What I've been up to this summer...

In addition to preparing for some exciting new projects (one coming up at the end of September and one beginning in November!) with my dance company, OtherShore, I spent some time workshop-ing/rehearsing the MacArthur award winning playwright, Sarah Ruhl's stage adaptation of Virgina Woolf's Orlando at New Dramatists. The talented group of people who assembled to sketch out and create ideas included playwright Sarah Ruhl, director Rebecca Taichman, choreographer Annie-B Parson (with assistance from David Neumann), actress Cynthia Nixon in the title role, actor David Greenspan and other wonderful artists. I had a great time working with all of them!  As a dancer who works primarily within the dance world, it was a great experience to see how "theater people" brew their ideas and create something that has yet to be discovered. Of course it was fascinating to watch Ms. Nixon work as we all know her intimately as Miranda from Sex and the CIty.  She is quite vibrant and real in person...one can see clearly why she is a star!  Playwright Sarah Ruhl and director Rebecca Taichman arrived every day with thought provoking analysis from Virgina Woolf's classic and from her life—one of the many gifts one receives when working on such projects...learning new things from new angles!  And of course, working with choreographer Annie-B (and David Neumann!) is one of my favorites!  Annie-B has created two dances for my own dance company :)

This production of Orlando will be performed at Classic Stage Company in New York from September 8–October 17, 2010 with another talented group of actors.  Last week I stopped by to do a little assisting in the choreography department and things were taking shape nicely :)  Here is a link to the show:  http://www.classicstage.org/2011_orlando.shtml

My next blog will have info about OtherShore's upcoming performances!  Check back!