Taking a Summer off to Ride Across the Country

Photo by Eric Olson

After I graduated college in 2012, my mind was set to epic proportions. I needed a cleanse of the city to recharge my creativity. I had heard about Bike and Build, an organization that focuses on empowering youth through raising awareness, fundraising, public speaking, and working as a team not only on the road but also on construction projects for affordable housing. A good friend of mine had participated in the trip and strongly encouraged me to apply.

Taking the entire summer to bike across the country was as nerve racking as it was exciting. I was nervous about all the logistics of when I would return; money, housing and in particular, dance. Our route, although beautiful, was at times physically demanding. We rode through multiple mountain ranges and became friends with forceful headwinds. It made me realize how far my body could be pushed.

Coming back to dance was an easier transition than I had anticipated, at least on a cardiovascular level. My movement pick up skills were definitely rusty, which I expected, but I put more pressure on myself to stay focused in rehearsals because I had taken the summer off from dance. It was also nice to come back into a supportive environment and dance community. Margi and the Company were all very encouraging before, during, and after my trip and helped to correct the things that were off in my body. Additionally, I was ready to start creating and collaborating again. The summer was buzzing with new experiences, new places and people coming from all walks of life that I could now bring to the table.  Reflecting back, my decision to take a break was totally beneficial. It challenged me to face my goals, especially those relating to the field of dance, and it boosted my creativity by giving me a new outlook. Although my dancing body wasn’t in the same position before the trip, I had a new appreciation for the art and desire to get back in the swing of things. When it comes to travel and creativity, the words of St. Augustine sum it up,

“ The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page.”

Submitted by TDC Apprentice Julie Boruff on Tuesday, April 23, 2014. 

What's Next?

Photo by William Frederking

After what seemed like the longest, most dreadful, never-ending winter, The Dance COLEctive is looking forward to a couple of exciting performances. While this year has not been one testing us on our powers to prepare for performances it has been one to test us on how many layers of clothing we can don while side-stepping mega pot holes on our way to rehearsal Tuesday and Thursday nights. All said, the upcoming month should prove to be a special one as we comb the vaults for video to re-create  "13", a comical and equal parts gut wrenching and heart warming look into the lives of thirteen year olds. One of my favorite TDC pieces to perform, it also happens to be a crowd pleaser and getting to dig back into our characters in the piece will be like trying on a familiar comfy sweater.

For the love of Brooke.... to call up my character (a fashion faux-pas, crowd hovering, wedge picking young lady of 13) takes a whole different level of awkward exploration. She is mildly clued in to her un-coolness, but despite many efforts cannot seem to crack the social acceptance code. To her credit she wears her personality on her sleeve and holds her chin high, literally. While it is easy to find comedy in all that Brooke is on stage, it is mildly heart breaking to know that she is inspired by real events and experiences, mostly mine. Don't feel too sorry for Brooke she might bump and clatter through puberty but her resilience will prove to be her strongest quality, and know there are Brookes everywhere, even within you.

After recently spending sometime working with the wonderful Peter Carpenter on our skills to better vocalize while moving we head into these performance projects armed with tools to dive deeper into the text that already colors "13". As always it is my hope that we take the material and performance to a new level finding more meaning within the sub-text and connecting with a new audience who has yet to experience this piece.  Hope to see your at our next performance at the Elgin Ties Dance Festival on April 25 at 7:30pm. 

Submitted by TDC company member Olivia May on Sunday, March 31, 2014.