Dance-spiration Friday: A Midsummer Night's Dream Choreography

Eeeek! So I've been a little slower to write blog posts than I would like to be. Apologies! I did not mention before, but not only am I performing in Midsummer, but I'm also simultaneously rehearsing a second show...and I'm still working 9-5, with an hour commute each way, so YEAH! I've barely had time to breathe, never mind blog - but I'm having SO. MUCH. FUN.

Today, for Dance-spiration Friday, I thought I would share with you two little sneak peak videos of my choreography for Midsummer. This first video, is from the first rehearsal when we began to create a ballet number that we call "Fairy Time." What was amazing about this process is that I got to create the dance with a composer, the incredible Jonny Peiffer, simultaneously creating the music. I usually work with a piece of music that is already written, whereas for Midsummer Jonny, (himself also a dancer), watched what we did, and immediately improvised a theme that was appropriate to the movement.

(P.S. That's me dancing in the red pants)
(P.P.S. My director, Chrissie's reaction to seeing the movement for the first time at the beginning of the video is PRICELESS. I love her enthusiasm)

Lovers to bed, tis almost fairy time - First Rehearsal from Neoteric Dance Collaborative on Vimeo.

The second video is from the evening that we completed "Fairy Time.", and gave it its first run-through. I've since made a few tweaks, and cleaned the piece, (you might notice that my friend Jess takes what we call in New England a "diggah." There's no more of that happening!), but this is as close to the final product as we have on video. (I'm in the maroon top/black tutu here).

"Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time" on PPAF stage from Christine Penney on Vimeo.

The most wonderful thing about this? The dancers onstage with me are none other than fellow members of Neoteric Dance Collaborative, my dance company. Originally, I was hired to play all four fairies - and interpret them with different movement. Chrissie changed her mind later in the process, and wanted something fuller, and lamented to me "But where are we going to find dancers? Who will work for cheap?!" To which I responded "Umm, Chrissie...I have a dance company...that is not doing ANYTHING right now." You see, after the nasty life-changing business happened earlier in the year, I kinda lost my creative mojo. So I shoved Neo aside for a hiatus. Now Shakespeare in Prescott Park and Neoteric Dance Collaborative have formed a solid partnership. I love Chrissie and Chrissie loves me...and there are many many Shakespeare works that require movement. I believe that this is a summer gig that we'll be enjoying together for years to come!

Remember - if you're local, we have two more performances. Sunday, July 31st at 2PM and Saturday, August 13th at 2PM. For more information on Shakespeare in the Park, visit Prescott Park Arts Festival's website. Also, check out the glowing review of our opening performance!

Hope to see you in the park!

A Midsummer Night's Dream Week: Two More Performances ONLY!

Hello, fellow geeks and nerds. I know that all has been quiet on the blogging front, but I have been tremendously busy! On Sunday I performed in a play for the first time since 2006! I was asked to join the inaugural creative team of Shakespeare in Prescott Park, a new initiative presented as part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival.

For it's first season Shakespeare in Prescott Park is presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream...

I am acting both as the choreographer and one of the fairies, Cobweb. I have never done a classical play before, and it took me awhile to feel comfortable with the text. Once the words finally settled in my brain, I really started to have a great time! Not only do I get to act, but I also sing AND dance in Midsummer.



If you are local, or happen to be passing through the Seacoast on July 31st or August 13th (at 2pm), please come and see the show. I am biased, but it is an amazing production!

There will be more on Midsummer all week long, so stay tuned!

I don't know s#%t about wine: Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo 2006

The wine: Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo
Year: 2006
Price: $11.99
Region: Rioja, Spain

Observations: My brilliant friend Megan brought this over after reading my first I don't know s#%t about wine post. I am lucky enough that my brilliant friend Megan lived in Spain for a number of years, and is pretty up on her knowledge of tasty Spanish reds. Thanks to her, rioja may be my new favorite wine. It was great to sip by itself, great with olives and bread, and great with pizza.

Megan, you are a goddess.

Star Rating: 5 out of 5

Purchase again? Absolutely...cases and cases.

Dance-spiration Friday: What's a Pas de Deux?

Before we get into this week's dancespiration video, let's have a little ballet vocabulary lesson and talk about a pas de deux.

Pas de deux is French for "steps of two." Thus in classical ballet a pas de deux is a dance for two people, usually a man and a woman. A classical pas de deux usually consists of five sections:

The entrée (:00-:37) is the couple's entrance. Sometimes this is very brief, as in the video I will show you today, sometimes it is longer. Check out Daniil Simkin's fabulous balance as he enters!

