Version 2.0

In early 2007, I started my own dance company. We were small and low-budget, but we were one hell of a strong ensemble. We did a fundraiser for Frenetic Theater ('Save Frenetic Theatre!', August 2007), we were the very first Hopewerks residency ('The Mad Scene'), we toured to Pennsylvania in 2008 to perform in PADV's Mountain Dance Concert. We were a magical group-- in fact, we were pretty much a family. The only way to describe our rehearsals/performances is "great"/"fun"/"awesome."

And then the economy got bad. And then everything went wrong. In January 2009, I had to close down my company due to financial reasons (after crying. Hard. A lot). It was an awful and painful thing for me to do and I hate that it ever happened. However...

...one year and three months later, we're re-uniting. So far, that's all I know. We've got a superawesomegenerousesupercalifragilisticxpiali

docious donation of studio space (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU), I've contacted my former CSDErs, and tomorrow I'm asking two more dancers to join us (which I'll tell you about in more detail tomorrow).

I don't know what piece we're going to start with. We'll either add on to something from the "old" repertoire, or maybe we'll do something totally new. All I know is that the Cassandra Shaffer Dance Ensemble-- my baby-- is coming back. And I couldn't be happier about it.

Cross your fingers and wish us luck.

Let's Watch Movies: 'Within/Without'

This is from my dance ensemble's benefit in June of 2008. It's my "pregnant dance" that I made for September Love (when she was six months pregnant with her daughter Abigail, who turns one three days from now). I choreographed my own little section an hour before we performed this, which probably explains why my shoulders were next to my ears the entire time. It was a neat experience for both of us, and I've always loved the music of Corelli, so it was a great process!* Here ya go.

*It doesn't hurt that I look really skinny in this video, too.

Rehearsals + rehearsals; blogging about blogging

It started out as a pretty slow weekend for dance over here in Upstage Left, but things are picking up:
Sunday I had my first rehearsal of the year with my dance ensemble, and it was awesome. I finally finished a piece that I started in AUGUST (yes, as in, five-months-ago August), and it looks fabulous. There were midgets, there were hookers, there was much fabulous dancing, and there was one really happy dance director community organizer at the end of rehearsal. Even better-- that dance is REALLY intense and aerobic, so it would stand to reason that Sunday's rehearsal canceled out Friday/Saturday's sitting on my chubby bedonkadonk being a bum. You may agree or you may not, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Monday I taught and rehearsed with my kiddos. My Level IIIs-- and I normally adore that group, those kids are the bomb dot com and I love working with them-- finished learning their new piece last night. Last night, as in "their third rehearsal (each rehearsal has been an hour long or less, by-the-way)." I was super happy with them; plus it really didn't hurt that they kept saying "I love this dance! Woohoo! Let's do it again!" Aww, yay.

Today I get online and see that NFUL has been mentioned in DanceHunter's Year-End Wrap-Up! In case there's some confusion as to what that means, let me clear up a few things: 1. At the start of a new year Dancehunter's N. Wozny interviews herself about the dance/theater/writing goings-on of the past twelve months (in fact, today's Moment of Zen came from last year's selfterview). 2. I've always thought the "interviewing yourself" idea was pretty cool. I haven't tried it because I'm a little too schizo and all the voices in my head would start asking questions/answering at once, a fight would break out, and it would start to sound like an episode of 'The Real World.' 3. Getting mentioned in said wrap-up? Is totally awesome.**

That said, I just spent an hour in the workout room; I'm about to go to ballet class and teach Horton/rehearse with the kids. The day is young, let's see how it goes.

And now....here's your moment of Zen!
"Favorite moment on 'So You Think You Can Dance?' "
"Hasn't happened yet, but it goes like this, they pick a genre out of the hat and it reads 'Judson Church.'"
- N. Wozny

*Except by "midgets and hookers" I actually mean "Chex Mix and Stravinsky music."
**I spent an entire paragraph blogging about blogging and how bloggers can write blogs where they answer their own questions. That may or may not be too much meta for one post.

