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

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

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

Meet the dancer: Sheila Klein

real name ? Sheila
nickname ? Shy
hair color ? Blonde

Do you believe in...
miracles ? Absolutely
love at first sight ? if you let yourself feel it...

LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? Christmas cookie cutters from my
Grandma...VERY special

ONE FAVORITE SONG? Rehab - Amy Winehouse

FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? Dustin

WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? S'nice

CAN YOU COOK? Yep

FAVORITE MOVIE? Juno

CAN YOU SING? Yep...mom's a voice teacher

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? Colorado

If I wasn't a dancer....I'd get my PhD in clinical psychology
specializing in women's health

Celebrity Doppleganger...Apparently Kelly Pickler (someone once
thought I was her on the subway)

Favorite Food(s)? Sweet potatoes, beets, and apples with peanut butter...heaven

Last book I read? Cunt, by Inga Muscio (every woman should read it!)

Favorite Dancer/Choreographer/Company? Monica Bill Barnes and Co

Meet the dancer: Heather Wigmore

real name ? Heather
nickname ? Wigs, Wig-a-more, Headuh

LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? My uncle bought me (and my brother and sister-in-law) a Christmas tree for our apartment.

ONE FAVORITE SONG? "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan

FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? One of my mathematically/statistically-inclined (i.e., nerdy) friends -- Ariella, Nicole, or Zenker -- because they would appreciate the absurdity of actually winning the lottery.

WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? The mold-infested, family-run dumpling joint in the alleyway next to my old apartment in Shanghai.

MOST DISLIKED FOOD? Regular flavor potato chips. What's the point?

CAN YOU SING? Not even close. But Karaoke is for the talented and talentless alike.

THING YOU NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT? My Droid phone. My arms are evolving into robot arms like in the Droid commercials. And a notebook and pen so I can obsessively make To Do lists.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? Guatemala.

If I wasn't a dancer.... I would want to be a visual artist who makes awesome sculptures and installations.

Celebrity Crush... David Duchovny (specifically, in Californication)

What countries have you visited? A lot. But where I want to go to next: the salt flats in Bolivia, and Laos.

How many languages do you speak? Four: English, Chinese, Spanish, and double talk (circa 7th grade; think Gibberish, but cooler)

Where have you lived? New York City, Singapore, St. Louis, Shanghai

Favorite Food(s)? Beets, spinach, and pumpkin. And dumplings.

Favorite Dancer/Choreographer/Company? Pina Bausch

Meet the dancer: Tsubasa Ogawa

real name ? TSUBASA

nickname ? Tsubie or Subie

broken any bones ? YES, spiral fractured metatarsal 5 on my left foot when I was dancing. I recovered fast and was back on stage in 3 months. also, fractured my nose during rehearsal (i got punched in the face by a male dancer... accidentally). 7 stitches on my forehead, 8 stitches on the back of my head, 8 stitches on my right foot (stepping on a nail on stage while I was dancing...)

Do you believe in...miracles ? YES!

LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? a package of food that my mom sent me from japan.

FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? I would call my mom.

MOST DISLIKED FOOD? EEL....

LONGEST SHIFT YOU HAVE WORKED AT A JOB? 15 hours at a bar.

FAVORITE MOVIE? Trainspotting and many more...

CAN YOU SING? I sing occasionally... I sing at work, too.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? Hawaii

If I wasn't a dancer.... I would be working 9-5.

Celebrity Crush... Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson

What countries have you visited? Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, France, UK.

How many languages do you speak? English, Japanese, Spanish (just a little bit), Tagalog (only bad words)

Where have you lived? Japan, Pittsburgh, Boston, New York

Favorite Food(s)? Korean BBQ(especially Pork belly), Fermented soy beans, fish

One thing I can't live without? My friends who would help me and feed me when I'b broke.

Meet the choreographer/dancer: Alaine Handa

I want to do something fun for the blog over the holidays and post some fun tidbits about the dancers involved in Chameleon. I'll start first with my little "survey".

real name? Alaine Handa
nickname? A-ten, Lan, Babycakes
height? 5'1"
broken any bones? Yes, I broke my ankle while figure skating at 14. Dislocated my wrist while playing basketball at 9. Almost broke my nose at 8th grade camp, instead I have 14 stitches above my right brow.

Do you believe in...
yourself ? most of the time
love at first sight ? No. There is lust at first sight but to love someone is to know someone.

is there one or more people you want to be with right now? My family in Singapore.

ONE FAVORITE SONG? Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. Love MJ!

WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? Basta Pasta is the best Italian-Japanese restaurant.

MOST DISLIKED FOOD? Mushrooms...gross

FAVORITE MOVIE? L'Auberge Espagnole

CAN YOU SING? Yes but I'm very shy about it and will only sing in the shower.

What countries have you visited? Hong Kong, Australia, USA, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia

How many languages do you speak? Bahasa Indonesia (spoken), English, Swedish (studied it for a year in college), Japanese (studied it for 7 years in grade school)

Favorite Food(s)? Xiao long bao, Pappardelle w/ Bolognaise, Noodles, Satay, Mee Rebus, Martabak, Pizza

Favorite Dancer/Choreographer/Company? Doug Varone & Dancers.

From Media Mind Candy's Canaan

Visit Media Mind Candy here: http://mediamindcandy.blogspot.com

Rehearsal Report

The showcase at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) conference on Jan. 8, 2010 went really well. We had a great audience and some folks from InterNations came to the showcase. I decided that week to interlace the dance sequences with the documentary film I've been working on. The interviews I've conducted with Third Culture Kids have spurred a lot of inspiration for the dance. It is amazing to meet and talk to interesting group of Third Culture Kids from all different walks of life. Their stories and experiences are touching and I hope that this project will help them cope with any TCK difficulties they may face. After the showcase, I met some great people who could relate to being a global citizen/multi-cultural/cross-cultural individual and dealing with the same or similar problems that most TCKs face.


Here are the pictures by awesome dance photographer, William Hebert:

















The past couple weeks in rehearsal, I've spent working with each individual dancer on their respective solos. Their solo material is created collaboratively between choreographer (me) and the dancer. I had each dancer come up with a prose or poem about a favorite memory they have and then I had them extract specific words out of the original. The original movement phrases were created from those words. I gave specific movement ideas to each individual dancer based on their phrases to formulate a truly individual story that is unique to the dancer. The finishing touch will be interviewing each dancer and juxtaposing their words to their solo.

I hand-picked each dancer not just based on technical ability, I picked each dancer because of her background story. Her cultural upbringing, her personality, her openness to learning about other cultures. It was important to me to have dancers that can relate to the project and invest their time in rehearsal. (Dancers if you're reading this, THANK YOU! You inspire me!) They come from a variety of cultural backgrounds (more on this later...) and it is stunning to see this cultural exchange in rehearsal every week. :-)

A solo of many layers

Solo #1 from Alaine Handa on Vimeo.

This solo is a mixture of different cultures. Korean traditional dance are mixed into the modern dance vocabulary. The costume that my dancer, Yoonjung Choi will be wearing is a Indonesian inspired Batik wrap around skirt. The spoken word in the music is from David C. Pollock and Ruth Van Reken's book Third Culture Kids. There is also a Swedish poem by Edith Södergran. She is also dancing to French accordian music from the soundtrack of Amelie.