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From the Dancers: Rehearsals for AFTER DUST

Today’s blog post comes from Theresa Anton, Malashock Company Dancer.  See Theresa perform AFTER DUST and APOLOGIES FROM THE LOWER DECK in the Malashock Dance production SURFACE TENSION, October 10-11 at the Lyceum Theatre in Downtown San Diego.

Coming from Denver to rehearse a piece I knew nothing about and to work as half of a duet with a dancer I have never met was a bit risky, I know. But, I had met John, Michael, Nick and Matt while rehearsing “The Pearl Fishers” in Denver last spring and the opportunity to work with them again was not something I wanted to pass up. The duet is from “After Dust”, choreography by John Malashock, and the other half of the cast for this section, the beloved Christine Marshall.

Theresa Anton and Christine Marshall rehearsing AFTER DUST, choreography by John Malashock

I felt instantly at home with Christine and was struck by the physical similarities between us. Our first day of rehearsals went well as I got my bearings and started becoming familiar with a new style of work. One of the challenges of this duet is that as small as Christine and I both are (just barely 5’0”) we are accustomed to being the dancer thrown in the air and balanced precariously on others’ backs, arms, feet and so forth. This duet is different, we are not only the lifted, but the lifters; we not only had to learn to dance together as a pair, but work together to find the balance so important to partnering. My arms were sore for the first four days of rehearsal and I know that between now and when I return to San Diego to continue my rehearsals with The Company, I need to keep up the newly found upper-body strength.

Theresa Anton rehearsing AFTER DUST, choreography by John Malashock

It was a mild whirlwind of a week, flying in from Denver on Monday night, rehearsing all week and flying back home after rehearsal on Saturday, but I am so happy that I took that risk. I can’t wait for my return trip to Dance Place San Diego to learn “Apologies from the Lower Deck” and finish cleaning the sections from “After Dust”. It has already been such a treat to work with such a wonderful group of artists and friends…I can’t wait for the honor to take the stage with them.

Theresa Anton
Malashock Dance Company Dancer

From the Dancers: Rehearsals for Surface Tension

Today’s blog post comes from Matt Carney, Malashock Company Dancer.  See Matt perform WAYWARD GLANCES in the Malashock Dance production SURFACE TENSION, October 10-11 at the Lyceum Theatre in Downtown San Diego.

My feelings heading into rehearsal with Malashock Dance Associate Artistic Director Michael Mizerany are usually filled with anticipation, interest, and maybe a little fear. You know the work will be guttural and athletic with a dash of passion and angst, but know that it will come at a cost.

Matt Carney and Blythe Barton rehearsing for Michael Mizerany's new work WAYWARD GLANCES

Honestly, a half hour into our first five-hour rehearsal for WAYWARD GLANCES I was already bleeding, sweating, and bruised and wondered how I would even finish. Before I knew it, I was caught up in my character and the safety of my partner that I started living in the piece. The movement began to develop meaning and a true partnership began. Working with a new partner takes, aside from time, trial and error to find a solid connection. Some lifts and partnered balances take many attempts, many falls to see what will work. Working with Blythe has made that process easy, with her focused work ethic and of course her long, beautiful body. I feel that I am finally doing movement that I was trained to do and am just enjoying the process. I look forward to seeing how the piece will develop.

As for the aches and pains…just part of the lifestyle of a dancer. When I walk, I am not just walking, I feel the sensation of my tight quads with every step. I’m forced to meditate as I fall asleep trying to find a part of my back that is not sore. Every time I stand up or sit down in a chair I feel every inch of my body. Such a crazy life to choose, I’m glad it chose me.

Matt Carney
Malashock Company Dancer

Malashock Thinks You Can Dance – Join Us!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26th, as our biggest fundraiser of the year, Malashock Thinks You Can Dance, is back for its third annual installment at Qualcomm Hall!

As we here at Malashock prepare to enter our 22nd season of dance, our yearly fundraiser is just as important as ever. While we continue to educate dancers of all ages and all talent levels, and produce consistently outstanding-quality performances, this event serves the essential purpose of raising funds for Malashock’s education and outreach programs initiated by the Malashock School and the Malashock Company.
We’re pleased to have Dea Hurston on board as the event Chair (with Honorary Chairs), and on top of that to have actor Phil Johnson serving as emcee for the evening.

Part-Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance, and Part-ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, this evening of friendly competition partners local celebrities and professional dancers in an all-out dance-off showcasing two months of dedicated preparation.
Our 2009 line-up of celebrity contests are [listed with partners]:
Edgar Bonner, Eye Exclusive with Cristina Santana
Gail Bryan, Museum of Photographic Arts with Dan Gibbons
Mitchell Dubick, Higgs, Fletcher & Mack with Stephanie Olsen
Kristy Gregg, San Diego National Bank with Pepe Alvarez
Thomas Karlo, KPBS TV/FM with Irina Chalkevitch
Dr. Michael Levy, Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, UCSD with Vanessa Williams
Anita Norton, Sycuan Casino with Tyler Ryan-Allen
Chairman Tucker, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation with Miki Jennings
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, MOXIE Theatre with John Selby
Lydia McNeil, Las Patronas with Steve Showers

Additionally, adding fun to the night are our 2009 celebrity judges:
Dea Hurston, Commissioner, City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture
Jeffrey Dunigan, Financial Advisor, Smith Barney
Monique Marvez, Radio Personality, Jack-FM

Excerpts from last year’s show are online through Malashock Dance’s YouTube channel.