Ten things I learned as a rookie dance ensemble director

1. If you can't sleep the night before your show, but you're dying to get at least a few hours before you need to be up and at the barre-- take a sleeping pill. Do not chug over half a bottle of wine by yourself. This is a bad idea. I learned this.
2. You will feel exhausted in the class the morning of your show. Especially if you only had three hours of sleep, and those were only made possible by copious amounts of chardonnay.
3. Editing music can be frustrating.
4. It is not, however, nearly as frustrating as editing film.
5. Your fiancées/husband/domestic partner may mean well, but their attempts to "help" you are going to give you a fervent desire to duct-tape them to the chimney.
6. If you need to get anything done the night before the show, your significant other should expect to be sleeping on the couch. In the garage. Next door.
7. Sleep is really not that important.
8. If you have any sort of solo work or variation in your concert-- it's creation will be an afterthought. Your priorities lie with the dancers, the ensemble pieces, and the production details; rehearsing/choreographing your variation "later" usually translates to "a few hours before curtain."
9. You are far less nervous when you have work by other choreographers in the show. All you, all terrifying; you and some other 'graphers? Share the nerves.
10. As soon as its over, you'll want to do it again. And again. And again.

Rehearsal, Center Stage 2, and SOCK TANGO.

Everybody gets poli-spammed by me until the election results are announced. No one is safe. Not even this blog.

Anyway!

Yesterday's rehearsal was nothing short of awesome.
D, one of the dancers, has been dancing for J, a fellow dancer and director of Columbian Folkloric Ballet. J and I danced together in the Company last season, and he's awesome. When he found out that D also danced in my ensemble, he told her he'd love to choreograph something. So, being that most of my choreographic attention/anxiety has been centered around our very own 'Sacre,' I invited him to join me on the project. He came in yesterday and began duet for D and Doc, and...wow. Just. Wow. It's so awesome, and it's bringing a whole new dimension to the piece. The movement is very primal and earthy and the partnering work is composed of Stuff You Couldn't Imagine The Human Body Was Actually Capable Of. It is. So. Freaking. Amazing. I feel so privileged and lucky that he is here working with us.

I'd also been working on a Tarantella for the women, but my inspiration had waned and I was becoming frustrated. On a random impulse I decided to scrap the whole blah-damn thing and start from the beginning again. Yesterday, I set new 'n' improved Tarantella in hour. From start to finish. The dancers really like it, I really like it, and it's a big load off my chest. Perhaps I should follow my random impulses more often.

You may have heard that Center Stage 2: Turn It Up is out. If you're like me, maybe you didn't see it because you assumed it would be a train wreck on toast and you have rehearsal anyway and maybe somebody else will see it and fill you in. Selly over at Dance Outlook took that bullet for us and confirmed that "steaming pile of fail" doesn't even begin to describe the abysmal abomination that is Center Stage 2. When will Hollywood realize that sequels are Just Not A Good Idea? Or that Turn It Up is a really terrible, trite title? You can read Selly's review here. Check out the rest of her blog, too; it's pretty fabulous.

Lastly: Hoston folks, somebody please go take Hope Stone's "Sock Tango" class for me. I can't attend because I'll be teaching, but look at this description: "Learn to Tango...in socks...the more colorful and wild the socks the better." Seriously, how fun does that sound? It's every Monday (starting tonight!) from 8-9 pm throughout November and December. Go. Dance. Then tell me about it so I may live vicariously through you and your tango-socks.

And now, here's your moment of incredibly-random, "lolwhat" Zen:

Looking back/looking up/looking at this long post: Season's over.

I know I promised to a recap nearly a week ago, but life has been a "whirlwind" the last five days and things like reflective sentiments keep sliding down the to-to list. Our benefit was Friday (to the tune of THIRTY THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS, by the way, thankyouthankyouthankyou all); Sunday we performed a piece in our city's dance festival (marking the end of our season); Monday I caught up on some long-overdue tasks and taught at the studio; today I took class/ taught/took up a part-time gig......and sadly bid farewell to M, one of my "original" dancers whom was with me in the very beginning (Strangers On The Street from last year's festival/gathering was my Original Six). She is moving to Kansas City, MO and will be sorely, sorely missed.

