself in the enjoyment of working on the wall. If you start getting into your head, or over analyzing the movement, it immediately becomes a struggle and you put yourself in a position to crash. you have to give into the flow of gravity in a new way. Regardless of whether I continue to do this kind of aerial work, I have learned invaluable lessons about my alignment, about degrees of physical effort, and especially about letting go. One of my teachers at the workshop summed it up for me when she explained, “it is all about relaxing what you can.” Ultimately, I think this applies to all aspects of life.

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California Dreaming open rehearsal and film shoot

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Dancers Waltz Across The Side Of A Building, Catch It All On GoPro

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Roel and Amelia on Oakland City Hall (I believe)

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Rocket Hub mailing complete

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Mass Mailing and Harness Bruises (Episode 5)

There is clearly something magical about snail mail. It is baffling to me that you can go to a tiny office, wait in line for one hour, have a strained conversation with a disgruntled government employee, and your mail will miraculously arrive at its destination a week later. I have a newfound appreciation for the complexity, and magnitude, of the US postal service. It seems so inconsequential when you mail one letter or even ten letters at a time. When you send out 75 bubble wrap envelope packages, you suddenly have to reconcile the shear size of this organizational nightmare. There is also no comparable feeling to the relief of finishing a large-scale mailing project. I don’t want to see another envelope, peel another stamp, or fold another letter for at least a month. But all and all it isn’t the worst thing that I’ve ever done, and the tedium actually provides ample time for meditation.  It also feels great to have a concrete representation of hours of work, and to successfully complete Bandaloop’s Rocket Hub campaign.

In other news, Bandaloop’s winter weekly series has started.  While I’m sporting the latest in tender harness bruises, I’m also high on the thrill of thwarting gravity. We’ve worked on the climbing wall, harnessless. This has sparked several ideas for bouldering routes as choreography (look out rec barn!)  We’ve danced on the trampoline wall, and the hard wall, in the studio. All I can say is that I desperately want more. And finally we’ve done some work with “low flying” which is possibly the most exciting thing so far. I am soaking up the freedom of having all the agency and articulation of having my feet on the floor, but the support of a harness to challenge the normal limitations of momentum.  I can’t wait to continue to explore this new relationship to inertia, especially when it comes to turning upside down. Floor work now has a whole new meaning!

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D.I.R.T at Dance Mission Theater

I saw my first local dance performance featuring a few local choreographers on Friday:

http://www.dancemission.com/performances/upcoming.html

Was a lovely show, and I hope to write more about it later. However, for the time being, it is apparent that there is talent hidden here in the Bay Area. I am definitely not disappointed by the range, diversity, depth, and distinct flavors that this community is producing!

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Look what I found!

http://www.sozoartists.com/blog/bandaloop-and-the-bachelorette/

Lookie what I stumbled on today logging in previous gigs for B-loop! Bandaloop has had the opportunity to do quite a few commercial gigs. These gigs are partly why they've reached such a wide audience, and their craft is so well known.  

I have got to say that I am not a watcher of the show, nor do I really agree that it is a viable way to find love. However, I find it HILARIOUS that a private bandaloop lesson was featured as one of the dates for this chased lady and her beau. I almost would have watched this episode to see the comical unfolding of this collaboration! Nice work Bandaloop. 

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Lifted Spirits on The Great Wall of Oakland (Episode 4)

The beginning of this week was consumed with work on the Great Wall of Oakland (GWO). This giant (130 ft?) white wall happens to be on the outside of our office building. Bandaloop holds rehearsals here time-to-time to train for higher risk dancing conditions, much to the delight of Oakland residents who happen to pass by while dancing is underway. Rehearsal on the GWO is definitely an event, with a full team of riggers present, and the full core company, we’re a crowd just among ourselves. However there are only about 3 or 4 of us on the ground at any given time.  I am in charge of the P.A. system used to communicate between ground and dancers on the wall. (Walkie-Talkies are used to talk between ground and the roof). The artistic director has a fabulous selection of music to play phrase work is rehearsed. Needless to say it’s a very exciting event with a very involved process, worth every ounce of effort to get off the ground! ;)

In addition to having rehearsal on the GWO, the company hosted its annual dancer/rigger rescue training.  Training runs much like a wilderness first aid class, minus the class room time, and about 70% more time acting out plausible scenarios, in full rigging on the GWO. I eagerly jumped on the opportunity to repel down with the company’s “green team” dancers, soaking up as much air-time as I possibly could.  Let’s just say, I’m addicted.

