During the last month or so, I’ve been thinking a lot about my family, community and the field of performing arts. I have been contemplating what it is that I need to survive. There are the things that I need to get out of a sticky situation; an embellished earthquake kit, so to speak. Water, flashlight, canned goods, opener, radio, battery, bedding, hat, gloves, socks, hygiene kit and papers. Then there’s the kit that will help to care for my mind; my journal and art supplies. Sounds silly to think that they are crucial tools to my survival but they provide a needed way for me to express myself and to discover and process complex feelings and experiences. Journaling about these feelings and experiences with watercolor, collage and doodling, I make all of my important decisions. I realized it is the same decision-making process that I use when I am choreographing a new dance. Very often I do not know how to proceed, but through the process of journaling, I am able to explore, discover, reflect, alter and find some kernel of clarity. I’ve chosen to live my life through dance and I use this very journaling process to both figure out how I’m going to put a dance together and how I’m going to navigate through my life.
Regarding my artistic process, Beth Hoge (founder of Danspace) says, “I don’t know if you are making an omelette or a table cloth. Just start breaking eggs.” This process of metaphorically breaking open and not knowing is one of the exciting things about the artistic process. Most of us don’t like the stage of “I don’t know.” Beth says, “The space of ‘I don’t know’ is the space of infinite possibilities.” Many of us are in the stage of infinite possibilities right now!
So, I’ve got to get journaling! Missing you all in physical form. See you virtually very soon!
Claudine Naganuma
Danspace, Director
Reflections
We had a great summer dancing with you!
Thank you for dancing with us in weekly classes and in workshops. It made all the difference to be able to see your smiling faces and share movement with you. We had dancers join us from out of state for the first time in this new format – how cool is this new virtual world where we can dance together, wherever you are!
Enjoy this photo of our students in the Virtual Workshop performance. Skirts and hair accessories made by the dancers as part of the workshop.
Summer shout outs!
Erin Landers was a great addition to our faculty this summer!
Thank you, Erin, for joining us all the way from Brooklyn via Zoom this summer to teach Modern in the July Virtual Workshop and Serendipity & Pre-Ballet weekly classes.
Thank you COterie DAnce and Kimberly Valmore!
Our teen dancers in Ballet 4/5 were able to participate in a virtual CODA Performance Intensive, led by Kimberly Valmore and supported by CODA dancers and Danspace staff. Congrats to these students for working hard, working smart and working with CODA and Danspace to create a thoughtful and inspiring dance film. The dancers each did a fantastic job with our virtual setting and pre-production videography.
Due to the COVID pandemic, we adjusted our culminating performance to take place in a virtual setting and in the form of a dance film. Ordinarily, this intensive culminates with the company performance at Holy Names University.
To all of our instructors and staff – what a groundbreaking summer! Thank you for adapting and providing quality dance education and a creative outlet to our students and families. We learned so much this summer and look forward to continuing to share dance with our community.
Children’s and Youth Division
Final call for Fall semester enrollment!
Classes begin September 14, but we need to know if you are enrolling.
How to Register:
1) Review the class schedule
2) Read the Registration and Tuition Information
3) Fill out the Virtual Enrollment Form and mail it in or email it to info@danspace.com.
We will begin the year virtually via Zoom with the hope of transitioning to a Hybrid format late in the fall semester. We are following county updates and CDC guidelines as we consider how to proceed. AT THIS TIME, we plan to start the Fall semester in a virtual format with the possibility of moving to a hybrid format. We are considering many things, including safety for students and staff, supporting those who are not ready to work in the space with in-person contact and the information about a second wave of the virus surfacing in the fall/winter months. We will be in communication with our community as the possibility of hybrid options becomes more possible.
Adult Division
Series 1 of the 2020-2021 year starts Sunday, September 13!
Sign up by Sept 1 to help us determine a headcount. If we do not have enough students confirmed, we will adjust our schedule, so please email us to confirm as soon as possible! See our schedule on our website.
Please note: to help us cover our costs, Danspace has added a 4% convenience fee on all credit card transactions. You are always welcome to mail or drop-off checks in our mailbox if you prefer. Please let us know how you will pay when you register.
From the Community
Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (virtual!)
Aug 14-16, $0-15
The Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) is an annual event produced by Urban Jazz Dance company that consists of performances and workshops that highlight the important contributions that Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) artists make to our community.
Looking Forward
We’re looking forward to starting our new school year on Sunday, September 13 for Adult Division and Monday, September 14 for Children’s and Youth Divisions. Don’t forget to sign up for your classes so we can confirm all our class offerings. Please contact us with any questions and to sign up!
See you over zoom,
The Danspace team
