Press & Press Release

Interview for Mooney on Theatre

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:11:56 -0400

Original Link for Interview: http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2011/06/20/fringe-2011-an-interview-with-alaine-handa-of-a-h-dance-company-by-lucy-rupert/
Alaine Handa of A.H. Dance Company – 2011 Toronto Fringe Dance Interviews
By Lucy Rupert
Let me introduce myself. I’m Lucy Rupert, the artistic director of the local dance company Blue Ceiling Dance and a writer. I will be interviewing the dance companies participating in this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival and publishing them over the coming weeks. Below is my first interview, I hope you enjoy.
Today’s piece is my interview with Alaine Handa, the founder of A.H. Dance Company,and choreographer of the piece Chameleon, the experience of Global Citizens that they are bringing to the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival, which runs from July 6 – 17, 2011. The work investigates the experience of home amongst those who have found many geographical homes throughout their lives
You can also find out more information about their Toronto engagement through this post on their blog.
See below for our conversation:

LR: First could you tell me a bit about your path in the dance field?
AH: I started dancing at 4 in Indonesia. I remember when I was 8 I played the part of a rice grain. I carried a grain of rice and we swayed from one side of the stage to the other whenever a magical bird passed us.
When we moved to Singapore I became interested in tap and jazz and took up figure skating, training long hours until I broke my ankle and it was recommended that I take ballet again to strengthen my ankle. The following year I started choreographing for the dance shows at school and by the end of high school, I knew that I wanted to major in dance at college, to pursue choreography and start my own dance company.
I graduated from UCLA with a degree in World Arts & Cultures with a Dance Studies Concentration. We approached dance and dance-making as a way to bring change in the world.
LR: How did you get to the point of creating Chameleon?
AH: When I first started college, I attended Pitzer College in Claremont, CA – a small college in a small town. I had quite a bit of homesickness, culture shock, and reverse culture shock when I went to visit “home” for the first time after living in Southern California. I fell into a deep depression and felt out of place all the time.
I applied for a transfer to UCLA my 3rd year thinking that a change of environment will uplift my mood. During that transitional summer, I spent a lot of time with an old friend who was in Southern California. I told her what I had been feeling and she recommended that I read David C. Pollock and Ruth Van Reken’s book on Third Culture Kids. She said that what I was feeling was normal and that there were others like us. That book almost immediately brought joy and tears in discovering there were others like me.

I kept a journal and wrote poetry, prose, and drew my experiences out and brought these inspirations to the studio. I wanted to embody my experiences as a way of therapy for myself at first. Then, I wanted to create a community of Third Culture Kids and a way for us to tell others our stories. I created a Livejournal and Facebook Third Culture Kids groups. The very first draft of Chameleon was part of my senior project at UCLA.

When Barack Obama was elected President –he is a Third Culture Kid and members of his cabinet were also fellow Third Culture Kids — I knew the time was ripe to return to the project. I discovered that literature, research, and online communities have quadrupled since I started my research in 2003.

LR: Can you define for us the Third Culture Kid (TCK)?
AH: A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is someone who has grown up in different cultures and belong to all of them but also not fully able to belong. The TCK is a chameleon, fitting in and being the outsider looking in at the same time. Not fully grasping the concept of home from the physical sense. Instead home becomes a memory, a feeling, and the emotion of being at ease wherever you are.
LR: In the early 20th century many Europeans felt this same sensation, particularly in the inter-war years when borders and “nations” were changing rapidly and dramatically.
AH: Third Culture Kids around the globe share these sentiments regardless of age, race, heritage, geographic location, and socio-economic status.
LR: Chameleon’s integration of jewelry design is very intriguing…
AH: I met the jewelry designer through my friends’ online Third Culture Kid magazine called Denizen. She came to several rehearsals, I interviewed her for my TCK film and then she started designing. The prop pieces she created are architecturally complex; it was challenging to create pieces large enough to be seen by audiences in a mid-sized theater and flexible enough for the dancers to use.
LR: What was your choreographic process like?
AH: We spent a lot of time writing, drawing, improvising on the emotions and experiences of what home means to them. Every person had a different take. From the drawings, we came up with [movement] phrases and then like a jigsaw puzzle, I put them together. We taught each other our phrases so that we can be like Chameleons, trying different “homes”.

