candancemoves

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Untamed Space by Renegade Performance Group

Renegade Performance Group's latest foray under the AFROFUTURISM series - Untamed Space is less than 3-weeks away! This world premiere commissioned by Danspace Project covers the trajectory of "marooning" across time and space. Artistic director André M. Zachery has created this work leaning on his familial lineage from the Southern United States and Haiti, through his upbringing on the southside of Chicago and into the Afrofuture where he states: "how the creation of those impassible spaces has influenced contemporary identities of African-blooded people in the Americas.”  

St. Mark’s Church 131 East 10th St. New York, NY 10003 Phone (212) 674-8112 Tickets (866) 811-4111 info@danspaceproject.org

TICKETS

 September 28 | 8PM* September 29 | 8PM* September 30 | 8PM* *pre-performance discussions at 7PM Advance + online tickets: $22 General / $15 Members. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $25 (cash or check only), pending availability. Artistic Director/Choreographer/Visual Media Designer André M. Zachery Performers Kentoria Earle, Candace Thompson, Nehemoyia Young Dramaturge Rosamond S. King Composer + Sound Artist Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste Musical Contributor King Britt Lighting Designer Carol Mullins Costume/Visual Art Designer Joy Havens Rehearsal Director Winston Dynamite Brown Renegade Performance Group is excited to begin its 10th anniversary with our Fall 2017 season!  #decadeofrenegade

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My Day in Movement - Here Again | 2017

Two years ago - I blogged for about a month going in to a double header season with Renegade Performance Group and Sydnie L. Mosley Dances. I had turned 30 that year and was beginning to feel the effects on my body. Like a lot of professional concert dancers, I was in and out of ‘shape’ depending on how much time I had to train and what type of project I was working on. It was probably one of the hardest things I had to do and still one of my proudest moments.

Two years later after threatening the director of Renegade that I was going to retire, I committed to our season at Danspace Project. Now 32, kind of ancient in the modern-dance-hit-the-step world but not really (though RPG’s newest member’s jaw dropped when I told her how old I was lmao), I am rededicating myself to being a performer at least until Sept 30. 

But Candace, aren’t you always dancing? 

Yes and no. I’m usually teaching and choreographing for my Soca class and/or working on my own choreography. But in both cases I teach and do what feels good to me. I could literally teach without breaking a sweat and my choreography usually revolves around my skill base. I don’t usually have to level up too much except for stamina when I put the piece together.  ( I think I’m lying a bit here but you get my point)

But Candace, aren’t you always working out?

Not as consistently as I should, and working out and dancing for performance in a very stylised technique, are two separate things. Although I would argue that of course cross-training helps a lot. Enters the need for consistency here. More on that later. 

So what’s the problem?

Problem is I have some leftover tendinitis from two seasons ago that still plagues me. If you know me, you also know that my feet are an issue - big toe arthritis, bone spurs, bunions, flat feet. And yes somehow I still dance. In addition I run Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE. An ever-growing organisation for Caribbean Dance that is bursting with potential and needs more and more of my investment and attention. And did I fail to mention that my bread and butter is personal training? So I’m up at 4:30am running around the city to different clients earning a living. 

Well these really aren’t problems.

No they aren’t. I’m lucky. I can earn income on a schedule that is flexible enough for me to rehearse and perform, when I need to. I’ve been lucky to gain a lot of skills on my journey including, marketing, grant-writing, curating, event planning, production management and fundraising. Not to mention my specialised knowledge on Caribbean Dance & Culture, Soca Dance and Carnival and my background in RAD ballet, hard core classical modern and process oriented Contemporary dance. To have all these skills live in one body is amazing! (and also exhausting) But it pushes me to want to help further each community I am apart of. (I’m getting sidetracked - this is the side effect of having so much info in this brain - also what happens to me on a daily basis) 

So, What we doing?

Well WE need to get in shape for the show I have to do. Need to work on flexibility a bit, gain some more power in these legs, work on strength and stability in lower legs, (shins, calves, feet, ankles) and the ever elusive ‘core’. And somehow I have to do all this while not becoming a maniac and disregarding every thing else in my life because I’m an adult and we don’t really get the privilege of single minded focus, or at least not the adults I know. Balance is key. Consistency is key. I don’t have a plan yet. But one is coming. In the meantime I’ve added a few classes to my calendar and took my first ballet class in a while on Monday. 

