What to wear to the dance?
photo by Ned and Aya Rosen
http://nicolelenzen.com

Paris Jazz Roots Festival

Nathan Bugh and Evita Arce perform original Tap choreography.  

Normally performed to "Moonglow".  

Choreography by Nathan Bugh

click link below photos to view.

     Paris Jazz Roots Nathan and Evita Tap

I am so excited!!! Michael Jagger and I will perform at Jacob's Pillow on Wednesday, June 27

with our company from New York, SWINGFX. We will have dancers: Michael Jagger, Paul Romero Jr, Adam Brozowski, Jon Tigert, Elyse Sparkes, Amanda Burton, Michelle Puskas, and myself. Maybe with some other special guests as well. We will be presenting 30 minutes of material. We are thrilled and honored (and even a little nervous) to be going up there and dance where so many other Greats have danced before. And we are esspecially honored to present Lindy Hop at this venue. Other company members and choreographic work will be with us in heart even though they can't be at this performance. Nathan Bugh, Brian Lawton, Samantha Siegel. Keep on the look out for more news from us.

Never Stand Still is a new documentary coming out mid May on the historical venue Jacob's Pillow.
Watch the trailor.

iDance.net

Check out new lessons on iDance.net from me, Nathan Bugh and Michael Jagger.

FOLLOWLOGIE

A Fantastic weekend . . .


The Can Can, choreographed by Jo Hoffberg


"Roustabout" choreographed by Nina Gilkenson featuring the Lovely Ladies of Followlogie

This Summer has been a Circus!

This Summer,  technically the Spring as well, has been JAMMED with incredible traveling, gigs, people, places, and things.  I can't even fit all the photos and fun things I would really like to.  You can easily see all the random pictures on my Facebook profile.

I guess it really all began in May.  My birthday month, and turning the BIG 3.0.!
In the month of May, I was in Italy with The Killer Dillers doing our first ever full length show, completely live to "The Nine Penny Orchestra."  Then for my 30th birthday, I was in Munich, Germany teaching with Michael Jagger for Boogie Baren.  We stayed up all night with Remy and Moe.  They are crazy.  And by crazy I mean . . . . . you know what I mean.   To conclude the month, I taught with Ryan Francois in New York City at Dance Manhattan.  It was transformative!  The amount one learns by experience, from the source, is absolutely beyond any other form of education.  I think I have said this before, but I will continue to say it again, it is the greatest honor and opportunity to work with / partner other phenomenal dancers because of how I am able to physically learn and adapt.

In June I taught with Manu Smith in Copenhagen.  I think that may be the most beautiful city I've ever been to.  The people, the lay out and the energy.  Especially the light.  Daylight there was so perfect.  It helped that we had great weather and while on a boat tour, Manu and I saw the Queen.  Good Luck and great timing allowed our tour boat to pass her private dock as she boarded her own boat.  What are the chances that I would see the Queen of Denmark?

Then there was Beantown.  Again, with Michael, we had a wonderful time teaching and performing.  A spectacular show was produced by Ryan and the other teachers in the Rose Theater on the Saturday evening.  I was especially proud of Ramona, Naomi, Karen, and myself as we backed up Jenny Thomas for a Ladies Tap number.

The rest of the month, as for most folks in the Lindy Hop community, was filled with the occurance which is HERRANG.  I taught there for the first time in my 11 years of dancing with Manu.  It was amazing.  I LEARNED HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.  (again)  Technically my Dad taught me when I was little but I fell and never got back on.  Can you believe?  So it took all these years of dance coordination, and accommodations far enough away from classes that I had no choice but to get back on the bike and ride.  Victory!

I am still on the road.  Since Herrang I've traveled with Michael to Germany again, Ireland, and the UK. Once I finally get back to NYC.  It will feel really good.   More to come soon.

FREE AGENT!!!

So that I am clear with myself and everyone else . . .  I AM A FREE AGENT.  I am an independent artist.  I am a dancer who partners.  I am a performer, a director, a choreographer, a teacher.  I am affiliated with several different companies.  And this makes me who I am.  I am a diverse, always changing, growing, and adapting creature.  One might say that I have no identity or that I belong to nothing.  One may also say I am part of everything.  Maybe it's easier to just pick which group or identity "you" want to label me in any given moment.  I realize the delicate balance this all requires.  It is that balance that I intend to seek and pursue in my life.  I know I am not one thing or title.  And I can not be claimed by one person, or group, or idea.  And that frees me to be who I really am.

As a woman, as a "follower", this skill of being solid with who you are, yet flexible with movement is exceptionally important to the dance.  I think strengthening and playing with  these contrary ideas is what one needs to be a phenomenal partner.

I used to think I wanted to be "So and So" but that changed as I met new talented role models who I then wanted to emulate.  Now I realize I can not be any of those people.  It is impossible for me to re-create anything or anyone.  I have to discover "me" and be who "I" am suppose to be, so that eventually I am that role model for some one else.

It's hard in this dance, as a follower and someone's partner, to find that personal identity.  I value the intense work I do with one partner, but equally I value my ability to work with others and maintain the skill of improvisation.  If I can keep these two things in balance, then I think I will feel complete.  And the feeling of completeness is not based  on finding my other half or the perfect partner; it's realizing that being complete is something I do within myself.  So I am focused on being a better, more powerful, and inspiring ME.  Then I can truly work with and contribute to any group or partnership.