Governor Hogan will be addressing the state at 11am on Monday, March 23rd. I debated holding these thoughts until after the press conference, but I think it’s safe to assume that Maryland will expand the shutdown measures, probably to include anything non-essential (full “stay-at-home” orders), and school closures will extend several weeks, if not through the end of the year. Anything else that’s announced, well… we’ll deal with that later. Seems like we’re stuck apart a bit longer (and that’s a good and important thing).
I said last time, that this pandemic will force dramatic and rapid economic, social, and personal changes on everyone, and those changes are unpredictable. But, in the words of Alan Kay, “the best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Now is the time to start thinking about how you want the world to look on the other side of this thing, and begin to but those visions and hopes into actionable form. I’m very much looking forward to thinking those things with you… we have a whole new world to build…
Many of you are going to be stuck at home for an indefinite period, uncertain of the health of people you care about, your personal income, the stability of your business, and so much more… this sucks. This sucks a lot. It’s OK to not be OK. If you need help, please ask – I’ll do what I can, and there are other resources to draw upon. Here are some places to look:
The great people at Impact Hub have created a document aggregating resources here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nN_1iWwqjt6swhDBGeG4BUxOUXuS-oLYhZaqnKPfLxI/edit
Baltimore is organizing neighborhood response teams here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G5JcyxmywcTdNeaSGxUNycl9mtCdGkF4MYPVxEBH4SY/mobilebasic
Baltimore Development Corporation is collecting information on businesses and non-profits impacted by the pandemic. You can participate here: https://colintarbert.typeform.com/to/YRr3Bu
And if you’re still feeling good about surveys after all that, a gentle reminder that the Baltimore Regional Dance Survey (#BRDS2020) needs more participation… Please make sure you’ve completed it yourself, and share with anyone else in your dance world. http://inthedancersstudio.com/brds2020
A few people have connected already, but I’ll re-iterate the invitation… If you want to talk about any of this stuff (even if it’s not about dance, but especially if it is…), I’m happy to do so.
If you have any personal protective equipment (especially gloves and masks) that you don’t need, please consider donating it to a local hospital.
Please get good information.
Please stay home.
Please keep dancing. (has anyone started working on the “social distance ballet”?)
Please reach out to people directly and personally. They will miss seeing/dancing/working with you. I will miss you.
Simple acts of kindness do matter. Point out beauty when you can. Bring a little joy to someone.
If there is something I can do, please let me know.
———- just fun down here ———-
And, to brighten up a few artist’s lives today…. with an extra helping of cheesy for now….
From Vietnam’s Health Ministry almost a month ago (22 million views, but, don’t miss out) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtulL3oArQw
My Corona by Laurel B. and the Knack – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xumSryclYgg
Stay Inside! by Urian Hackey (with love from Nirvana) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60NuAvPiPlE
Shuffle Dance by Andre Serox – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUYH4UiwUaM
And in the hospitals, dance matters…
From Wuhan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZcpYSkcYPM
From Iran – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wamoQYVI0ww
Category: News
Not everything stops for pandemic
You’ve probably seen a torrent of notices about things that aren’t happening anymore (I have…), so I want to change that tone a little bit – I hope most of this message resonates about things that WILL happen. COVID-19 is a global pandemic and things you do now do matter. Get good information.
It seems apparent that the spring dance recital season is essentially over well before it began. As someone whose income depends on groups of people gathering together, I know this is a very real, very scary proposition across the dance community. This pandemic will force dramatic and rapid economic, social, and personal changes on everyone, and those changes are unpredictable. Times of crisis do make great art, but that won’t make 2020 less challenging as it unfolds in real-time for you. If you want to talk about this stuff, I’m happy to do so.
I WILL continue to work on dance, but I probably won’t be inviting you to meet me for lunch or dinner anytime soon, and I probably won’t see you at a spring concert this year. That makes engaging with what you’re doing (or not doing…) more difficult, but more important than ever. The Baltimore Regional Dance Survey continues (please continue to participate and share…). Work on the Lord Baltimore Theater continues (please reach out with your thoughts and skills…). Work on documenting dance in the region continues (please tell me those stories…). Please do get in [electronic or telephonic] touch.
