A summer of puppetry & dance

I had an amazing summer of work, which has lead right into some great projects this fall. I have been so occupied with doing, I haven’t had much time to share.. so here are just a few quick highlights!

The Creation Story: Lincoln Center Education & Carmen DeLavallade

After taking part in a second summer of Lincoln Center Education’s Teaching Artist Training program this July, I had an excellent opportunity to put those new and exciting ideas directly in to practice. Working for LCE at the nearby Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, I lead experiential workshops to introduce a group of seniors and a group of youth to the immense body of work of the late renaissance man Geoffrey Holder.

Looking one of Geoffrey Holder's pieces after making some art together. Photo: Šara Stranovsky — Looking one of Geoffrey Holder’s pieces after making some art together.
Photo: Šara Stranovsky

Then we moved on to the next phase of our work, in collaboration with the wonderful and imaginative Chris Green. Chris designed a number of puppet images (based on the work of Holder) to be used in a performance of The Creation Story by Holder’s wife and longtime collaborator, Carmen DeLavallade. Working with Chris, Carmen, and her team, I engaged the students in finding the movement to bring each of these images to life.

Building ensemble with the cast. Photo: Šara Stranovsky — Building ensemble with the cast.
Photo: Šara Stranovsky

A bear mask I made from a sieve. Photo: Lucy Gram — A bear mask I made from a sieve.
Photo: Lucy Gram

In rehearsal! Photo: Lucy Gram — In rehearsal!
Photo: Lucy Gram

What is the nature of a rainbow? How does it move? How does it feel? Photo: Šara Stranovsky — Researching the performative nature of a rainbow: How does it move? How does it feel?
Photo: Šara Stranovsky

Taking a rest from flight. Photo: Šara Stranovsky

Carmen DeLavallade, surrounded by birds, flowers, and the sun at the Damrosch Park Amphitheatre. Photo: Lucy Gram

Chris and I with Carmen after the performance. Photo: Lucy Gram — Chris and I with the generous and legendary Carmen DeLavallade after the performance.
Photo: Lucy Gram

The youth perform a post show bird attack! Okay, I egged them on a little :) — The youth staging a post-show bird attack!
Okay, I egged them on a little 🙂

Hagoromo: Wendy Whelan at BAM

Right after that project, I was lucky enough to continue working with Chris as a rehearsal puppeteer in the early stages of development of Hagoromo. The show, premiering at the BAM Next Wave Festival in November 2015, is a huge collaborative undertaking. It stars Wendy Whelan, former principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, and features musicians, puppets, a mezzo-soprano, tenor, and a large chorus. Check out the NY Times article!

Discovering the way for three people to move as one being.

The first steps are… literally that. We had to uncover the way to do a basic walk before we could learn to dance.

The story is adaptation of a Japanese Noh play. For this multidisciplinary opera, there are two life-size puppets based on body casts of the incredibly talented Wendy Whelan. Our initial job was to work out the kinks.