Sunday's performance also marked our ensemble's "first birthday" -- last year's [performance in the dance festival] was our first performance as full group. I had randomly mentioned this to my dancers in passing...... they responded by presenting a "Happy Anniversary, CSDE!" cake at our benefit. It was special, really and truly. It was presented by D, who gave a beautiful speech about our ensemble (and caused my eye makeup to smear a bit).

There's even more to say about both Friday and Sunday's events, but I feel they deserve their own posts.

All in all, it was the perfect season: the dancers in my ensemble, our wonderful executive director (who may or may not have been dragged into the position kicking and screaming by yours truly), the contemporary company I danced for, the studio that I taught for. I'm a lucky lady, and next season has a hard act to follow.

And on that note, it is now - eek!- five in the morning; I'm leaving for the airport in an hour and a half to visit Pennsylvania for the weekend. I should finish packing (and perhaps I should not watch The Shining at this hour when I'm all alone). Posts of epic proportions are coming, but in the meantime feel free to visit this little blog.

Benefit performance recap is coming; for now:

Mission dance company benfit = success.

Tales of a Rookie Dance- Ensemble Director

Today I received the one Freebie that God grants to every choreographer: I had a dance happen by accident. The choreography finished and cleaned itself. I think that happens once in a lifetime every dance- maker, and I'm eternally thankful that I got mine today.

In all seriousness, I'm happy with Building Nothing 2.0. In my mind, it's not finished-- there is so much more that I want to add to it, choreographically and conceptually-- but time got away from us. Still, I love the changes that were made, the footage from today looks great, and we're excited to present this newer version of our piece this coming weekend.

Our fundraiser and rep showing is three days, and I'm knee-deep in last-minute preparations. Although we're looking to fund our upcoming performances both in Houston and on the road, the director of Butterfly Dance Ensemble (e.g. yours truly) is accepting any and all donations of sanity. We're a new company, I'm a rookie director. I'm still learning the ropes and I finished a major show barely three days ago, so you can guess where this is going: THINGS ARE CHAOTIC.

As much as I'd like to tell you more about Life In The Process, most of my brain cells have already jumped ship and I need to quit blog-stalling and get back to work. I'll make this quick: Here's what my office looks like right now:


P.S. Here's your Lesson Of The Day: The words "Windows Vista" and "film-editing software" should never be used in the same sentence unless you want to spend two hours head-desking. I learned this the hard way.

Update: the Right Now

It's been a while since I've really updated, here's what's been going on:

The Company that I dance has been off all month, after we finished a series of performances at the end of March. I have missed it-- a lot. We are resuming this coming week, and I'm super excited.

The studio is closing in on Zero Hour-- that is, the big show is thirteen days away. I should be panicking hard-core, but I actually feel pretty good-- better than I have before most recitals, anyway. It's just a matter of pounding the pavement in cleaning all the dances during these last few rehearsals. Props and costumes are all set for the story ballet, and I feel pretty good about the dances (that's not to say they don't need more cleaning, of course, but that they are "close" enough to keep me from freaking out). Yesterday I finished the finale AND the curtain call for the story ballet, which I had been worrying about all week- and they look pretty good. Now I just need to edit music. Editing music, heaven help us all, will be the death of me. It ain't rocket science... but I suck at it anyway. Oops.

My dance ensemble is back in rehearsals. Speaking of which, I have one in thirty minutes, so I should go get my butt in gear. See you later!

Director's block and epic nerdery

One of my dancers visited me today, and we talked a bit about my ensemble's next project. Our time frame is short-- starting back in March and performing in June-- and I must admit that I totally feel dead-weight about what to do. I want to add on to at least one of the two pieces we did for winter, and I have one new piece in mind (I'm planning on another, because the company really wants it, but the choreographic inspiration hasn't hit me yet). A dancer friend of mine would like to set a piece, which I am thinking would be a nice change of pace/addition to our rep. At this point I'm trying to focus on getting ready to perform Company A's repertoire and getting the story ballet set on my students. The idea of a "big" concert is daunting, especially when juggling many other things.

