'Pina Bausch' -esque smile

Thought you might like to see the smile that the New York Times felt was worth a mention!

New York Times Review of 60x60

Thank you to those of you who came to support us at 60x60 Dance at the World Financial Center Winter Garden, New York on Friday. Despite my initial fear around presenting this piece, Alicia and I both enjoyed the experience, we received some great feedback from other choreographers, and met some lovely people.

Yesterday's New York Times had something to say about us too.

(or copy & paste this...)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/arts/dance/18wint.html?_r=1

Next NYC performance

The next performance from the expandance family is coming up!

As part of 60x60

14th November 2008
World Financial Center Winter Garden stage
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm & 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Free admission


We are part of an hour long performance which will be shown twice on the 14th November which brings together 60 composers and 60 choreographers.

"Short attention sp..."
will be danced by Alicia Walshe
and choreographed by Rachel Wynne

For more info see these:

http://www.worldfinancialcenter.com/ae/default_new.asp?id=24
http://www.voxnovus.com/60x60/60x60_Dance.htm

Photos from Greenspace

A few photos from the dress rehearsal of our as yet untitled piece performed at Greenspace Studios last week. Thanks to those of you who gave us such wonderful, and constructive feedback on the night. We both thouroughly enjoyed this one!

Showing tomorrow in New York

expandance in New York!

We will be performing the beginnings of a new work this weekend and would love the support and feedback of our New York friends.

This piece is in some ways a continuation of themes touched on with Trio with Invisible Third, and looks at the difference in energies in Dublin and New York. We are using music from Coirn na hEireann, a tone from an ancient Irish horn made in the 1st Century BC.

Choreographed and performed by Rachel Wynne and Alicia Christofi-Walshe
As part of Greenspace's Fertile Ground Series

Sunday September 21st 7pm
Cost: $1O (free wine afterward)

Greenspace is located in Long Island City, Queens at 37-24 24th St, a short walk from the R and 7 trains. Check out www.greenspacestudio.org for directions.

Magic Moment - a big Thank You!

An expandance Magic Moment

as part of Dublin Fringe Festival 2008

Thank you to all of you who participated so enthusiastically in our Magic Moment outside La Clique on the 8th September. We created 60 seconds of pure FUN, dancing to Rock Lobster by the b52s, and then returning instantly to our drinks and chat once the minute was up, as if nothing had happened.

Thanks, from Rachel and Laurie, to you all...

Monika Bieniek, Caroline Smith, Johanna Harmala, Tuna Yoney, Briege Byrne, Tom Moore, Tracey O'Brien, Petra Hjortsberg, Carina Fitzpatrick, Aifric Casey, Alan Burns, Natasha Czopor, Tracy Hanna, Kirsty Boniface for your spontaneous help, and Declan Mulligan for filming...

Alas, our Magic Moment is destined to be forever just that - a moment. Our tape was recorded over accidentally this week. We apologise that you won't see this one - but don't worry, we'll do more in the future :)

Trio - the Dublin photos

Photos on the night were by Viktor
www.viktorsphotography.com

Trio with Invisible Third - Thank you!

Thank you to all of you who came to see us perform at Project Brand New. Thank you also for your written feedback - here is just some of what you wrote...



"Loved your piece. Found it very emotional and I don't really know why. Particularly powerful when you stopped and watched your invisible third."


"I don't usually get dance pieces...Actually, I have never understood a dance piece before in my life. But I really connected with the emotion in your piece and it was the first piece of dance I ever saw that I could coherently follow. I loved it. Do more. And let me know when you do."


"What can I say girls...listen to these words and listen good...I have never been so moved by a performance in my whole life, it is the first time EVER I have felt real light, energy, spirit and vulnerability fill a theatre! PROFOUND!"


"Wonderful! Such joy in your movement. I felt the magic of having someone in New York dance for us, with you!"

Pictures from the performance will be up soon...

Upcoming Performances - July 08

Dublin

Rachel & Laurie are currently creating a new piece for Project Brand New 2.

'Trio with Invisible Third' comments upon the remarkably tangible synergy we've developed as dancers and as friends, and explores whether this can translate when physically we're thousands of miles apart. Rachel and Laurie dance simultaneously with Alicia; two dancers in Dublin and one in New York City.

Thanks to Dance Ireland and The Lab for supporting this work!

