Tax Workshop for Artists with Joe Weatherby

Thanks to Dancers' Group, my fiscal sponsor, I was able to take Joe Weatherby's tax workshop for artists for free.  Although I've been preparing my own taxes for several years now, I wanted to make sure that with Project. B. finances and expenses, I am up to date on how I am supposed to file not just as a dancer and teacher but now also as a choreographer/producer.   It was great to hear what he had to say about filing and what were valid deductions as an artist.  I had no idea I could write off my laundry (mostly dance clothes)!  But best of all,  he made it clear how not to have a loss on my Schedule C.

If you want to check him out, his website address is www.taxes4artists.com

Happy filing!

A New Language

So far, Project. B. has rehearsed three times this month for a total of six hours.  I can't help but look at other dance companies and wonder how great it would be to meet for at least three hours at a time and at least three times a week.  One of my dancers, Chin-chin, was joking around with the other dancers during a direction I gave regarding manipulating movement and said, "Come on! Don't you know you have to be a smart dancer to dance for Tanya...."  I must say, I love how each one of them have such a great sense of humor and taunt each other.  

Dancers:  Chin-chin Hsu,Yu-Mien Wu

But looking deeper at the comment itself, I do find myself with all these ideas I want to explore.  I see the movement on their bodies, I get excited, I want to rework it, mold it, and direct it in a way where I see my vision coming to life.  I look at the time and 2 hours go by so quickly.  How can I do everything I want to see in that time frame?  The only answer I can come up with is- Hire intelligent dancers.  


So in 6 hours of rehearsals this month, I was able to create the beginnings of a piece.  Through several base phrases, we played with variations.  Through those variations and base phrases, we made a language.  I feel very blessed having the dancers I have.  They are quick, witty, and amazing technicians who are able to do anything that is asked of them.  They give so much for me to play with and I am so thankful for that.  


In February, the entire company is called back for rehearsal.  I can't wait to see the possibilities.

Conversations at Dinner

Dieter Rams, Jonathan Ive, and their designs

Last night, my husband and I had dinner at a friend's.  One of the topics of conversation was about a man named, Jonathan Ive.  From our architect friend, we learned that Jonathan Ive is the Principal designer for many of the Apple products and that in researching more about him that he was heavily influenced by a German functionalist designer Dieter Rams.  Our friend spoke about how Jonathan Ive seems to have found his vision and that his eye for design, although revolutionary to many, is actually deeply rooted in influences by his mentors.

As a dancer and now choreographer, rehearsals seem to be that process of finding out what my aesthetic and vision is.  I can't deny that my work is heavily influenced by my mentors and sometimes fight the movement that may stylistically resemble what in the past I have danced.  This to me, is the biggest struggle of all.  How much can I deny what has influenced me and why should I deny it?  It has made me the artist I am today and what drew me to their work is why at this point in my life I want to create my own work.  So in talking with our friend, he gave me a gift.  He made me realize that someone like Jonathan Ive found his niche because he distinguished what it was that influenced him in his work.  I shouldn't deny myself the freedom to create what comes naturally in my body.  In that self-expression, there might be a glimpse of my own aesthetic and my own vision. Through exploration, I will only be one step closer to finding it.  I may never realize that I found it but I don't know if that is as important as giving myself the freedom to create without boundaries.

Creating the Menu

Dancers:  Norma Fong, Chin-chin Hsu, Yu-Mien Wu

Today's 's rehearsal was the first time I had the dancers in the studio for the creative process of Moveable Feast.  What exactly is Moveable Feast?  It is three servings of the same ingredient.  And as I search more about how I am going to present this, I found myself very inspired with having bodies in the studio and getting my ideas out of what was for the longest time just an image in my head.  


It seems so perfect that the first time I made a Thanksgiving meal was just in 2010.  Preparing this piece is just like Thanksgiving.  What are the steps in order to make that happen?  Well, first off, you've got to create the menu.   


Even before the dancers came to rehearsal, there was still a lot of prepping.  I had to ask myself how I am going to present Project. B. through Moveable Feast.  Music, costumes, and casting visited my dreams every night for the last several weeks.  I went in to the studio several times on my own and tried to create movement that I thought might be useful for the imagery that I wanted to portray.  These were all just part of the first steps.  These were still just parts of the creation of the menu.  And my dancers, the music, and the costumes, just ingredients to what I am about to cook up.


I felt we got plenty done today.  Figuring out different flavors, finding how one can go with another, as well as how dancers work together....


Today, I invited a new dancer into the Project. B. family.  I think I found a new ingredient that might just add a bit of spice to the mix.  In the meantime, we've just started so stay tuned and we will keep you updated on what's to come.