LR: It seems a common theme in many dance works recently. Our homes are becoming regions defined by the heart rather than border. Thanks for the interview Alaine. Have a great run at the Toronto Fringe Festival!

Details:
- Chameleon, the experience of Global Citizens will be playing in Venue 8 – Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
- Showtimes are as follows: Fri, July 8 10:30 PM Sun, July 10 7:15 PM Tue, July 12 6:30 PM Wed, July 13 4:00 PM Thu, July 14 11:15 PM Fri, July 15 Noon Sun, July 17 5:45 PM
- All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 – $10+$1 convenience fee)
- Several money-saving passes are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows

For immediate release

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:04:38 -0400

A.H. Dance Company presents Chameleon, the Experience of Global Citizens in Toronto Fringe Festival

Exploring the notions of home, cultural identity and relationships through dance with film, spoken word, music, photography, and jewelry design. Chameleon draws on the insight and experience of Third Culture Kids: those who have spent a significant period of time in a culture other than their own.

What: Chameleon, The Experience of Global Citizens

Who: A.H. Dance Company

Where: Helen Gardiner Phelan, 79A Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nearest Station: Spadina Station – Eastbound Platform, St. George Station – Eastbound Station, Museum Station – Northbound Platform

When:
Friday July 8, 2011 @ 10:30pm Sunday July 10 @ 7:15pm Tuesday July 12 @ 6:30pm Wednesday July 13 @ 4pm Thursday July 14 @ 11:15pm
Friday July 15 @ 12pm
Sunday July 17 @ 5:45pm

Tickets cost $10 and Advance Tickets can be bought online at FringeToronto.com

Chameleon Publicist:
Jennifer Sarc jennifersarc@yahoo.com
Alaine Handa ahdancecompany@gmail.com

Fringe Festival Publicists:
Heather Ervin, 416-966-1062 media@fringetoronto.com

About Chameleon
Chameleon is a multi-disciplinary presentation about global citizens who have been exposed to several cultures in their developmental years. Exploring the notions of home, cultural identity and relationships through dance with film, spoken word, music, photography and jewelry design, Chameleon draws on the insight and experience of Third Culture Kids: those who have spent a significant period of time in a culture other than their own.
The documentary film I am a TCK by Alaine Handa is a collection of in-depth interviews with global citizens, and explores issues of cultural misunderstandings, asks what is home, and shares memories of expatriate lives abroad. Interspersed throughout the film is choreography performed by A.H. Dance Company, with each section of the dance inspired by the individual cultural experiences of the performer.

About the Choreographer/Curator
Alaine Handa is attracted to work that engages audiences from a sociological context. Her choreography has been described as “quirky, honest, athletic, and lyrical.” Alaine received her B.A. from UCLA’s department of World Arts & Cultures in dance studies. In Los Angeles, she has worked with Yvonne Rainer, Simone Forti, Mandala Danceworks, Space + Movement Exchange, Victoria Marks, among others. Since relocating to New York City in 2005, she has performed for Larry Keigwin + Company, Sasha Soreff Dance Theater, Open Floor Dance, The Movement Collective, High Frequency Wavelengths, Gabrielle Lansner & Company, Scott Lyons & Company, and Stephanie Liapis. Her own work has been shown at Dance Forum, University Settlement, Abrons Art Center, Dance New Amsterdam, Movement Research, Merce Cunningham Studio Theater, Meridian International Children’s Festival, Capital Fringe Festival, Cool New York Dance Festival, and various other venues. Ms. Handa has lived in Indonesia, Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York. For more information please visit www.alainehanda.com.
About Toronto Fringe
The Toronto Fringe Festival attracts over 60,000 attendees each year to 150 productions at approximately 30 venues over 12 days each summer. This event is non-juried to provide equal opportunity for artists and community members from all walks of life to present their work to an enthusiastic and supportive audience. Productions range from dramas to musical extravaganzas to improv and take place in local theatres as well as in unusual spots: playgrounds, parking lots and more. A FringeKids! venue hosts eight plays exclusively for children and families. The festival also hosts a beer tent, two outdoor patios and free nightly special events. For more information, please visit www.fringetoronto.com.