Tickets are available through Malashock Dance’s website, or by calling (619)260-1622, with prices ranging from $35-$150. Or, make a donation.

Malashock Names Own Paloma Patterson as Executive Director

After a nation-wide search to ensure the best possible candidate for Executive Director – a position of the utmost importance for the continued and future successes of Malashock Dance – we’re proud to announce the appointment of an internal shining star, Paloma Patterson.  She comes into the vacancy with already more than nine years of non-profit experience, both domestically and across borders, and recently completed a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Leadership & Management at the University of San Diego. Throughout the interview and vetting process became the clear favorite of the Board of Directors for their choice, and ultimately the most qualified and passionate candidate.

Paloma Patterson, newly appointed Executive Director of Malashock Dance.

Also worthy of due recognition are the James Irvine Foundation, the Parker Foundation, and Danah Fayman – without whose generosity this position would not have been possible to fund.  We are greatly appreciate their dedication to the arts, and are eternally grateful for their contribution to our cause.

Both a former dancer and instructor, prior to coming to San Diego Paloma spent five years with SPACE (School of Performing Arts and Cultural Education). She worked as Business & Marketing Director; Program Director for WAVE (Watch Anderson Valley Excel), a performing arts program at the elementary, junior and high school levels; and Creative Dance Instructor for 5 & 6 year-olds.

Recently, Paloma served as a grant panelist for the California Arts Council Artists in Schools Program in Sacramento, CA.  And, currently, she is a member of the San Diego Nonprofit Professionals Network, and spends time volunteering for the San Diego Foundation for Change and Border Encuentro.

All of us at Malashock eagerly await to see what Paloma – the 2003 California Big Sister of the Year for Big Brothers/Big Sisters – has in store for the vision of both the Company and the School.

To learn more, please visit our website at www.MalashockDance.org.

Summer in San Diego Performance, PLUS Save the Date!

THE MALASHOCK DANCE SUMMER IN SAN DIEGO WORKSHOP was a major success.  35 dance students and professionals from around the country joined Malashock Dance Summer Workshop Faculty John Malashock, Michael Mizerany, Julianne O’Brien Pedersen and Joe Alter for two weeks of technique classes, repertory classes and new works classes.

Michael Mizerany's Billet-Doux; Photo: Yvonne Portra

This year, the Summer Workshop Concert was performed at The Saville Theater on the campus of City College.  Over 100+ dance lovers, family & friends attended the show which featured new works by John Malashock (Collision Course), Michael Mizerany (Billet-Doux) and Joe Alter (Etude 1a. & 1b.).  Also included were two sections from LOVE & MURDER (Lovely Creature & People Ain’t No Good).  As an extra bonus, Molly Puryear performed her solo, NEVER THE SAME TWICE, choreographed by Julianne O’Brien Pedersen.

John Malashock's Collision Course; Photo: Yvonne Portra

What a privilege it was for us to work with such talented, hard-working students and professionals.  They all were truly amazing.

In August, Michael and John begin choreographing their new dances for the fall production.  Michael will premiere SINNLICHE BEGIERDE, an evocative new work utilizing the vocals of German counter-tenor Klaus Nomi.  John will premiere AFTER DUST, a triptych of duets featuring performances by several Malashock Dance favorites as well as newcomer Theresa Anton.  These new works will premiere at the Lyceum Theater in downtown San Diego on October 10 & 11, 2009.

Additionally, Michael has been commissioned by Michigan Dance Collective to create a new work for their fall show.  He travels to Traverse City August 22nd – August 29th to start initial choreography and teach several master classes.

SAVE THE DATE I: The Malashock Dance School will be performing at the Celebrate Dance Festival.

The Malashock Dance School at the Celebrate Dance Festival
Saturday, August 22nd at 3pm
Casa del Prado Theater in Balboa Park

Selected works by Malashock Dance faculty Molly Puryear, Erica Buechner, Julianne O’Brien Pedersen, Katie Griffin and Matt Carney.  This show is free to the public.

SAVE THE DATE II: The season’s most fun fundraiser returns!  For the last two years this event has SOLD OUT!

The Third Annual MALASHOCK Thinks You Can DANCE!
Saturday, September 26, 2000 at 8pm
Irwin M. Jacobs QUALCOMM Hall
5775 Morehouse Drive, San Diego, Ca 92121

Event Chair:  Dea Hurston
Honorary Chairs:  Robert B. Horsman and Katherine Kennedy

For more info on all listed events go to:  MalashockDance.org

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE

P.S. Vote for us for Best Dance Studio on the 10news.com A-List!  Click here to cast your vote!

