First rehearsal for Outcasts United collaborative work

A collaboration by Shellie Chambers and Michelle Hamff

by Shellie Chambers:

Today, Michelle and I began working with three community members - Ivan Correa, Vikas Hedge and Amia Loubser - on a new dance work that incorporates spoken word in four languages.

Let me give you a background on what we're up to....Sanspointe began a collaboration with Birmingham Museum of Art only a few weeks ago to present Kinetic Canvas: A Dance Installation at the Museum. In addition to that 40-minute performance, featuring five site-specific collaborative dance works on October 16th, Sanspointe was invited to create a work inspired by the UAB 2010 Discussion Book, Outcasts United, by Birmingham's own Warren St. John.

On August 24th Sanspointe will perform this work for UAB students, faculty and staff who have been invited to read Outcasts United and view the artwork, Mpanqui, Jimaqua (Brotherhood, Twins) by Cuban artist José Bedia. The artwork was selected by Museum staff to complement the book as it reflects many of the book’s themes.

When we were invited to make this work, I got really excited about it because I had recently read the book. I immediately thought of a dance that Michelle choreographed in college called "Babel," in which four dancers with four different native languages spoke and danced together. I called Michelle, and we decided to take that idea and make it anew. We put out a call to friends as we looked for three people whose native language wasn't English and who would be open to working on this performance piece with us.

Michelle and I met several times this past week to create the structure for our dance, using original text that Michelle wrote almost 10 years ago when she was in college. Today, at our first rehearsal, we met the dancers for the first time.

This new work will be performed for the public in Sanspointe's Kinetic Canvas: A Dance Installation at Birmingham Museum of Art on Saturday, October 16th at 1:00 and 3:00. The performance is free to attend.

More information about the book Outcasts United and the Fugees...

From the book website:

"Outcasts United is the story of a team of refugee boys, the remarkable woman who coaches them, and the town where they live, a once-sleepy southern hamlet that has been upended by the process of refugee resettlement. It's a story about the challenges posed by our quickly changing world, and one that reminds us of what is possible in this country when we put our values in action. Outcasts United is the story of what happened when these three disparate elements -- a town, a team and a coach -- came together in a kind of impromptu social experiment. It's a book about resilience in the face of extraordinary hardship, the power of one person to make a difference and the daunting challenge of creating community in a place where people seem to have so little in common."

Fugees Family website

Fugees on Today, reported by Tiki Barber

Where the Fugees come from

Today Show Interview with author Warren St. John

Dance, Music and Visual Art Mingle in Kinetic Canvas

July 30, 2010; Birmingham, Ala – Birmingham-based, professional modern dance company Sanspointe will present “Kinetic Canvas: A Dance Installation” at the Birmingham Museum of Art on Saturday, October 16, at 1:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon. The performance is free of charge and open to all!

The partnership between Sanspointe and the Museum began in June 2010 when Sanspointe’s Artistic Director Shellie Chambers began a conversation with the Museum’s Assistant Curator of Education Kristen Greenwood about the possibility of collaborating with the Museum to present a dance installation in their space...dances inspired by the museum itself.

Chambers felt it was time to do something new and unexpected following the company’s four-day run of “Primary Subject” in May.

“After our May concert, I felt that our company and audience members needed to see something different in our next concert. I immediately began looking for an unconventional space where we could perform that would inspire our work and expand our audience.” said Chambers.

Everything fell into place, and the company is now rehearsing five new site-specific dances that will be presented in “Kinetic Canvas: A Dance Installation.” Twelve Sanspointe members and friends are collaborating on these works, which include live music, spoken word and of course dance and art. The 40-minute performance will be performed twice on October 16, 2010, at no cost to the public.

In addition to the public performances on October 16, Sanspointe will perform on August 24^th for UAB students, faculty and staff who have been invited to read the UAB 2010 Discussion Book, Outcasts United, by Birmingham’s own Warren St. John, and view the artwork, Mpanqui, Jimaqua (Brotherhood, Twins) by Cuban artist José Bedia. The artwork was selected by Museum staff to complement the book as it reflects many of the book’s themes. The performance piece is a collaboration by Chambers and Sanspointe Founder Michelle Hamff that features movement and spoken word in four languages. Three community members have been invited to perform in the work.

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 two concerts of original and inventive choreography by a handful of Alabama dance artists each year, and has presented more than 30 original works by Alabama choreographers.

Under the artistic direction of Shellie Chambers, Sanspointe has been recognized as a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization with ten company members, including dance artists, musicians and designers. 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 challenge its members’ and audience’s expectations of modern dance.

Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast supported by a strong educational program designed to make the arts come alive for children and adults throughout the region.

To learn more about Sanspointe, visit www.sanspointe.org. For more information on Birmingham Museum of Art, visit www.artsbma.org.

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Save the date for Kinetic Canvas

Following our May concert, Primary Subject, I felt it was time for Sanspointe to do something new and unexpected. I immediately began looking for an alternate venue for our Fall concert. It wasn't long until I was at Birmingham Museum of Art talking with Kristen Greenwood about the possibility of collaborating with the Museum to present a dance installation in their space...dances inspired by the museum itself.

Everything fell into place, and we are now rehearsing five new site-specific dances that will be presented in Kinetic Canvas. Several Sanspointe members, musicians and friends are collaborating on these works. Including live music, spoken word and of course dance and art, the 40 minute performance will be performed twice on Saturday, October 16th during the 2010 Fiesta event in Linn Park. Join us just inside the museum's front doors for a lively, moving and cultural performance, suitable for the entire family.

Details:

Sanspointe presents

Kinetic Canvas: a dance installation

at the Birmingham Museum of Art

Saturday, October 16

Two daytime performances, times tba.

No cost.

Sanspointe working with Margi Cole

Margi Cole worked with five dancers June 6-11, creating a new work that will premier in October 2010. In video: Margi Cole, Shellie Chambers, Taryn Lavery, Rhea Speights and Anna Walker. Sycamore Toffel - voice and videographer.