OMDC Update

omaha modern dance collective presents 45°Celsius

Important basics:

Notify us by July 9 that you want to audition – email 45celsius@omdcdance.org

Audition your work(s) July 16
at Robin Welch Dance Arts, 8801 F St, Omaha

Performance 6 pm Sunday, August 14, at the Stinson Park Amphitheater,
Aksarben Village

What We’re Doing:

OMDC is seeking talented area dancers and choreographers (both new and experienced) as well as other movement artists and collaborative performers, to submit a modern/contemporary dance work (or two!) for our first-ever summer movement arts festival.

Criteria:

• modern or contemporary works
• works between 45 seconds and 60 seconds in length (you read that right.)
• works able to be performed in an outdoor venue without a special dance floor (Stinson Amphitheater stage is poured concrete)
• we love collaborative and/or weird stuff!

UPDATE — Audition FAQ:

Q: What time will the auditions be on July 16?
A:  We’ll contact everyone between July 9 and July 16 and work out a schedule. (That’s why it’s important that you email us by July 9 to let us know you want to audition.)

Q: I’ve got an idea for a work, but I’m out of town on July 16. Is there any other way I can audition?
A: Yes! We also accept auditions via video. Email us by July 9 with a link to your video — or the video itself, if it’s small enough to attach to an email. The video doesn’t need to be fancy; just enough to give us an idea of what you want to perform.

Q: I’m not really a dancer; I do [fire baton/hoops/rhythmic gymnastics/chain-saw juggling/something else.] Can I still audition?
A: Yes! This is a “movement arts” festival, and we’re looking for a very broad range of creative, expressive movement art forms.

Q: Do I need to do anything to prepare for the audition BESIDES email you by July 9?
A: Yes, we do need a bit more. Before July 16, please email us a SHORT info statement: one paragraph about you and your background as a movement artist, and one paragraph about the work you intend to audition. The reason we need this is that we want to start publicizing the concert as soon as possible after July 16; we’ll need this info to send out media kits and press releases.

Here’s a sample info statement:

Jane Example of Bellevue is an independent circus-arts performer, specializing in balancing, juggling, and acrobatics. She has a degree in theater arts from Example State University and has performed in Kansas City’s Shakespeare on the Green and the Minneapolis Fringe Festival.

She will be auditioning Three Flats and a Sharp, a contemporary street-performance work based on the traditions of medieval “busking,” performed by a musician, a juggler, and two dancers. Performing with Example will be musician Joe Fiddle and dancers Connie Traction and Fallon Recovery, all of Omaha.

To sign up or ask questions, email 45celsius@omdcdance.org

Our Spring Session for Friday Night classes will begin on May 6th, 6 – 7:30.  Remember, you may purchase a session card for only $85.00.  A session lasts 12 weeks which makes each class under $7.  More information contact Taffy at 402-551-7473 or omdc@cox.net.

Drop-in rate $12 per class.

OMDC is proud to present:

Movement improvisation workshop
with Elizabeth June Bergman

Thursday, July 8 • 6 to 7:30 pm
Heartland Hall (at Robin Welch Dance Arts)
8801 F Street, Omaha • $10

For dancers, choreographers, and theater artists

This 90-minute workshop will explore the art of danced improvisation both as a method for generating new movement for choreographic purposes and as a practice to develop compositional awareness and spontaneity of expression.

The workshop will emphasize individual creativity while providing structure and tools with which to discover new movement possibilities and hone the ability to compose in the moment. The historical and philosophical aspects of movement improvisation as an art form will be touched on to give context to the physical, creative act. The participants will experience creating movement unique to their bodies and tastes and have the chance to improvise dances in small groups. Movers of all ages and technical abilities are encouraged to attend.

An open choreography showing will follow the workshop. Choreographers (whether they participated in the workshop or not) are invited to show segments of works in progress, with the option of receiving feedback from Elizabeth June Bergman, OMDC members, and the audience. Please contact OMDC in advance if you are interested in showing work. The showing is open to the public, with admission by voluntary donation.

Elizabeth June Bergman is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and aspiring dance scholar. She holds a MFA in dance from the University of Iowa and a BA from DeSales University in Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth began her training at the Omaha Academy of Ballet. While living in Omaha she founded and directed Arcanum Contemporary Dance, and danced with OMDC, the Moving Company, and Omaha Dance Project.

For the past year Elizabeth has been based in Minneapolis, where she has performed her own work as well as that of other dance artists in the community.  Most recently her work has been presented by the curators of “Renovate” at The Ritz Theater in Minneapolis and in the Dominican Republic as part of “Virtually Yours”, a Jennifer Kayle and Charlotte Adams production.

Elizabeth’s next artistic venture is a film and dance installation curated by The Soap Factory in Minneapolis at the end of July.

For more info contact OMDC at 551-7473

To download a printable PDF of this announcement, click here. Please post the announcement wherever dancers congregate!