A.H. Dance Company
A.H. Dance Company is a multicultural modern dance company based in New York City and performs work that reflects the diversity of the cast and various collaborators. Founded in December 2007, A.H. Dance Company has performed in various theaters, studios, community centers, conferences, and festivals in the United States.
A.H. Dance Company’s mission is to present and support independent contemporary artists and companies in New York and worldwide. Through collaborations with local dancers and artists of other mediums, A.H. Dance Company strives to share modern dance with communities that lack exposure to it. Through the work of Ms. Handa and the company members, A.H. Dance Company aims to present work that is engaging to a vast range of audiences.
For more information visit www.ahdancecompany.com

For immediate release

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

A.H. Dance Company presents Chameleon - the Experience of Global Citizens in Capital Fringe Festival

Exploring the notions of home, cultural identity and relationships through film, spoken word, theater, photography and dance, Chameleon draws on the insight and experience of Third Culture Kids: those who have spent a significant period of time in a culture other than their own.

What:
Chameleon – the Experience of Global Citizens

Who:
A.H. Dance Company & collaborators

Where:
The Apothecary, 1013 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
METRO: Mt. Vernon Sq. 7th street station (Green/Yellow)
Bus: 70, 71, 79, 80, G8, P6, X2

When:
Thursday July 8 @ 6pm Saturday July 10 @ 11am Friday July 23 @ 6pm Saturday July 24 @ 3:45pm Sunday July 25 @ 2:15pm

Tickets:
Tickets cost $15 and can be bought online at CapitalFringe.org

Chameleon Publicist:
Anna-Louise Herzog, anna.ahdancecompany@gmail.com
Tiffany Carr tiffany@bellashouseofpr.com

Fringe Festival Publicists:
Laura Gross, 202-265-5383, c: 202-255-2054, laura@capitalfringe.org
Abbey Franke, 202-362-1444 c: 202-251-4637, abbey@capitalfringe.org

About Chameleon
Chameleon is a multi-disciplinary presentation about global citizens who have been exposed to several cultures in their developmental years. Exploring the notions of home, cultural identity and relationships through film, spoken word, theater, photography and dance, Chameleon draws on the insight and experience of Third Culture Kids: those who have spent a significant period of time in a culture other than their own.
The documentary film I am a TCK by Alaine Handa is a collection of in-depth interviews with global citizens and explores issues of cultural misunderstandings, asks what is home and shares memories of expatriate lives abroad. Interspersed throughout the films is choreography performed by A.H. Dance Company with each section of the dance inspired by the individual cultural experience of the performer.

About the Choreographer/Curator
Alaine Handa is attracted to work that engages audiences from a sociological context. Her choreography has been described as “quirky, honest, athletic, and lyrical.” Alaine received her B.A. from UCLA’s department of World Arts & Cultures in dance studies. During her time at UCLA she performed at an installation of the Zen garden at the Fowler Museum, a site-specific dance piece at the Murphy D. Sculptural Garden. Alaine also delved into video production and choreography classes that involve performing and creating work in public places. In Los Angeles, she has worked with Yvonne Rainer, Simone Forti, Mandala Danceworks, Space + Movement Exchange, Victoria Marks, among others. Since relocating to NYC in 2005, she has performed with Larry Keigwin + Company, Sasha Soreff Dance Theater, Open Floor Dance, The Movement Collective, High Frequency Wavelengths, and more recently Gabrielle Lansner & Company. Her own work has been shown at Dance Forum, University Settlement, Abrons Art Center, Dance New Amsterdam, Movement Research, Merce Cunningham Studio Theater and various other venues. Ms Handa has lived in Indonesia, Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York. For more information please visit www.alainehanda.com.