Question for you? 

Where is the place that forces you to level up? The situation that forces you to be super accountable? And how do you deal? 

Tell meh nah. Comment and link up. 

IG: @candancefit Twitter: @candancefitt Facebook: Candancefit/ContempoCaribe

Image by The Clever Agency  of Nehemoyia Young and Candace Thompson during RPG’s residency for UNTAMED SPACE at 3 Legged Dog Art + Technology Center. 

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Trinidad for COCO DANCE FESTIVAL?!! My @contempocaribe project piece 'Neath de Mas' has been accepted into the Mainstage Events @coco_dance_festival! Proud and excited. Trinis! Link up yuh tickets quick. I'll be performing Friday and Saturday, Oct 28 and 29 with these amazing ladies: @aliciadellimore and @sholabear. Can't wait to see you! #home #performing #cocodancett #contempocaribe #candancefit (at Queens Hall, Port Of Spain, Trinidad)

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HAPPY CARIBBEAN HERITAGE MONTH! We ready! New Traditions Festival 2016: Dance Your Caribbean! is on June 11th & 12th and we want you to join us in the celebration! Show us how YOU #danceyourcarribbean. Participate in our #danceyourcaribbean social media challenge for a chance to win FREE tickets to New Traditions 2016. 1. For a chance to win $50 ticket (one night + reception): Share a video, picture, or words of how you #danceyourcaribbean and tag 7 friends in the comments. Make sure to tag @dancecaribbeancollective and use the hashtags: #danceyourcaribbean #newtraditions2016 2. For a chance to win a $25 ticket: Repost our New Traditions: Dance Your Caribbean flyer and tag 7 friends. Make sure you tag @dancecaribbeancollective and use the hashtags #newtraditions2016 #danceyourcaribbean 3. To complete your entry, make sure to like our FB page, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE , and follow us on instagram or twitter @dancecaribco. Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, June 8th and two winners will be announced on June 9th. #dancecaribbeancollective #dcc #newtraditions2016 #carribbeanheritagemonth #danceyourcaribbean #instagramcontest #instagramgiveaway #contest #giveaway #instagood @candancefit @sholabear @kanudancetheater @kashedance1 @gazellengram @ellenytt @rita_hemingway @mopdance @amzrpg @renegadepg @ororosmoon @slmdances @justilly22 @bombazo_wear @iamkarismajay @msbritt_305 (at Gelsey Kirkland Academy)

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Brooklyn Arts Council’s Grantee & Fiscal Sponsee Interview Series: Friends with Money Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE

Name: Candace Thompson Neighborhood: Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens Favorite thing about your neighborhood: Friendly neighbours, West Indian food, Labour Parade, Eastern Parkway BAC: What project did you receive funding for? Tell us about it. CT: I received funding for New Traditions Festival 2016: Dance Your Caribbean! It’s a performance festival run by the initiative I started, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE, to create a platform for dance artists creating work for and about their Caribbean heritage. Through New Traditions, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE is committed to presenting concert dance works rooted in Caribbean cultural traditions and experiences. The 2016 festival will be a two night dance festival on June 11th and 12th, featuring 7 choreographers: Chris Walker and Kevin Ormsby, Candace Thompson, Jessica St. Vil, Maxine Montilus, Safi Harriott, and Shola Roberts.  BAC: How does BAC funding help sustain your work? Is there anything you’re creating or doing now that you wouldn’t be able to do without the extra support?  CT: BAC’s funding was key to us being able to afford a venue that could accommodate concert dance in Brooklyn. Our work this year requires a traditional proscenium theater which is unfortunately super-expensive in our borough. Through the grant funding we’ve been able to secure a venue and ensure that all participating artists would be paid independently of ticket sales.  BAC: Tell us about some of the most exciting collaborations and performances you have coming up.  CT: Our next event is the Dances of Jamaica & the Caribbean: New Traditions Masterclass, which is a masterclass led by Chris Walker on May 29th, and then the big show on June 11th and 12th at Gelsey Kirkland Academy. I’m super excited that Chris Walker and Kevin Ormsby will be bringing their work Facing Home: Love and Redemption, a piece that’s toured Toronto, Wisconsin, and Jamaica, right here in New York City! Walker and Ormsby come with a wealth of knowledge of Caribbean and contemporary dance and I can’t wait for the dance community here to get to experience them. The show will see their work paired with the work of local choreographers.  BAC:  Who or what inspires you most right now? CT: The kids I teach, actually. I’ve been teaching at a few elementary schools and it’s been amazing to watch these little humans operate who are so free with how they express themselves.  BAC: Tell us a bit about your creative process. How does the work get done? CT: Well, that’s a good question. I research topics that are related to themes of the work and then write tons and tons of notes. I spend a lot of time sitting down creating entire dances in my head. The worst is when I create an entire section in my head and forget to write it down and then I lose it. But then I’ve learned that, somehow, another idea always presents itself. As much as creating dance work is a refined skill, it is also just play. So I try to think about it that way to make it less terrifying. In terms of practice, I teach a Soca Dance class every week so that vocabulary is very much in my body and it’s the source of a lot of my work. I’ve also been lucky enough to work with two dancers recently, Alicia Dellimore and Shola Roberts, who share my passion for Caribbean culture and bring their own perspectives to the work.  BAC: When you’re not making art, you are:  CT: Teaching in various in-school and after-school programs, personal training, doing administrative and organizing work for DCC and dancing in others’ work. BAC: What’s next for your work and for your organization? How are you planning your next steps forward? CT: Personally, I have a few choreographic opportunities coming up in the fall through 2017 that I’ll be focusing on. Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE will be taking time after the show to figure out its next steps but for sure there will be more workshops, events, and possibly education programs. BAC: Any words of advice for artists hoping to apply for BAC funding or other grants or support? CT: Just that it takes time. It took me about three weeks of intense focus to get through writing the grant. Give yourself time to write, review, rewrite if necessary, and to be clear about what your project is about. Candace Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, is a dancer, a choreographer, and a performer. A graduate of Adelphi University fluent in several forms including Modern, Contemporary, Caribbean/Diasporic, and Soca Dance, Thompson currently performs with Areytos Performance Works, Renegade Performance Group, Sydnie L. Mosley Dances, and dances and produces her own work ContempoCaribe. She is the founder of Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE. Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE will present Dance Your Caribbean: New Traditions Festival 2016 at Gelsey Kirkland Academy ArtsCenter on June 11th and 12th. Tickets are available now: http://dccnewtraditions2016.bpt.me. Photo credit, top portrait of Candace Thompson: Rachel Neville.

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Dances of Jamaica & the Caribbean: New Traditions Master Class

Sunday. 5/29 | 6:30pm | 53 Chambers St, New York, NY | $17 Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE in partnership with Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance is offering a New Traditions Master Class with DCC Featured Artist Chris Walker: Dive deep into Afro-Caribbean traditional and contemporary forms in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and Trinidad. Based on the work of Chris Walker (Dancer/Choreographer for The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica) for Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE's show "New Traditions," the class will also focus on expressing Caribbean movement; as well as provide context through the dances' rhythms, songs, and stories.This is an Open Level class and welcomes students of all levels. About Chris Walker: Chris Walker is an Associate Professor of Dance, and the Artistic Director of the First Wave program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a choreographer and dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, and Co-founder/Artistic Director of NuMoRune Collaborative—an ensemble of dancers, choreographers, storytellers, and musicians who come together under a united artistic vision to create collaborative works. He is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards including the New York-Thayer Fellowship and the GOJ PM Award. He was most recently awarded the prestigious UW-Madison Romnes Fellowship. In February 2015, Walker was selected to present the annual Philip Sherlock Lecture in Kingston, Jamaica. Through New Traditions, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE is committed to presenting concert dance works rooted in Caribbean cultural traditions and experiences. Our 2016 festival will be a 2-night dance festival running from June 11-12, 2016.  More INFO and TIX: http://bit.ly/1QwP83g