The rest of the week was colored by the familiar office work routine. I’m working on certain tasks to facilitate exciting upcoming projects.  Keep an eye out for “Public Canvas,” a show going up in the Tenderloin in March, and for “Crossing” which will be filmed in June.  As always I encourage everyone to check out Bandaloop’s beautiful website, http://bandaloop.org/, just try not to drool to much. Both projects explore new and old territory for the company, and we are all waiting in suspense (^_^) to see what emerges!  So ultimately, let’s face it, nothing is really “routine” when you are working for a company like Bandaloop. 

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a little peak at the bandaloop studio.

It is pretty much the playground of my dreams

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Made in Oakland, Mayor Libby's inauguration celebration

The event was held at American Steel, and featured beautiful giant sculptures and local art, a kids section with 3-D printer and a lego jeep. Performances by local musicians, dance troupes, kinetic arts center and of course Bandaloop. Bandaloop did two performances on a giant container behind the arts stage. 

Oakland pride, is a scrappy, solid, and creative pride.

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Dance on Walls (episode 3)

This week flew by: the first half was marked by a pile of filing, checks to process, contracts to draw up, letters to mail, and banks to call. I think I’ve started to get the hang of these admin tasks, but I know I’m only scratching the surface, doing the busy work and lightening the load for my supervisors. Happily!  One challenge I’m beginning to notice for small businesses like Bandaloop is organizing contacts and information. Using free online interfaces seem really attractive, but often have impossible layouts and big learning curves.  It makes me appreciate the value of good programming and website building.

The second half of the week featured my first two rehearsals and rehearsal assistant, as well as facilitating Bandaloop’s invitation only audition for a new core company member.  I’m so lucky I get to sit in on rehearsals, and have learned a lot about the company’s process and the creative process in general. My job is filming phrases and ideas that the director wants to save, as well as any odd job that may be doing. I’ve perfected my harness organizational skills, taken inventories, and coiled ropes. Its such a pleasure to be in Bandaloop’s space, and watch the core company members, and the director, in action. Observing their process has helped me clarify how I would run my own rehearsals, generate material, and even how I would structure an audition. I only hope that some day I’m lucky enough to work with such an incredibly generous, creative, and committed group of dancers.

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Movement Classes in the East Bay

I've been enjoying exploring the east bay's selection of dance classes. I'm thrilled to find that the dance community here is enthusiastic and friendly. There is a huge array of classes available, and some incredible teachers to discover. So far I've explored the following places:

Shall Anderson http://www.shawl-anderson.org/

Shall Anderson has consistently been the first recommendation for dance classes that I've received from local dancers.  There is an advanced modern class at 10 am (almost daily?) with a rotating roster of awesome local teachers. Each one has their own signature, providing a complimentary variation to each class throughout the week. These classes attract a host of dancers, both aspiring and professional dancers alike, and are usually fairly full. This is where the evening classes at Shall Anderson come in handy, as they are slightly less attended, giving you a little bit more room to move in the small studios.

Hipline http://www.myhipline.com/ 

Hidden on lakeshore ave near lake Merit is a fabulous place for ladies to dance like no one's watching and simply have a great time. I was introduced to this little gem by my best friend who has been coming to hipline with her mother and her sister for at least a year. This supportive, empowering community has created a safe space for women to get active and express themselves. The instructors are committed to creating a fun, non-threatening environment for all women to shake it and be fabulous.

Athletic Playground  http://www.athleticplayground.com/

I discovered the playground during my first field work term in Oakland with Paper Doll Militia. It is simply a happy, fun loving community interested in fostering fitness, silliness, and bad ass circus skills. I've been very pleased with AP's focus on safety in all of the classes I've attended, as well as the welcome and inclusive attitude towards beginners. Some of my favorite classes have been Intro to Aerial, Monkey Conditioning, and Handstands. In addition to drop in classes, they usually have a selection of really cool monthly workshops lined up that are definitely worth checking out. 

Finally, not in the east bay but found in San Francisco, I'd like to make a shout out to Shades of Blues. http://wejustdance.com/shades/ 

I Had an excellent time on Monday night at their weekly blues fusion event. Would highly recommend this group of lovely people if you are looking for a friendly, active, partner dancing community in the bay area.

I'm looking forward to exploring what San Francisco has to offer for open classes at ODC, Lines, etc. However, I'm excited to say that there is quite a bit to explore closer to Oakland, and can't wait to see what new places I uncover in the coming weeks.

If anyone has any suggestions, for classes anywhere in the area, I'm all ears! If you are curious I would be happy to post about what I find here. 

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A friend asked me to post a source for some of Bandaloop's work. This article from 2013 has a few good videos, as well as a little blurb on Bandaloop's Collaboration with Trisha Brown Dance Company that year.

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One of my favorite videos from Bandaloop. Dancing on the walls of City Hall in Oakland. The GoPro perspective gives a little bit better feel for what its like to work with the harness. I also love the distortion of time, some of which must be edited, but some is just a product of air time.  A beautifully poignant short duet.