Dancer, A Documentary, by Alyssa Tolman

I always really like talking about my talented friends.

Well, get to know this girl: Alyssa Tolman.

Alyssa, I stole this photo off of facebook. Don't be mad.

She is an extremely talented, extremely hilarious lady. Please check out the video below, a mockumentary she wrote, directed, shot, and edited: Dancer, A Documentary.

Tolman is a hottie dancer herself, a fellow graduate student at the University of Utah, so her inside take on the dance world (more specifically, ballet vs. modern) in this tongue-in-cheek mockumentary is well-played, poignant, and, of course, very funny.

Dancer, A Documentary

(starring Jamie Myers as the Modern Dancer and Hannah Bowcutt as the ballerina... watch for my cameo as obnoxious vegan. I'm faaaaaaaaaaaaamous.)

Goodbye, Liz.

My sentiments exactly:

I am a work of fiction. (Photos from my Thesis Piece)

Title:

I am a work of fiction. (2012)

Choreographer: Claire Valene Bagley Hayes

“This piece is one-thousand piece jig saw puzzle.  It is the collection of moments, a mélange of details, a gallimaufry, pastiche, a mixed-bag of people, places, and things that when fit together form the soul/body/breadth of a singular person's reality. This piece is my montage of non-fiction battling fiction, reality vs. fantasy, my circus, my mess, my party.”

Dancers: McKenzie Barkdull, Laura Brick, Christine Crepeau, Laura Gumbrecht, Gretchen Huff, Kylie Lloyd, Samantha Matsukawa
Music: Andrew Bird, Cat Power, Dan Deacon, Edith Piaf, Emily Wells, Jacques Dutronc
Hair and Makeup: Rachel Clark, and Relik Salon
Lighting: Alyssa Tolman
Costumes: My closet. My dancers' closets. Decades, in SLC, a place I wish was my closet.

I would like to thank my splendid dancers for their stories, their timelines, their pieces to this puzzle. They have made my job easy. These ladies will probably take over the world someday. . . they have both the looks and brains. I love each one of them. Dear Committee, thank you for your valuable feedback and support! Is it cliched to say that I couldn't have done it with out you? There. I said it anyways.

I will post a video later/soon/as soon as I get it. I need to thank the most excellent photographer, Alyssa Tolman, of the blog The Happy Pear, for her awesome Dress Rehearsal photo shoot. These photos make me remember the magic all the more. It's hard to shoot a staged modern piece, and I am so very grateful for her glorious artist eye.

I personally feel that “I am a work of fiction.” displays a new height in maturity for myself as a choreographer.  If I could critique my own piece with fairness, which I find hard, as it is my creative baby, I would say that, to me, it was and is a successful and entertaining piece.  Not only does it portray emotional depth, but it carries forward its narrative with aplomb.  It contains a sense of childlike wonderment, while exploring various sensibilities of beauty, femininity, and a touch of darkness brought forth in irony.  Yes, this piece has its imperfections, and yes, not everyone will enjoy watching it half as much as I did.  But to me, I have created something that I can be proud of.

Pep

This was just what I needed this afternoon. Perhaps you've already watched this video... in that case just let the pep wash over you. It's good for the soul and split-ends.

Ice and blue.

Why is the color blue so tired today? The carpet at the Salt Lake International Airport, with its boarding strips of navy and the attempt of cheerfulness with the dots of peacock, seems to me to be the very picture of haggard.  Not all blues are tired, and not all the time. Just today when the color blue seems to leak in through every crack in my head, invading everything with its synonymy to all things dense and headache-y.   My eyelids are heavy forcing my head to stare at scuffed Reeboks, the reflection of light in the linoleum, and the glum worn-out blue that is absolutely everywhere. Even the bookseller’s cheery attempt to ply me with his knowledge of Cinderella stories seemed drawn and strained.

11:40, 2:00, 4:00… “THE SALT LAKE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS CLOSED” due to the ice storm that sent surprised business men and students alike, plus every other early morning traveler, slipping and sliding down their front porches this morning.  I’d like to see the slow motion montage of the compilation of these falls.  There must be grace, there could be romance, inside the minute detailing of these falls… they don’t say “head over heels in love” unsystematically or without some sort of implied sensation.

 The people here drag their convenient roller suitcases behind them with brows furrowed and pale grey faces. The only show of vigor from these living corpses comes when lunging at the long-sought after strip of faux-leather to stake their claim to… which ironically is only marginal in comfort.  Jokes on you, seat poachers.  These chairs, plus the state-of-the-art climate control, heat up your posterior side while keeping your front iceberg freezing.  There, suspended between two worlds, you try to remember what comfort feels like.

"Joseph Pielichaty’s Blue Skies, a collection of sky photos clipped from the travel section. A portable vacation."

After you've gone.

Goal: Cover this song. Make Ella and Fiona proud

Bonnie and Jordan know how to work their angles.

I love this sweet little family. 

Baby E is NOT having any of these shenanigans...

Good thing her daddy knows how to make her smile.