The adagio (:38-4:05) is a slow dance, marked by intricate partnering. The adagio is very much about how well the man supports the woman during her turns, leg extensions/balances and most especially lifts. One of the biggest lifts during this particular pas de deux occurs at 2:27. Daniil Simkin makes it look so effortless, however, keep in mind that even tiny Maria Kochetkova weighs probably around 100 lbs. Think about how difficult dead pressing anything that's 100 lbs over your head, then as if that wasn't hard enough, you have to *WALK* around a stage with it! This is the magic of ballet!

The variations. "Variation" is simply ballet's term for a "solo." Here is where each dancer gets to show off a bit. The male dancer will always go first (4:06-5:42). The Slave variation from Le Corsaire is one of my favorite male variations in all of classical ballet. It is so explosive and exciting. Things to look for during male variations: Jumps, jumps and more jumps with some fabulous turns thrown into the mix. The height that Daniil Simkin gets in his jumps is AMAZING! During the turning sequence, notice how he extends his leg at the end of one turn (4:41) and at the end of the next turn he snakes his working leg down as he slows down his revolutions (4:45). Each of those instances is an example of INCREDIBLE control and finesse.

Next, it is the ballerina's turn (5:43-7:29). The ballerina's variation will also often feature turns and jumps (not so much the latter here though), some sort of show of delicate pointe work, balances on one leg on pointe, and often a ménage at the end. Ménage is a term used pretty liberally in ballet to describe any movement that travels in a circle. Things to notice: The passé section (6:13-6:37) is one of my favorites. Notice how Maria Kochetkova begins slowly, demonstrating her ability to balance, then by the end of the section she speeds up demonstrating speed and crispness in her pointe work. The next turning section (6:41-6:57) is VERY DIFFICULT and she goes straight into a rapid fire ménage! So exciting!

Then, the coda. This is the grand finale. The coda is all about "one-upsmanship." It's the "anything you can do I can do better" of ballet. After Daniil Simkin makes ridiculously awesome entrance, we see another ménage (7:52-8:08), this time featuring jumps. Then Maria Kochetkova comes out for the requisite fouetté turns. Fouetté, coming from the French word "to whip or whisk" is a difficult turning movement. 32 single fouettés is par for the course for any ballerina, featured in most codas, however here Maria Kochetkova decides to up the difficulty by throwing double revolutions into *most* of her fouettés (8:07-8:33). After a bit more one-upping, the couple comes together for a TA-DA finish!

So those are the segments of a classical pas de deux!

Now, (ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?), about the ballet you will see...Le Corsaire, means "The Pirate." It's basically The Pirates of the Caribbean of classical ballet. The main pirate is Conrad, who falls in love with/frees a slave girl named Medora. Conrad has a trusty sidekick Ali, the Slave.

Now just before this pas de deux, Conrad has just returned to his Grotto with all of his pirate booty. He asks Medora and Ali, the Slave to dance in celebration and to provide entertainment for the people (other pirates and their wenches) in the Grotto.

(STILL WITH ME?) Notice how Ali, the Slave, bows to Medora. Also, they dance tenderly with a camaraderie because of their shared history as slaves, but this pas de deux is not an expression of love. At the end of both the adagio and the coda we see that Medora's social status is higher, as her pose is upright, while Ali the Slave bows before her on the ground.

I hope that all of that information will help you better understand and appreciate this and other classical ballet pas de deuxs. Let me know what you think!

I don't know s#%t about wine: Clayhouse Wines Adobe White 2008

The wine: Clayhouse Wines Adobe White 2008
Year: 2008
Price: $11.99
Region: San Miguel, California, U.S.A.

Observations: This was one of the first wines that I tried in honor of my wine-tasting experiment. Of course, did I write down my notes right away like a good girl? Nope. However, I do remember this being pleasant, and something I would give another go around.

Star Rating: 3 out of 5

Purchase again? Yes.

A Blogworthy Lunch: Beet and Chevre Salad with Pan-Fried Potatoes

Today I was supposed to go over to my friend Chelsea's house for a lazy day of hanging by the pool...however the ever fickle New England forecast decided not to cooperate! No matter, we simply made a new plan, and she popped over to my apartment for (a blogworthy) lunch!

This salad was inspired by the Market Salad with Pan Roasted Potatoes over at the Locavore Way, my friend Amy Cotler's blog. Amusingly, I did not read Amy's recipe at all before making my salad. I saw red - I thought, "Beets." I saw white - I thought, "Goat cheese." I saw potatoes - I thought, "NOM." Reading through her post AFTERWARDS, I had to chuckle that she referred to her recipes as "open recipes." Following a recipe like three year old reading a picture book is about as non-specific and open as one could get! (This is why Amy is the chef, HA)!

Anywhoozle, here's my take: goat cheese, roasted beets, mixed greens a little salt and pepper and the best part, the potatoes!



Chels and I both approved, and pronounced it a "keepah!"