Grant's Safari

'Grant's Safari' is a multi media movement performance presented by Javanna Productions' M.O.V.E. For Autism (M4A). For the launching of Autism awareness month, Javanna Productions' dancers will use movement to explore the mind of an autistic child. In 2005, Grant Johnson was diagnosed with Autism. Mover Nicole Johnson (19), Choreographer and Creative Director, is using the fascinating elements of her brother's disability to create a one hour hip-hop and contemporary movement piece. Despite his disorder, Grant Johnson (12) has a profound talent for naming and recognizing wild and exotic animals. Therefore, 'Grant's Safari' will be narrated by Grant Johnson himself.

On March 31st the dancers will serve as Grant's safari and he will serve as the audience's guide. The proceeds of this event will be donated to Autism Speaks and QSAC (Quality Services For The Autism Community). President of Autism Speaks, Mark Roithmayr and general manager of QSAC (Quality Services For The Autism Community) Jason B. Schmidt, are proud supporters of these teen dancers and their past socially responsible performances.

Javanna Productions' M.O.V.E. For Autism was established in New York city by choreographer and NYU sophomore Nicole Javanna Johnson. In efforts to raise funds and awareness for her brother's disability, Nicole Johnson produced the first of many M.O.V.E. For Autism Showcases in the Spring of 2009. Since then, the company has raised over $15,000 for larger non-profit organizations such as Autism Speaks and QSAC (Quality Services For The Autism Community).

Nicole Johnson seeks to call attention to the fascinating abilities of autistic individuals and demonstrate that autism is not something to be afraid of, but something to be inspired by. The movement piece is being performed by dancers from Canada, Bolivia, Spain, France and the US. All of these dancers were selected from Broadway Dance Center's Training Program. This international group of dancers are launching Autism Awareness Month in a way unlike any other dance company.

'Grant's Safari' March 31st at 7:00 P.M. Professional Performing Arts School 328 West 48th St New York, NY $20.00 Admission

For more information click HERE!

Dance 4 Oceans

Dance 4 Oceans is an environmental nonprofit group that raises public awareness about one of the most serious environmental issues, plastic pollution in the ocean.

Much like Enforced Arch they utilize dance as a means to spread awareness. They do this by reaching out to different communities or schools and invite them to create programs where the participants learn dances and make recycled crafts. During all the fun activities they also clean local beaches, host educational movie screenings and listen to easy to understand speeches about plastic pollution.

Their programs will inspire and support people to take personal responsibility by keeping our environment safe and healthy. They show people what hidden damages have been done in the ocean from plastic pollution. They educate adults and children how to reduce plastic trash from their residence and community.

Their ultimate goal is to create a leader in each community or school that is dedicated to propelling their programs forward and inspire new leaders to come.

Become a fan of their Facebook page HERE!

Give Me Some Space

I wanted to share these two websites with the Enforced Arch community. They are very helpful when searching for affordable rehearsal space in these two metropolitan cities.

We Are Family

I have grown to understand that having a community is a very important and integral part of a dance. Many of my lifelong friends have come from my past and present dance communities. Olivia Sparkuhl is one of those cherished individuals and she is currently visiting me this week in New York City. Her personality is much like mine in that we seek cozy spaces to indulge ourselves in good company and conversation. Our friendship began in one of these cozy places, on the dance floor in Los Angeles where we both attended Santa Monica College. Although we had our differences, we met them humbly and challenged one anothers' preconceived notions of the world. This helped us evolve artistically, emotionally and physically.

Now that she lives in San Francisco we have found other ways to inspire one another from afar through skype, the telephone or browsing one another's professional work. Although our friendship has changed, the potential to inspire one another has only grown exponentially. Her experiences influence my own and our knowledge of each others dreams and aspirations have helped keep us focused.

It may occasionally seem overwhelming to have someone or some community know you intimately but these raw and genuine relationships will only help propel you to achieve your lifelong goals.

All the images took place at CHAMPS Family Bakery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn where you can get some seriously delicious vegan food. I didn't have a chance to eat any of the goodies but I certainly took some photos to give you an idea of what wonders can be had at this Brooklyn joint.

Photography by James Koroni & Rachael Gentner

Fight for the Future

Tell Congress not to censor the internet NOW! - fightforthefuture.org/pipa

PROTECT-IP is a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and the House and is moving quickly through Congress. It gives the government and corporations the ability to censor the net, in the name of protecting "creativity". The law would let the government or corporations censor entire sites-- they just have to convince a judge that the site is "dedicated to copyright infringement."

The government has already wrongly shut down sites without any recourse to the site owner. Under this bill, sharing a video with anything copyrighted in it, or what sites like Youtube and Twitter do, would be considered illegal behavior according to this bill.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill would cost us $47 million tax dollars a year — that's for a fix that won't work, disrupts the internet, stifles innovation, shuts out diverse voices, and censors the internet. This bill is bad for creativity and does not protect your rights.

