One more improvisation to go - Birmingham Museum of Art, outside by the fountain - tomorrow at NOON.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Improvising at Magic City Arts Connection
Sanspointe artist Rhea Speights improvising at Magic City Arts Connection in Linn Park on Sunday, April 26th. She and Stella Nystrom were accompanied by two musicians on the "Backyard Productions" stage coordinated by Sycamore Toffel.
One more improvisation to go - Birmingham Museum of Art, outside by the fountain - tomorrow at NOON.
One more improvisation to go - Birmingham Museum of Art, outside by the fountain - tomorrow at NOON.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Dancing in the Birmingham Public Library
It is the second day of International Dance Week! Today, we danced in the atrium of the Downtown Birmingham Public Library. A few people walked right through us, not really sure of what was going on, but many stopped for awhile to observe.
For thirty minutes we rolled, climbed, leaned, pulled and moved through the entrace of the library around (and in!) trees, up steps, on rails and around columns. "We" includes Margaret Armstrong, Mary Foshee, Rachael Inman and Shellie Chambers.
What is modern dance? We posed the question...and our own responses:
"movement aware of itself, a means of expression, without frills, an American-born art form." We asked passers-by to observe, reflect and find a connection.
Tomorrow, an excercise class at the YMCA Downtown, 11:10am. I hope you'll join us.
"Nature of Nurture" performed at Shades Valley Community Church in Homewood AL
Photos by Stephen Wade
April 22, 2009. "Nature of Nurture" performed at Shades Valley Community Church in Homewood.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
International Dance Week Begins
April 22, 2009. "Nature of Nurture" performed at Shades Valley Community Church in Homewood.
Monday, April 20, 2009
International Dance Week, April 22-29
DETAILED LIST OF DANCE WEEK ACTIVITIES:
April 22 , 7:15pm
Shades Valley Community Church, Homewood
Sanspointe performance, Nature of Nurture. FREE. 20 min.
Experience the dance up close or far away. You decide while you watch. Audience members are invited to move around the space during the dance to get a view from all angles. This collaborative work performed by 7 dancers was created by Sanspointe choreographers Shellie Chambers and Michelle Hamff with support from a grant awarded by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham. All ages are welcome.
April 23, NOON
Birmingham Public Library Atrium, Downtown
Interactive Performance with artists of Fuzion, CDF and Sanspointe. FREE.
All ages are welcome.
April 24, 11:10am
YMCA, Bham (Downtown)
Adult Exercise Class including pilates, yoga and ballet. For all levels. FREE.
April 25, 6pm
Von Braun Center, Huntsville
Panoply Arts Festival Choreography Competition Finals. General Admission: $5.
Since 2004, Sanspointe has taken modern dance works to the adjudicated choreography showing held each April at Panoply Arts Festival in Huntsville. More than 50 artists from around the Southeast submit original choreography to this competition each year. Finalists are chosen to perform on Saturday evening, and cash awards are given following the performance. Sanspointe choreographer Michelle Hamff has received three awards for best modern choreography since 2004.
April 26, 12-12:30pm
Linn Park, Downtown Birmingham
Improvisation Performance, FREE. At Magic City Arts Connection.
Sanspointe artist Rhea Speights will perform an improvisation on the Main Stage at Magic City Arts Connection’s Imagination Festival. Speights completed 24 hours of non-stop improvisation dancing December 31, 2008 as part of the Freedom of Information Project organized throughout the United States by choreographer Miguel Gutierrez.
April 27, 5-8pm
Children’s Dance Foundation, Downtown Homewood
Open Student Ensemble Rehearsal, 7-8pm, FREE.
CDF’s Ensemble program is comprised of intermediate to advanced level students, providing an opportunity for them to rehearse, create and perform in our community. They are currently rehearsing for a free public performance at the Alabama Theatre May 2. The public is invited to this rehearsal to observe and learn about the choreographic process. All ages are welcome.
Open Rehearsal, Nashville Irish Step Dancers of Birmingham, 5-8pm, FREE.
5-6 8-Hand Team (8 people, traditional Irish dance)
6-7 4-Hand Teams (3 teams of 4 people each, traditional Irish dance---"The Humours of Bandon")
7-8 Soloists (8 dancers, modern Irish choreography)
All 3 classes are preparing teams and soloists to compete at the 2009 World Qualifying Championships in December in Dallas, TX. This will be our school's 2nd year to compete at the event, last year we brought home a 1st place in teams and an 8th in soloists.
April 28, 7-8:30pm
Children’s Dance Foundation, Downtown Homewood
Adult Yoga/Ballet Fusion Class, FREE.