On a different (and rather random) note, I went shopping with a JG at the giant city-within-a-city that is the Galleria. While there, we passed the ice rink and I had flashbacks to my first "performance" with Company B, when we came to the mall and danced a guerilla performance on the escalators and stairs. It was amazingly fun. Almost every memory of my first months in that company give me that "warm fuzzy feeling;" those first months my entire experience with them worth the journey 100%.
Also while shopping this afternoon, I was brought face-to-face with my underlying acute geekdom: I stood in the Houston Galleria, surrounded by the latest from the best designers in the world, drooling over a 13-inch MacBook. A 13-inch white MacBook that you can by a hot-pink protective cover for (you can make it your favorite color and it fits in your backpack! What's not to love?). I had to tear myself away before I could liberate the $1,500 for that foot-long slice of Nerd Heaven.

Anyway... now that I've gone off-topic, I should start preparing for tomorrow's classes and rehearsals (it would really, really not hurt to go over the choreography I set with last week). And now, here's your moment of Zen:
"It is absolutely necessary to make love three times a day."
- Sergei Pavlovitch Diaghilev

Going halfway across the country, coming full circle

This past weekend I brought my dance ensemble to perform in the Mountain Dance Concert, an annual event hosted by PA Dance Vision in East Stroudsburg, PA.

The effect, for me, was the feeling that time had flown in reverse, stopped on a dime, then sped forward. My past and my present were not only connecting but dancing a lavish pas de deux together.
There I was with my dancers, the people who I've come to know and work with over the last year and a half; introducing them to the people that I met before I'd even graduated out of ballet school. One of the girls that I danced with in PADV (who was my dance teacher, prior to that) was there with her dance company-- one of her dancers went to ballet school with me; another danced with me in Spirit Moves Dance Minsitry (both of them danced in a film project of mine as well).
The big moment happened at the end of the concert, when the PADV Repertory Ensemble did their signature piece, Returning. And I-- having just performed in two of my own works-- danced with them, for the first time in three years. At the very end I partnered with the artistic director, Maria; someone who is not only my former boss but my good friend and a great inspiration.

I was surrounded by friends of both yesterday and today; the memories of time with PADV swirling as I created new memories of my ensemble and their first performance "on tour."
It was my own personal Moment of coming full circle, three years and sixteen hundred miles later.

My dancers rehearsing in PADV's studio.


PADV in Returning

p.s. there will be many more acedotes about my ensemble's trip to Pennsylvania. Be prepared.

Returning

I have had, as predicted, had the most amazing weekend ever.
Here are some of the highlights:
- riding to the airport in a Mercedes Stretch SUV with my dancers and having our own Almost Famous moment (you know the scene where Stillwater is on the tour bus singing along to 'Tiny Dancer?' It was similar to that, except we were in a limo singing along to Aerosmith). My dancers brought an ice cream cake and sang "Happy Birthday"-- how awesome are they?
- The inside joke of the century: "WE ARE NOT KIDDING ABOUT THIS."
- Bringing all my dancers to the "new" PADV East Stroudsburg, having them meet Maria and Mike, doing a ballet class and having rehearsal.
- Taking everyone to The Crossing to go shopping; my mom joining us. Later having dinner at the Dansbury Depot with all of the above plus my two aunts/uncles and Chad.
- The mini-tech, seeing all the people I've danced before (at PADV, plus in Spirit Moves/Dancescapes/KMSD.
- The performance itself, getting a screaming ovation and a wonderful reception for 'Mad Scene,' dancing in 'Returning' for the first time in three years. Both felt like the ultimate dream come true.
- Doing headstands in Newark airport while waiting for the air train (at four in the morning).
- One of my dancers found out she was pregnant minutes after the limo dropped us off-- in my apartment. It was really special-- a blessed ending to a blessing of a weekend.

There's more. There's so much more. But I barely slept, and I'm tired, and my apartment is trashed and I don't care. I'm blowing off everything until my 6:30 rehearsal in favor of staying home, getting much needed SLEEP, and reflecting on the utter amazing-ness of the weekend.

Christmas at Upstage Left: A Post of Epic Proportions

Yesterday:
- Morning = ballet class at Hope Stone (with the rest of my ensemble:>), followed by Starbucks with the girls, followed by an insane amount of me running around doing lastminute things and pulling m hair out. Moving on to:
- [BUTTERFLY DANCE ENSEMBLE] HOPEWERKS SHOWING. Oh-my-God, beautiful. The Mad Scene was flawless, Building Nothing went way better than I expected, Aly's solo was wonderful as always, and we got a lot of good feedback. People loved the dances, and both new pieces got way more positive reposes than I'd imagined.
- Afterwards: A mini-party for the dancers, chez moi. Lots of inside jokes, "wrastlin" on my Fun Chair, "decorating" my friend's husband when he fell asleep in my living room, and the piece de resistance: exploding champagne. It was exquisite.
- Went out with JG to a club on the northwest side, where I got considerably imbibed and spent an half hour chatting with an old friend in the ladies room (of all places); then the three of us took over the dance floor for several hours.
- Came home and was given presents by JG ... which I opened, but I only recall a couple of them by now (It'll be a surprise all over again when I get home!).
- Took a cold shower, scrubbed off Wili makeup and managed to get the dred wax (yes, dred wax) out of my hair.
- Packed. Except by "packed," I mean "threw a bunch of random shit into two suitcases, prayed I didn't forget anything important, and called it a night."
- Slept on couch. Order of the Phoenix was playing in my DVD player (and had been since the party), and I didn't bother to turn it off. I can now recite the entire movie line for line.

Today:
- Woke up (at 4am), did last-minute packing, rode to airport with JG, craved french fries in my post-drunken state.
- Lamented the severe lack of french fries available in Hobby airport at 5am, read tabloid magzines until it was time to board ("Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant" was on the cover of five different magazines).
- Slept on plane, occasionally watched the TV in front of me. Landed at JFK . Took a cab ride to Manhattan, during which I thought about how much I don't miss New York and how I'm so glad I don't live/work there anymore.
- Climbed into Mike 'n' Maria's car at 125th and Riverside, rode into Stroudsburg. Wandered Stroud Mall while waiting for Mama Butterfly's arrival. Reunited with Mama B and drive down the mountain in atrocious rain.
- Last- minute shopping at Wal-Mart. Which was quite a production, because you've never seen rednecks in action until you've gone to Wal-Mart (or the Stroud Mall) in Middleofnowhere, PA 2 days before Christmas.
- FINALLY HOME.

Let me just say that I am SO GLAD to be home for the holidays, and equally glad to have a week of vacation. This will give me time to think about our spring rep, which I REALLY need to get going on. I will Poast Moar later. Until then: it's good to be back.

Peace on Earth, Good Will To Men...or something.

I finished a show with [Company A] a few days ago, and my dance ensemble's rep showcase is in two days. I'm taking a break from The Insanity to write this.

I got up at 6 this morning, ran to the bank, called the vet on my way to class and scheduled an appointment. Then I went to class with [another Houston dance ensemble] and took a barre from the wonderful LM. I took off after grande battements, ran to Fiesta, bought stuff to bake cookies; came home and burned the hell out of the first batch (whoops). Started trying to wrap presents/straighten up/pack. Made apartment messier. Ran to the eye doc, picked up new contacts, ran home, grabbed my kitten (literally), arrived at her vet appointment 45 minutes early and was out of there 15 minutes later. Spent the next forty-five minutes (FORTY. FIVE. MINUTES) making the 15-minute trip home. I hate you, Richmond Avenue.

Writing this = me catching my breath. Now it's time to load my the car for tonight's dress rehearsal... and burn CDs, bake more stuff for the reception tomorrow, write out paychecks, and do about 4 other things somewhere in between. Oh, ain't life great?

Okay, back to the insanity. LATER.