Monday, September 28, 2009

Fall and Bouand

Our website is down, but should be up again shortly. New Board members David Smith and Walter Kennedy are already a tremendous and potent force for the company, we are humbled by their presence, time and energy.
BDC needs some dancers! If you want to work with us, come to Artistic Director Alexandrous Ballard's open classes at the Portland Ballet, wednesday at 10am and sunday at 10am.
We have Young Audience shows and are beginning rehearsals after the Nutcracker season for our March performances here in Portland.

More soon....

Saturday, July 4, 2009

August for Bouand DanceCompany

Greetings.

While we wait and anticipate the OPB Broadcast of our June performances of “SideShow”, we are now turning our attention to the future. We are currently undergoing a Board rotation as some members step down and new ones step up and on. We are also utilizing the time to organize our office, upgrade our software and build new repertory.

Our new Board members are David Smith, and Walter Kennedy. David works for KATU channel 2, and Walter Kennedy is Assistant Professor of Dance at University of Oregon. Stepping off the Board is Bruce Powers, who has been an incredible asset and responsible for so much of our success. Bruce will remain a friend and advisor of the company, but will be concentrating his attention on his own new business. Board members Nell Walkley, Gail Neuberg and Alexandrous Ballard will remain.

Walter Kennedy was in Portland during June and set a short work on the Company dancers. Dancer Megan Smith is moving away from Portland and new company apprentice Emily Bartha will step into some of her roles. We have a great need for another male dancer, and will be looking at bringing someone in from outside Portland for performances, possibly from France. We’ll keep you posted.

Negotiations are underway with 3 new choreographers from Europe and Canada for 2010 and beyond. The Company will be exploring the European connection more vigorously, and is looking to be resident at PSU Lincoln Hall in the Fall and Spring of 2010/2011. Until these dates, we are planning a number of free studio viewing events, and possible short performances this Fall and Winter. Keep checking the webpage for updates.

The Company begins its Young Audience shows this fall as a “new artist in-schools”. This is very exciting and will bring a taste of Bouand DanceCompany to young people across 5 counties. We are also participating in the Right Brain Initiative (go to: http://www.therightbraininitiative.org/ for more information). We will also be performing at the Fall.Art.Live festival at Oregon Ballet Theater’s studios this month, check their website for times.

While many Arts organizations both large and small are suffering in this economy, we are still managing to hold steady, mostly by limiting our overhead and concentrating our funding efforts on specific programs with rigorous budgets. As we grow however, we find ourselves in need of a small amount of capital just to keep the phones on, computers connected and small bills paid. A small donation to keep us operating smoothly would be very welcome, and will allow us to work on our next big thing; not glamorous we know, but essential nonetheless.

Thanks!
Bouand DanceCompany

Friday, May 8, 2009

1 month away!

Well, getting dancers to blog is like herding cats, so i'll just blog myself.
The preparations are growing in number, expense and dimension as we get closer, I have some wonderful help from Renee, Leslie, David, Kevin, Cait and Bruce and although we're feeling the pinch from so little rehearsal time, things are generally going well.

Having to drive down to Eugene twice a week is a problem for time management and scheduling, but not insurmountable.

I started a Tumblr blog with pictures about the OPB Project (http://opbproject.tumblr.com/) and will be updating that frequently this month. Mary has the costumes to adjustments, Peter is working on a new piece of fabric for the backdrop and in general everything is progressing.

I still have hair left!!

Friday, April 3, 2009

2 months and counting down

Haven't blogged in a while...It's been a real roller coaster ride the last few weeks. Wasn't sure the Project was happening, lining everything up with hope, but nothing concrete, then at the last minute 2 people steped in with real help.

People are stepping up to the plate for the OPB Project, and it's a great feeling. I started my teaching at UofO this week, lost my wallet for 3 days and started writing big checks for various parts of the Project. Renee and I did a film/interview thing for Paul Ramsey, I'm sure I look like Quasimodo with no sleep. I've asked Melissa to ballet mistress "Within..." which she's doing with characteristic ease and skill.

Our new boy, Andrew knows most of "Curse" now, and is already taking it in and to another level...great to see. Edgar is back!! Saucy as ever, but back in there and dancing away. Scott even smiled a little in rehearsal.

Peter's on Board, we've lost our lighting designer, Megan is readjusting to life as a full company member, Cait's kickin' butt and happy, Renee also. Things are good again.

Now if I can just get a little sleep....

Monday, March 2, 2009

Renee's Blog:

Work. It’s a funny thing that we do to ourselves every day. Drag our tired bodies out of a deliciously comfortable bed. Trick our mind into alertness with quick showers and bitter coffee, and trudge, endlessly trudge to work.

My father owns his own business. Red-Worm Landscaping. He installs irrigation systems, mows large fields, designs gardens and yards for Yakima (Washington) residents, and sells rich compost and fertile worms to gardeners and 6th grade science teachers alike. To say the least…hard work.

I learned the meaning of ‘work’ from him. Waking early, working hard, returning late, sleeping well. I watched my father throughout my childhood do back breaking work from sun up to sun down. Until my last years at home, that work was the only thing keeping food on our table.

As I begin to grow into an adult I heard my mother describe him in a simple, yet truly profound, way: “Your father is doing what he always wanted to do. We both are. Ever since he was a boy, all your dad wanted to do was drive trucks and play in the dirt.”

Wow. Even though his body aches and some days it seems like he is too exhausted to continue, my dad loves dirt, working with machinery, and building things; and he has shaped his life to reflect that component of his being. It was truly a life changing realization that my simple parents from a small-minded community, have made choices that have lead them to their own life, not one that they feel they must participate in, but rather one they feel compelled and happy to participate in.

Work is a funny thing. But being able to appreciate how work can be an expression of myself and a reoccurring event of thrilling joy is a tribute to the intelligent, graceful, loving, and complete people that my parents are.

(Renee Adams is a Dancer with the Bouand DanceCompany, and acts as an executive assistant for the Director.
You can learn more about Renee in these places:

http://www.teachstreet.com/teacher/renee-adams

www.bouanddancecompany.org

www.bodyvox.com

Thursday, February 19, 2009

It's On!! BDC on OPB

Hello past and present supporters.

We’re going to be filmed for Oregon Public Broadcasting!

This will be a 1 hour documentary-style program, filmed in high-definition by Paul Ramsey of RAMMedia and broadcast on OPB late this year.

This is a wonderful opportunity for us and we will be highlighting our supporters and donors in the broadcast credits, and in all of our advertising.

We’ve raised about 60% of the funds needed to realize this project, so now is the time to come to you all and ask for your support for 2009. We understand these are hard times to give money, but we have to get this filmed now or lose the opportunity.

We’re asking you to step forward and give what you gave last year, perhaps a bit more, or to join in our “Grassroots funding drive” by giving $25.00

We’ll have buttons to give you that when worn will qualify you for discounts at a number of small businesses and restaurants around town. We’ll also have cool black T-shirts with the logo for people who can give more, and for everyone who supports us; their name on the OPB broadcast!!

We’ve scheduled a number of open rehearsals but be warned, if you come and watch you might be filmed for TV, so come looking good!

We are trying to mobilize our community around this “OPB Project”, since it’s a unique opportunity that will not be repeated any time soon.

Please help!

You can donate by sending money directly to the company at:

Bouand DanceCompany
7327 SW Barnes Rd
Portland, OR 9722

Or by going to the website (www.bouanddancecompany.org) and clicking the “Donate by PayPal” button.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009