Tour Blog

View Photos of Scheherazade

A few images from the Company's recent trip and work in France
Photos Franck Thibault






A few images from Alonzo's recent trip and work in Monte Carlo
Photos Franck Thibault

Wednesday, June 17, 2010 - Caroline Rocher

After spending 12 hours up in the air, we finally arrived at Seoul airport. Right of the plane we were greeted by a huge billboard of Pierce Brosnan, aka agent 007, inviting us to go play at the Paradise Casino! How funny! As we waited for our luggage, I looked around and I didn’t have the feeling I was in Asia. Everything was so westernized; it was all about huge screen televisions filled with colorful commercials! If it wasn’t for the Korean inscriptions I felt like I could have been standing at Vegas airport. Anyway, we didn’t reach our final destination yet. Once we got our entire luggage, we met the organizers of the dance festival and drove three more hours to the city of Daejeon.

My first introduction with Korean tradition was when I used the hotel spa right after we checked in. There is nothing like relaxing in the steam room after a very long trip. As I walked in, I noticed that all the women were fully naked! I had brought my bathing suit, but I decided not to wear it: I didn’t want to be finger pointed (it had already happened in the past! Where? At a German spa in Hamburg where my girlfriend and I got screamed out because we got in the hot tub wearing our bathing suits!). However, I could sense that everyone was staring at me, since I was the only non-Korean woman in the spa! But a lady smiled at me and, as she engaged in conversation with her limited English, she confided in me that not so many western women use the spa! I have to say that it was quite different from what I‘ve experienced so far. Several women were smearing their bodies with some sort of home made ointment, while others, squatted on a low stool, were scrubbing their skins for hours. I’ve never seen so much exfoliating action but I think I have discovered the secret to beautiful skin! And by the time I left the spa I felt fully regenerated!

The next day was off, so I decided to do a bit of exploration. I took Paulo and we went to the Arboretum. I thought it would be nice to see some nature. But it was about 10 in the morning, and already so hot outside! Plus, despite the beautiful tree and flower arrangements, the garden did not have much shade! As we walked back, we had a little chat with a gentleman who was taking pictures of the plants. His name was Fred, he came from South Africa and has been living in South Korea for eight years, teaching English to kids. Fred was very friendly. He even gave us a ride to the Donghaksa Temple, one of the most popular sights of the city. After thanking our driver, Paulo and I took a walk in the Gyeryongsan National park, in which the Temple was built. It was so peaceful and much cooler out there! The temple, held by female monks had a very complex architecture. I enjoyed looking at the different designs painted on the roofs. We took the bus back in the city and had a very interesting lunch in one of the local restaurants! I was warned that Korean food was quite spicy, and although I have a Caribbean background, I can’t handle spicy food very well. I like a little bit of spice, but not too much! Nevertheless, I felt quite adventurous and ordered Kimchi-a Korean specialty made of spicy pickled cabbage. But I couldn’t eat it and my mouth was on fire! At least I tried! Once I got back to the hotel, I rested on the bed to take a short nap, but because of the jetlag, woke up at two in the morning!

Thursday, June 10th was a rehearsal day. I’ve been dealing with an ankle injury since the beginning of April, and despite a three-week break, I was not fully recovered. Therefore, I was not doing all the parts I was usually dancing in the pieces, which was quite disappointing. And dancing in pain was even more frustrating. I know that ankle injuries take a long time to recover, but I have neither the time nor the patience for it. Anyway, after rehearsal, Laurel, Drew and I went to relax at the hotel spa. This time, since we knew what to expect, it was less overwhelming. Then, craving western food, we joined Brett, Keelan and Ricky for dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Friday was the day of our first show. Performance days are always exhausting because we rehearse all day and then we get to perform in the evening! The stage here in Daejeon was huge! It’s always nice to perform in big spaces! The Korean audience seemed to have liked the show, they sounded very cheerful! But I was looking forward to go back to my room to rest and, most importantly to ice my swollen ankle. Still affected by the jetlag, I woke up at four am, just in time to view the France-Uruguay soccer game on Korean TV. Honestly, it was quite stressful to watch! The French team had so many opportunities to score but couldn’t manage! I wanted to stay hopeful though “Allez les Bleus!”

Then, since it was six am, I headed to the gym and had one last run at the spa before the departure to the next city. Indeed, after breakfast, the company left for Uijeongbu, a suburban town situated northeast of Seoul. On our way there, we stopped to visit the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul. It was quite entertaining to learn about the country’s different traditions and how they evolved throughout the centuries. The museum was filled with very animated school kids. Some were hitting each other with their umbrellas, like it was some kind of game. One girl scared me when she rushed toward me like an enraged bull. I thought she was about to hit me too. But she smiled and asked in her shy English where I came from. I laughed, relieved that I wouldn’t get my butt kicked by an 8 year old!

We pursued the visit at the Gyeongbok-Gung Palace, situated right next to the Museum. The site was gorgeous; too bad it was raining. By the time we finished sightseeing, we were all soaking wet! We finally reached the hotel and I went to dinner with Paulo, Michael and Ricky. Paulo noticed a German restaurant on our way so we decided to try it out. The place was quite big, and everybody was looking forward to watching the South Korea/Greece soccer game. It was such a fun atmosphere. One of the customers seated at the table next to us, offered us some beer and gave me his bandana to wear! He even taught us the slogan of the Korean team –“ti amingo tara ta ta ta” - that the whole restaurant sang with us! Then everybody became ecstatic, when at the 7th minute of the game the South Korean team scored the first goal. They ended up winning to Greece 2-0! Bravo South Korea! I finished the day soaking in the bathtub. I just love midnight baths!

The next day was off so Laurel, Brett and I decided to take the subway to Seoul to go shopping. We walked along Insadong, a pedestrian street filled with traditional shops. Laurel bought tea, and as she was proudly showing me her purchase, she noticed it was infested with flying insects! All grossed out she returned the “bug tea” to its merchant! However, a little while later, we got a chance to buy green tea at a beautiful Tea House where the sale person kindly invited us to taste the tea. Delicious! We ended up having dinner at a local restaurant. Laurel and I had barbecue ribs and a rice/vegetable bowl called Bibimbab, while Brett had spicy pork dish. Best Korean meal ever so far!

On our way back to Uijeongbu, a couple was fighting in the subway, and that was very dramatic. We couldn’t understand what they were saying to each other but it seemed that the woman had a little bit too much to drink; she kept throwing her shoes and handbag at her husband, while he was desperately trying to calm her down!

On Monday, we had rehearsal at the Seoul Cyber University. The campus was still under construction, and the building, where we worked, was brand new; it had great facilities, especially the studio in which we rehearsed.

Yesterday was our last day in South Korea, and also Paulo’s last performance with the company. We always get a bit emotional each time a dancer leaves because we are such a small group spending lots of time with each other (especially on tour) that it feels like we are family. Again, the performance was successful and afterward, the director of the festival invited us to a dinner reception. Arturo had also brought cake and champagne for Paulo. But the real fun started when one of the translators from the festival, Guru, and his friends took us out. We first had drinks at a bar, and then went to a Karaoke place. It was so much fun! I’m really not an expert at Karaoke but it felt kind of liberating to scream into a microphone! Everyone went a little bit crazy, but I will always remember Ricky’s rapping performance accompanied by Drew’s x-rated dance! I went back to the hotel around three in the morning, just in time to see Brazil score two goals against Japan!

But today is it is time to say goodbye to South Korea. It was such a wonderful experience. I was blown away by the Korean hospitality and by how kind and patient the people are despite the language barrier. I truly felt under the charm of the country and its people.

(thank you)
-Caroline

Thursday, June 10, 2010 - Michael Montgomery

To think that my first time overseas is traveling to Korea is so mind-boggling! I am having a blast thus far. We arrived to Korea on the June 8th and got a day off the following day. On my day off I decided to go on a daytime journey by foot: just walking around the city for about five hours total. Daejeon is a truly beautiful area, I found myself in the middle of all that I thought Korea would be; along side some surprises on the way. This culture is so rich with peaceful serenity; it is contagious, in a good way. I had the privilege to talk to two older men that said they have lived here their whole lives; they explained that a lot has changed since they were children. They then said “change is true test of life,” evolution is proof that we are living and keeping true to our destination of constant transmogrify; even in another country I am learning that enlightenment is everywhere. I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to so many beautiful places with a company that I love and have a large amount of respect for. Though I cannot say where exactly I wandered to, I will say that there was never a moment that I wished I was back at the hotel. My language defeats me out here, and I love it. It is funny how though I do not always understand what people are saying (and never understand the signs along the way) I trust in the concept of a smile. A smile is universal and has the power to spark any and every form of conversation, whether it’s small talk due to my lack of speaking the language or just because people are busy with their days. I am constantly learning new things about life, the world, and myself. I walked along the Gap-cheon (river) when going on my journey and was amazed at all the gardens and buildings around the city. It looks so different from San Francisco, as well as my hometown Long Beach: as it should. As my language does defeat me, I have taken many pictures to share with you in replacement. Consider them as your invitation to join me on my day of wandering. I look forward to my stay out here and hope you enjoy the pictures.