Some other potential things-to-do:
- The Maryland State Arts Council is holding three (for now) “Listening sessions” – March 19 and 20 (so far no weekends scheduled). More information here: https://www.msac.org/news/msac-listening-session-how-can-we-help
- If you are not insured, or know someone who is not insured, I urge you to do some shopping. The Maryland health insurance exchange has opened a special enrollment period through April 15: https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/coronavirus-sep/ This is probably a really good year to have health insurance…
- If you run a business (for example, a dance studio…), the Maryland Department of Commerce has assembled potentially useful information here: https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus Information includes employment/unemployment and things like low-interest loans, taxes, and permits.
- The Maryland State Arts Council has a new grant program – “Special Request Grants.” Information here: https://www.msac.org/programs/special-request-grant This is a relatively restricted program (designed to fill gaps in existing grant programs), and for this first round, the funding period is a bit more than one year (this cycle ends June 30, 2021). Funding is available now, but may be depleted before the end of the cycle (not clear on that…). Apply early.
- The Maryland State Arts Council has a new grant program –
- “Professional Development Opportunity Grants.” Information here:Â
- https://www.msac.org/programs/professional-development Funding available up to $2000. This funding period is much shorter, ending June 30, 2020, but application is required 90 days prior to the funded activity, which means apply now for activities in June.
Please stay home.
Please keep dancing.
Please reach out to people directly and personally. They will miss seeing/dancing/working with you. I will miss you.
Simple acts of kindness do matter. Point out beauty when you can. Bring a little joy to someone.
If there is something I can do, please let me know.
If Cities Could Dance: Baltimore
Going all the way to San Francisco to pick up some of the dance of Baltimore… KQED brings you If Cities Could Dance: Baltimore
KQED highlights Terry Wedington AKA TSU Terry, Brandon Dawson AKA McLovin, and Janiyah Johnson AKA Nirow.
Some photos of TSU Terry and some coverage of the Baltimore Club scene from the Baltimore Sun.
More on Team Squad Up.
Lots more going on in the city… is anyone covering it?
Also in the series, Detroit, San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Portland.
With the help of ballet, Terps cornerback Alvin Hill’s play becomes on pointe
The power and benefits of dance are endless for all areas of life. Football player Alvin Hill suffered from a knee injury and was recommended to take
yoga classes to help him recover. Soon afterwards, the yoga teacher, Collette Krogol convinced him to sign up for her ballet class at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland.
“‘It helps him in understanding himself and being responsible for himself and how he’s executing the movement,’ Krogol said. ‘But also recognizing that there’s all these other people moving around him, and how does he navigate the space to be able to move through the vocabulary that I’m asking him to.'”
Click below to read the article from the Baltimore Sun!
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-terps-alvin-hill-0930-20160929-story.html
MPT Artworks Dance Coverage
Baltimore has a wonderful media resource just up the street in Owings Mills – MPT. MPT is a well-respected public television station that produces a number of nationally-syndicated programs, but what’s interesting for Baltimore dance is Artworks, which is put together by PBS stations around the country.
Now starting its fifth season, most episodes are available online. Ignoring the few episodes that are awards-oriented, there are 134 you can watch online. Episodes typically feature three or four segments, and that adds up to about 474 segments in the first four seasons. Of those, 25 address dance in some form (5%).
Here you go…
Episode 102: “A young Muslim woman hip hop dancer who performs in traditional dress” (Amy Sackett)
Episode 110: “Discover the charisma of dancer-choreographer Jennifer Nugent”
Episode 125: “Exploring the Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre which combines caberet, hip-hop and drag queens”
Episode 126: “Featuring choreographer for big Broadway shows like ‘Annie,'” (Andy Blankenbuehler)
Episode 213: “Dance legend Bill T. Jones”
Episode 223: “The aerial magic of Colorado’s ‘Frequent Flyer Productions‘ Dance Company.”
Episode 224: “The complex physics of the dancer’s leap.” (David Ward, Dr. Tim Hewett, Dr. Thomas Humanic)
Episode 227: “The Colorado Ballet’s moving dance about Holocaust suffering and survival,”
Episode 231: “Native American dancer and choreographer Rulan Tangen is passionate about the transformative, ritualistic power of dance,”
Episode 232: “The Artistic Director of the revived Dance Theatre of Harlem” (Virginia Johnson)
Episode 233: “Introducing a Muslim woman hip hop dancer and choreographer,” (Amy Sackett)
Episode 238: “Paula Zahn’s compelling interview with dance legend Bill T. Jones.”
