All World Dance: News for Lovers of Dance

Improv Everywhere Scores Flash Mob for Crowd, Glowsticks, Masks & Flashlights

The MP3 Experiment Eight [Source: Improv Everywhere]

Improv Everywhere organized The MP3 Experiment Eight in New York City:

"For our latest mission, over 3,500 people downloaded an MP3 file and pressed play simultaneously. The event began at sunset in two starting points by the Hudson River. The masses converged on Nelson Rockefeller Park as twilight ended and participated in a series of synchronized activities involving flashlights, camera flashes, glow sticks, and masks. This was the 8th installment in our Mp3 Experiment series."

They also have pictures of the event!

Official Site: Improv Everywhere

Lucky Break by Rock Funk Rock Dance Company

Lucky Break by Rock Funk Rock Dance Company [Source: Rock Funk Rock]

Rock Funk Rock Dance Company presents a hip hop dance/theater production, Lucky Break, July 13 to 23 at the David Williamson Theatre in Prahran, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia:

"Set in the suburbs of Melbourne, based on an article titled 'State feeling the sting of job losses', artistic director L.MJ Garduce and her talented cast explores the issues of the effects of the past economic crisis, unemployment and homelessness, and what we as the viewers feel and how we respond and stereotype those who have nothing but the street at their feet."

Lucky Break Preview @ Australian Hip Hop Championship 2011
[Source: Passion TV]

Rock Funk Rock founder Lucky Garduce states:

"The lead is a boy called Lucky who turns into a man through his struggles with long-term unemployment. He faces many tests of character in order to overcome what is just another one of life's hurdles."

Interestingly enough, Lucky (no relationship to the character) started Rock Funk Rock, in part, "to provide herself with another work opportunity."

Official Site: Rock Funk Rock Dance Company

2011 Hip-Hop Theater Festival Brings Hip Hop Arts Together in Washington, DC

2011 DC Hip-Hop Theater Festival [Source: Hip-Hop Theater Festival]

The 2011 DC Hip-Hop Theater Festival takes place in Washington, DC kicking off July 11th and continuing through the 16th.

Events include an art show, dance concerts, a J. Dilla tribute concert and fundraiser and multiple theater events and parties, most of which are free.

Hip-Hop Theater Festival: Culture in Action [Source: Hip-Hop Theater Festival]

Last year the Hip-Hop Theater Festival celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a Benefit Celebration in New York City.

Official Site: Hip-Hop Theater Festival

Music Makes Me: Fred Astaire and Jazz

Music Makes Me: Fred Astaire and Jazz [Source: UC Press]

Todd Decker's Music Makes Me: Fred Astaire and Jazz was released last month by the University of California Press:

"Astaire is best known for his brilliant dancing in the movie musicals of the 1930s, but in Music Makes Me, Todd Decker argues that Astaire's work as a dancer and choreographer - particularly in the realm of tap dancing - made a significant contribution to the art of jazz."

"Decker examines the full range of Astaire's work in filmed and recorded media, from a 1926 recording with George Gershwin to his 1970 blues stylings on television, and analyzes Astaire's creative relationships with the greats, including George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and Johnny Mercer.  He also highlights Astaire's collaborations with African American musicians and his work with lesser known professionals - arrangers, musicians, dance directors, and performers."

I actually found out about this book through a review by Will Friedwald in The Wall Street Journal. I'm always interested when dance-related topics show up in the Journal and it's worth a look to get a better sense of the focus of the book. However, I just have to share this personal tale by the reviewer:

"Tony Bennett once told me about a conversation he had with Astaire in the mid-1970s, during which the legend mentioned that he had recently turned down a fantastic sum of money to perform in Las Vegas. He was too old, Astaire said. He would never dance again. But after Bennett left the room to answer a phone call, he returned to find Astaire dancing to a record by blues shouter Big Joe Turner. 'I can't help it,' Astaire said. 'When I hear that beat, I just have to move to it.'"

Though I never met Fred Astaire, when I started getting interested in dance and musical theater in high school, his dance scenes were one of my stronger inspirations to pursue such activities.

Official Site: Music Makes Me: Fred Astaire and Jazz

Baby Tap Dancing to Opera in Patriotic Garb

Tap Dancing Baby [Source: tchilder]

I don't know the backstory on this video. It could be something old that marketers are grabbing and tossing online to take advantage of a cute baby wearing patriotic clothes.

But I do think it's awfully interesting to see how a baby's wiggling behavior was recognized as something that could look like a tap dance. Nicely done!

