2009 New Year's Eve Flash Mob Tutorial

Come dance along with Atlanta Flashers in Kenny's Alley (Underground Atlanta) at 5pm on Thursday, December 31st, 2009.  That's right -- it's another Flash Mob and we'll be saying goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one during Underground Atlanta's New Year's Eve Peach Drop 2010.  Jump in for the last three song clips from Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson and the Black Eyed Peas and you'll be a Flasher, too!

For all you FCAC Contractors for Services, look real close at this video for our celebrity Flasher.  Also, Happy Flasher Birthday to Susan Asher.  Big thanks to Ophelia, Bubba, Paulina & Dance 101 for giving us the space to rehearse.

You can view an extended version of the NYE Dance Tutorial here.

BCD's Composed named one of the AJC's Top 5 Dance Events in 2009

In his opening remarks for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Top 5 Dance Events of 2009, local arts critic Pierre Ruhe states that "Atlanta’s dance scene is exploding — new talent, new audiences, a new ambition that the city is finally ready to be a national-quality hub for the art form. The recession has hampered expansion of the performing arts, yet dance accelerated in 2009, and this year dance fans came here to see what we’re up to."

We agree. We've got great peers here in town and you can find dance all around you year-round.  There are also a number of producing entities that attract top-tier national companies and a smorgasbord of international companies to perform here in Atlanta. Surrounding colleges and universities offer competitive and exciting  dance programs and attract talented students, instructors and acclaimed professionals as guests. There are solid dance schools here that are preparing the next generation of artists & dancemakers and teaching adults every kind of dance style you can imagine.  Music videos and other commercial reels are filled with talented dancers who work it here in the ATL. Atlanta has an exciting, diverse, elegant and expanding dance community---don't miss out on it!

One way to stay informed is to check out the ATLANTADANCES blog and get connected to the local dance scene.  You can also follow local dance critic Cynthia Bond Perry whose recent critiques have been published on ArtsCririticATL.com and in the AJC and Dance Magazine.

Congratulations to fellow dancers with gloATL, Atlanta Ballet and Come Fly With Me, and choreographers Lauri Stallings, John McFall, Mark Godden and Twyla Tharp for sharing this year-end, Top 5 distinction with us.

Here's to a great 2010 for the entire Atlanta Dance Community!

Critic's Review of Composed

Dance critic Cynthia Bond Perry wrote a review of our most recent performance Composed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the ArtsCriticalATL blog.  Here is a link to that review.

Images from that performance courtesy of Will Day and Eddie Hatchett.

Meet Stephen Loch

Cara, Sally & Stephie do a guest performance this weekend

Well, as if last week's performance at Composed, and the week before that at Volta's Coiled at the Base of Our Spines, wasn't enough work for Cara, Sally & Stephie... they are performing again this weekend as part of Good Moves' production of Until We Dance Again.  Our trio will perform the second movement of 4.3.5 

The young people of Good Moves Consort, Apprentices & Ed Source (and Carolyn & Annette) have put together a thoroughly entertaining show.  You'll see their integration and demonstration of modern dance techniques (Graham, Limón, O'Donnell) coupled with their ballet training (Cecchetti).  They are well versed and solid.  Klimchak makes a special appearance, too.

Performances are Saturday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 22 at 3:00 p.m. at 7 Stages in Little 5 Points (1105 Euclid Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30307).

A Big Thanks

Thanks so much to everyone of you who came to see our performances of Composed this past weekend.  We had a blast and we're so grateful for your support.

We're glad that those of you at the Friday performance got to see the work of Matt & Emily Kent.  Keep your eyes open for them and their company Pickleshoes.  The two of them have been great mentors for those of us coming up through the ranks in the local dance community.

Also, be on the lookout for work by Joe Futral, who designed the lighting for our show.  He is currently lighting things up over at the Horizon Theatre for their holiday shows.  Our Stage Mgr., Lisa Watson, is getting things going over at True Colors Theatre Company for their upcoming production of Black Nativity (the company and this production are recent recipients of a few Suzi Bass Awards). Other members of our production team, T.O. staffers Christopher Kettrey and Jonathan Summers, will tech-out Theatrical Outfit's upcoming production of  Amahl and the Night Visitors.