- Michael J. Montgomery



Monday, March 15, 2010 - Laurel Keen

Well I must admit that I am not writing under the best of conditions because I seem to have acquired a lovely little French stomach flu. Don't worry, it sounds much more glamorous than it is. So, due to my slightly altered state, I think I will keep this rather brief. The last city of Valenciennes was unfortunately a bit of a blur for me personally, but I was so grateful to my amazing fellow dancers, who filled in during my absence from the show. Thank you all so very much! Before Valenciennes there was Chateauroux, which luckily I do remember. We performed at the wonderful and very modern Equinox Theater. After performing on many postage stamp stages this tour (still beautiful in their own ways), it was such a treat to have space to move around. It also happened to be Keelan's birthday, so the whole company went out to a French/Moroccan restaurant to celebrate after the show. I won't give away any names, but let's just say by the end of the night the table had turned into a series of musical instruments and there was some French rap taking place. When in France!

Hope you are all springing forward in wonderful ways!

-Laurel

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - Alonzo King



When the company performed in Boston I had lunch with Howard Zinn. We spoke for several hours about his life, the civil rights movement, politics, and art.

He was easy to laugh and easy to cry. I don’t remember experiencing an adult so alive. We talked about doing a project together. It was a shock to find out that he left his body a week after meeting him.

It was an unforgettable experience and for me an important exchange.

- Alonzo King

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - Ashley Jackson



We are on the second part of the Winter/Spring tour. For the past two weeks we traveled to multiple cities in Italy that include: Cremona, Legnano, Rimini, Cesena, Terni, and Spoleto. All of the cities had their own unique way of showing us their appreciation. During this time I also had the privilege of taking a Dance History course through the LEAP Program at St. Mary’s College of California. I truly appreciate studying about the people who greatly impacted the dance world. It is incredible to think I may be dancing on some of the same stages that they might have performed on.

Yesterday, on our day off, we took the opportunity to stay in Rome. During this time I went to go see the Vatican for the first time and was amazed by the centuries of design and artwork that went into the creating process. The architecture alone is beautiful. The statues are carved with great detail and precision. The paintings can be seen on the walls and ceilings with each one telling its’ own story. The dedication that went into creating such masterpieces is evident all around. There are not enough words to describe St. Peter’s Basilica, so pictures will have to suffice for now. The next stop is France…stay tuned!

-Ashley Jackson

Friday, February 26, 2010 - Paulo Arrais

Hello everyone,

We just arrived in Spoleto, Italy after a three-and-a-half hour bus drive from Cesena. I heard from the other dancers that Spoleto is such a cute city and the food here is great. Looking forward to that...I am a BIIIIIIG fan of Italian food!

The theater for our first performance in Cremona was beautiful but the highlight goes to the theater in Cesena. We all went into the boxes on the 3rd floor balcony while the Italian crew changed the floor from Schererazade to Dust and Light in tech rehearsal. We took some funny pictures up there. As I said the theaters are amazing but it has been such a big challenge to perform on raked stages. However, we are doing well and enjoying ourselves in the shows.

I am so happy that Drew Jacoby joined us for this European tour. She and I had the ultimate Italian experience while we were in Rimini, the second stop on our Italian tour. We took a 20-minute bus ride to another small town called St. Angelo to see an osteopath, after which we decided to shop since the windows were calling our names. We realized then that 13:30 was the "siesta" time and the shops would re-open at 15:30 so Drew and I decided to find a place to eat and wait for those 2 long hours. We walked, walked and walked a little more looking for an open restaurant and we found a cute place. We went in without any high expectations and we were so surprised by the meal we ate.

IT WAS DELICIOUS! We also had some really dry red wine from this area of Italy. YUMMY!!! After having some great food we left for some shoe shopping. We both bought some really cute summer shoes plus some fierce "Kit Kit Kat" high heels for Mademoiselle Jacoby.

We ended up going back to our Hotel in Rimini at 8 pm. It was such a beautiful day full of surprises. We just lived in the moment and went with the flow. Drew and I got the chance to connect as friends, which is really cool.

Keep tuned for some crazy, funny, emotional blog entries :)
Beijos xxxx
Paulo

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - David Harvey

These midwestern folks sure know how to make us feel welcome. The crowd at Grinnell College in Iowa was extremely gracious at curtain call, and Saturday night in Madison we had one of the most enthusiastic audiences of the season so far. Thank you, Wisconsin. I'm sure a big part of the cheering section was family, since we have a few natives from this part of the country. Whitmores, Websters and Keens, oh my. I was lucky enough to get to enjoy some of Meredith's family on our day off. Once landing in Wisconsin on Thursday, Meredith rented a car and six of us piled in and made our way to Cedar Grove, where we were met by Barron, the best dog ever, a crackling fire, and lasagna. We soaked in the jacuzzi surrounded by all of the winter charm of Lake Michigan and the passing deer. But the highlight? Fred's Brandy Alexanders, my new favorite. Round one completed. Four APAP showings in New York, performance in the Bronx, then Pittsburgh, Boston, followed by a residency at Duke, a quick stop in Iowa, and finally, Madison. We've made it through fairly unscathed, and are all eager to soak up San Francisco for our one week before the big departure. Six weeks in Europe! By the end of it I think I'll have seen more cities of France than of the US, but details on that coming soon. Stay tuned!

Saturday, January 30, 2010 - Laurel Keen

As we made our way back to the hotel from the theater last night in Durham, NC, the snow was beginning to fall. The Duke campus looked quite magical with a dusting of white. Earlier in the day I had been watching the news and they were predicting a "Winter Stormwatch". As a Minnesotan I had to laugh at the fact that this so-called winter storm watch included a snow accumulation of only 1/2". During our ride home we passed several cars that had pulled over with their hazards on. Meredith, who was driving, passed them with the true confidence of Wisconsinite. As Midwesterners, I have to say, we were quite amused. However, when I awoke this morning and parted the curtains to reveal our courtyard filled with a good 8" of snow, I have to admit I was humbled. I will let North Carolina have its "Storm Watch" this time.

One of the most memorable experiences for me this week would actually have to be the night we arrived in Raleigh-Durham. After a delay at the Boston airport and surviving a very rough landing due to extreme winds, we finally made it to the Duke Towers (our accommodations) around 2 am. Regardless of the time, the very sweet on-call shuttle driver Rashard offered to take 10 very hungry dancers along with Arturo and Chris on a late night grocery run. It was surreal to have a large fluorescent-lit store all to ourselves and to be roaming the aisles like zombies at three in the morning. I passed Corey in Dairy; he was singing along to the faint pop music playing over the speakers and dancing deliriously by himself. Caroline, my roommate for the week, and I debated over which balsamic vinegar to buy for longer than we should have, due to our fatigue. We finally settled on the least expensive one, despite the fact that it only came in "spray form". I remember thinking, I bet they don't have this in France. Then like California moths to their flame, we all ended up in the teeny-tiny organic section, happily scouring the shelves for familiar brands. It is amazing how the smallest comforts can matter most when you're away from home.

Being on a college campus these past few days has been wonderful. Since it is something that I never experienced, I always enjoy the energy of a bustling school. Walking among the students, I like to imagine just for a moment what it would be like. In fact, I will actually be going back to school this March at St. Mary's College through the LEAP program (the same program that Caroline, Keelan and Ashley are involved in). It will be a challenge to balance studying with dancing but I feel up for it and excited to explore some of my other interests.

It was so wonderful to have Jason Moran back with us for these performances at Duke. We used a CD the last few times we performed "Refractions", so it was a real treat to have live music again. It makes the biggest difference to have that live energy with us onstage. We gain the freedom to luxuriate certain movements or speed others up and know that the musicians will follow our lead. Earlier in the week we had the opportunity to see Jason, along with his wife, Alicia, perform at Duke at the Nelson Music Room. It was a very intimate space and I felt lucky to be witness to such beautiful musicians and kind people. It is rare to see a couple work together with such ease and humility. Their dynamic is inspiring to be around. After meeting Jason and Alicia earlier this fall when we worked together at Yerba Buena, they feel like family now.

I have to comment on how wonderful the staff at Duke has been to us this week! Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and accommodating and that is not always the case. Above all else, they have kept us really well fed and as some of you know that makes us unbelievably happy.

Happy Winter!

-Laurel

Monday, January 25, 2010 - Ricardo Zayas

The company unanimously agrees that Boston is home to the world’s greatest bakery: South End Buttery. Multiple trips to the venue were in order. I munched on a sweet potato blondie, a butterscotch scone, AND a “Harriet”- the most delectable carrot cupcake topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting. (I just drooled on my keyboard a little bit.)

The performances at the Institute of Contemporary Art weren’t too shabby either. What locals call the ICA, is an architectural beauty located right on the water with beautiful panoramic views of the BAH-stin HAH-buh. The audiences were incredibly gracious even though I tweaked a few steps to accommodate an aggravated hip.

