In four months...

My last blog was at the end of my show Sotto Voce back in July 2011.  No, I haven't been on a break.  If anything, I've been working constantly and gearing up for a new project that will culminate in a performance at the ODC Theater in July 2012.

So in the process, I've hired five dancers for the 2011/2012 season, all kick ass by the way. 

Norma Fong and Kelly Del Rosario

August 2011, I was invited to show a work-in-progress for RAWdance's Concept Series.  The piece was inspired by the journals of my mom, Maria Isabel.  It was a very emotional journey but one that took me to a place I didn't think I would go with the piece.  I ended up stripping the piece of the music I had in mind and instead used poetry.  Maria Isabel will be a section of the bigger piece Sol y Sombra premiering at ODC in 2012.

September, Project. B. performed the third section of Moveable Feast at Central Market Arts Festival and I started rehearsing with the whole company as well as creating new and exciting partnerships and mentorships with people.  One of them is a mentorship program called WERK Collective.  In this program, we are mentored by Christy Bolingbroke of ODC Theater, Joe Landini of the Garage (SAFEHOUSE), as well as Nancy Quinn of Quinn & Associates.  This year long mentorship is also part of the culmination of the performance at ODC in 2012. 

I have also taken on a mentee through the SPARK Apprentice program.  Every Tuesday afternoon for 3 months, I am mentoring Ruby, a middle school student who someday wants to be a choreographer.  Along with 2 of my dancers Norma Fong and Katherine Wells, who Ruby gets to create on, I mentor and give her the tools of what she needs to become a successful choreographer.  So far, she is doing an amazing job.  Her piece will be shown at her Discovery Night in December as well as my Open Rehearsal/ Fundraising Event.

Spark Apprentice, Ruby Wheeler

Aside from being a mentor and being mentored, I've also asked several people in the San Francisco Community to be a part of an advisory board.  This Advisory Board has helped in creating a new audience base for Project. B.  At first, I thought that I wouldn't get more than 15-20 people in the room, however, my Board, who I am so thankful for, has filled this event to capacity more than twice the amount I even imagined and all new to Project. B.!  I'm really excited to meet all of them and to share with them my love of the work we are doing and the beautiful dancers they will get to see perform.

Me on the sidelines with Mike Sugrue at Project. B.'s photo shoot

October, I was able to give my dancers a chance to take a company class of sorts where I was able to use the combinations from class and manipulate it in rehearsals.  It saved me a lot of time to have to teach them new material in rehearsal and instead delved in to the creating part of it.  Janice Garrett was in Uganda for the month so she graciously gave me the chance to teach her ever amazing and popular Advanced/Professional Contemporary Class at ODC.  It was a really great experience to be teaching such amazing dancers.  I also felt honored that people supported me by taking my class.

It is now November, and our project for the month- an AMAZING Photo Shoot with Michael Sugrue.  I want so bad to go on about it but it's something you have to see for yourself.  The pictures say it all.  I also think the dancers had a great time playing, jumping, throwing....  You'll see what I mean soon enough:)
 
And December-  an open rehearsal event, a show at the Garage with the WERK Collective Artists, and Ruby's Discovery Night.

It's been a busy second half of 2011.  All really worthit!