achèvement

I have just now returned from my final audition here in Brussels. It was simply incredible and so much fun! The choreographers had such a clear vision and knew exactly what they were looking for. It turns out that only 12 dancers were invited to this audition. All were men with the exception of 4 women. They were not at all interested in choreography or technique. It seemed they were searching only for specific qualities of movement and imagination. It was incredible to look around and see how much talent was in the room. I felt so happy to be among them! We were able to watch each dancer's solo and then we improvised with specific propositions they gave us. Eventually we improvised in groups of three as the propositions became more and more specific. Some tasks involved traveling and others were in center. They were most interested in organic and naturalistic impulses. They wanted to see the movement come from the task and not the other way around. This is what I feel I will take with me the most as my next point of departure to investigate when I return to the states. This way of moving is pure beauty! I am very excited that I made it all the way through the audition. They kept me for 3 1/2 hours! Alas, I did not make the final cast but I learned so much! It was just incredible! And it was all in french! I may not be able to speak it very well yet, but I am comprehending more and more! This was my most favorite audition yet, rivaling cedar lake in nyc, of course. 

It has been an amazing journey. I am honored and humbled and ready for more! Thank you all so much! I will spend my last few days traveling around Belgium to discover more of this incredible place.

Gros bisous!!

ShaLeigh

let the auditions begin!

On Tuesday, I found my way to the Brussels International Ballet for an audition with the choreographer Tobias Bausch. According to his website, he studied classical ballet at Ballett Akademie Köln. The audition announcement called for 3 contemporary female dancers for a new production. The audition lasted about 2 1/2 hours and there were no cuts. He first showed us a very brief phrase. The movement was curiously simple and he put us in groups of 3 to dance. We were then invited to show choreography we had learned or to do an improvisation. After the movement portion, we were invited to perform more experimental theater based tasks. It was an interesting experience and quite hard to follow the inspiration I felt with the work at P.A.R.T.S. but it was a good first experience to get back into an auditioning frame of mind.


Today, I received an exciting notice that I have been selected for an audition here in Brussels at Charleroi Dances/La Raffinerie Studio for the CFB 451 company with the choreographers Christian and Prancois Ben Aim. They are holding auditions in Brussels and Paris for a new creation in Autumn of 2011. To be selected, we had to submit a CV and video, so I am really excited! I must now prepare a 3 minute solo and some sort of group proposition.