A few of the many:

WIKIPEDIA

GOOGLE

CRAIGSLIST

THE DISCERNING BRUTE

Harvard Declares Dairy NOT Healthy

The beautiful image above is of the Candoco Dance Company from their 2002/2003 Season. This piece is entitled Sour Milk and was choreographed by Javier de Frutos.

The Harvard School of Public Health sent a strong message to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and nutrition experts everywhere with the recent release of its “Healthy Eating Plate” food guide.  The university was responding to the USDA’s new MyPlate guide for healthy eating, which replaced the outdated and misguided food pyramid.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/harvard-declares-dairy-not-part-of-healthy-diet.html#ixzz1jMlL1nvP

Moving Men at Dixon Place

Moving Men is a evening of new works curated by Jimmy Burgio. This ongoing dance series at Dixon Place provides an opportunity for choreographers to create new works using only male dancers. The latest evening of works was on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 PM and featured pieces by: James Koroni, Sarita Lou, Julio Penagos and Inaki Baldasare.

Here are a few photos from that evening

Photography by Joshua Katcher of TheDiscerningBrute.com

A Home / A House

Written by Mover, Anneliese Kappey This short film is meant to tell only part of a story. Presented originally as part of Daily Psongs, MixTape Dance’s new show that premiered last fall, A Home/A House gives depth to the story’s main characters and their relationship with one another. In the show you see their first meeting, his dealing with newly found love, her longing for a real relationship, and their coming together. The piece that shows this sweet and loving development between them is called Silence I Can Enjoy (an homage to “Enjoy the Silence”, by Depeche Mode), and is set to Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe.” In the world of Daily Psongs, the minute these characters commit to being in each other’s lives the world around them gets more profound. In the safe arms of young love, they set out to learn a lot about themselves, while inspiring others around them to do the same. Right before this short film is presented, the audience is allowed into the characters’ minds through a piece called A Warning. A Warning enters another world, not that which is inhabited by the characters in Daily Psongs, but rather one that is populated with these characters’ psychological makeup. The audience is cued into what’s to come, while the two main characters involved in this romantic relationship seem surprised, but ready. As the man in this love affair lies on the floor in a trance, the woman leaves. What happened and how we got here is explained in the short film. What you see in this film is Silence I Can Enjoy, this time set to a different song. The audience is meant to recognize the movement, to know that they have seen this previously. These images exist in the man’s memory, and while the film is being shown on the screen his character is woken up onstage to confusion and memories of togetherness. The second half of this short film, when she takes a walk to clear her mind, is presented onscreen only. Some viewers feel this short is beautiful, but very sad. The story doesn’t end there though! When performed live, Daily Psongs tells the whole story. This short film was a first time large-scale collaboration between David Orr and I. Without his knowledge on how films are made, and his ability to tell me “no” whenever needed, this movie would not exist. Enjoy!

Short dance film by: Anneliese Kappey and David Orr With: Danilo Barbieri and Lara Jean

Double Shadow

Moving Men at Dixon PlaceTuesday, January 10th @ 7:30 PM

Double Shadow, by creative director and choreographer James Koroni and contributing choreographer Tracey Katof, is a commentary on the separation of masculinity and compassion. The masculine character in mainstream culture is a brute, the bread winner and of course, emotionless. These stereotypes are limiting and oppressive. Double Shadow presents the masculine character, exposes it's struggles to survive with unrealistic expectations and offers viewers an opportunity to witness individuals who aren't afraid to be seen as compassionate or sensitive.

DOUBLE SHADOW IS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE James Koroni will instead present works created by the Enforced Arch community.

Moving Men is a evening of new works curated by Jimmy Burgio. This ongoing dance series at Dixon Place provides an opportunity for choreographers to create new works using only male dancers.

Join Jimmy Burgio Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 PM to see brand new works choreographed by: James Koroni, Sarita Lou, Julio Penagos, Inaki Baldasare, and MORE!

Dixon Place 161A Chrystie Street between Rivington and Delancey New York, NY 10002 F to 2ND AVE, B/D to GRAND, J/Z to BOWERY, 6 to SPRING, M to ESSEX

To purchase tickets online click HERE!

Double Shadow Photography By Joshua Katcher of TheDiscerningBrute.com Dancers from right to left: Bud Burdick, Julio Penagos, Pierce Buttons Cady-Penny, Ali Pacino, James Koroni

Friends of Enforced Arch

I couldn't be more pleased to say that this has been a huge success for our community! We have demonstrated our ability to pull together for a common goal. Our success represents how much compassion is needed, movements are needed and Enforced Arch community is needed! We have inspired 738 people to vote for our community of compassionate 'Movers' making us the 2nd Best Dance Blog of 2011! Thank you Dance Advantage for hosting this contest and to it's creator Nichelle Strzepek for all the great work she does for the Dance community!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support, love & devotion. We will continue to inspire change in 2012 for those in need. Happy New Year!