No experience required. Bringing together the grace, fluidity and cardio workout of ballet with the flexibility and inner peace of yoga. A new type of mind/body conditioning. Come workout, have fun and relax wit hus. All in 1 ½ hours. Class will be taught by Melissa Turnage (ballet) and Sue Webb (yoga). What to wear: workout clothes, ballet shoes are optional.
April 29, Noon
Birmingham Museum of Art, Downtown Birmingham
Site Specific Performance with artists of Fuzion, CDF and Sanspointe, FREE.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
sanspointe@gmail.com
rachaelinman@hotmail.com
International Day of Dance
Bringing Dance Awareness to our Community
March 24, 2009 / Birmingham, AL - Fuzión Dance Artists, Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) and Sanspointe Dance Company have organized dance events in and around Birmingham open to the public to take place April 22nd through the 29th to celebrate the International Day of Dance on April 29th, bringing dance awareness to the community at large.
Prof. Alkis Raftis, President of the International Dance Council said,
“The future of dance lies where there are persons who do not dance. These belong to two categories: those who simply did not learn, and those who think that they are not able to dance. They represent the greatest challenge for the dance teacher's profession.In line with UNESCO's struggle against prejudice and discrimination, we are trying to expand the boundaries of dance and to change the current perception of what a dancer is. Dance performances are not necessarily exhibitions of extreme physicality, accurate precision, or bursting emotion - they can be celebrations of interaction between performers. We can enrich dance concerts with dancers, singers, actors, narrators, mimes, acrobats etc., of all ages and all degrees of ability.CID holds to the philosophy that everyone can dance. Dance Day 2009 is dedicated to inclusive dance. Let us include all members of society into our classes and our performances.”
Fuzion, Sanspointe and CDF are doing just that – inviting people in and around Birmingham to experience the art of dance through free classes, performances in unlikely venues and open rehearsals.
International Dance Day (a.k.a. World Dance Day) has been celebrated on April 29, through promotion by the International Dance Council (CID), an umbrella organization within United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for all kinds of dance. The holiday was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The date was suggested by Pyotr Gusev to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre.
Artistic Directors, Shellie Chambers (CDF and Sanspointe) and Rachael Inman (Fuzion) will place dancers in various locations throughout Birmingham including the Downtown Public Library, Birmingham Museum of Art and Shades Valley Community Church to perform “dance vignettes,” some of which will be created on the spot. In conjunction with educating observers and encouraging them to think outside of the box, the directors feel the best way to heighten dance awareness is to bring “dance” to the people through unlikely, inspiring venues. In addition, the three organizations will also provide a couple of free classes open to the public. This is the first time that these three not-for-profit organizations have teamed up to organize events in celebration of International Dance Day.
Children’s Dance Foundation was founded in 1975 based on the belief that dance is a foundation for life and for learning. The Foundation serves more than 1,500 students of all ages and abilities throughout Birmingham each week, year ‘round.
Fuzion Dance Artists has been hailed as Sarasota’s 1st Contemporary Dance Company, and was founded by Directors Leymis Bolaños Wilmott and Rachael Inman. The two collaborate with professionals and other artists to create art that expresses the desires and struggles of the human spirit. Working in community settings, Wilmott and Inman aim to provide a safe environment for expression of ideas.
Sanspointe was founded by Michelle Hamff in 2003 to provide choreographers and dancers with an opportunity to create new work, collaborate artistically and present high-quality modern dance performances for the community. Sanspointe presents at least one concert of original and inventive choreography each year for audiences in its hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and performs at events during the year around the Southeast. Under the artistic direction of Shellie Chambers, Sanspointe has been recognized as a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization, with 18 company artists and a board of directors. Sanspointe’s members bring a diversity of interests, experiences and talents to the company. This unique fusion of artistic ideas and inspirations allows Sanspointe to constantly evolve and challenges its members and the audience’s expectations of what modern dance is.
April 22 , 7:15pm
Shades Valley Community Church, Homewood
Sanspointe performance, Nature of Nurture. FREE. 20 min.
Experience the dance up close or far away. You decide while you watch. Audience members are invited to move around the space during the dance to get a view from all angles. This collaborative work performed by 7 dancers was created by Sanspointe choreographers Shellie Chambers and Michelle Hamff with support from a grant awarded by the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham. All ages are welcome.
April 23, NOON
Birmingham Public Library Atrium, Downtown
Interactive Performance with artists of Fuzion, CDF and Sanspointe. FREE.
All ages are welcome.