Episode 303: “We meet Colorado’s Wonderbound Dance Company;”
Episode 318: “A sizzling teaser for PBS’s America’s Ballroom Challenge, the series which launched the genre of dancing competitions.”
Episode 321: “On your toes – it’s the rarefied world of a ballerina,” (Samantha Lewis), retired.
Episode 324: “Vegas showgirls – self-defining artists or exploited icons?”
Episode 326: “Legendary Choreographer Mark Morris brings back one of his seminal dances — and it’s spectacular, again.”
Episode 404: “Legends and rising stars in the rarefied world of dance. Mark Morris talks about a splendid revival of one of his seminal dances, and Bill T. Jones talks about his revolutionary choreography – and his humble beginnings as the son of sharecropper. Then Amy Sackett – fearless hip hop Muslim dancer & choreographer. ”
Episode 414: “A stunning flow of movement through exploratory dance with the Cirio Collective in Boston.”
Episode 418: “A story about Nevada Ballet Theatre, keeping classical dance alive in Vegas;”
Episode 422: “Filmmaker Ric Burns captures American Ballet Theater at 1,500 frames per second.”
Episode 431: “Leaping beyond the strict techniques of ballet with the Cirio Collective.”
Episode 432: “Exploring the improvisational dance process of action and reaction with dance company 3rd Law.”
Take out the repeat coverage (Amy Sackett [Ep 102, 233, 404], Bill T. Jones [Ep 213, 238, 404], Mark Morris [Ep 326, 404], Cirio Collective [Ep 414, 431], and dance coverage from Artworks is just 20 segments in four seasons. A lot of it comes from Colorado (3rd law, Colorado Ballet, Frequent Flyer Productions, Wonderbound), so a nod to Colorado’s PBS affiliate.
And I will close with a request – There’s a lot of dance in Baltimore (and we have more oxygen than Colorado), so make it awesome, make it newsworthy, and get in touch with MPT about getting it on Artworks.
Jessica Amber Pinkett and Courtney Celeste Spears in Ailey II
Fresh off a week of workshops and performances in Towson, a quick nod to Baltimore dancers Jessica Amber Pinkett (in her first season) and Courtney Celeste Spears (in her second season) touring with Ailey II. The Sun has a piece featuring the two and another with a short bit on Courtney Celeste Spears. And yes, Courtney is literally the face of the tour this season:
Ailey II’s Courtney Celeste Spears. Photo by Eduardo Patino.
For the rest of the world, catch these awesome performers along with the rest of the Ailey II company on their current season tour.
Theft from a Dance Studio – Columbia
On August 20th, cash was stolen from Arabesque Dance Studio in Columbia, Maryland. Slightly more detail at Patch.
I don’t know how much, and I don’t know if the perpetrator has been identified, but they do have an on-site store. If you need to buy dance-wear stuff in the near future, you might consider patronizing these dancers.
Featured Dancer – Lynne Bellinger
Part of the Baltimore Sun’s Fall Arts Guide, a brief profile of Lynne Bellinger, principal at Ballet Theatre of Maryland.
200 dancers turn up, show moves for ‘Hairspray Live’ auditions
The Baltimore Sun
“A line of around 200 colorful “Hairspray” hopefuls wrapped around the Hippodrome Theatre on Thursday morning, each waiting for a chance to be a part of a live televised production of the Broadway musical based on the 1988 John Waters film.
NBC was hosting auditions for “Hairspray Live,” offering one Baltimore-area resident a trip to Los Angeles and a dancing role in the show about a chubby Baltimore girl with hep moves — and a TV dance show in need of desegregation. Baltimore is the only city where the auditions will be held, according to an NBC spokeswoman, which gives local talent the opportunity to be a part of a production that is closely identified with the city.
The broadcast will air Dec. 7, with a cast including Jennifer Hudson, Harvey Fierstein, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell, Ariana Grande and Andrea Martin.
Would-be stars were queuing up for the auditions by 6 a.m…” (Brittany Britto).
Continue reading:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-ae-hairspray-auditions-20160915-story.html
Congratulations Noelle Tolbert
Noelle Tolbert is the new Dance Department Chair for Chesapeake Arts Center – Congratulations!
Previously noted, Chesapeake Arts Center is hiring dance instructors.
Classes start in September, so if you’re on the south side of Baltimore, there’s a new place to move. With the class schedule, Chesapeake Arts Center gets a new slot here in the Learn Something list.
Announcement follows: