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

Toronto: We're headed your way!

Canadian Send off party & Benefit Performance

June 29, 2011
Location:

Young Dancers in Repertory

5602 Fifth Avenue

Brooklyn, New York

Pre-performance Q+A and mini dance workshop starting at 6!
Performance will start around 7:15 pm
Come early to get a seat! Limited Seating.
Wine, Cheese, Snacks following the performance.

$10-15 Suggested Donation
*All proceeds will go towards transportation, accommodation, and performer stipends for our tour.

Catch the full length version of Chameleon before we go on the road!

AHDC is heading off to Toronto this summer to perform at the Toronto Fringe Festival. We will be taking Chameleon, the experience of global citizens there and can't wait to share it with the multicultural Toronto audience.

Young Dancers in Repertory has graciously opened up their space to us for a informal Benefit performance & send off party.

Here's the FB invite for the performances in Toronto, please forward them to friends and family that you know in Toronto: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191438540904473


Photo credit: Nicholas Fox

Chameleon 2011 Trailer

Chameleon, the experience of global citizens: 2011 Trailer from Alaine Handa on Vimeo.

Choreography by Alaine Handa & Dancers
"I am a TCK" film Directed by Alaine Handa, Editing by Nicholas Fox & Alaine Handa
Dancers: Alaine Handa, Laura Lamp, Anna Louise Herzog, Tsubasa Ogawa, Olivea Shure, Lauren Calzolaio, Lara Sofia Romero
Prop Design: Natalia Krasnodebska

Special Thanks to interviewees: Nikki Felt, Zachary Tewalthomas, Teresa Aradhana Hinds, Shayna Padovano, Ryan Tish, Ryan Kendle, Michael Chan, Natalia Krasnodebska, Simon Roberts, Reena Vadehra, Miko Mercer, Melissa Diaz Viera

Chameleon is supported in part by funds from the Singapore Internationale grant administered by Singapore International Foundation (www.sif.org.sg)
With additional support by the following individuals, companies, and organizations: TCKid, Aga Magdolen, Tina Quick, Jo Parfitt, Nicholas Fox, Eddie Hussein Nwabuoku, Ann Gould, Andrew Avery Smith, Nancy Henderson-James, Sabajin McGray, Reena Vadehra, Ann Mazzoca, Lauren Rayner Productions, Doris Chan, Natalia Krasnodebska, Miko Mercer, Tiara the Merch Girl, Emery Brenner, Rob Oandasan, Albert Gumilang, Eveline Dorothy Chang, Melanie Eyth
In-Kind donations: The Luxury Spot, Argo Tea, Go Smile, Skin MD Natural, The Great Collide, Aqualia Spa, Holistic Health Fusion, Projet F, By Natalia Jewelry, Dance of my Hands Publishing, The Skinny, Everyday Crochet, YOR Health, Beautiful Faces, Stone Creek Bar

Chameleon premiered during the Spring 2010 as part of the Performance Project @ University Settlement in New York City.

Upcoming Performances during the Toronto Fringe Festival July 8-17, 2011; http://www.fringetoronto.com


For more information about Chameleon please visit http://tckcckahdanceproject.blogspot.com

For booking Chameleon for performances, workshops, and discussions on global citizenship please contact A.H. Dance Company ahdancecompany@gmail.com

Pictures from Cool NY 2011

We performed a short excerpt from Chameleon at the Cool New York Dance Festival in February 2011 and I received the CD of pictures taken during the performances. I want to share them with you because the pictures came out amazing.

Photography by Yi-Chun Wu

If you're in Toronto, Please save the dates to see Chameleon in your city!

July 6, 2011 Dance Workshop at O.I.P. Dance Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada. 4-6 pm. C$20 per person

July 6-17, 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. Toronto, ON, Canada. http://www.fringetoronto.com/
Location: Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A Saint George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
C$10

Friday, July 8, 2011 - 10:30pm - 11:30pm
Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 7:15pm - 8:15pm
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 - 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday, July 14, 2011 - 11:15pm - Friday, July 15, 2011 - 12:15am
Friday, July 15, 2011 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 5:45pm - 6:45pm

(If you're a TCK in Toronto - check out the Toronto Third Culture Kids group on Facebook!)

TCK Photography for Chameleon project by Lauryn Ishak

Photography & Story by Lauryn Ishak

When I was young, I never dreamed of having the life I have today. I have been absurdly lucky to have had a multi-cultured upbringing and education and privileged enough to be able to choose to do what I love most, ignited by my TCK experiences.

I was born in Germany to a German / Bahasa speaking parents, but quickly moved back to Indonesia, spending my childhood living a simple but comfortable life. My TCK life started when I was eleven. I moved to Hong Kong where I attended a German-speaking school because I spoke no English. The idea of leaving my extended family and friends behind was simply beyond my comprehension, and the prospect adjusting to a foreign place where I understood no one and thought no one understood me simply compounded my “misery”. However, as time passed, I began to appreciate my new surroundings. It allowed me to travel, meet new friends and most of all, broaden my perspectives on life.

Remembrance is a huge part of the TCK life. Every so often a new life awaits, somewhere else, somewhere foreign. These life changes are exciting but terrifying at the same time. It requires you to put your faith in something new that you’ve never dreamed of; putting your faith into something you can’t see.

As a TCK, you take your past experiences to your next destination and those cumulative experiences shape your character and sense of values. You become more aware and respectful towards the variety of cultures in your world – especially when you go on to live in multi-cultural, multi-religious cities like New York and Singapore.

I hesitate when people ask where I’m from. After all these years, I’ve still not perfected an answer. Frankly, I don’t know where home is at this stage of my life and am not inclined to pick one. Home is wherever I currently am. Fifteen years on, I can’t imagine life being any different than it is today.

Today, I feel blessed to be able to capture stories and beautiful things in this world through my lens. My upbringing has turned me some sort of globe trekker, growing restless when an overseas assignment isn’t on the cards for a prolonged period of time.

Lauryn Ishak is a photographer currently based in Singapore. She holds a BFA in Photography and Imaging from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Visit her website here.




















(Above) Pbotography (c) Joe Flood, Alaine Handa performing Chameleon @ Capital Fringe Festival w/ Lauryn Ishak's photography as a backdrop.

Meet the dancer: Olivea Shure

real name ? Olivea
nickname ? Oli, Ollie

Do you believe in...
miracles ? Yes, at least 3/day!

love at first sight ? Yes, especially with shoes

LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? a fun and pretty ring from my sister-in-law

LAST THING YOU SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON? a tempur-pedic mattress pad, I
just received it today! Oh holy day! :)

ONE FAVORITE SONG? this one's an ode to not so way back when: Say It
Ain't So by WEEZER

CAN YOU SING? When I was 4 I memorized and sang all songs from
Madonna's Like A Virgin album into a hair brush in my living room,
secretly I like to think im still so diva

If I wasn't a dancer.... I'd be a photographer and write like advice
columnist, Cary Tennis!

Celebrity Crush... Ewan McGregor (swoon!)

Favorite Food(s)? French macaroons, anything prepared by my husband :)

One thing I can't live without? DANCE

Last book I read? Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

Favorite Dancer/Choreographer/Company? Petronio

More Cultural Chameleons in the community

We performed at The Caring Community senior center yesterday in Tribeca. The community loved it and they were very receptive to the piece. Many of them are cross-cultural themselves and the piece really touched them.

Here are a few pictures that Olivea Shure's (one of our dancers) husband Rann Golamco took during the performance and Q+A.














More Community events coming up next! Come join us - both events are free to the public!

April 16, 2011: Celebrating Diversity Through Dance - hosted by Young Dancers in Repertory
1-2 pm at Sunset Park Recreation Center, 7th Avenue & 43rd St. in Brooklyn.
We will be performing portions of Chameleon and teaching some of repertory from Chameleon to participants!

More Information:
Young Dancers In Repertory's annual FREE multicultural Dance Workshops in honor of Immigrant Heritage Week, will coincide with Global Youth Service Day-an initiative to get youth involved in their communities- on April 16th! Celebrating Diversity Through Dance, is an annual event sponsored by Young Dancers In Repertory, Friends of Sunset Park, and the Sunset Park Recreation Center. Events will be held at the Sunset Park Recreation Center located at 7th Avenue and 43rd St., Brooklyn, NY. Workshops in different multi-cultural dance forms will be held throughout the day between 12:00-4:00. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Young Dancers In Repertory at 347-702-7155.

April 20, 2011: National Dance Week Kick off event - hosted by Young Dancers in Repertory
5-6:30 pm at Young Dancers in Repertory NEW Center for Dance Studies, 5602 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
We will be performing portions of Chameleon followed by a lecture/demonstration about our collaborative creative process.

More Information:
In honor of National Dance Week, YDR will hold several workshops, classes, showings and lecture demonstrations in a multitude of dance disciplines. Come try a contemporary jazz or salsa classs, learn about the history of modern dance, and watch up and coming YDR teaching artists perform with their professional dance companies. For more information or to register, please call 347-702-7155.

Chameleon project - TCK arts in the community

Chameleon Project- TCK Arts in the Community from Alaine Handa on Vimeo.

For more information about Chameleon project please visit http://tckcckahdanceproject.blogspot.com

Families in Global Transition Conference 2011: Reflections on my sessions

(Photograph taken during the panel discussion of the Families in Global Transition Conference)

The Families in Global Transition Conference of 2011 came and went. I wanted to vlog after day two but I was so exhausted that I just crashed. So many new friends, new connections, and seeing old friends, rekindling connections. Its amazing that a conference of Third Culture Kids, Cross Culture Kids, Third Culture Adults, TCK Researchers, Expatriates, Relocation & Transitions experts, Global Coaches, TCK/TCA/CCK/Expat Writers, and of course Artists (there were a handful of us this year!) can connect on so many different levels. Its no wonder that this conference is called "Families".

I presented twice on Friday (day two) of the conference during the "Kitchen Table Conversations" and the "Kitchen Table Conversation alternatives".

I spoke about how to create an active TCK community and used Chameleon as the project example but also spoke about my role as event organizer of the NYC TCK Meetup group. I utilized my alumni network, social media, and research skills to create a healthy TCK network to rekindle friendships and make new friends, who all happen to be TCKs. Stressing that you're there to make connections and friends is important b/c building a trust among friendships is the key to maintaining that connection. As humans we strive for a commonality among us when we strike up a conversation so its important that if we are to gain new friends that are TCKs to find those commonalities. I also showed an edited mash up video of the community based activities we've done with Chameleon so far to create a sense of community and a short clip of our performances in various settings.

During the Kitchen Table Alternatives, I started with a movement improvisation "ice-breaker" using the props that TCK jewelry designer, Natalia Krasnodebska created for Chameleon w/ the group. We moved with the prop singly (w/ our eyes closed so we're not self-conscious) then "connected" with a partner then as a whole group creating a "twister" like effect which made everyone smile. The next activity we did is a free-write for 5 minutes. Everyone chose a piece of colored paper and wrote for 5 minutes. During a free-write, the person writes without censoring themselves and it can be prose, poetry, words, scribbles. After the 5 minutes, I had everyone read out loud to themselves their musings. We circled important words, phrases, sentences and then shared them with partners. I found that the way chose to organize our thoughts on paper, our choice of words/phrases were a reflection of who we are as individuals and how we approach certain topics, situations, problem solve, etc. I thought that was an interesting discovery. The next activity involved drawing "When I think of home, I think of..." & "Home means... to me". I mentioned that the choice of color that each person chose is also a reflection of who you are and that color may evoke a certain happy memory. Colors are strong memory markers that can evoke feelings, memories that may or may not be remembered otherwise. After the drawing exercise, we created movement that was a response to our drawing which can be literal or abstract. I then played the role of choreographer and placed everyone in a formation that was fitting for their movement to reflect the whole group as a whole. I discovered that almost everyone in the room had a flight-y or moving sense to their movement while my dear boyfriend who is a CCK sat down in a meditative pose while everyone swirled around. That was our dance.

This kind of process is also my process for creating movement for Chameleon there's a sense of trust and community when working with my dancers in this way. I also find that these mini-activities can also be used to "un-block" memories and experiences that we've held in our sub-conscious for a while. Tapping into the unconscious latent desires and feelings. The writers in the room were having a mental block in their process of writing their book so I hope that this session helped release or ease that "blockage". I find that quite a number TCKs tend to hold back on a lot of memories/experiences for fear of being misunderstood, ridicule, and use defense mechanisms to "block" these things out for survival. When all of these "blocks" are created over the years and build up, this can actually hinder us from moving forward and overcoming relationship problems, career problems, and even developmental growth.

I am still in the process of breaking down some of these "blocks" that hinder my growth.

(More thoughts to come about the remainder of the conference later..)

Families in Global Transition Conference 2011 Day One

FIGT 2011 Vlog post: Day One from Alaine Handa on Vimeo.

My end of the day thoughts after Day One of the Families in Global Transition Conference 2011.

Families in Global Transition Conference 2010 notes (highlights) AND upcoming 2011 plans

As some of you know, I attended last year's Families in Global Transitions Conference on a full scholarship and also presented my session "The Expat Experience through the Arts" in which I did a mini-dance workshop for the attendees in my session. I found some of the notes I took during the conference and wanted to share with you some highlights:

From Joyce Bennett's "The Multicultural Self in the Intercultural World" session:

When we adapt…. We adapt a lot. Adapting to all those difference, then you realize one day when you wake up…. Who am I?

Living on the edge of two cultures.

“I will never be a part of these cultures… I will always be on the edge”

Being the dominant culture during the day and then going home to a different culture.

Bringing in your multi-cultural self to the office to gain more productivity

Impact of going overseas and then come back:

- The shocking find some people that hated going abroad and then came back with less cultural sensitivity

- When you go educate the person in that country the result is a lot more positive

- Getting people a safe place gives them more learning in that context – going to their “home” while they are abroad so they can compare notes

From Ruth Van Reken's "Teaching Locally, Thinking Globally: Helping School Educators Understand the Third Culture Kid Experience" session:

Academic learning may suffer if student doesn’t understand expectations of new school

What happens if educators don’t recognize these often hidden cross-cultural experiences among students?

- Social interactions may be misinterpretated

- Students can be shamed in many ways

o Stories may not be trusted

o May be accused of bragging

o Even teacher’s teasing can shame (story of DW)

- The wealth of what they know through life itself is lost to the class

- Child can be placed in wrong grade

- Learning disabilities may be overlooked

What are some obstacles to their awareness?

- Many teachers in local schools have not knowingly lived among different cultural worlds

- If acknowledged, TCKs may be seen as “elite few”

- Often cultural diversity of TCKs is invisible

- Old diversity models not adequate for today’s changing world

Immigrants are also having TCK-like experiences because they juggle between world

Educating teachers – tell the story by listening to the childrens’ story what they had to say and have them discuss amongst themselves so that every one can discuss where their story comes from

Diversity is not simply a difference in the visible layers of culture

How do you transition within your culture?

I'll be presenting again at this year's FIGT conference in Washington DC this week and I'll be taking notes, blogging, tweeting, posting pics, and maybe if I have time some vlogging too.

Here are my session descriptions:

Kitchen Table Conversations 1:

Building a TCK Community Through the Arts
Alaine Handa

I spent the past year developing and showcasing my multi-disciplinary arts project, Chameleon. Every person involved in the project is either a TCK or CCK. The support from the TCK community has been wonderful. In this table conversation, I want to show you short video clips of the responses from our community-based activities. The TCK community can be united outside of the School-Church-University club setting, even with our busy lives.

Kitchen Table Alternatives 2:

Unleashing Your Creative Potential Through the Arts
Alaine Handa

Do you get a “block” trying to write your article/book, choreograph a dance, paint a picture, design an outfit, etc.? In this session, mini-activities using movement, character writing, art therapy, and free-write will be introduced, to help you unlock creative potential that can become material for your work. TCKs are rich with unconscious thoughts that may or may not have been repressed. By unleashing these vulnerable thoughts, we let go of what we have kept “locked” inside and can use it as material to move on with our mobile lives.


I hope you check out Families in Global Transitions Conference and follow my live tweets @ahdancecompany (to follow other folks at the conference who will be live tweeting search for #FIGTConf)

Dancing with props: Rehearsal video from Fall 2010

Rehearsal footage from Chameleon, Fall 2010

Dancer in the video: Lara Sofia Romero, Laura Lamp, Heather Wigmore, Sheila Klein, Tsubasa Ogawa

Choreography by Alaine Handa and Dancers

Prop Design by Natalia Krasnodebska (Check out her website! www.bynatalia.com)

More video links of dancing with the props:

Emily & Shayna's solo & monologue http://www.vimeo.com/12857959

Anna & Ivi's solo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEu9J5Gz8kA

Chameleon excerpt from "Converge" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z7vHijLAXs

Alaine Handa will be presenting at Families in Global Transitions Conference March 17-19

I will be presenting two topics at the Families in Global Transitions Conference held in Washington DC this year on March 17-19, 2011.

Check out the list of presenters: http://www.figt.org/Default.aspx?pageId=904056

Kitchen Table Conversations I

Building a TCK Community Through the Arts
Alaine Handa

I spent the past year developing and showcasing my multi-disciplinary arts project, Chameleon. Every person involved in the project is either a TCK or CCK. The support from the TCK community has been wonderful. In this table conversation, I want to show you short video clips of the responses from our community-based activities. The TCK community can be united outside of the School-Church-University club setting, even with our busy lives.

Kitchen Table Conversations Alternatives 2

Unleashing Your Creative Potential Through the Arts
Alaine Handa

Do you get a “block” trying to write your article/book, choreograph a dance, paint a picture, design an outfit, etc.? In this session, mini-activities using movement, character writing, art therapy, and free-write will be introduced, to help you unlock creative potential that can become material for your work. TCKs are rich with unconscious thoughts that may or may not have been repressed. By unleashing these vulnerable thoughts, we let go of what we have kept “locked” inside and can use it as material to move on with our mobile lives.

Check out the article on Give & Get NYC + Volunteering opportunity w/ A.H. Dance Co.

Spotlight on A.H. Dance Company from Give and Get NYC: http://giveandgetnyc.org/2011/01/27/send-a-h-dance-company-to-china/

Thanks Rachel for taking the time to write up about us!

Volunteers needed right away!
Volunteers to help with arts administrative duties. Approx. 1-3 hrs per week.
Grant writing, grant research, marketing, publicity, booking performances, fundraising, event planning, scheduling rehearsal space, organization, proofreading, etc.

To find out more about A.H. Dance Company please visit: www.ahdancecompany.com

Please contact Alaine Handa at ahdancecompany@gmail.com with your availability and what you would like to volunteer with.

Pictures from APAP 2011

I got some fabulous pictures from the showcase performance of Chameleon during APAP 2011 at Dance New Amsterdam that I took. Enjoy!

AEP: MAPPING HOME Group Interview - Kinesis Project - Event #KinesisProject

Check out this project!
Fellow Choreographer, Melissa Riker is doing a piece about the concepts of "Home"
(Former guest dancer of Chameleon, Jun Lee, is involved in this project!)

AEP: MAPPING HOME Group Interview - Kinesis Project - Event #KinesisProject

Send us to foreign lands!

There's less than 2 weeks left on our Kickstarter campaign so please spare a few dollars to "back" our project and spread the link around to your friends!





We are also looking for fabulous volunteers to help our project reach more communities around the globe. Especially looking for fundraisers, event planners, marketing/publicity, administrators. Contact us at ahdancecompany@gmail.com

APAP 2011 Showcase information

Jan. 7 & 9, 2011 APAP Conference Performance Showcase at Dance New Amsterdam, 280 Broadway (Entrance on Chambers St).

Jan. 7 @ 8:50 pm and Jan. 9 @ 5:20 pm.

Showcases are free and open to the public. Limited Seating.

For more information about the APAP Showcases at DNA please visit:

http://www.dnadance.org/site/performances/apap-2011/

Choreography by Alaine Handa and Dancers

Dancers performing this weekend: Ivilisse Esguerra, Sheila Klein, Laura Lamp, Tsubasa Ogawa, Lara Sofia Romero, Heather Wigmore

Prop Design by Natalia Krasnodebska

Featuring the documentary film "I am a TCK" - Directed by Alaine Handa and photography by Albert Gumilang, Rob Oandasan, and Lauryn Ishak

More Information about Chameleon:
Chameleon is a multi-disciplinary presentation about global citizens who have been exposed to several cultures in their developmental years. Exploring the notions of home, cultural identity and relationships through film, spoken word, theater, photography and dance, Chameleon draws on the insight and experience of Third Culture Kids: those who have spent a significant period of time in a culture other than their own. Home, cultural identity, and relationships in the context of multi-cultural and cross-cultural influences are explored through performance. This project is suitable for all ages and can be presented in conjunction with community arts based workshops in dance, spoken word, poetry, visual arts, jewelry design, theater, photography, and film.

Meet the dancer: Laura Lamp

real name ? Laura
hair color ? Brown, but it looks black.

Do you believe in...
yourself ? Yes
miracles ? Yes

LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? Aila by Rinko Kawauchi

ONE FAVORITE SONG? Sarabande in Handel's Keyboard suite in D minor

WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? The Heidelberg Restaurant

MOST DISLIKED FOOD? Ginger

FAVORITE MOVIE? Baraka.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? Kauai

If I wasn't a dancer.... I would be working in photography

Celebrity Crush... Johnny Depp

What countries have you visited? Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada

Favorite Food(s)? Sauerkraut, Goulash Soup, empanadas, filet mignon

One thing I can't live without? Sun

Last book I read? Eden by Pablo Holmberg... now reading The Golden
Ratio by Mario Livio

Favorite Dancer/Choreographer/Company? The Mark Morris Dance Group

Meet the dancer: Ivilisse Esguerra

real name ? Ivilisse
nickname ? Ivi, Bee, Squirrel

height ? 5'2 and a half (the half counts!)

broken any bones ? Only both pinky toes (let's keep it that way ;)

Do you believe in...
yourself ? mostly
miracles ? yes!
love at first sight ? No; attraction yes; but real love grows like roots.

LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? Smartwool socks -- they're wonderful. it's like dancing on five layers of carpet.

LAST THING YOU SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON? Supersoft large sweater I'm going to live in all winter.

WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? Franny's in BK, Mas (farmhouse) and Soto -- best Japanese restaurant in NYC -- Chef Soto's plates are exquisite and delicious.

LONGEST SHIFT YOU HAVE WORKED AT A JOB? 20 hours, teaching, correcting and prepping as a humanities high school teacher

FAVORITE MOVIE? Sense and Sensibility (Andrew Davies), Rivers and Tides (Andy Goldsworthy), anything Monty Python

CAN YOU SING? Yes -- best around a campfire or a walk in the woods.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? Yorkshire, Cornwall, Sagres ... or any small seaside village with cliffs and beautiful beaches.

If I wasn't a dancer.... I would be teach English, History and Music at a Waldorf School

What countries have you visited? Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Canada and the U.S.

How many languages do you speak? Fluent in Tagalog (Philippine), English, German; some Japanese (studied it in college but forgot a lot of it!), and some French.

Where have you lived? Manila, L.A., New York, New Jersey, Germany, Japan and the UK.

Favorite Food(s)? Tuna and yellowtail sashimi, arugula, peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies, cow's milk cheese and ice cream (too bad I'm lactose-intolerant!)

One thing I can't live without? Nature, art, England (born Anglophile ;)

Last book I read? Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith

Favorite Dancer/Choreographer/Company? Gallim Dance Company; Ohad Naharin/Batsheva