Happy New Year!

May your 2012 be filled with creativity, good health, laughter, and happiness!

Another birthday followed by the holiday season, and another New Year's... it seems like Nov.-Jan. is a whirlwind every year and I get sucked into it then immediately spit out suddenly by mid-Jan.

I have lots of travel plans for 2012 and hopefully some of those travel plans also include A.H. Dance Company performances and workshops....

First up for 2012 is the APAP weekend (for those not-in-the-know... it is the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference this weekend) and we are showcasing with Jodi Kaplan's Booking Dance at the prestigious Ailey Citigroup Theatre in the Alvin Ailey Dance Centre right in Midtown/Hell's Kitchen. This is our third APAP and a different venue for us this time. There's quite the lineup of artists showcasing at the same venue so hope you can check it out! 


Speaking of APAP - we would like to extend the invite to you (our loyal readers!) to come see our 20 minute showcase. We will be presenting a 20 min. excerpt of Chameleon, the Experiences of Global Citizens 

You're invited to a party this weekend!

Photography by Alicia Kurniawan

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and digested your meals because.... A.H. Dance Company is turning 4!

Artistic Director, Alaine Handa just turned 28!

Its a triple birthday because AHDC dancer, Anne Versluis is turning 28!!!!
Many reasons to celebrate...

Most importantly, its that time of year again when we give thanks to all our wonderful supporters by throwing everyone a party at our favorite bar.

Pair that with fabulous raffle prizes, mini performances, drink specials, birthday cake, performance footage from Toronto, and great company...!

Location: Stone Creek Bar, 140 E. 27th Street, New York, NY 10016 (East 27th street between Lexington ave and Third ave)
6 train to 28th street
M23 to Lexington
M103 to 27th street

7:30-11 pm

Come early and do some holiday shopping with a Stella and Dot stylist, Katherine Clay www.stelladot.com/katherineclay
7:30-8:30 pm Stella and Dot Trunk Show!

Performances: a capella music by Human Drum Machine & friends, Howie Solo, A.H. Dance Company & surprise guests

$15 min. get you 5 raffle tickets, $20 gets you 10 raffle tickets! (You choose which prizes you'd like to win!)
Cash or check at the door, Advance Paypal tickets are also accepted

Raffle prizes:
Brooklyn Brewery http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/
Chelsea Piers http://www.chelseapiers.com/
The Luxury Spot http://www.theluxuryspot.com/
Aqualia Spa http://www.aqualiaspa.com/
Beautiful Faces http://alainemakeupartist.blogspot.com/
Jivamukti Yoga http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/
Dance of my Hands http://symmetryofgrace.blogspot.com/
Stella and Dot - Katherine Clay http://www.stelladot.com/katherineclay
Flamenco con Magdalena - http://www.flamenco-con-magdalena.com/
Everyday Crochet by Doris Chan - http://dorischancrochet.com/


More to come!



*** If for some reason, you can't make it to the party (shame on you! but I understand... location, schedule conflicts, etc.) - you can still help A.H. Dance Company by donating any amount (no amount is too small and every cent and dollar will go towards dancer stipends, production costs (costumes, rehearsal space, publicity), touring costs, etc.

By donating to A.H. Dance Company your fully tax-deductible donation will go directly to artist salaries, production costs and the creation of new work. Give now, and see the benefits of your contributions in our upcoming performances.

A.H. Dance Co. is a non profit arts organization functioning under the fiscal sponsor of The Solo Foundation, Inc. The Solo Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non profit arts organization that acts as an umbrella to small artist groups in the New York area.

All donations made to The Solo Foundation earmarked for Alaine Handa and Dancers is fully tax deductible by full extent of the law. For more information about The Solo Foundation please email Howard Seligman at howiesolo@yahoo.com

Checks can be mailed directly to The Solo Foundation at 15 W. 28th Street, RM 7A, New York, NY 10001

Photography by Mei Chen Lioe

Happy Thanksgiving & A Holiday Party invitation

As the holidays approach, I'm overwhelmed by the sense of community that I've created here in New York. My extended New York family of friends, distant relatives, colleagues, performers, artists, and even my students at the schools I teach. I've created a network and its ever-expanding to reach more and more people.
I'm finding it very difficult to leave this place because I spent the last 7 years of my post-college working young adult life here. Perhaps this is what our TCK parents feel when they set up their job, family, and physical home. How do you pause everything for a career move or in my case, move to be closer to family for a while and hope that when I come back I can pick up wherever I left off. How do I continue my career while in a different location where opportunities are even fewer and not the right match for me?

With that said, I'm very thankful for the life I'm leading here in New York and I have my community to thank as well as my family. My birthday is this Sunday, and this will be the 10th birthday here in the States, I cannot believe that 10 years has passed.

I would like to cordially invite you to A.H. Dance Company's Holiday Fundraiser/ my 28th Birthday party on Dec. 3rd. Details below....

- Alaine


Its that time of year again when we give thanks to all our wonderful supporters by throwing everyone a party at our favorite bar, Stone Creek Bar, 140 E. 27th St, New York, NY

Pair that with fabulous raffle prizes, mini performances, drink specials, bake sale, birthday cake, performance footage from Toronto, and great company...!

Come early and do some holiday shopping with a Stella and Dot stylist, Katherine Clay! www.stelladot.com/katherineclay
7:30-8:30 pm Stella and Dot Trunk Show!

Performances: a capella music by Human Drum Machine & friends, A.H. Dance Company

$15 min. get you 5 raffle tickets, $20 gets you 10 raffle tickets!

Raffle prizes:
Brooklyn Brewery http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/
Chelsea Piers http://www.chelseapiers.com/
The Luxury Spot http://www.theluxuryspot.com/
Aqualia Spa http://www.aqualiaspa.com/
Beautiful Faces http://alainemakeupartist.blogspot.com/
Jivamukti Yoga http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/
Dance of my Hands http://symmetryofgrace.blogspot.com/
Stella and Dot - Katherine Clay http://www.stelladot.com/katherineclay
La Magdalena http://www.flamenco-con-magdalena.com/

Watch the APAP 2011 Showcase of Chameleon

I've uploaded the full 20 min. showcase from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters 2011 Showcase at Dance New Amsterdam. This was in Jan. 2011.

I'll be posting up some new trailer videos with footage from our performances in Canada soon!

Alaine Handa of A.H. Dance Company – 2011 Toronto Fringe Dance Interviews

By Lucy Rupert

"LR: Can you define for us the Third Culture Kid (TCK)?

AH: A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is someone who has grown up in different cultures and belong to all of them but also not fully able to belong. The TCK is a chameleon, fitting in and being the outsider looking in at the same time. Not fully grasping the concept of home from the physical sense. Instead home becomes a memory, a feeling, and the emotion of being at ease wherever you are.

LR: In the early 20th century many Europeans felt this same sensation, particularly in the inter-war years when borders and “nations” were changing rapidly and dramatically.

AH: Third Culture Kids around the globe share these sentiments regardless of age, race, heritage, geographic location, and socio-economic status."

Chameleon (A.H. Dance Company) – 2011 Toronto Fringe Review

By Tiffany Budhyanto

"My favourite part of this show is the dancing – it is intimate, unique, and full of intent. The multimedia is a great partner to the dance as well."

NOW Magazine // Stage Listings // Chameleon, The Experience Of Global Citizens

NOW Magazine // Stage Listings // Chameleon, The Experience Of Global Citizens