April 24, 11:10am
YMCA, Bham (Downtown)
Adult Exercise Class including pilates, yoga and ballet. For all levels. FREE.
April 25, 6pm
Von Braun Center, Huntsville
Panoply Arts Festival Choreography Competition Finals. General Admission: $5.
Since 2004, Sanspointe has taken modern dance works to the adjudicated choreography showing held each April at Panoply Arts Festival in Huntsville. More than 50 artists from around the Southeast submit original choreography to this competition each year. Finalists are chosen to perform on Saturday evening, and cash awards are given following the performance. Sanspointe choreographer Michelle Hamff has received three awards for best modern choreography since 2004.
April 26, 12-12:30pm
Linn Park, Downtown Birmingham
Improvisation Performance, FREE. At Magic City Arts Connection.
Sanspointe artist Rhea Speights will perform an improvisation on the Main Stage at Magic City Arts Connection’s Imagination Festival. Speights completed 24 hours of non-stop improvisation dancing December 31, 2008 as part of the Freedom of Information Project organized throughout the United States by choreographer Miguel Gutierrez.
April 27, 5-8pm
Children’s Dance Foundation, Downtown Homewood
Open Student Ensemble Rehearsal, 7-8pm, FREE.
CDF’s Ensemble program is comprised of intermediate to advanced level students, providing an opportunity for them to rehearse, create and perform in our community. They are currently rehearsing for a free public performance at the Alabama Theatre May 2. The public is invited to this rehearsal to observe and learn about the choreographic process. All ages are welcome.
Open Rehearsal, Nashville Irish Step Dancers of Birmingham, 5-8pm, FREE.
5-6 8-Hand Team (8 people, traditional Irish dance)
6-7 4-Hand Teams (3 teams of 4 people each, traditional Irish dance---"The Humours of Bandon")
7-8 Soloists (8 dancers, modern Irish choreography)
All 3 classes are preparing teams and soloists to compete at the 2009 World Qualifying Championships in December in Dallas, TX. This will be our school's 2nd year to compete at the event, last year we brought home a 1st place in teams and an 8th in soloists.
April 28, 7-8:30pm
Children’s Dance Foundation, Downtown Homewood
Adult Yoga/Ballet Fusion Class, FREE.
No experience required. Bringing together the grace, fluidity and cardio workout of ballet with the flexibility and inner peace of yoga. A new type of mind/body conditioning. Come workout, have fun and relax wit hus. All in 1 ½ hours. Class will be taught by Melissa Turnage (ballet) and Sue Webb (yoga). What to wear: workout clothes, ballet shoes are optional.
April 29, Noon
Birmingham Museum of Art, Downtown Birmingham
Site Specific Performance with artists of Fuzion, CDF and Sanspointe, FREE.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
sanspointe@gmail.com
rachaelinman@hotmail.com
International Day of Dance
Bringing Dance Awareness to our Community
March 24, 2009 / Birmingham, AL - Fuzión Dance Artists, Children’s Dance Foundation (CDF) and Sanspointe Dance Company have organized dance events in and around Birmingham open to the public to take place April 22nd through the 29th to celebrate the International Day of Dance on April 29th, bringing dance awareness to the community at large.
Prof. Alkis Raftis, President of the International Dance Council said,
“The future of dance lies where there are persons who do not dance. These belong to two categories: those who simply did not learn, and those who think that they are not able to dance. They represent the greatest challenge for the dance teacher's profession.In line with UNESCO's struggle against prejudice and discrimination, we are trying to expand the boundaries of dance and to change the current perception of what a dancer is. Dance performances are not necessarily exhibitions of extreme physicality, accurate precision, or bursting emotion - they can be celebrations of interaction between performers. We can enrich dance concerts with dancers, singers, actors, narrators, mimes, acrobats etc., of all ages and all degrees of ability.CID holds to the philosophy that everyone can dance. Dance Day 2009 is dedicated to inclusive dance. Let us include all members of society into our classes and our performances.”
Fuzion, Sanspointe and CDF are doing just that – inviting people in and around Birmingham to experience the art of dance through free classes, performances in unlikely venues and open rehearsals.
International Dance Day (a.k.a. World Dance Day) has been celebrated on April 29, through promotion by the International Dance Council (CID), an umbrella organization within United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for all kinds of dance. The holiday was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The date was suggested by Pyotr Gusev to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre.
Artistic Directors, Shellie Chambers (CDF and Sanspointe) and Rachael Inman (Fuzion) will place dancers in various locations throughout Birmingham including the Downtown Public Library, Birmingham Museum of Art and Shades Valley Community Church to perform “dance vignettes,” some of which will be created on the spot. In conjunction with educating observers and encouraging them to think outside of the box, the directors feel the best way to heighten dance awareness is to bring “dance” to the people through unlikely, inspiring venues. In addition, the three organizations will also provide a couple of free classes open to the public. This is the first time that these three not-for-profit organizations have teamed up to organize events in celebration of International Dance Day.
Children’s Dance Foundation was founded in 1975 based on the belief that dance is a foundation for life and for learning. The Foundation serves more than 1,500 students of all ages and abilities throughout Birmingham each week, year ‘round.
Fuzion Dance Artists has been hailed as Sarasota’s 1st Contemporary Dance Company, and was founded by Directors Leymis Bolaños Wilmott and Rachael Inman. The two collaborate with professionals and other artists to create art that expresses the desires and struggles of the human spirit. Working in community settings, Wilmott and Inman aim to provide a safe environment for expression of ideas.
Sanspointe was founded by Michelle Hamff in 2003 to provide choreographers and dancers with an opportunity to create new work, collaborate artistically and present high-quality modern dance performances for the community. Sanspointe presents at least one concert of original and inventive choreography each year for audiences in its hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and performs at events during the year around the Southeast. Under the artistic direction of Shellie Chambers, Sanspointe has been recognized as a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization, with 18 company artists and a board of directors. Sanspointe’s members bring a diversity of interests, experiences and talents to the company. This unique fusion of artistic ideas and inspirations allows Sanspointe to constantly evolve and challenges its members and the audience’s expectations of what modern dance is.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
PreMoves: Dances in Progress
April 17, 2009
Join us for PreMoves: Dances in Progress
6pm
Friday, April 17, 2009 for wine, nibbles and a look at new work in progress by choreographer Rhea Speights. Rehearsal will be in progress when you arrive!
$5 donation is appreciated.
Donations can be made at the door or at www.sanspointe.org.
Join us for PreMoves: Dances in Progress
6pm
Friday, April 17, 2009 for wine, nibbles and a look at new work in progress by choreographer Rhea Speights. Rehearsal will be in progress when you arrive!
$5 donation is appreciated.
Donations can be made at the door or at www.sanspointe.org.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sanspointe Dance Company will Present SIX by SIX May 28-31st
Birmingham, Ala. April 9, 2009 - Sanspointe Dance Company is pleased to present SIX dances by SIX choreographers Thursday, May 28th through Sunday, May 31st. SIX by SIX will feature work by Alabama choreographers Sarah Barry, Shellie Chambers, Kim Guion, Michelle Hamff, John McLaughlin and Rhea Speights and preshow live music by Daniel Long and Justin Wallace.
Included in SIX by SIX is Nature of Nurture, choreographed by Chambers and Hamff with support from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham’s Grants to Individual Artists Award. In addition, Hamff has set a new work for four dancers, titled Lessons. Barry, dance professor at The University of Alabama, has set her work Mass Production on the company, and John McLaughlin has set a new work for eight dancers based on poems by Edgar Allan Poe. Speights has set a new work on four dancers, which will be previewed at the company’s signature event, PreMoves: Dances in Progress, on April 17, 2009.
Shellie Chambers, Interim Artistic Director of the company said, “It takes a lot of motivated and committed people to put together a dance concert. Many of our company members work full-time, several are mothers, a few attend graduate school full-time, and several travel from an hour away for rehearsals. We rehearse on the weekend, which does not leave time for much else! Each of us is passionate about presenting modern dance for Birmingham audiences.”
People often ask what modern dance is. Chambers says, “It is an expressive, American dance form. No shoes are required, and it has a strong relationship with the floor. If you ever peek in on a Sanspointe rehearsal, you will see a lot of collaboration between the choreographer and dancers and a lot of physical partnership with the floor and each other.”
Improvisation is an important aspect of modern dance. Improvisation is when the dancers generate the movement, structure and interplay based on their inspirations in the current moment. SIX by SIX will include an improvisation piece performed by Kim Guion and Rhea Speights, directed by Kim Guion. The dance will be different in each performance, and so will the music, which will be performed live by percussionists Daniel Long and Justin Wallace.
Guion said, “Instead of learning choreography to prepare for this dance, we practice different improvisational structures and make a new dance with each rehearsal. Musicians are also invited in to improvise with us. It requires a collective consciousness, which we are working to build.”
Sanspointe was founded by Michelle Hamff in 2003. Hamff said, “I wanted to present a modern dance concert, and that’s how it all started.” Today, the company exists to provide choreographers and dancers with an opportunity to create new work, collaborate artistically and present high-quality modern dance performances for the community. Sanspointe presents at least one concert of original and inventive choreography each year for audiences in its hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and performs at events during the year around the Southeast.
Under the artistic direction of Shellie Chambers, Sanspointe has been recognized as a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization, with 18 company artists and seven members on its board of directors and is campaigning now for financial support. Sanspointe’s members bring a diversity of interests, experiences and talents to the company. This unique fusion of artistic ideas and inspirations allows Sanspointe to constantly evolve and challenges its members and the audience’s expectations of what modern dance is.
Several of Sanspointe’s artists are alumni of The Unviersity of Alabama’s dance department, two are currently seniors at UA and one is a professor. Sanspointe has also presented two concerts at UA. Chambers is excited to provide an opportunity for students in college to work with the company. “When I was a senior in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after graduation or what opportunities there were for me in the area. I’m glad that we can give these seniors this experience now before they graduate.”
SIX by SIX will be performed in an intimate theatre setting at Children’s Dance Foundation’s Community Arts Center Studio Theatre in Downtown Homewood (1715 27th Court South) May 28-31. Tickets, $10, can be purchased online and at the door. Seating is limited. To make a tax-deductible donation to Sanspointe, visit http://www.sanspointe.org/.
Included in SIX by SIX is Nature of Nurture, choreographed by Chambers and Hamff with support from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham’s Grants to Individual Artists Award. In addition, Hamff has set a new work for four dancers, titled Lessons. Barry, dance professor at The University of Alabama, has set her work Mass Production on the company, and John McLaughlin has set a new work for eight dancers based on poems by Edgar Allan Poe. Speights has set a new work on four dancers, which will be previewed at the company’s signature event, PreMoves: Dances in Progress, on April 17, 2009.
Shellie Chambers, Interim Artistic Director of the company said, “It takes a lot of motivated and committed people to put together a dance concert. Many of our company members work full-time, several are mothers, a few attend graduate school full-time, and several travel from an hour away for rehearsals. We rehearse on the weekend, which does not leave time for much else! Each of us is passionate about presenting modern dance for Birmingham audiences.”
People often ask what modern dance is. Chambers says, “It is an expressive, American dance form. No shoes are required, and it has a strong relationship with the floor. If you ever peek in on a Sanspointe rehearsal, you will see a lot of collaboration between the choreographer and dancers and a lot of physical partnership with the floor and each other.”
Improvisation is an important aspect of modern dance. Improvisation is when the dancers generate the movement, structure and interplay based on their inspirations in the current moment. SIX by SIX will include an improvisation piece performed by Kim Guion and Rhea Speights, directed by Kim Guion. The dance will be different in each performance, and so will the music, which will be performed live by percussionists Daniel Long and Justin Wallace.
Guion said, “Instead of learning choreography to prepare for this dance, we practice different improvisational structures and make a new dance with each rehearsal. Musicians are also invited in to improvise with us. It requires a collective consciousness, which we are working to build.”
Sanspointe was founded by Michelle Hamff in 2003. Hamff said, “I wanted to present a modern dance concert, and that’s how it all started.” Today, the company exists to provide choreographers and dancers with an opportunity to create new work, collaborate artistically and present high-quality modern dance performances for the community. Sanspointe presents at least one concert of original and inventive choreography each year for audiences in its hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, and performs at events during the year around the Southeast.
Under the artistic direction of Shellie Chambers, Sanspointe has been recognized as a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization, with 18 company artists and seven members on its board of directors and is campaigning now for financial support. Sanspointe’s members bring a diversity of interests, experiences and talents to the company. This unique fusion of artistic ideas and inspirations allows Sanspointe to constantly evolve and challenges its members and the audience’s expectations of what modern dance is.
Several of Sanspointe’s artists are alumni of The Unviersity of Alabama’s dance department, two are currently seniors at UA and one is a professor. Sanspointe has also presented two concerts at UA. Chambers is excited to provide an opportunity for students in college to work with the company. “When I was a senior in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do after graduation or what opportunities there were for me in the area. I’m glad that we can give these seniors this experience now before they graduate.”
SIX by SIX will be performed in an intimate theatre setting at Children’s Dance Foundation’s Community Arts Center Studio Theatre in Downtown Homewood (1715 27th Court South) May 28-31. Tickets, $10, can be purchased online and at the door. Seating is limited. To make a tax-deductible donation to Sanspointe, visit http://www.sanspointe.org/.
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