About Capital Fringe
Capital Fringe is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in the summer of 2005 with the purpose of infusing energy into performing arts in the Washington, DC region through our yearly Fringe Festival and year-round Fringe Training Factory. Our mission is to connect exploratory artists with adventurous audiences by obtaining and creating outlets and spaces for creative, cutting-edge, and contemporary performance in the District. Capital Fringe encourages artists to express and develop their talents and artistic visions without barriers.

Capital Fringe is supported by the Government of the District of Columbia, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the Meyer Foundation, Dreyfus Foundation, PEPCO Holdings, MARPAT, Washington Post Company, Philip L. Graham Fund, The Downtown DC Business Improvement District, as well as invaluable support from our Fringe Family of Donors.

A.H. Dance Company Statement
A.H. Dance Company’s mission is to present and support independent contemporary artists and companies in New York and worldwide. Through collaborations with local dancers and artists of other mediums, A.H. Dance Company strives to share modern dance with communities that lack exposure to it. Through the work of Ms. Handa and the company members, A.H. Dance Company aims to present work that is engaging to a vast range of audiences. For more information visit www.ahdancecompany.com

# # #

Review on infinite body blog

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

InfiniteBody
A blog on arts, culture & whatever by Eva Yaa Asantewaa
http://infinitebody.blogspot.com/2010/05/handa-and-culture-chameleons.html

Friday, May 14, 2010
Handa and the culture chameleons
Perhaps the list of cities and countries in which you've lived since childhood is as long as your arm. Cultures other than your own have touched your life, shaping your view of the world--and of yourself. You're a TCK. That's a Third (or Trans-) Culture Kid--a sociological term from the 1960s--with far more in common with other global nomads than with folks from your own native culture.
That's the premise of an interesting program curated and produced by Alaine Handa, running this week at University Settlement on Eldridge Street. The multi-talented Handa--dancer, choreographer, make-up artist, photographer, videographer and director of A. H. Dance Company--drew together numerous collaborators and guest performers to artistically explore what it means to be rooted in rootlessness, a mobile citizen of a larger, more complex world than most people experience. The two-hour evening--Chameleon--employs a collage of dramatic monologue, spoken word, video, dance and music. The music selections are lovely, and the performers are all technically secure, vivacious and handsome--even when serving up dance that looks a bit generic rather than capable of sharply articulating the program's unique theme. But Handa's video, I am a TCK, successfully conveys the core and heart of her story.   With its segments interspersed throughout Handa's ensemble dance, 4. Chameleon--a world premiere--the video is a fairly standard talking heads interview clip compilation and, on occasion, the sound quality is wanting. However, it does introduce us to a wonderful, diverse group of young people who share what it's like to adjust to and benefit from a succession of foreign homes.  Handa's project--which she describes as "living, breathing, evolving and growing"--strikes me as the kind of work intended more to generate cross-cultural engagement, discussion and support than for the kind of cutting edge aesthetic innovation critics tend to expect. I enjoyed the video, in particular, because it gently drew me close to the lives of these interesting young people--a valuable experience in empathy.  Chameleon continues tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 at University Settlement (184 Eldridge St, corner of Rivington Street, on Manhattan's Lower East Side; map). Click here for information and ticketing.