Best,

James Koroni Creator, Enforced Arch EnforcedArch@gmail.com

TREMENDOUS!

Enforced Arch made the FINALS! We need your help. It only takes 10 seconds to vote and it's just ONE CLICK. Visit the link, scroll down, select Enforced Arch and click vote. Thank you! VOTE HERE!

MOVEATHON in Washington Square Park

Mover, Nicole Johnson is an extraordinary individual! This past weekend she organized a successful MOVETHON that had more than 20 dancers in participation and an audience of more than 200 passersby, not to mention the additional viewers that tuned in online! What a spectacular experience!

This event was no ordinary event, their efforts create awareness and raise funds in support of rural Cambodia. If you haven’t heard of her organization, Javanna Productions, it is a student driven non-profit organization which presents a yearly effort entitled M.O.V.E (Motivation Opportunity Vision Entertainment).  In this effort, preteens, teenagers and young adults are encouraged to be productive, creative and develop a stronger sense of community within their neighborhoods while raising funds for a cause. This year’s effort is titled M.O.V.E for Cambodia. They are working with the Bernie Krisher Rural School Project Foundation to build a school in Cambodia. This project is inspired by Sheryl WuDunn’s and Nicholas Kristof’s novel “Half The Sky”, a moving novel about women turning oppression into opportunity.  The accounts and stories of young people described in this book inspired this team of M.O.V.E. representatives to get a move on.

Check out their M.O.V.E. For Cambodia page & make a donation HERE!

Special thanks to the Broadway Dance Center ISVP & Training Program Leadership!

Please, Don't Touch LIVE

'Please, Don't Touch,' depicts the unfortunate lives of animals caught up in the skin trade. With this performance piece we become a voice for the voiceless and tell their story. 'Please, Don't Touch' focuses energy on a topic that sits at the intersection of social justice, ecology and design. Our ultimate goal is to to become effective conduits for empathy and creative tools for change. Through the use of live performance, transmedia and personal interaction, this project will impact the heavily guarded perceptions of fur iconography by shedding light on what isn't revealed behind the glitz and glamor.

Kelley Donovan & Dancers & Enforced Arch

This past weekend 'Mover' James Koroni was invited to be the guest choreographer in Kelley Donovan's monthly company performance entitled Kelley Donovan & Dancers. Viewers had the pleasure of seeing Tracey Katof, James Koroni and Jessica Chou perform Please, Don't Touch and a new work by choreographer Kelley Donovan entitled Fractured Realm. I admire Kelley Donovan & Dancers because they carry such respect for one another and their hospitality and warmth was extended to the Enforced Arch community making this experience such a pleasure to have had! We look forward to working with them again in the future. Take a look at some moments we captured from that evening:

Please, Don’t Touch: James Koroni, Jessica Chou, Tracey Katof

Kelley Donovan & Dancers: Amy Larson, Chizuru Tanaka, Jaclyn Fauci, Bud Burdick, Grace Lerner, Jordan Gehley, Kristen Klein, Sylvana Tapia, Christina Chelette, Justina Gaddy, Maya Kite, Caroline Carbo, Caroline Yost

Photography by Joshua Katcher of TheDiscerningBrute.com.

Please, Don't Touch at 3rd Ward Art Gallery

Enforced Arch's Anti-Fur performance piece, Please, Don't Touch, was featured in 3rd Ward's Semi-Annual Art Gallery Showcase. ‘Please, Don’t Touch’ focuses energy on a topic that sits at the intersection of social justice, ecology and design. It's ultimate goal is to to become an effective conduit for empathy and a creative tool for change. Through the use of live performance, transmedia and personal interaction, this project will impact the heavily guarded perceptions of fur iconography by shedding light on what isn’t revealed behind the glitz and glamor. Here are a few pictures from that evening:

MOVEATHON

Mover, Nicole Johnson is holding a MOVEATHON this weekend in support of rural Cambodia. If you haven't heard of her organization, Javanna Productions, it is a student driven non-profit organization which presents a yearly effort entitled M.O.V.E (Motivation Opportunity Vision Entertainment).  In this effort, preteens, teenagers and young adults are encouraged to be productive, creative and develop a stronger sense of community within their neighborhoods while raising funds for a cause. This year's effort is titled M.O.V.E for Cambodia. They are working with the Bernie Krisher Rural School Project Foundation to build a school in Cambodia. This project is inspired by Sheryl WuDunn's and Nicholas Kristof's novel "Half The Sky", a moving novel about women turning oppression into opportunity.  The accounts and stories of young people described in this book inspired this team of M.O.V.E. representatives to get a move on. Help them as they begin to use their craft to create opportunities for children all over the world. By donating to Javanna Productions M.O.V.E. for Cambodia, you will contribute to making a difference in someone's life , in your own life, in your community, in your city, in your state, in this nation, and in this world. They hold at least one event a month; spoken word nights, musical theater comedy sketches, open mic nights, choreography showcases, visual art galleries, parties, classes, workshops, etc.  In order to get on the road to Cambodia and reach their ultimate goal of $20,000, they need financial support to rent studios, theaters, event spaces and meet their technical support and transportation needs.

This  year's effort requires the members to learn about East Asian culture post regime. With that knowledge, they are encouraged to use their craft to raise funds for the school in Cambodia and awareness for the cause. The members are sympathetic, reverent, understanding young citizens of a global community and continue to gain a greater awareness and respect of the world with each artistic experience. In addition to donating to the school abroad, you are donating to the empowerment of a large community of artistic kids in New York City.  Any donation, big or small is greatly appreciated. Their generation can make a difference in the way we give back to our communities on both a global and national scale, but they need your help in doing so.

Check out their M.O.V.E. For Cambodia page & make a donation HERE!

Kelley Donovan & Dancers

Please join Enforced Arch this Saturday evening as 'Mover' James Koroni presents 'Please, Don't Touch' as a guest choreographer in Kelley Donovan & Dancers. At this performance you will also have the pleasure of seeing Kelley Donovans' latest work in progress 'Fractured Realm!'

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Please, Don't Touch: James Koroni, Jessica Chou, Tracey Katof

Kelley Donovan & Dancers: Amy Larson, Chizuru Tanaka, Jaclyn Fauci, Bud Burdick, Grace Lerner, Jordan Gehley, Kristen Klein, Sylvana Tapia, Christina Chelette, Justina Gaddy, Maya Kite, Caroline Carbo, Caroline Yost

Top 20 Dance Blogs of 2011 - Vote Here!

Here's how you can support us! THE (DANCE) STEPS ARE EASY: 1. VOTE BY leaving a Comment ONCE ON THIS POST. That's it... but it's very important!

*This is how they measure the finalists. The 20 blogs with the most comments move to the final round.

2. Comments must include the reason why you love Enforced Arch.

EXAMPLE: Mention your favorite post, dance piece or environmental/social issue we stand for.

Enforced Arch is pleased to participate in this years Top Dance Blogs of 2011 hosted by Nichelle Strzepek of Dance Advantage. Winning this competition will get our community recognized as an influential blog in the dance world and inspire others to join our growing community of compassionate 'Movers!'

This is only the first round of voting, measured by the amount of comments we receive, which ends Tuesday, December 20th.  Once this has finished the top 20 blogs will be entered as finalists in the TOP DANCE BLOGS of 2011 which will be held from December 27 – 30. I'll keep you posted on our progress as everything develops!

Thank you for all your love and support! Now comment away.

Best,

James Koroni Creative Director & Choreographer www.EnforcedArch.com

A Blind Industry

Leila Henry and I had a conversation on Facebook today that we felt could help other dancers in our professional field. Feel free to participate in the conversation below in the comment section:

LEILA HENRY: I have to keep reminding myself to follow my OWN path, because I keep letting my hands come off the wheel. At the same time, I'm going into this industry so blindly that it becomes difficult to trust that I'm on the right path. All I see is dirt and gravel for miles and miles as I inch forward, unsure of where I'm headed. I think its time I ask for some guidance.

JAMES KORONI: Set long term goals. Once you have that see what short term ones must happen to get you there. Then if you stray from the path, you won't feel concerned because in the back of your mind you know where you're at. Take the occasional detour. It's good to give yourself that flexibility. I hope this helps.

HENRY: Yes it does help! Thanks, James. Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever made it clear to myself what it is specifically that I want. I know I want to choreograph, but I don't know exactly where I see myself in the next few years. I've been starting to work on little independent things here and there, and submitting choreo for different shows, but I don't know what the next step is, or who to ask about it. I'm just lost lol.

KORONI: I understand feeling lost but know it's not a permanent state. Try researching choreographers in the styles you enjoy expressing yourself through and be inspired by their stories. See what propelled them. It's easy to become overwhelmed by the over saturated dance industry as a whole. Then decide what you did or didn't like about them. That's the way this world works. One generation to another is either an evolution or a rebellion of the past.

Leila isn't the only dancer experiencing the results of an over saturated dance industry. Are you experiencing stress through your process? Tell us and well make it a community topic and discuss it publicly. Please leave a comment below.

100 Years

Things do change! Enforced Arch looks forward to inspiring change in the next 100 years.