Chase Brock On Being the Choreographic Fixer for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Interview with Choreographer Chase Brock [Source: DanceOn]

Broadway's a tough business and, just like in the movie industry, the initial director and other creative individuals don't always make it through with the final product. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is said to be the most expensive Broadway production with the longest preview period of all time. After beginning previews in November 2010, the show was put on hold in March 2011, lots of work was done and previews began again in May with an official opening finally happening on June 14th.

Though he's very politic about the whole thing, Chase Brock, who was brought in to further develop the choreography during the break, shares a bit about that process.

Official Site: Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark

Savion Glover's SoLe Sanctuary

Savion Glover [Source: Savion Glover Productions]

Savion Glover is at The Joyce in New York City in the midst of a run of SoLe Sanctuary till July 9. It's a show honoring his forefathers in tap.

Gia Kourlas reviews SoLe Sanctuary for the NY Times.

Official Site: Savion Glover Productions

Available on Amazon: Savion Glover

Spring Dance 2011 Brings International Dance Companies to the Sydney Opera House

les ballets C de la B in Out of Context: for Pina [Source: Sydney Opera House]

Spring Dance 2011 brings a rich lineup of international dance companies to the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia from August 23 to September 4.

Much of the program is dedicated to the late Pina Bausch and includes performances by DV8, les ballets C de la B, Israel Galván, Ros Warby, Chunky Move and Fevered Sleep. Films, panels, masterclasses and a photography exhibition featuring performers from the Sydney Dance Company will also be a part of the festival.

"Alain Platel's company, les ballets C de la B, will present the acclaimed production Out of Context: for Pina. For its first Sydney season, it will include a 'Pina Intervention' by performers who have danced for Pina at her Tanztheater Wuppertal."

Fevered Sleep in The Forest [Source: Sydney Opera House]

"And for young audiences (and the young at heart!), Sydney Opera House will present The Forest by the UK-based performance company Fevered Sleep. The Forest will reflect their interest in creating design-focused productions that develop theatrical environments to envelop their audience and draw them into a world of fantasy, intrigue, movement and storytelling."

Ros Warby in Monumental [Source: Sydney Opera House]

"The work of Melbourne-based dancer and choreographer Ros Warby has been acclaimed by critics around the world. She will return to Sydney to perform Monumental at Spring Dance, in which she explores ideas around two iconic symbols of classical ballet: the swan and the soldier."

DV8 in Can We Talk About This? [Source: Sydney Opera House]

"Sydney Opera House will host the world premiere of DV8's Can We Talk About This? choreographed and devised by Artistic Director Lloyd Newson. Like his recent productions that have combined dance with verbatim theatre to tackle social and political issues head-on, Can We Talk About This? will explore ideas around freedom of speech."

Official Site: Spring Dance 2011

Sleepless Night Miami Beach 2011 Announces Premieres by Project Bandaloop & The Carpetbag Brigade

Sleepless Night Miami Beach 2011 [Source: Sleepless Night]

Sleepless Night Miami Beach is a unique all-night event taking place from Saturday, November 5th at sundown to Sunday, November 6th at sunrise in Miami Beach, Florida. Somehow they're planning to pack over 150 performance in this year's event including at least 5 premieres, two of which include dance in their productions:

Project Bandaloop is a "San Francisco-based aerial dance troupe that shakes up how people perceive the environment and the art form. 'IdEgo' will be making its East Coast premiere at Sleepless Night at the new Frank Gehry-designed New World Symphony Center. The piece investigates the tension between individual and group identity and the 'wild' versus 'organized' space through collision of movement, sculpture, text, video projection and music."

The Carpetbag Brigade from San Francisco creates unique shows that transcend language, class and culture by drawing from acrobatic stilts, physical theater, modern dance, circus, butoh and contact improvisation. Sleepless Night will present the East Coast premiere of 'Callings.'"

Additional premieres will come from Sarruga, Livio Tragtenber and Tim Miller.

Facebook: Sleepless Night

Shrek The Musical Opens in London

Dance Rehearsals for Shrek in London [Source: Shrek London]

Shrek The Musical, choreographed by Josh Prince both for the US and UK, just had a big opening in London so I thought I'd share a couple of YouTube clips about the dance rehearsals and choreography.

Minidoc on Original Shrek The Musical Choreography
[Source: Shrek The Musical]

Shrek The Musical is also on tour in the States.

Official Site: Shrek The Musical