On the brighter side, being somewhat injured gave me an opportunity to go a little deeper. I couldn’t worry so much about the technical mechanics of the body, so I began to consider new pathways, motivations, and energies.

On the darker side, we went directly from our last matinee to the airport to make our delayed flight.

Getting back to a happier note, this gave the dancers time to meet at the airport bar to watch the Saints/Vikings game. Somebody once told me beer relaxes the muscles. Well, that beer wore off toward the last half hour of our turbulent flight. Deep, heavy breaths managed to ease both my muscles and nerves until landing in North Carolina.

We arrived at the hotel around 1:30am and turned right back around to make a 2am Kroger-run to stock up on comfort foods (Special shout out to Rishard, the Duke Towers & Condominiums’ greeter/chauffer/security guard). David and I satisfied our late night munchies while watching a truly fascinating episode of Planet Earth before passing out around 4am. It was a long day.

Bright and early at 9am, I got a call from Rosie, a physical therapist here at Duke’s Sports Medicine center. After she took Alonzo’s master class, she dug her elbow in my psoas and made it burn a deep burn. My hip has opened up quite a bit since. We’re going to reconvene for a second round of PT later.

From what the medical journals are saying these days, retail therapy also helps, so Arturo and I drove to the mall. Snazzy new sneakers to cushion my limp: only $19.99!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - Caroline Rocher

We arrived in snowy Boston yesterday, the third city on the tour after New York and Pittsburgh. I had a great time in the Big Apple. Aside from the shows, I could also catch up with friends in my favorite NY spots. When I heard about the catastrophe in Haiti I immediately thought about the earthquake that devastated the island of Martinique a couple of years ago. I remember fearing for my family and praying that they were okay. My dad explained to me that they went through very difficult times following the seism—he and the rest of the family were without electricity and running water for weeks. Fortunately, the French government (Martinique, although situated in the Caribbean is a part of France) offered strong help. But the following year, when I came back to visit, I could still see traces of the seism, not to mention the psychological scar the disaster left on the population. So I am very compassionate to the victims of Haiti, and also amazed at how fast everybody came together and offered assistance. The Obama organization seems to be on top of things (very different from the Hurricane Katrina fiasco) and, while watching Larry King Live yesterday night I found it quite comforting to see so many celebrities and influential personalities doing the impossible to help the Haitian population. So many groups are conducting fundraising events, which is really awesome. And although donating couple of bucks doesn’t seem like much, if every individual is contributing, it does add up pretty fast, doesn’t it?

Every time a tragedy of this scale happens, it makes me realize how fragile life is, and thus I should enjoy every minute, even if I am isolated from my loved ones—et oui sometimes it is hard to be on tour for weeks and live out of a suitcase! I have to say I am very thankful to be on the road with my dance mates; there are really great people to be with (I know it’s only the beginning of the tour and I might be thinking differently on March 27th!) But so far, so good. Boston is a lovely city. I walked through a charming neighborhood of typical red brick houses yesterday evening with Brett, Corey, Keelan and Laurel, and it felt like being in London. We had dinner at Franklin Café and my sautéed skate tasted delicious!

This morning, I woke up and called my Grandma to cheer her up, she’s in the hospital and I really hope she is going to be fine. She was so cute; when I told her I was calling from Boston she wanted to hang up right away because she was worried that the phone call would be too expensive! I did some more walking around the city, I had a mani-pedi, then went back to the hotel where I had room service in front of the TV! Laurel and I love to watch TV while on tour, especially “Law and Order”, but tonight “The Office” was on and we were literally cracking up, it is one of the best shows ever! Et voilà! That’s all for today! Now I’m going to bed because I have rehearsal all day tomorrow! Bisous et bonne nuit ;-)
-Caroline

Thursday, January 14, 2010 - Brett Conway

We are back on the road again. Just after four days of rehearsal in San Francisco, after our holiday break we flew to New York to start off our four-week domestic tour. While in New York we performed at Lehman College in the Bronx and had four showcases at City Center for the APAP conference. It was all a little shocking to my body but I managed to work it out. On my time off I a had a great time visiting my friends, went to the Museum or Art and Design, saw the show Fuerza Bruta, ate good food, and just enjoyed being in New York.
-Brett

Saturday, December 19, 2009 - Alonzo KingAlonzo King with HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover and Jean-Christophe Maillot, Artistic Director of Les Ballets Monte Carlo
Photo: Julie Lemberger

An intense week overseas with 'Scheherazade'

Les Ballets Russes' 20-year blaze across Europe spawned masterpieces, caused riots and set the future for Western theatrical dance. The modus operandi for this groundbreaking company was collaboration, and to that end Impresario Serge Diaghilev engaged the brightest luminaries redirecting 20th century art.

Artists around the globe are paying obeisance through tributes, treatises, exhibits and reconstructions as 2009 marks the centenary of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Artistic Director Jean-Christophe Maillot of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo has created the Monaco Dance Forum Festival's Centennial Celebration of the Ballets Russes, an homage to the original Ballets Russes by engineering an ambitious, three-phase, 12-month festival that involves collaborations with artists in dance, film, theater and writing.

Lines Ballet is invited to participate in all three phases. The first part occurred last week when we inaugurated the festival with a commissioned premiere of "Scheherazade" to packed audiences in Monaco's vast Grimaldi Forum. An armada of artists has been steadily working on this production for nine months, with visual production directed by Robert Rosenwasser and a score created by tabla master Zakir Hussain.

Symbols of 'Scheherazade'

Maillot came to see Lines Ballet last year while we were performing at France's Montpellier Festival. When he extended the invitation, Maillot decided that we would both engage in a choreographic conversation about Rimsky-Korsakov's magnificent score.

Maillot is also constructing his own interpretation of Scheherazade that will premiere in Monaco Dec. 26. When I accepted the commission my choreographic focus was not the details of the Arabian Nights narrative, but the symbolic meaning of Scheherazade. The folk memory is a sacred art in which the wisdom of a time gone by is preserved for future generations. What has been preserved in great literature, folklore and fairy tales are esoteric doctrines.

Abstractions are symbols and referents for something that words are powerless to describe. These take time to intuit, because intellect alone doesn't suffice. In dance, there is also meaning over and above what would be thought of as just dancing. When you mention "Scheherazade," people often conjure an eroticized "orientalism" with a Cecil B. DeMille cast of thousands, including eunuchs, harems and decapitations. Very little is known, or even spoken of, regarding Scheherazade herself. My main interest was Scheherazade as woman and symbol. Research informed me about the long-held abuse and oppression that occurs to this day of women and girls across the globe. It was mind-boggling.

A global endeavor

March 2010 marks the second phase of this international festival. Ten artistic directors will convene in Monaco to work with 85 dancers brought from schools around the globe. After participating in workshops, classes and performances, each director is invited to choose a dancer to apprentice with their home company for a full year.

In the event we all want the same people, the students will make the choice. In July, I return to Monaco for the third phase of the festival, where I will premiere a collaboration with 2009 National Book Award winner Colum McCann, author of "Let the Great World Spin." Reflecting the collaborative effort of Jean Cocteau, Maillot has engaged the production to be built on his own 50-member company.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - Ann Marie Nemanich

Opening Night in Monte Carlo -

After watching the company work tirelessly over the past three days in Monaco to bring to life Alonzo's vision of Scheherazade, I was as anxious as anyone to see what would unfold before us on the Monte Carlo stage. This premiere was especially challenging. There are certain challenges one expects when premiering a new work.  And certain challenges one expects premiering a new work on the road, in a foreign country with a foreign language.  In this case in particular we were dealt one more challenge -- we were given only one and one half days in the theatre prior to the opening to do the work that generally takes us three days. Smooshing 72 hours into 36 is pretty Herculean in my opinion, especially when working with a French speaking crew. So I can imagine I wasn't the only one walking to the theatre a little anxious that evening.

As I entered the lobby of the theatre I immediately ran into one of our French agents -- stopping to say my hellos he introduced me to one of the Grimaldi Forum theatre personnel. She couldn't wait to inform me that ticket sales were doing extremely well, in fact with such a large theatre they rarely sell out, but as of that afternoon they were 90% sold with brisk sales continuing throughout the day.  She seemed exceptionally pleased.

As I walked into the theatre I joined several of our San Francisco supporters, Amy and Harry Schoening, Cheryl Polk and Denise Bradley. They had all traveled to Monte Carlo to be on hand for this special occasion.  

Taking our seats, the curtain was delayed for several minutes as the crowd continued to stream in and special guests arrived.  The theatre seats 1200 in the main orchestra section and a special box for the royal family.

Finally at 8:40 the curtain rose to Dust and Light, Alonzo's work that premiered at Yerba Buena Theatre in Spring 2008. It was a flawless performance, except for one small detail -- the sound engineer opened with the wrong track of music. On stage performing was a lone Caroline, but she didn't flinch, she continued dancing as if this was exactly what she was expecting. No one but the LINES Company noticed the music mix-up; the audience was already riveted to the performance.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Dust and Light again after so long, but to be honest I couldn't wait to see the work we had been striving to bring to the stage for over a year -- Scheherazade.

And finally it began. This was one of the most elaborate pieces LINES has put together with regards to lighting, sets, music and costumes, not to mention the movement that Alonzo is commanding from his dancers. With so many months of anticipating and working towards this moment I couldn't wonder if my expectations might be too high. Although I saw bits and pieces during the creation process, not until the curtain rises on opening night do you see the final work of art.

The work didn't disappoint.

The audience cheered. Those that know Alonzo's work described it as capturing the essence and story of the original Scheherazade yet being truly Alonzo.

As always the dancers gave their all, the pas with Laurel and Brett left the audience breathless, the finale was exhilarating and the sets were so rich they transported me to another world.  Robert's visual creativity continues to impress.

Following a standing ovation we were invited to the Opening Night reception given by Jean-Christophe Maillot, the artistic director of the Ballet Monte Carlo. The who's who of the Monte Carlo ballet along with presenters from around Europe were on hand to congratulate. When the dancers made their appearance at the reception the party once more stood and applauded. A night of pure celebration.

More details to follow with the upcoming blogs, for now it is well past 2:00 am and tomorrow we begin again -- minus any anxieties.

Monday, December 7, 2009 - Corey Scott-Gilbert

Oh, how I have missed pain au raisins, gaufres au miel, Voltaren and "1664" bieres. It feels good to be back on tour in Europe and is more than an honor to open the Monaco Dance Forum 2009. Everyone that we have encountered thus far is so excited that we are here. We had our first tech of Scheherazade in the theatre tonight and though it was mainly for spacing, one could feel the anxiety of everyone building as we get closer to the premiere on Wednesday, December 9.

This tour feels a bit different because we have such an entourage with us. It seems anyone that had anything to do with the new production is here in Monte-Carlo to see the outcome. It is awesome. The company has so many cheerleaders. Laurel Keen's father is here and is so excited. He took company class with us today. It is clear where Laurel gets her sincerity from. I must state that our costume designer, Colleen Quen, is the cutest and proudest cheerleader so far. She is ecstatic to be on tour with us and in complete disbelief that we do this for a living. Her astonishment makes me smile every time I see her even in the morning (and I am NOT a morning person.) Speaking of morning, the jet-lag monster is no where to be found, but I should speak for myself because "Clear Eyes" would have been helpful for quite a few of the staff members at rehearsal tonight. Somehow I am managing to sleep even with Brett Conway's hibernation snore. 

On the shuttle ride home back from the theater today, as we passed the infamous Monte-Carlo casino, Laurel whispered in amazement "Look at the trees...", and when I looked up from my iPhone, I noticed the sparkling Christmas lights that decked every tree in sight. At that moment I thought to myself "I love my job...". We are so lucky to share what we do with so many. Although I am still nursing a sprained ankle, I am really looking forward to the Wednesday night premiere (and reception). Everyone seems equally excited and Alonzo seems to be in a state of clarity. The more I look at the new piece, the more it seems that he has created roles for each dancer in the ballet that we make come to life by simply being true to ourselves. That is what makes this company so real and honest. It is amazing to be a part of such an honest creation. Big bisou from Monte- Carlo! 

Corey-

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - Paulo Arrais

So we arrived in Monaco. We all had a safe trip through NYC and then to Nice. I have to say that it went pretty fast. I slept all the way through San Francisco-New York and almost all the way from New York to Nice. I was luckily not tired!

I love this part of France (Cote D'Azur)... While we were landing in Nice the view we had from the plane was amazing. The weather was nice even being middle winter. Arriving at the hotel some of us (me, Ricky, Keelan, David and Arturo) waited for a long time to get our rooms ready... A bit of a mission but the breakfast that they held for us paid it off ;-) he he he.

I was not too jetlagged, which was good. So, hopefully tomorrow we will have a great start at the Theater (Forum Grimalde) which is amazing by the way! I heard the stage is big... exciting, exciting!

I am soooo happy to be in this beautiful place. This is my first tour with the company (not a bad start huh??? MONTE-CARLO). Nothing better then being on tour to get to know all the dancers a bit better, since I just joined them a month ago.

I just want wish all my colleagues a huge "MERDE" for the premier... You guys all look amazing! Thanks for the inspiration and let's hit La Cote D'Azur with our Art and Passion!

Hugs,
Paulo

Saturday, December 5, 2009 - Meredith Webster

It is 6:34 am, and my kitchen is still completely dark. In a few minutes I'll head to the airport, and I think I have everything I'll need for the flight and the trip, minus the biggest bottle of water I can find, which I'll buy once I pass security. This will be our first tour of the 09/10 season, and we're starting with a commissioned world premier in Monte Carlo for the centenary Diaghilev festival!

Since our last blog entries, a few things have happened. Among them: Laurel became a Mrs., Corey won the Princess Grace Award, Jason Moran honored us with his humility in home season, 5 months of struggling with visas finally brought us Paulo, the newest addition to the company, we shared the opera house stage with Dr. Maya Angelou and community pillar Cecil Williams, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival confirmed our performances there in August '10, Keelan, Ashley, and Caroline completed another semester of their undergraduate classes through LEAP, and we've been hard at work at creating Scheherezade.

We are all honored and excited to be a part of this festival, and personally I feel lucky to have a job at all with the current state of the world. This is only the beginning of another intensely busy year for Lines, my fifth season. The beginning of each year has felt completely different, but right now the company seems tuned with bows ready at the string, waiting for the downbeat. The outline of Sutro Tower is now visible from my window, the sun is starting to come up. Without taking that for granted, I'll pack up my things and go. Au revoir, see you in Monaco!

June 10, 2009 (Rouen, France)

Dancers & Alonzo

 

June 7, 2009 (Jerusalem, Israel) - Alonzo King

Around the world there are numerous nuclear sites of spiritual energy. I’ve been to many in India, Africa, the Americas, and throughout Europe. They are places where seminal figures solved the riddle of life's enigma and achieved transcendence through trial and struggle to set examples for all humanity. Often these atomic sites have been magnetized by the devotional spiritual energies of indigenous peoples for millennia, long before they were the stages for spiritual giants to enact the drama of their lives.

Jerusalem is the third most sacred place in Islam. It is where the prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven. It is where Christ spent the last days of his life and where the Last Supper, Crucifixion and Resurrection took place. It is for Jewish people the Holy City, the Biblical Zion, City of David, and the site of Solomon’s Temple.

Jerusalem has been claimed, captured, recaptured, reclaimed, destroyed, rebuilt and destroyed again so often throughout history that if it were time lapsed photography from the beginning it would dissolve and evolve like musical waves. Underneath the drone of marketplace and swoosh of city life, the history of warfare past and current, there is the ever present vibration of centuries of worship and devotion, that mark this city as unique in the world. Abraham’s progeny are handsome and congenial, quick to assist, and warm in conversation. We had three enthusiastically received performances, visits to Bethlehem, Dead Sea, Mt. Moriah, City of David, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Asqa Mosque, River Jordan, and the Sea of Galilee.

The dancers were brilliant. It is the close of an amazing touring season. Unending thanks to Robert Rosenwasser for the untold machinations to make it all happen.


The mosaic floor in the Church of the Nativity in Jerusalem






River Jordan Church of the Nativity

Mother of Perpetual Help, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

June 5, 2009 (Jerusalem, Israel) - Robert Rosenwasser

June 3, 2009 (Tel Aviv, Israel) - Ricardo Zayas

I must admit, the start of our stay in Tel Aviv didn’t seem promising after the mysterious disappearance of my wallet. I spent all night (and who knows how many international roaming-charged phone calls) trying to see if somebody could locate it between the airports in Milan and Tel Aviv. No luck.

I pouted for a little bit and got over it when I remembered that I had some friends in les Grand Ballet Canadienes, another visiting dance company as part of the same festival, and Batsheva, a modern dance company based here in Tel Aviv. After a few more calls, I met the gang of old buddies at a near by watering hole and caught up on missed time.

After rehearsal today, it was still light and sunny out, so I hit up the beach with Caroline. We laughed for a bit at how our features seem to blend in with the Israeli people- strangers talking to us in Hebrew, asking for directions, etc.- and with perfect timing, a photographer comes over to us and begins to chat us up. I politely interrupt and ask him if he speaks English. He tells us that he’s from a popular fashion website here, loves our “look” and our swimsuits and that he’d like us to model for him. Insert impromptu beach photo shoot here.

After we swim for a bit, we bump into the lifeguards that befriended Caroline and Ashley the day before. They insist that we come up to the lookout station for a snack. I won’t dare make an attempt to pronounce or spell phonetically what the name of the dish, but imagine huevos rancheros made Israeli style. Yummy. The sun is setting, and the lifeguards’ duties are done for the day. Caroline and I trek back to the hotel where there’s a black out. Grrr. I hope my bad luck streak isn’t rearing its ugly head again before we head to Jerusalem.