We hope you'll get a chance to see these shows and that you'll continue to support the performing arts here in the metro area.  You're the reason we're all on the stage!

So much beauty

I just got home from the theater. And I just got butterflies in my tummy writing the word "theater."

Composed is simply beautiful. I have not see the production as you will, I have only seen the separate elements in development and out of context; the lights as they were being gelled and focused, the costumes in bits and pieces, choreography inside dimly lit dance studios, the dancers in their sweats and t-shirts with hair all over the place.

Each piece of the production is just so pretty. Even though I have yet to see all of those elements come together I am taken by how beautiful, how singularly pleasing to the eye each of these elements are by themselves. It's a little bit like walking through the mall as a kid and seeing that candy store coming up, knowing that in just a few moments all that color, sweetness and fun will be everywhere I look. Even the program covers are gorgeous!

I am so excited to see everything become one work. This production is going to blow you away.

And to top off all that loveliness flying around this weekend...

A very special guest appearance is happening on Friday night only. Matt & Emily Kent will be performing a luscious pas de deux. This dance is the one element I have seen as a complete work. It is absolutely breathtaking. I am humbled and honored to have the Kents bring their beauty to our stage.

So much beauty. You don't want to miss this one.

Today is Wednesday so that means...

...you have until 6pm tonight to purchase your advanced sale discounted tickets.

Click Here to Buy Tickets Online

In order to get the advanced-sale price you must purchase your tickets online. Follow the link above and on the Order Summary page, use the drop-down arrow under the Discount Heading to manually select the discount for each ticket. You should see the price and total change. If you do not get the discounted price DO NOT CONTINUE WITH THE ORDER. Please call the Theatrical Outfit/Balzer Theater box office at 678-528-1500 for help during their hours of operation Tuesday-Friday, 12pm - 6pm. (If you call or leave a message, please indicate that you are purchasing tickets for the brooks & company dance production of COMPOSED.)
For Children's tickets and Student/Senior discounted tickets call the Theatrical Outfit Box Office at 678.528.1500

Once your internet order is placed, all sales are final.

brooks & company dance (BCD) is proud to present COMPOSED, an evening of dance that explores the chaos and order that composes the inner psyche and external world.

Friday, November 13, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
A pre-show lecture will begin 45 minutes before each performance.

Theatrical Outfit’s The Balzer Theater at Herren’s
84 Luckie Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303

$25.00 General Admission
$15.00 Student/Senior
Admission is free for children 12 and under.


COMPOSED features two distinctly different views of chaos and order and the effect they have on the human spirit:

Chiaroscuro, which is the interplay of light and shadow, focuses on the inner landscape of the mind. Choreographer and founding member of BCD Kristyn McGeehan examines the moments of darkness in the psyche and the struggle to control the chaos of that internal battle. McGeehan brings those invisible forces that provoke anxiety and depression to life as dancers manipulate one another on stage, unraveling the struggle between the conscious and the subconscious. “The moments of darkness that occur when facing an emotional dilemma have the power to strengthen an individual, which ultimately produces a beautiful lightness in the soul and extends outward into the world”, McGeehan notes.

4.3.5., choreographed by Joanna Brooks, Artistic Director of BCD, explores those external elements of the world that appear chaotic but are actually composed of precise structures and order, often overlooked by the eye. Brooks uses models in nature which are described by deterministic equations and fractal theory to inspire her choreography. “Branching veins, dried mud flats and the surface of the skin create patterns that continue to evolve”, Brooks explains. “I tried to create a choreographic visualization of these mathematical equations to illustrate the order that appears from the seeming chaos in the world”.

We [heart] Flashers

Flash Mob Dance @Atlanta Pride from Will Day on Vimeo.

Thanks for coming out and shakin' your groove thing.  How did you dance in that mud?  You all looked great and we had so much fun.   We'd like to thank Sheffield and the Atlanta PRIDE Committee for all their support and for sharing the meadow with us.  We'd also like to thank Dance 101 for giving us a place to get it all together.  Big props & heartfelt gratitude to our partner in crime -- Bubba Carr.