[candancemoves]

Dances of Jamaica & the Caribbean: New Traditions Master Class

Sunday. 5/29 | 6:30pm | 53 Chambers St, New York, NY | $17 Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE in partnership with Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance is offering a New Traditions Master Class with DCC Featured Artist Chris Walker: Dive deep into Afro-Caribbean traditional and contemporary forms in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and Trinidad. Based on the work of Chris Walker (Dancer/Choreographer for The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica) for Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE's show "New Traditions," the class will also focus on expressing Caribbean movement; as well as provide context through the dances' rhythms, songs, and stories.This is an Open Level class and welcomes students of all levels. About Chris Walker: Chris Walker is an Associate Professor of Dance, and the Artistic Director of the First Wave program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a choreographer and dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, and Co-founder/Artistic Director of NuMoRune Collaborative—an ensemble of dancers, choreographers, storytellers, and musicians who come together under a united artistic vision to create collaborative works. He is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards including the New York-Thayer Fellowship and the GOJ PM Award. He was most recently awarded the prestigious UW-Madison Romnes Fellowship. In February 2015, Walker was selected to present the annual Philip Sherlock Lecture in Kingston, Jamaica. Through New Traditions, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE is committed to presenting concert dance works rooted in Caribbean cultural traditions and experiences. Our 2016 festival will be a 2-night dance festival running from June 11-12, 2016.  More INFO and TIX: http://bit.ly/1QwP83g

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DCC New Traditions Festival 2016: Dance Your Caribbean!

In honor of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE will present its second annual,  NEW TRADITIONS Festival 2016: Dance Your Caribbean! Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets PURCHASE TODAY: http://bit.ly/1QwP83g Through New Traditions, Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE is committed to presenting concert dance works rooted in Caribbean cultural traditions and experiences. Our 2016 festival will be a 2-night dance festival running from June 11-12, 2016. This Dance Your Caribbean festival will feature 'Facing Home: Love and Redemption', by Christopher Walker and Kevin A. Ormsby. The work explores the global impact of Bob Marley's music—its expression of humanity’s struggle and inspiration toward love, redemption and hope— and the culture of homophobia in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.  In addition, the festival will present NYC-based Caribbean choreographers - Jessica St. Vil,  Maxine Montilus,  Safi Hariott,  Shola Roberts and Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE Founder, Candace Thompson.  SATURDAY, June 11 Jessica St.Vil/Kanu Dance Theater Safi Harriott Shola Roberts & Company INTERMISSION Facing Home: Love & Redemption (Chris Walker & Kevin Ormsby) SUNDAY, June 12 Maxine Montilus Candace Thompson/ContempoCaribe INTERMISSION Facing Home: Love & Redemption (Chris Walker & Kevin Ormsby) TICKET INFO: Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets: http://bit.ly/1QwP83g Student/Senior $18.00 General $25.00 2 - Day Pass $42.00 See both nights of the show (each night's run presents different local choreographers) Premium Ticket $50.00 (Premium - Includes pre-show reception) TRANSPORTATION: Using the subway, the “F” train is the closest line. Coming from Manhattan take the F towards Coney Island – Stillwell Av to the York Street Station. It is approximately a 3-minute walk on Jay Street to GKA.

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Performance Day 4.5. 1st Soca Dance Masterclass for @ElleNYTT at Syracuse University done! They told me that among the minority students no matter where they're from Soca is popular at all the parties they all go to. Glad my culture is spreading joy in so many places. 😍 AND Donate to DCC we have 5 days left! Igg.me/at/dccdanceyourcaribbean (or link in bio) #supportdcc #danceyourcaribbean #ellenytt #socadance #socaculture #syracuseuniversity

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Me projected on the set of Douen Islands at Alice Yard in Woodbrook, Trinidad. Glad to be a part of the fabric of art happening on the island even though I'm far away. Thanks to the team for making it happen - Film direction and editing: @amzrpg of @renegadepg Livestream Technology: @crovvns Wardrobe: ContempoCaribe and @slmdances Design team in Trinidad: @notsirk @north_eleven Performance 1✔✔ Tomorrow @slmdances at @thefieldnyc's Fielday! #performancemarathon #aliceyard #douenislands #notsirkdesigns #kiskadee #supportdcc #danceyourcaribbean #linkinbio (at Alice Yard)