Saturday 26th July 2008 @ 8pm
Project Arts Centre, 39 East Sussex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Info / Booking: (+353 1) 881 9613/14
Tickets just a fiver

New York

Alicia presents an excerpt of 'This is What She Sees...', originally performed in Dublin in March 2008 as a duet, reworked for Dance New Amsterdam's "Works In Progress" series as a solo.

Saturday 12th July 2008 @ 5.30pm
Dance New Amsterdam, 280 Broadway, (Entrance on Chambers), New York
Info (+ 1) 212 625 8369
Suggested donation 10 dollars

www.dnadance.org

Dancing with Tanz Atelier Wien

I (Rachel) recently had the opportunity to dance with Sebastian Prantyl's 'Tanz Atelier Wien' in two outdoor performances on the streets of Vienna.

When I first met Sebastian a few months ago, we talked for over an hour about choreography; where we both feel it's headed in Europe, what needs to change in attitudes to dance-making and funding in our respective countries, what we feel is working (and not working) in Ireland and Austria in terms of professional dance training, practice, space, and support. It was a discussion I won't forget for a long time, mostly because of one important issue.

For some reason, I felt I could be completely open with how I approach dance making at this time. Often, I skirt around what I feel are the 'important bits' - the fact that as well as a profession, dance is a spiritual path for me now. That I'm realising on a deeper level that I'm not the one choreographing, but rather, once I'm out of my own way, my Divine Self flows through and creates work. (This is a concept older than time, but one which has been relegated to 'hippydom' in the last few decades within the art world at large - we're not dancing the rainbow here! - but that's another article altogether).

The reason I won't forget that first meeting with Sebastian is that when I told him about how I consider the spirit to be just as important as the body, as physicality, as aesthetics, as theatre, he completely agreed. When I discuss my work in Ireland, I'm now quite used to being met with blank stares, barely concealed judgment, or with a slightly patronising smile. This was the first time I'd met a choreographer who was not only agreeing with me but passionately so.

Working with his company last month I learned new methodology and approaches to improvisation, both as a tool for creation of choreography and as a method of performance, and other ways of approaching work in the studio. Refreshingly, it all felt complementary to the expandance way of working: playful, present in each moment, grounded, centered, and expansive. Thanks Sebastian, thank you dancers of Tanz Atelier Wien!

http://www.tanzatelierwien.at/DORFPLATZ.neubauen.htm

"This is what she sees" / The Window Project

"This is what she sees" (formerly "The Window Project") was premiered as part of Project Brand New in The Project Theatre, Dublin, on 22nd March 08. Described as a piece that 'blew away the cobwebs' by one of the festival's directors, and as a 'breath of fresh air' by audience members, expanDance are planning on bringing this piece to New York in the autumn.

"This is what she sees" was choreographed by Alicia Walshe
Dance - Alicia Walshe and Laurie Schneider
Props - Fred Walshe
Sound effects / soundscape provided by the wee ones: Henry Walshe and Hunter Lily Schneider

Photos courtesy of Julie Locket / Genesis Project Dublin, from a studio rehearsal of the piece.

The Window Project

Laurie and Alicia are currently in rehearsal with The Window Project.

* * * Choreographed and performed by Alicia Walshe and Laurie Schneider, The Window Project will be danced by two dancers and a wooden window frame. The frame will move up and down; it will spin and fall. It will determine what the audience sees and doesn’t see and possibly reveal what they’re not meant to see. Questions may arise - will the view the audience sees change their personal views? Will they notice the view at all? The world is framed they are framed. Will you have a look? * * *

expandance is premiering The Window Project at Project Arts Centre’s, Project Brand New, March 19th, 20th and 21st.

Project Arts Centre
39 East Sussex Street
Temple Bar
Dublin 2

info / booking (+353 1) 881 9613/14

January 2008

Happy January!

The expandance family are working on individual projects over the coming few months, as well as meeting regularly (both in physical and virtual form!) to brainstorm and plan forthcoming performances for summer and autumn.

Laurie is working with Rionach Ni Neill in an upcoming project to be performed later in spring in Project Theatre. Watch this space for upcoming info.

Alicia is happily getting acquainted with motherhood, and continuing with expandance admin and funding applications for spring / summer.

Rachel has moved to Vienna for approximately 6 months to check out the dance and theatre scene there, and, more importantly, sample Austrian food.