Tiffany Mills Company Summer Workshop 2012

The Tiffany Mills Company is mid-stream in our Seventh Annual Summer Intensive. The exchange of energy and ideas is palatable as we investigate partnering technique and partnering composition. Here's what workshop participants are saying at the end of each day. Leave a response if you are so moved!

May 29, 2012

Workshop Day #1

Rediscovering freedom of movement.

Beautiful bold choices. Bravery.

Surprise shifting.

Visceral Bliss.

From chaos comes clarity.

Very inviting.

Open forum for idea exchange and experiential learning.

Pevlic Freedom.

Sharing of the body intelligence builds trust and opens to inspire growth. 

The unused surface area and volume of my body came out to play.

Sliding into the space between what you intend to do and what will happen in the moment.

Great to be in a room full of people feeling comfortable and safe (and respectful) enough to explore movement chore to chore involving cavities of head, torso and pelvis and any and all combinations thereof.

Enhancing the dance of solo as a group exploration. The support of a duet helping me soar.

May 30, 2012

Workshop Day #2

Lapping.

Rediscovering.

Hello pelvis!

Repetition.

Essence.

Grab and let go.

Transformative.

Unknown to the known.

Enjoy the possibilities that you don't end up using. They help you find your way to more options.

Take off the lid!

Stay curious.

Moving a point within a cavity.

May 31, 2012

Workshop Day #3

Navel radiation into space as information and direction. Four destinations provide structured detours.

Small tools created such richness and fullness within the dance. They brought awareness so that freedom could be reached.

Opening my knowledge to the world of endless opportunity for contact.

Today bodies and air each found mass and each other.

Felt a refreshing sense of community and humanity through physical connection.

Facing my greatest fears and pushing past comfort levels...far, far, past comfort levels! Raw.

Spirals throughout the body, on the body, in the body.

Staying available to maintain/deepen connections.

This was so filling! I often can get drained giving and this fed back knowledge and energy and investment from all in room. Good stuff.

Allowing the point of contact to really direct -- channelling the rest of the body's energy into and out of that point.

Honoring my body, knowing it's okay to go gentle and still find just as many amazing possibilities.

Breaking habits, I can arch and open too!

I flew for the first time today! Thank you!

Much enjoyed the sense of teamwork (Round Robin) and equal explorative co-investigative partnership (duets). Very full and rich.

Reflections on Russia

Dinner after our successful performance

Moses, Megan and the technical crew

Dancers warming up before their performance

Dancers before their performance

Tiffany with Elena, the Festival Director 

The Tiffany Mills Company recently returned from our first international tour to Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. What a fantastic opportunity to cross into a completely new culture and be so welcomed! See blog post earlier this month for my thoughts and responses. And, see below for the Company's reflections on Russia. ~Tiffany

I enjoyed meeting so many amazing people who wanted to share and connect through their passion for art; Krasnoyarsk is such a beautiful city. ~Emily (Dancer)

The eagerness and vitality of the dance community in Krasnoyarsk was remarkable. I can't wait to return to further our artistic dialogue! ~Kevin (Dancer)

Usually when I travel, I don't ever have expectations. (Sort of a fantasy come true to go to Siberia, which is an area most people will never travel to.) You can feel the layers of tension from the post-communistic regime slowly being pulled away. There is an electric charge. They are ready for revolution and radical change. So much creativity and support -- like a young layer of skin. The students, audience, and people of Krasnoyarsk were so welcoming and appreciative. I would love to go back! Also, some responses from Russian students (who seemed to relate to "Berries and Bulls" themes of isolation and struggle) were so insightful and articulate. ~Jeffrey (Dancer)

I was impressed both with what is now (compared to when I went to St Petersburg 20 years ago) available in the supermarkets and restaurants as well as in the (modern dance) studio and on stage! This small festival, almost single-handedly afforded and run by Elena, creates a unique opportunity to explore and share international cultural experiences. Russian modern dance is still young, but the dancers and choreographers have already absorbed so much and were very eager and open to learn the processes and discoveries we (from the West, where modern dance has been around a bit longer) brought to share. Thanks for having us :-) ~Petra (Dancer)

Who would've thought that In a million years I'd be in Kransnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia? Not Me. And who would've thought that I'd be the only person of color within a 1000 miles of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia? ME!!! Over all I had a great time. The festival was fantastic and I made some new friends. Thanks for letting me "tag along". ~Moses (Technical Director and Stage Manager)

The enthusiasm of the students in the class was amazing. The experience of working with an international group of people opened a new way of seeing and experiencing dance, in and out of performance. Sharing the work of Tiffany Mills Company with new people was so rewarding. ~Megan (Company Manager and Sound Operator)

Spasiba (Thank You) Russia!

 Almost there! At Moscow airport on our way to Siberia (A 24 hour trip)...

The whole Company after our performance!

 Last Day of Class in Krasnoyarsk.

Our tour to the "International Festival of Contemporary Dance - Isadora", was a complete success! We were greeted with enormous enthusiasm by eager students ready to learn. Daily Tiffany taught partnering classes assisted by the Company. Our performance of "Berries and Bulls" capped it all off. Here's a run down on our Siberian adventure:

--During Dress Rehearsal on Sunday a cat walked onto the stage! Given that we were working with a Russian speaking tech crew and theater we were navigating a whole new terrain. (Our TMC crew -- Moses on Lights and Megan on Sound -- were fantastic!)

--Despite language differences, "Berries and Bulls" brought laughter and clear emotional response. All the dancers -- Jeffrey, Petra, Emily and Kevin -- performed with strength and resilience with a 12 hour time difference!

--People yelled "Bravo" after our performance in a 600 seat theater. All Festival students as well as community members were engaged in what was very new and different for them. (Most have not seen dance/theater.)

--The day after our performance in class, students commented on what they saw: how touch gives us information, the importance of flight, and how relationships reveal human vulnerability. We were amazed and touched to hear how our work translated across language and culture. We can't wait to return to our new sister city!