May 31, 2009 (Trezzo, Italy) - Meredith Webster

This is not a movie set. This is Italy!

We are done with two shows and two programs in two days in Trezzo Sull’Adda now, and we are still standing, even without our shepherd Selby Poppins! The town is beautiful, and tiny. The river that runs through it and past our theater is silky and swift, and the ruins of the medieval castle are stoic and sentinel.

Medieval ruins of the "castello" at Trezzo

There have been a few challenges here to deal with. First of all, the jet-lag monster (see Corey’s March 8th entry). Also, our theater was beautiful- situated right on the edge of the Adda, with tons of cyclists, crew boats, and some swans to keep us company on breaks. However, the stage was a temporary structure built inside of the hydroelectric plant, so the technical capabilities were minimal. We’re used to that. But for some reason, the theme here was “flexible”- the stage itself had quite a lot of motion to it. If you were sitting or standing on the stage, any movement by someone else on the stage moved the floor below you, kinda like trying to dance on a trampoline that someone else is jumping on. Once you were moving too it didn’t seem quite as bad, but the light booms in the wings were shaking around like a 8.0 earthquake, so I am gonna go ahead and blame my lack of being “on my leg” on that. The barres we warmed up with were also completely flexible in the middle, so it was quite obvious when we were using them for help because they would bow down like a rubber band. The “walls” in our dressing rooms were quite flexible as well, seeing as how they were tents erected right outside the building. The lighting was less than ideal for putting on makeup, and the girls were a little worried we’d go onstage looking like drag queens.

All of these issues pale in comparison though, to my real problems with this place. 1) There is a gelato shop outside the hotel, and EVERY flavor looks good. How is a girl supposed to decide? It doesn’t help when the first one you try (yogurt amarena- black cherry swirls in a slightly sour yogurt-flavored gelato) is the best gelato you’ve ever had. Now you have the compounded problem of whether to change the next time, and then if you DO decide to change, how could you possibly know which one to choose? They have everything from watermelon to lavender to cinnamon to your standard nocciola. This is how I learn my food words in Italian-go to the gelato shop and try one you don’t know to find out what the word means. 2) Fig trees grow like weeds in Italy, and apparently especially here in Trezzo, where they line the alleys and riverbanks. This is by far my biggest problem because fresh figs are perhaps my favorite food. FREE fresh figs right off the tree are definitely my favorite food. But ALL off the fig trees are here to tease me, since they are all loaded with figs, but there is not a ripe one anywhere to be found. We always seem to come to Italy at exactly this time of year when the trees are laden with puffy, but still hard, figs, and picking one before it’s ripe is a bit of a sacrilege and quite disappointing. So I am frustrated, and will still be the first one in line for fresh, not-free figs when the time is right in California.

A fig tree, just growing like a weed, out of an abandoned garage. Grrrr...

Somehow, despite all these issues I seem to be able to enjoy myself in Italy. This could have something to do with the friendly people and welcoming language, the fresh, beautiful food, cheap wine, excited audiences, or the bicycle ride I took along the sun-spotted riverside path on our day off. Who knows how I handle it. Tomorrow we go to Israel! My first time, as I think it is for everyone. Hopefully Israel won’t be so problematic. :)

Trezzo Theater

May 31, 2009 (Trezzo, Italy) - Brett Conway

This week we are back in Trezzo, Italy. I was here with the company three years ago so its been very familiar being back here.  The gelato place behind the hotel is just as good as I remembered. Yogurt amarena is the flavor!!!!! The venue where we perform is an old hydro electrical plant along a canal and river which runs through the city and three others in this region.  On our day off Meredith, Corey and I rented bikes to ride along the canal which was really beautiful. 

Photo: Alonzo King


Photo: Alonzo King

Tomorrow we head to Israel, which I think everyone is particularly excited about.  I have never been, so it will be exciting to venture into a new part of the world.  First, we will stop in Tel Aviv for a few days and then we will go to Jerusalem to perform. I'm looking forward to being in a new culture and visiting such a historical place. 

A river runs through it (Trezzo, Italy)

Photo: Alonzo King

May 27, 2009 (San Francisco to Trezzo, Italy) - Keelan Whitmore

I grow increasingly ravenous (yes, more so than usual!) and slightly narcaleptic when I'm on a plane, but I'm not sure if I'll be sleeping on this flight--there's too much excitement in the air. We're currently on our way to Italy (via Salt Lake and Paris); Caroline was comically--though I'm sure she didn't think so-- rescued from a moth by one of the flight attendants, the Amazonians (Corey and Meredith) are playing with each other's faces, and we're all giggling at David's sleepy head nods that grow funnier and funnier as his head becomes more and more pendulous! (did we have a late night?) I'm looking forward to this tour!

I'm excited beyond words about Isreal--I cannot believe we get the opportunity to perform and also have a few days to take in the history of the two very different cities--Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I'm really hoping we get a chance to take a "gaga" class with Batsheva company- they really caught my intrigue the last time they were in the bay area, not to mention we will get to see one of Corey's good friends with whom we traveled to Guatemala last August.

The fun doesn't stop there--this summer I will be teaching for Layla in the Summer Intensive. For the first session I will teach "Signs and Wonders" to a few of the repertory classes and will also choreograph for the showcase for the second session. It would be great to stumble upon some good music while in Israel...

I really enjoy teaching--I had a blast teaching the audition class in New York and traveling after the Joyce season with Layla, Alonzo, Kara A., and Maurya to San Clemente for the Discovery Project where I ran into one of my first ballet teachers (who was crazy enough to take Alnozo's class). All she could say between catching her breath and holding back the tears was...you're so fortunate. I couldn't agree with her more. Happy Birthday to my lil bro Xavier who's now 15!

Pre-tour Rehearsals, San Francisco

Photos by Alan Kimara Dixon

May 25, 2009 (San Francisco) - David Harvey

We've spent a week in the studio. First time since mid-February and it feels amazing. The opportunity to take advantage of our space, our floor, our barres is so comforting after all the glamorous jet-setting. Our leopard print chaise, our lockers and mailboxes, and a special shout to our class accompanists for the reviving, live music (Lucy holds a special place in my heart). It's great to be home, with the chance to become reinvigorated before heading out again.

The company home is based on the 3rd floor, but one of my personal Oddfellows perks is wandering up the stairs to see what's going on higher up in the building. I've spent quite a bit of time this week at SF Gyrotonic on the 4th floor with Laura, lengthening and strengthening, giving my body the attention and recupe time it needs. Climbing up even higher to the 5th floor, I get to relive some of my past life as a student at Lines. On most rehearsal breaks I love to see what the BFA and LBTP students are up to. A good source of my daily inspiration comes from witnessing the energy and thoughtfulness of those dancers. Bonne chance to all of you moving on as the school year comes to a close. We only have a short time left in the season ourselves. I'm chomping at the bit to get to Israel, and feeling blessed to get to experience a part of the world so steeped in history, conflict and religious significance. I get to go share my art in one of the oldest cities in the world! Coolest job ever.

Rehearsal Photos by: Alan Kimara Dixon

May 20, 2009 (San Francisco) - Corey Scott-Gilbert

Neti pots might be one of the best inventions ever created for cold and flu. I have been sick for just about all of my "dance free" week and yesterday I had to take a sick day on our first day back to rehearsal. Without a neti pot I think I might only be breathing through my mouth instead of my mouth and the left nostril (the right one is still clogged). Anyhow, I did not let this virus keep me down. I spent an entire vacation week on the island of Manhattan. Though I did it for four years while attending college, I forgot how incredibly selfish that little island is. It is full of so much incredibly fun and interesting people to meet, food to devour, places to explore and the best kinds of trouble imaginable. It is beyond amazing. I felt like New York was a giant cookie and I was the cookie monster because I went crazy on her. This is probably why I am sick. Now that I have adapted to the west side of the nation after living here for almost two years now, the blood runs a bit slower through my veins. New York was overwhelming and I almost killed myself with fun. 

The best thing about New York was my mother. She always tries to make it when the company tours the east coast. She has a habit of showing up backstage with big smiles, a new hairdo and lots of lollipops. I love her for that alone but there is always so much more. She took me to see "Bodies: The Exhibition" at Southstreet Seaports while in New York. Here one can observe the human body, preserved and skinned with organs all exposed for your viewing pleasure. Even though the exhibits look a lot like beef jerky, it is one of the most incredible things I have never seen. I learned so much in 1 hour and 45 minutes. WOW! I also saw a show called "Fuerza Bruta" from Brazil at the Daryl Roth Theatre in Union Square. OMG, it is life changing. It is almost as good as my discovery of the neti pot.

Today, rehearsal was rough, just because I have to get into the swing of things again but I am so looking forward to our next tour. The company will be heading to Trezzo, Italy in a week. I hear we'll perform in an old factory and it is gorgeous. Italy is followed by Tel Aviv, Israel where one my closest friends is living and dancing. Then off to Jerusalem and ending the season in Rouen, France. I am crazy excited for Israel and really only have one concern- will they sell neti pots there or should I try to fit mine in my carry on? It's always the little things...

Rehearsal (Photos: Alan Kimara Dixon)

May 17, 2009 (San Francisco) - Caroline Rocher

Today was the end of the week off! Time really does fly! But these seven “dance free” days were very well deserved after the New York season! Being in the big apple is so exciting but so draining at the same time. To me, it was fun performing in the city again after five years of absence. But the challenging part was trying to do everything: catching up with all of my friends, performing and doing my college homework (I’m studying to get my Bachelor of Arts degree). Also, being in NY brought back memories. One in particular was when I first moved to the city 11 years ago. I flew on my own with two suitcases from Montpellier and I can still picture my parents who, although they were divorced, reunited to wave goodbye to me at the airport: priceless moment! I was young and a bit scared and did not know what to expect but so excited about coming to America!


Rehearsal (Photos: Alan Kimara Dixon)

May 6, 2009 (New York, NY) - Ashley Jackson

Rehearsal break (Photos: Alan Kimara Dixon)
One cannot say that LINES Ballet is never on the move. Soon after a successful two-month tour to Hawaii, Italy, and France, we leapt into our home season in San Francisco at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Much to the audience’s delight, we performed a world premiere called “Dust and Light,” “Signs and Wonders” (originally choreography by Alonzo for Dance Theatre of Harlem), and the duet “Splash.”

This past weekend we flew to Dallas, Texas where I enjoyed the warm weather. Even when it rained, the humidity in the air made it easy to warm up for class and the show. The presenter and stage crew welcomed us with southern hospitality. The drawl and twang in their voices brought fond memories from my own southern roots. This was my first time to Dallas, but it was nice to be welcomed by a familiar face as a dear friend of mine drove several miles to see her first LINES Ballet performance. It was a special birthday treat for her to see “Irregular Pearl” and “Rasa.”

Last night, we performed opening night at the Joyce Theater in New York City, NY. The performance was a complete sell out. The audience showed incredible appreciation as they leapt to their feet and at full volume cheered their approval at the end of both “Dust and Light” and “Rasa.” After numerous curtain calls, it was brought to our attention that the audience’s reaction was not normal. Several people who attend the Joyce on a regular basis made it clear that out of all the times they’ve attended performances here, they’d never seen such a great response from the audience. With that said, we hope to continually experience similar reactions from the audiences here in New York City for the rest of the week.

May 3, 2009 (Dallas, TX) - Arturo Fernandez

Had a 9:30 am call to go to the airport to continue this particular tour from Dallas Texas to the Joyce in NYC. Who doesn’t love NY in the springtime despite the rain. Last night was the second of two performances we had in Dallas to not very sold out houses. Actually the presenter said that most of the seats were sold but that many people stayed home because of the Swine Flu scare. The dancers danced beautifully, as usual.

On our way into the airport we had a mishap. There was a huge limo and a big SUV. As we got into the airport property (which is enormous) the SUV got a flat tire. Since that was the one that was carrying the luggage, it was really heavy. When I looked at the damage from driving on it, it looked like the result of a car race from the Mad Max movie after razor-iike tire guards drove up next to it and shread the tire. It was really bad. Practically the only thing left was the rim. Not to worry though, no one was hurt and we all made our flights.

After a well-needed day off (do I really have day’s off?) the company will open at the Joyce on Tuesday the 5th of May. Which reminds me - TO ALL OF MY MEXICAN FAMILY DISTANT AND FAR, HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO! What a way to win a fight against the French. To all - Don’t let that swine flu get you down.

From Our San Francisco Spring Season

April 8, 2009 (A photo recollection) - Robert Rosenwasser

Maui
The view from our Honolulu hotel
The Beach on the Big Island

Bus view of the Dolomites (Italy)

Celebrating Keelan's birthday with a sacher torte (Bolzano, Italy)

Ricky and shellfish (Forli, Italy)


Ricky in town square (Civitanova, Italy)

Rehearsal (Civitanova)

Alonzo watching over rehearsal (Civitanova)

Watching football (soccer!) (Civitanova)

In front of our hotel (Lyon, France)
Season poster (Lyon)

Curtain call (Lyon)
Farmer's Market (Lyon)

Lyon, France
Typical Basque painting

Olympia Theater (Arcachon, France)


Homes in Arcachon





Theater nationale (Bayonne, France)

Breakfast in Bayonne

Post-show dinner (Bayonne)

Bayonne



La Rochelle, France
The theater in La Rochelle
Theater lobby (La Rochelle)

 

April 1, 2009 (Toulouse, France) - Arturo Fernandez

April Fools Day, the first of April. Today is a special day in so many ways. We are in Blagnac France which about 10 kilometers from Toulouse France. I think it’s the equivalent of what Alameda is to San Francisco. Those who live in the Bay Area will know what I mean. The drive here however was quite beautiful in that we had to drive the southern route, which is always quite beautiful. The fields and fields of vineyards, farmlands and ancient cities perched upon mountaintops. The beginning of spring is quite apparent because the leaf buds are appearing like green dewdrops upon brown branches. The fruit and nut trees have a abundant array of pink and white flowers and the smells in the air are rife with sweet new growth. Today is another day of special importance to me personally. 21 years ago, my partner Derek and I became life partners and started our lives together. I never ever thought I would find the love of my life, but like the saying goes “never say never”! I have the best man in the world, get to travel all over the world with the best dance company in the world and am very fortunate to work with the most incredible people in the world. Sorry to go on, but today I feel honored, loved and blessed.

The run of performances in Lyon were hugely successful. The audiences were amazing with their appreciative synchronized applause. Expressing their love of every minute of the incredible dance and dancers. For the performance, they were so very attentive from the moment the curtain went up until the lights went out marking the end of the ballet. (We performed Irregular Pearl and Rasa.) Once the lights came up for the bows, though, they cheered whooped and whistled and marveled that the dancers were still standing after the incredible energy they put out (as usual)-generous and beautiful. The audience responded in kind. Lyon the city was also quite beautiful. Surrounded on all sides by water with lots of bridges connecting one part of the city to the next. High mountaintops that were exquisitely light in the evening- as were the waterways. Up-lighting, you gotta love up-lighting especially on 17th (or were they 18th) century buildings. They were old and beautifully designed. It was amazing that in those days they actually hired artisans and designers in order to build cities. Everything was important, down to the cobblestoned streets that were beautiful mosaic designs.

Walking up the hillside to the Basilica was also a beautiful thing. Inside the Basilica was amazing. The floors, walls and ceilings were all the most amazing mosaic design. You had to get up close to see the most intricate detail painstakingly placed there by thousands of artisans probably getting paid very little but it didn’t matter because they were making a thing of beauty. Sorta reminds me of dancers - getting paid very little to make the most incredible things of beauty. We’re now in the home stretch. We have 11 more days of the tour before we go home. I know that I’m ready to be in my own home with my Derek, my dog Buddy, my own bed and my own shower. No matter where in the world I have been, no matter how beautiful and exciting and wondrous, it is ALWAYS great to get back home.

Epilogue: The other day on the road I had something at the auto-stop on the highway. Mystery meat is what I called it. They called it Andouiette but unlike Andouille from Cajun sausage fame, this is quite different in that it’s whole chunks of meat parts. So whole that you can sort of make out what those pieces used to be. Mine, as it turns out was not fully cooked as they just took them off the grill. The outside looked good and a little crispy the way I usually like my sausage but the inside wasn’t quite done and therefore had a ‘rare’ quality that was not so appetizing. Needless to say, I didn’t finish it all. Good thing it came with Pommes Frites!

March 30, 2009 (Lyon, France) - Alonzo King

Flying over the Alps into Bologna I was hypnotized by the mind boggling choreography of mountains. Talk about character. Mountains have nobility and magnificence, and they must all know each other. The Alps have to know about the Himalayas. They must have some form of overarching communication like whales, but through the ether instead of water. And there must be a birth memory of the tectonic plate collision that created each of them. I’ve heard mountains described as the ‘frozen laughter of the gods’. There is definitely a vibration that emanates from them, and an other worldliness of beyond the beyond. From the aerial view you see them as a range, a family, a brood, on the ground they become individuals each with a uniqueness of shape and statement. I’ve met some people who were like mountains, or ironically were actually more like icebergs, not so easy to detect, because they were able to cover the depth and breadth of their intimidating mass by humility, which is one of the signs of a true human mountain.

We played 10 performances in Lyon at the Maison de la Danse. The audiences were wildly enthusiastic clapping in rhythmic unison, multiple curtain calls, and a feeling of audience elation when departing the theatre. The company is looking stellar.

The shows are demanding, and in spite of aching bodies that moan and miss the knowing cuddle of home beds, the dancers light up each matinee and evening with self forgetting generosity.

March 27, 2009 (Lyon, France) - Caroline Rocher

Fighting the tire!

Tomorrow will be the last performance in Lyon France. We've been on the road for almost five weeks (ok I'm not counting the two days back in SF between Hawaii and Europe!) which seems FOREVER but the tour has been going well. I'm glad to be back in France for a bit and I'm very privileged to have my family around (my mum's relatives all leave nearby). I still can't believe that my 83-year-old grandma came to see me dance! It was her first time ever and she loved it! She said: '' Oh la la c'est que vous vous tortillez comme des vers"! (You guys twist like worms!). Spending the day off at her home with my mum was really refreshing. Also, performing in Lyon brought back memories from my teenage years where I used to participate in the Dance conference here in the summer, and when I joined the Lyon Opera Ballet two years ago. It's nice to be back in town, to walk around familiar streets... Oh, there is a Starbucks Coffee now! I wish it was built when I lived here!

I'm so exhausted! Performing every night (and sometimes twice a day!) for two weeks with only one day off has been REALLY intense! Thank God Jesse, our new massage therapist is here. He's really awesome. Not only are his massages healing but he's a great cook! Two days ago, he made a mexican style dinner for the whole company! Quel delice!

But the tour de France is not over! More cities are coming before flying back to San Francisco...Are we there yet?

March 25, 2009 (Lyon, France) - David Harvey

The other night I suddenly realized, we're barely half way through this tour. Panic, exhaustion, desperation - this was my immediate reaction. Fortunately Ashley pointed out that if you include our time in Hawaii, this is the middle of our 5th week on the road out of 7 altogether, which is somehow way more encouraging. The overwhelming fatigue that sometimes sinks in after multiple weeks of living out of a suitcase should of hit around the halfway mark, at least for me, but we're in the home stretch! Just about 2 and a half weeks left. Managing to avoid that burnout gives me all the more energy to enjoy our time here. 

Mr. Jet Lag, Exhaustion, Homesickness, Injury - all have been strong adversaries, but we're pros. We got this, and we have a little help from our friends. Selby Wynn, our fearless European leader, (though not with us for our stay in Lyon) constantly goes beyond the stipulations of her job description, organizing family dinner night and translating menus, all while extinguishing fires left and right, with a smile and asking what else she can do to make our lives a little easier. The physical stress on our bodies is battled by Jesse Garcia, our live-in, on-call massage therapist (who is also quick to learn that we all respond well to good food and is sponsoring chicken mole night).

In a little over 5 weeks, we've laid on Maui beaches, guessing what constellations are spread above us, driven through Italy, guessing what mountain range we were wandering through (the Dolomites), celebrated birthdays (turned 22 the day we arrived in Lyon), and performed in packed houses with standing ovations and multiple curtain calls. 

We've learned a little more Italian, as well as never to ask for parmesan cheese if it isn't brought with your pizza, and if you've ever thought about jaywalking in Honolulu, think twice.

4 more French cities. 11 more shows. Plenty more to see, to eat, to learn. Every new experience alters that night's performance just enough. Keeping it new. We got this.

March 22, 2009 (Somewhere between Civitanova, Italy and Lyon, France) - Ricardo Zayas

Just when I was beginning to fine tune my Italian, or lack there of, we leave Civitanova and head to Lyon. For the two weeks that we will be living here, we are staying in the center of the town. There's a metropolitan feel here like in Union Square, but more quaint with small cobblestone streets and a lot more bakeries. With the morning off, I was able to walk across the river to the old town and took in some quintessential French sights like sidewalk bistros, a beautiful basilique, and a seemingly endless farmer's market along the water. Then off to the theater...

We've performed for enthusiastic audiences all over the world, but none like the Lyonaise crowd - which sold out all of our performances months in advance. After the Saturday matinee performance, the curtain had to be paged three times for an unending roar of applause. At the risk of sounding corny or cliche, the experience was quite inspiring and made a weekend packed with five performances, feel all the more successful. To Lyon's appreciative crowd, I say, "Merci beaucoup!"

March 18, 2009 (Somewhere Civitanova, Italy and Lyon, France) - Ashley Jackson

The Simple Life
At the moment, the company and I are traveling on a bus from the city of Civitanova, where we did a residency with some local dancers. As I look around, I have the pleasure of seeing ancient castles, miles of vineyards, and luxurious snow-capped mountains. One of the privileges of being in a dance company that travels all around the world is that we can absorb many walks of life among different cultures. For example, on Italian tours, we’ve visited fast pace cities like Rome as well as places similar to Civitanova where everything is done leisurely. Although we worked normal hours and rehearsed in the same manner, it was nice having a break from the hustle and bustle that usually accompanies large cities. With the multiple vineyards and farms, the atmosphere breathed hard work in a more subtle and relaxed way. At the place we stayed, only the basic necessities to live a simple life were provided. The normal television set was replaced with games such as Pictionary and Charades. With limited internet access and use of cell phone, people communicated more and interacted with each other like little puppies. The need for entertainment brought out playful energy from all of us. We were also able to have family-style dinners which back pleasant memories of my own childhood.

March 15, 2009 (Civitanova, Italy) - Arturo Fernandez

Nice to have some down time from performing here in Italy before we go to Lyon, France. Once there we'll start a long run of back to back performances. We'll have 11 performances in 9 days. I'm sure the dancers will do a great job as the always do but it's always a bit daunting though when one thinks about all of those performances in that amount of time. At this point all of the performance are sold out and have been for quite some time already. Apparently for months before we even arrived in Europe. What can I say, those French have taste.

Here in Italy for the past few days we've been rehearsing in an adorable small theater called the Teatro Annibal Caro. I think it seats about 150 people at the most from what I can tell. The stage is quite raked (something that was done to stages in the olden days to give the audience more of a perspective to what was happening on stage) and not very wide. It was a theater in which Enrico Cecchetti performed, a fact this town is very proud of. He apparently lived here at some point and there is a plaque commemorating that fact.




The time here has be very productive. It's serving our purposes quite well since Alonzo has to finish the new Corelli work and continue to work on the rep that we'll be performing in our Spring Season 09. Splash today looked so beautiful as did Signs and Wonders. I think it's going to be a great program this season with all three ballets being very different from each other.

Tonight is family dinner night at the convent (former convent actually). Called La Foresteria Comunale "Imperatrice Eugenia" this is the place where the majority of the company are staying while here in Civitanova. There's a big kitchen and lots of bedrooms. Communal showers but blissfully I've got a private one. We've decided to all chip in tonight and cook a big italian meal for each other. Lots of pasta, salad, bread, cheeses, prosciutto and of corse, Vino rosso! That's how you have to say it VINO ROSSO! I'm sure that it will be a hit and we always have such a great time eating together. It doesn't happen all that often believe it or not but it's alway fun.

The town of Civitanova itself was a kind of fortress. The part of the city we're in, Civitanova Alta, is the highest point of the city. Surrounded by walls slightly slanted and about 20 feet tall before the buildings start. Most of it is brick and quite beautiful. Some of it still very old and the rest still meant to look very old. In that, they've done a great job. From the road that goes around the walled city, you can see vast fields. Open green fields partitioned off to each farm house. Facing east, you can see the Adriatic Ocean and facing west you can see this beautiful cascade of snow-covered mountains. They're adjacent to the Alps but aren't. They're called the Appenini. No matter what they are they're very beautiful. One can't believe that tourist don't flock here just for the sheer visuals. I can only imagine what the spring is like here. I'd love to see though.


The Oriental Tower entrance to Civitanova Alta (wall surrounds the city)


The sprawling countryside which Civitanova Alta overlooks.

March 8, 2009 (Forli, Italy) - Corey Scott-Gilbert

     Two days ago the company headed out for a tour of France and Italy. We were all a bit overwhelmed by the commute from SFO to Venice, with a layover in Germany, followed up by a bus ride to our final destination in Forli, Italy. The three hour bus ride felt like half an hour because I was narcoleptic in this last leg of our almost 15 hours of travel. Upon arrival, the company was dropped off in a city plaza where we were greeted by a sense of history, old architecture, gawking locals, and an appetite ready to devour real Italian pizzas, homemade pastas and mounds of gelato that we have been imagining since the first mention of this tour. Unfortunately, the jet lag monster was waiting for me in my hotel room and I was just about to count sheep when I realized I had just unpacked my bag and my computer was missing. Omg, I left my computer at Frankfurt International Airport while going through security. AAAHH!!! I panic and race for my phone. After much time being placed on hold I finally reach the lost and found. They ask me to call back tomorrow. Double AAAHH! I hang up the phone, think good thoughts and helplessly let the jet lag monster overpower me...

Waking up in a different country is always a little disorienting but luckily we have a full day to recover. Being 6'5" tall, I am instantly reminded that Europe is not always accommodating for someone of my stature. Limbs hanging off the bed and bumping my head in the shower have already become second nature. I go to breakfast and start getting ready for the day with my roommate Caroline Rocher when there is an unexpected knock on our door. It is Mr. Jet Lag. He is so devious. He first tackles Caroline to a deep slumber and then takes me down silently without a fight. Our first show is at 9 pm at the Teatro Diego Fabbri here in Forli, Italy so I hope a normal sleeping pattern is somewhere in my future. When I awake from my unexpected nap, I call Frankfurt International and a giggling German woman tells me they have my computer and I can pick it up on my inbound flight back to SFO. I do not see what she is giggling about but am appreciative anyway.

As for the rest of the tour, I am excited to perform for people of a different culture, to be crazy with old friends, to drink lots of good wine, be inspired by my surroundings and relish in the fact that this is my job. That is awesome even with the pain in my back and the continuous fight to stay sane. I feel like a rock star and am happy to be able to share this experience with such a talented group of artists that I consider family (even if my mac is on a tour of its own). I guess my next goal is to conquer the jet lag monster when he next rears his ugly head so that I can actually leave the hotel. LOL!

March 8, 2009 (Forli, Italy) - Keelan Whitmore

Ciao!

Since I’ve been with LINES, we have toured to Europe four times and I have to tell you I STILL cannot figure out how to shower without flooding the bathroom floor! There is no shower curtain or shower door for the tub to be found anywhere!!! (LOL) Regardless of trivial events and situations like that, it’s so wonderful to be back in Europe. We have just arrived in Italy after a very long flight (three movies and a very funny Discovery Channel documentary on Orangutans) from SFO to Frankfurt and another to Venice followed by a three-hour bus ride (whew!) to the beautiful city of Forli.  It was great that the first thing we saw walking into the hotel was Selby with her familiar bright smile. Hugs, hugs, hugs, kiss, kiss- down to business. Must get settled in and, although I’ve been up for over 36 hours, I MUST STAY AWAKE! (SCORE! Thanks free wi-fi!)

It’s a little shocking, especially when you are jetlagged, when all of a sudden you realize you’ve been dropped into a completely different environment with a completely different language (and sometimes a completely different alphabet, so “sounding it out” is useless! Thanks Poland and Greece). It’s fun and exciting, but also a bit overwhelming because you never know what you’re going to get. Of course the realization that you’re in a foreign land happens immediately as it did last night at dinner when the host, who spoke little to no English, sat us down and handed us menus in Italian written in very loopy old-school cursive! You forget that not everything has an English back up and you really get a sense of the vastness of the world in which we live when you are forced to fend for yourself and communicate with a very limited vocabulary.  Fortunately, we did really well in getting our food and wine and found ourselves catching the rhythm of the language again sort of like jumping back on a bike after a long hiatus of not riding. Of course none of us, except Selby, can hold a conversation, but I know we’ll be able to do what I need to do to survive this next month and a half. (p.s. Never ask for Parmesan cheese for ANY of your food- I guess it’s a major faux pas. Thanks Brett!)

Leading up to our trip to Europe, I felt like I had been running around like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. From rehearsing with the company, teaching and choreographing for the LINES Training Program to going to school at the LEAP Program (and everything else in between), there was almost no time to breathe. But, I often found myself thinking back to our time in Hawaii. What a wonderful experience to be in a place where everywhere you traveled, beauty from all around embraced you. From the people who live there to nature itself (oh, and I can’t forget about the amazing beds in Maui!)- I was in awe the entire time. In Waimea, I got the opportunity to help Arturo with an early morning lecture demonstration with students grades 2-6. We were told children are called “keiki”. They were so into what we lead them through: spelling our names with our bodies, basic ballet vocab, a lil’ rep, and a phrase or two. The company was wonderful considering we had just rehearsed and performed the night before! (Thanks cu cu’s)   I could have stared at the horizon forever; also, the whales were a great surprise and amazing to watch. Carrying this feeling of peace and quiet I get from nature has been great for me as we embark on this adventurous European tour in that when I sense things getting crazy and overwhelming (like performing on a raked stage), taking the time to enjoy the simple, yet important, things life has to offer, like listening to the sound of my breath, noticing the blueness of the sky and the brightness of the sun, or the sound of family and friends’ laughter, things quiet down. Sorting out and dealing with the many details becomes less strenuous and life becomes even more enjoyable. (Thanks nature!)

March 5, 2009 (San Francisco) - Brett Conway

We just got back from a successful ten day Hawaiian tour a few days ago and now we are leaving today for our five week European tour to Italy and France. The last two days in San Francisco were quite full with everything that had to be done in preparing for such a tour.  We had one day off but that was quickly filled with errands to be ran, unpacking, laundry, repacking and squeezing a massage in to take care of my body. The next day we had rehearsal at the studio along with costume fittings and a company meeting to go over tour information and now it's time to go again!
 
Thinking about the tour, I'm looking forward to the culinary delights of Italy and France, the beautiful old cities we will pass through and the theaters we will perform in.  I'm also excited to see some old familiar faces from the LINES family too.  Selby Schwartz will be with us in Italy and parts of France.  She was always such a huge help when she came on the road with us, knowing she could speak just about any any language.  Prince Credell is planning to visit while we are in Lyon and possibly Drew Jacoby too. 

Ciao!

March 1, 2009 (Maui, Hawaii) - Meredith Webster

We arrived today in Maui, the last stop on our Hawaiian tour.  Tomorrow we will have our last show in Kahului, at the strange hour of 5 pm.  Hopefully we will finish in time to watch the tail end of one more Hawaiian sunset, although all of our shows so far have been starting on "island time" (late).  Flying over the islands today (yes, multiple islands - we flew from the Big Island to Honolulu before backtracking to Maui!?!), it was hard to believe that the tropical waters here are the same ocean we see from San Francisco.  Every chance I get, my eyes have been glued to the water in hopes of seeing whales, and I have been rewarded.  Even though they were far out towards the horizon, the lingering sprays from the whales' blowholes couldn't be confused for a splashing wave.  I saw mostly only the sprays and not the whales, except for one rowdy guy this morning who seemed to be slapping the water over and over again for effect. I was affected.  Imagining the giant expanse of ocean before me as being the cozy home for entire pods of whales and their extended families somehow shifted its nature, from something to be wary of to something that is just an extension of land, with a negative elevation.  The ocean immediately felt more welcoming and benign when I pictured giant mammals ambling around and periodically coming to the surface to check things out, splash around, and take a deep breath.  I wanted to swim out there on a blow-up raft and hang out with them.  I wanted to see up close the ratio of the size of their eyes to the size of their tails.  I wanted to see baleen, and I wanted to hear them sing.

This tour feels a little bit like the calm before the storm, even though it hasn't even been that calm.  The long European tour is looming, and we are all anticipating it with excitement and trepidation.  For me, I am focused on the challenges of staying healthy, positive, calm, and elastic.  The half-day we had in Hapuna of swimming in the ocean and shamelessly rolling in the sand was one of the best ways I know of to acheive those things.  I can't wait to have Laurel back, although Marsha has been a familiar-feeling guest and everyone in the company has risen to the challenge of filling the holes with aplomb and grace.  Brava Caroline for Rasa pas de deux!  Mahalo to our enthusiastic Hawaiian audiences, and we'll see you all in Italy!

February 25, 2009 (Waimea, Hawaii) - Alonzo King

Its been 12 years since the company last made a Hawaiian tour. Presented by Ballet Hawaii, we opened in Oahu to a sold out house at the beautifully refurbished Hawaii Theatre three nights ago. LINES was feted by Ballet Hawaii’s magnanimous Board of Directors, and presented with an award from the Mayor of Honolulu.

The development in Waikiki is astonishing. How beautiful a face it was before all the surgery of new construction. But nature loudly proclaims dominance once you get away from Waikiki. Everywhere seen is some brilliant variant of lush green grandeur, crowned with color. The all surrounding presence of ocean, sky, mountains and sweet fragrance steadily reminds you of who was here first. People on vacation smile more, and the local Hawaiians are steeped in the gracious spirit of Aloha. So a kindness and warmth envelop the place. The disease of stress is hardly visible, and people seem to live in the moment. People are sweet here. Kindness wows me each and every time I experience it. I afterwards reflect on the wonder of it as if I’d experienced a great performance, work of art, or the Grand Canyon or some other natural wonder. Having lived in big cities for much of life, where often armor, aggression and deadly indifference, are customary, I am startled when someone breaks through with a melodic tone, eager assistance, or a sincere smile. The word recognition means to know again, or recall to mind, and I think on the deeper level that’s what is inherent in the experience of kindness. We are cognizant or re-cognizing and seeing through the disguise of dress, nation, the mask of age, race etc., and acknowledging that ‘other’ is a false notion, and that we are one, in a shared experience on planet earth, and originate from the same Source. In Sri Yukteswar’s concise masterpiece, “The Holy Science”, he talks about removing the 7 meannesses of the heart, to reveal the hearts natural inclination which is love, and summarizes that behind all things Love is life’s true goal.

We arrived on Hawaii’s Big Island today. Its famous for the active Kilauea volcano, and has eleven different climate zones. In one island you have the variety of lush rain forest, arid deserts, black sand beaches and snow capped mountaintops. Its Nature dazzling us at her best.

 

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