Assistant Creative Dance Instructor Wanted!

The Malashock Dance School Instructor Molly Puryear with Creative Dance students

The Malashock Dance School is looking for a responsible, positive, and energetic assistant for pre-school Creative Movement classes held on Saturday mornings from 8:30-11:30 am (class time is 9-10 am & 10-11 am). The assistant teacher will be responsible for receiving payments from parents, participating in class activities, helping with water and/or restroom breaks, and helping to manage classroom behavior.

The Malashock Dance School is looking for someone 15 or older with a background in dance, who has some experience working with small children. Assistant teachers will receive two technique classes per week from The Malashock Dance School free of charge in exchange for their service to the school.

If you are interested in learning how to teach children’s creative dance, take advantage of this opportunity to be trained by a friendly, experienced, and professional teaching artist and email your resume and contact information to info@malashockdance.org.

Looking ahead to this summer and next season at Malashock

Molly Puryear's Contemporary Choreography Class in "Lost." Photo by Yvonne Portra.

THE MALASHOCK DANCE SCHOOL SPRING SHOWCASE was held at Sushi: A Center for the Urban Arts this past weekend and was a great success.  On Sunday, the show was completely sold out – we squeezed in more than 90 people – and the dancers “danced” amazingly.  The showcase included performances by the students of The Malashock Dance School as well as the participants of the New Works Workshops.  John Malashock premiered his new work, Unsettled, Michael Mizerany debut his work for eight women, Total Eclipse, and Katie Griffin and Matt Carney performed a new dance they choreographed jointly, Dreams.

Jaami Waali's Hip Hop Class in Swaggerific. Photo by Yvonne Portra.

Joe Alter

As a reminder, the MALASHOCK DANCE SUMMER WORKSHOP INTENSIVE is fast approaching.  Plus a new development:  Due to larger than expected enrollment, Joe Alter, associate professor and coordinator of the dance division at San Diego State University, has been added to the Summer Workshop Faculty.  He is the Artistic Director of the Joe Alter Dance Group and also currently performs with Leslie Seiter’s Little Known Dance Theater.

On the touring front, MALASHOCK DANCE will be spending a week in the Midwest at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in March/April of 2010.  In addition to a company performance, we will offer three master classes including advanced modern technique, intermediate modern technique and a class in partnering.

And of special note:  John Malashock has been elected to the Board of Trustees for DANCE/USA, the national service organization for professional dance.  This is a tremendous honor for John, and he looks forward to being an enthusiastic representative. John will start his three year term on July 1, 2009.

John Malashock and Executive Director of DANCE/USA, Andrea Snyder.

Lastly, save the date for San Diego’s most fun fundraiser:  MALASHOCK THINKS YOU CAN DANCE, Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8 pm at Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall.

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE

Get in shape this summer

From San Diego News Network today:

Hot weather means fewer clothes and fewer clothes means … well, it means you’d better be ready to put your best bod forward. Who better to emulate than the dance company at The Malashock Dance School? The company members are as well known for their sculpted bodies as they are for their dynamic performances. Malashock is offering one week of complementary dance classes to all interested participants. Classes at all skill levels are available, so doors are open to beginners. Malashock’s studio is a fun, welcome alternative to the meat-market gyms. For more information on Malashock’s free classes, call 619-260-1622.

Click here to sign up for Malashock classes today!

Gearing Up for San Diego Summer of Dance

This past week was very exciting!  We ended our season with an encore performance of John Malashock’s critically acclaimed dance work SHADOW OF MERCY at the JEWISH ARTS FESTIVAL in downtown San Diego.  The house was full, the dancing was wonderful, and the audience was enthusiastic.

Now we are gearing up for The Malashock Dance School Spring Showcase (featuring new work by John Malashock and Michael Mizerany) on:

MALASHOCK DANCE SCHOOL SPRING SHOWCASE
Saturday, June 6, 2009 @ 2 pm
Sunday, June 7, 2009 @ 5 pm
Sushi:  A Center for Urban Arts
390 11th Avenue
San Diego, CA  92101

Tickets:  $10
Call:  619-260-1622 or at
www.MalashockDance.org

Students from Michael Mizerany's New Works Workshop rehearse TOTAL ECLIPSE.

Also, the MALASHOCK DANCE SUMMER INTENSIVE begins on Monday, July 6th.  It is looking to be a great workshop.  30 students and professionals from around the country will be converging on Dance Place San Diego to attend class, learn Malashock Dance repertory and participate in the Workshop Performance at the Saville Theatre on Saturday, July 18, 2009.

MALASHOCK SUMMER WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE
July 18, 2009
Saville Theater, Campus of City College
On the corner of C Street and 14th
San Diego, CA

Tickets:  $15
Reservations:  619-260-1622 or
www.MalashockDance.org

If you would like to participate, there are still a few slots left.  Go to www.MalashockDance.org for more information or to sign-up for classes.

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE