Emotions Dance Audition

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On February 26th, Larissa Humiston, the Artistic Director of Emotions Dance, held an open audition for dancers at Turning Pointe Dance Studio (470 E Lake Brantley Dr. Longwood, FL).

Emotions Dance was seeking professional level dancers (age 18 and over) to audition for their 2013 season. the dance company requires strong technical dancers willing to take artistic risks.

The audition began with all the dancers at the ballet barre.  Emotions Dance cast participated in all the exercises along with the ten or so dancers who were auditioning. Several male dancers were auditioning as well. Larissa stood at the front of the room demonstrating the exercises she wanted everyone to do. The ballet barres were moved aside and then small groups of dancers did progressions across the floor with turns and jumps, a contemporary dance combination, and improvisational movement inspired by “Apologies” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. One of the male dancers asked what the song was about. Larissa explained that the female singer was apologizing for a messy break up. The dancer wanted to know if he should be expressing the emotions of the female singer or the guy she was breaking up with. The hurt and fear is universal.

Dancers came prepared with a professional resume and head shot. There was a $10 audition fee to cover insurance and processing fees. One dancer had not renewed her contract which meant another dancer had to learn her routine in a mad rush before a performance a week away. Emotions Dance had three spots open for females, three spots open for males, and one apprentice (between ages 12-18) spot available. I was still working on my sketch as the cast and Larissa discussed the performances by the dancers that auditioned. The bar is set high and not every dancer has that expressive spark that is hard to define but is instantly recognized when the magic is there.

Upcoming Emotions Dance performances include…

April 6, 2013 – HATCH Series in NYC

May 7, 2013 – Relay for Life Event

May 15-28, 2013 – Orlando Fringe

June 1 & 8, 2013 – Element Earth

Blur

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I went to the final run through rehearsal for Emotions Dance performance of Blur at Turning Pointe Dance Studio (470 E Lake Brantley Drive, Longwood, FL). Rehearsal started at 9PM so I had time to eat dinner with Terry at home before I left. The dance company’s founder was on a conference call to California when I arrived and she told the dancers they had five minutes to warm up before starting to dance “full out”.

Using contemporary dance, Blur examines social networking, consumerism, the corporate world and reality television and asks “Are we really connected to one another”? Energetic, heartfelt and also playful choreography came together to look at our habits in today’s hectic world! Things are not always black and white. My favorite dance number involved all the dancers moving in a grid like pattern on the stage as they tapped out text messages. The driving techno music by Draft Punk Techno Logic set the fast paced beat to messages sent with little heart. “Buy it, use it, break it, fix it, trash it, change it, melt – upgrade it, charge it, pawn it, zoom it, press it, snap it, work it, quick – erase it, write it, get it, paste it, save it, load it, check it, quick – rewrite it, plug it, play it, burn it, rip it, drag and drop it, zip – unzip it, lock it, fill it, curl it, find it, view it, code it, jam – unlock it, surf it, scroll it, pose it, click it, cross it, crack it, twitch – update it, name it, rate it, tune it, print it, scan it, send it, fax – rename it, touch it, bring it, pay it, watch it, turn it, leave it, stop – format it.” I love the lyrics! They seem to document my mad struggle to keep up with a digital world.

Tonight, Saturday September 15th, is the last performance so get to the Orlando Repertory Theatre Blackbox (1001 E Princeton St, Orlando) by 8PM. Buy it, charge it, rip it, then prepare for some truly thought provoking dance! There is an opening act by Turning Pointe Elite. Go!

Emotions Dance

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Emotions Dance performed at the Fringe outdoor stage. I waited at The Daily City tent until they arrived. I finally saw a dancer stretching her legs using the temporary containment fencing as a ballet barre. Larissa Humiston, the dance companies founder gave the dancers a quick pep talk, and then it was time for the show. Larissa explained to the audience that the first dance piece was about a failed relationship. Amanda Miller and Courtney Coad were the dancers. As always the modern dance  was beautifully choreographed and full of emotion. I sketched Cortney when she turned her back to her partner and Amanda lay prostrate in desolation. I ended up sketching Amanda a second time as she stood gripping a curtain prior to another dance routine.

As I was finishing up my sketch, Amanda Miller and Jovan Davis asked to see what I was working on. Jovan seemed to be a real fan of my work. He bubbled with excitement. Terry joined in and said jokingly to the couple, “Back away from the artist.” She steered the conversation for a few minutes till I considered the sketch done. Amanda then explained to me that she became over heated during one of the dance routines. By now Larissa had joined the conversation and she said to Amanda, “Yea, I saw that look on your face.” Even with a few dry heaves, the show went on. No one in the audience, including myself, had any idea. The Emotions Dancers always perform “all out”.

Larissa has begun to organize dance workshops with world renowned dancers at Turning Point dance studios. This dance company continues to astound me.