Most of all -- Thanks to everyone of you who put the Flash into flashmob.

Here are two video clips courtesy of Will Day at willday.net -- the first one is a little pre-show fun and the second is the performance.

Here are some additional links to video clips of the dance from Bubba Carr, WhetWetty, clarkrobertf, jpbpsyched, MWpro44, helenkellercantsee, TeacherBlackwell, hueyproductions

We'll continue to post your videos as we come across them (or please email us a link).  We'll post our official video soon.   WXIA gave coverage about the flashmob during their 10pm newscast and the Southern Voice blog carried this report.

Stay tuned, everyone... we'll do it again!  Want to join us?  Then just drop us a line at info(at)brooksandcompanydance(dot)org


Here we are, ladies and gentlemen from Will Day on Vimeo.

Join Us for COMPOSED!

brooks & company dance (BCD) is proud to present COMPOSED, an evening of dance that explores the chaos and order that composes the inner psyche and external world.

Friday, November 13, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
A pre-show lecture will begin 45 minutes before each performance.

Theatrical Outfit’s The Balzer Theater at Herren’s
84 Luckie Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303

$25.00 General Admission
$15.00 Student/Senior
Admission is free for children 12 and under.

Buy Tickets Online
or through the Theatrical Outfit Box Office (678) 528-1500

COMPOSED features two distinctly different views of chaos and order and the effect they have on the human spirit:

Chiaroscuro, which is the interplay of light and shadow, focuses on the inner landscape of the mind. Choreographer and founding member of BCD Kristyn McGeehan examines the moments of darkness in the psyche and the struggle to control the chaos of that internal battle. McGeehan brings those invisible forces that provoke anxiety and depression to life as dancers manipulate one another on stage, unraveling the struggle between the conscious and the subconscious. “The moments of darkness that occur when facing an emotional dilemma have the power to strengthen an individual, which ultimately produces a beautiful lightness in the soul and extends outward into the world”, McGeehan notes.

4.3.5., choreographed by Joanna Brooks, Artistic Director of BCD, explores those external elements of the world that appear chaotic but are actually composed of precise structures and order, often overlooked by the eye. Brooks uses models in nature which are described by deterministic equations and fractal theory to inspire her choreography. “Branching veins, dried mud flats and the surface of the skin create patterns that continue to evolve”, Brooks explains. “I tried to create a choreographic visualization of these mathematical equations to illustrate the order that appears from the seeming chaos in the world”.

This program is supported in part by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council and by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.

Be There

Happy Meal

We send out a great big Thank You to everyone who joined us at Wahoo! Grill on Monday night.  It was a lot of fun to dine out with you and we hope to do it again soon.  Our servers and the entire staff at Wahoo! made the event very nice.

Dine Out for BCD

Please join us on Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Wahoo! Grill in Decatur for our very first Dine Out for BCD. Come have a great meal and drinks between 5:00-10:00 PM and tell your server you are dining for brooks & company dance. Wahoo! will then donate 10% of your check to BCD. Bar tabs are included too, so this is a great opportunity to invite your friends and coworkers out for happy hour!

Click here for address and a map to Wahoo! Grill.

See you at dinner!

Meet Jena Michele Kovash

The light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to crest...

Kristyn McGeehan and I are almost finished with the choreography for Composed! Her work, titled Chiaroscuro is looking fantastic. I am consistently awed by Kristyn's creativity and vision. In dance it is rare and refreshing to see new movement I have never seen before, and Kristyn never fails to make my jaw drop. Yesterday during Kristyn's rehearsal I saw Jena and Stephen do a complete revolution in a lift, face to face and right-side up, with Jena's legs extended absolutely perpendicular to the ceiling. Try to imagine that.

My new work is titled 4.3.5. I am not telling a story or making a statement; it is simply a dance. The lack of drama does seem a little bit different from my usual M.O. Last night I was talking to my mom on the phone about this piece and she asked if she was going to cry when she sees it. I told her that this ballet is not at all depressing and no one dies so I didn't think she would. I think my mom may even smile, or better yet, laugh!

The six BCD company members have been working harder than ever for Composed, as has our apprentice, Kayte Porter. Since she has been the only understudy, I've thrown Kayte into the run-thrus a few times now and she always receives applause from the company for hitting the choreography.

Five more weeks until curtain. See you there.

Meet Kristyn McGeehan!

Getting to Know the Dancers - Cara O'Grady

From the Eye (and Mouth) of the Director

I have spent the last several weeks thinking hard about what I should write for my very first entry on BCD's new blog. I wanted it to be informative about what the company has been working on, as well as welcoming, insightful and entertaining. Once I got my hands on our newest toy, the fabulous Flip camera (an in-kind donation from the "momarvelous" folks at Momar), it became very clear what my first entry should be... a VLOG!

I hope you enjoy this first behind-the-scenes look at BCD, and please join us on September 27th, 2009 as we unveil the '09-'10 season and our beautiful new images. Enjoy, and be sure to catch us live and in the flesh this season!

Anniversaries to Celebrate with Our Peers

Congrats to all of you. Thanks for blazing the trail for us. We wish you many more successful years!

The Atlanta Ballet: 80th Anniversary
The Georgia Ballet: 50th Anniversary
Several Dancers Core: 30th Anniversary
Ballethnic Dance Company: 20th Anniversary
Giwayen Mata: 15th Anniversary
The Inman Park Dance Festival: 10th Anniversary
Zoetic Dance Ensemble: 10th Anniversary

FCAC Contract Signing

Yesterday was signing day for artists who received Fulton County Arts Council Contracts for Services. Events like this are fun because you get to meet peers from all disciplines and catch up on what they've done over the past year and what they've got planned for the upcoming season. Yesterday was extra special because it marked the 30th anniversary of the FCAC.

Our very first grant was through the Fulton County Arts Council - a time that strangely seems both far away and near. Maybe that's because its not just the grant process that stands out but rather the friendships that were formed with staff members who were genuinely concerned with helping us create a successful grant, folks who want to see artists and the Arts succeed. These are the same staff members who attended our performances or who we see at other performances and events around town. We've had similar experiences with staffers at the Georgia Council for the Arts.

As we get ready to announce our fourth season, we do so with great appreciation to the Fulton County Arts Council, The Georgia Council for the Arts and the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. These organizations currently provide the majority of our funding.

Givin' back a little

Joanna flew over to southeast Georgia this evening to speak on an Arts Leadership panel for the Camden County School System... herself, a graduate from that system. She will now be serving on the Camden County High School Fine Arts Academy Advisory Committee. Still working hard at forging her own career and company, it means a lot that she makes time to engender others from where her interest in the performing arts sprang.

Two years ago, BCD went to Camden County for four performances from our repertory. It was a fun road trip with lots of camaraderie and good beach weather. The performances were great and our energy was high. About 2000 students saw the performances (The Lottery) and they were absolutely riveted to their seats--in all fairness, they were probably motionless because they were pressed into their seats by blasting Stravinsky's Rite of Spring so loud that all of the bass and percussive notes would push the doors open slightly in the back of the huge theater. Ohhhhhh.. That's why they were so quiet??!!! They probably couldn't even breathe!

Joanna's personal connection made these performances particularly special. She hosted a Q&A after each performance and an auditorium full of students envisioned their own companies and talked business(and school work) with her. Students came up to speak with her one on one after the Q&A. One young man, in particular, touched our hearts as he told Joanna how much he longed to dance, and how much he was harassed for it. Educators were happy to see Joanna ten years since her graduation. They expressed a sense of pride that she's manifesting her dream and striving to conduct herself, and her company, in a very professional manner.

Now she is stepping up to the next level of leadership in her hometown and taking a more active role in assuring that others may have the opportunity to manifest their dreams.

Rehearsals Underway

First day of rehearsals during our regularly scheduled times (10-1, TWF) and the company members have already got a few logistical things completed... studio/head shots session was great and the proofs are back in our hands, general agreements are being reviewed, and a new interactive environment was set-up online so company members can share info in real time.

Back in the studio

Company members and choreographers are spending four days together at the Atlanta Ballet Cobb & Buckhead studios doing a dance intensive. Getting a jump on the rehearsal process.