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The Performance Marathon begins today Saturday April 9. 1. @ElleNYTT Soca Dance Class at Mark Morris Dance Center | 3:30pm | $15 2. Tonight's show of Douen Islands at Alice Yard in Trinidad | 7pm | free See preview above. Ready, set, DANCE! See link in bio for the performances I have coming up this week :) #candancefit #contempocaribe #dccdiasporadance #dancecaribbeancollective #douenislands #slmdances #brooklynballet #ellenytt #markmorrisdance

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The Performance Marathon begins today Saturday April 9. 1. @ElleNYTT Soca Dance Class at Mark Morris Dance Center | 3:30pm | $15 2. Tonight's show of Douen Islands at Alice Yard in Trinidad | 7pm | free See preview above. Ready, set, DANCE! See link in bio for the performances I have coming up this week :) #candancefit #contempocaribe #dccdiasporadance #dancecaribbeancollective #douenislands #slmdances #brooklynballet #ellenytt #markmorrisdance

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Announcing the DCC Dance-a-thon Fundraiser FLASH SALE! Get tickets for $19 until tomorrow at midnight. Head to www.dccfundraiser.bpt.me and enter the code "DCC2016" at check out to claim your discount now! #supportdcc #dccfundraiser #jointheteam #weloveourdccfamily #ontheroadtonewtraditions #danceyourcaribbean

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Where my crew!! Sooooo How about 2.5hrs of nonstop AfroCaribWestIndian Dance! @dancecaribbeancollective is raising funds and wining waists towards our New Traditions Festival in June. Join us to wukup, carry on and support our culture. See link (scroll down towards the end) to buy tickets. April 16| 6pm | $25 | Gelsey Kirkland Academy | 29 Jay Street | Brooklyn | dccfundraiser.bpt.me #dccfundraiser #danceathon #danceclass #danceclassparty #caribbeandance #caribbeancommunity #marathon #burnout #lastfolkstanding #soca #zouk #afrosoca #afrobeat #dancehall #party #fete #dccevents #dancecaribbeancollective #danceyourcaribbean

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Yesterday at @dancecaribbeancollective Diaspora Dance Series for CaribFunk with A'keitha Carey. Who knew you could contract, release, roll down, samba, ogun, yanvalu, wine, wave and jump all in one class? Loved it! #diasporadance #caribbeandance #supportdcc #danceyourcaribbean #linkinbio (at Brooklyn Studios for Dance)

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DCC Dance-a-thon Fundraiser: Dance Your Caribbean! Help us to our goal at the DCC Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser Event- DANCE YOUR CARIBBEAN! Join us for 2.5 hours of non-stop AfroCaribWestIndian FUN! The event features a massive dance class party led by 4 DCC instructors and raffles and giveaways from our sponsors. Tickets: dccfundraiser.bpt.me The DCC Dance-a-thon fundraiser is a part of our #danceyourcaribbean fundraiser. To find out more about how to contribute follow this link: https://igg.me/at/dccdanceyourcaribbean/x WHEN: Saturday, April 16th TIME: 6:00 - 8:30 pm WHERE:Gelsey Kirkland Academy ADDRESS:29 Jay St. Brooklyn NY 11201 *Using the subway, the “F” train is the closest line. Coming from Manhattan take the F towards Coney Island – Stillwell Av to the York Street Station. It is approximately a 3-minute walk on Jay Street to GKA. CONTRIBUTION:$25

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Being an ambassador for @dancecaribbeancollective at the Brooklyn Arts Council Award ceremony! It's almost surreal that I founded an organisation that can represent the Caribbean voice in dance. Help us achieve our goals with New Traditions 2016 (our annual show during Caribbean Heritage Month) By supporting our fundraising campaign. Clink link in the bio today! #danceyourcaribbean #supportdcc #caribbeancommunity #caribbeanculture (at Borough Hall)