For immediate Release

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Contact: Anna-Louise Herzog
(212) 430-5793
anna.ahdancecompany@gmail.com

The Performance Project @ University Settlement presents
A.H. Dance Company and Collaborators in
Chameleon
May 13-15, 2010 at 7:30 PM

The Performance Project @ University Settlement is proud to present, as part of their 2010 season, the world premiere performance of A.H. Dance Company and Collaborators’ Chameleon – May 13-15, 2010, at 7:30 PM. Performances will take place at University Settlement, located at 184 Eldridge Street (corner of Rivington St).
Tickets are $15/ $10 for students and seniors. Tickets are $5 for youth 18 and under. Advanced tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/98414. For more information call 212-453-4532 or email project.audience@gmail.com. This performance is suitable for all ages and will tour nationally and internationally in 2010.
Chameleon is a multi-disciplinary presentation about global citizens who have been exposed to several cultures in their developmental years. Exploring the notions of home, cultural identity and relationships through film, spoken word, theater, photography and dance, Chameleon draws on the insight and experience of Third Culture Kids: those who have spent a significant period of time in a culture other than their own.
The show opens with Shayna Padovano performing a monologue depicting a Filipina maid chasing the American Dream. The cinematic experience of Katherine Lung’s dance film Over Land and Water then takes the audience to a liminal place of transience. The documentary film I am a TCK by Alaine Handa then conducts in depth interviews with global citizens and explores issues of cultural misunderstandings, asks what is home and shares memories of ex-patriot lives abroad. Interspersed throughout the films is choreography performed by A.H. Dance Company with each section of the dance inspired by the individual cultural experience of the performer.
A.H. Dance Company will also be collaborating with University Settlement’s Houston Street Center, located at 273 Bowery, offering a performance on March 30 as part of the Tuesdays with US series, and mounting a Third Culture Kid photography show that will open on April 30. For more information, visit www.universitysettlement.org.
About the Choreographer/Curator
Alaine Handa is attracted to work that engages audiences from a sociological context. Her choreography has been described as “quirky, honest, athletic, and lyrical.” Alaine received her B.A. from UCLA’s department of World Arts & Cultures in dance studies. During her time at UCLA she performed at an installation of the Zen garden at the Fowler Museum, a site-specific dance piece at the Murphy D. Sculptural Garden. Alaine also delved into video production and choreography classes that involve performing and creating work in public places. In Los Angeles, she has worked with Yvonne Rainer, Simone Forti, Mandala Danceworks, Space + Movement Exchange, Victoria Marks, among others. Since relocating to NYC in 2005, she has performed with Larry Keigwin + Company, Sasha Soreff Dance Theater, Open Floor Dance, The Movement Collective, High Frequency Wavelengths, and more recently Gabrielle Lansner & Company. Her own work has been shown at Dance Forum, University Settlement, Abrons Art Center, Dance New Amsterdam, Movement Research, Merce Cunningham Studio Theater and various other venues. Ms Handa has lived in Indonesia, Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York. For more information please visit www.alainehanda.com.
About The Performance Project @ University Settlement
More than a venue, The Performance Project @ University Settlement is a resource for artists, audiences and the diverse and ever changing Lower East Side. We uniquely meld the work often divided among arts presenters, arts educators, youth development programs and artist service organizations into one cohesive, interconnected and community-focused whole. We present emerging and established artists who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community work, and who encourage and inspire people of all backgrounds to participate in the unrivaled art and culture that New York City offers. Through our series of cutting-edge theater, music, dance and performance art events presented in a welcoming environment at little to no cost, we aim to break down barriers and build community among the diverse groups that call the Lower East Side their home.
About University Settlement
University Settlement is one of New York’s most dynamic social service institutions with deep roots in the Lower East Side. Each year University Settlement’s diverse programs help more than 20,000 low-income and at risk people build better lives for themselves and their families. With an impressive legacy as the first settlement house in the United States, University Settlement has been an incubator for progressive ideas for over 120 years, offering pioneering programs in mental health, early childhood education, literacy and adolescent development that set the standard. Building on the strength of this experience, University Settlement now provides services at 21 locations in lower Manhattan as well as in upper Manhattan and Brooklyn.
A.H. Dance Company Statement
A.H. Dance Company’s mission is to present and support independent contemporary artists and companies in New York and worldwide. Through collaborations with local dancers and artists of other mediums, A.H. Dance Company strives to share modern dance with communities that lack exposure to it. Through the work of Ms. Handa and the company members, A.H. Dance Company aims to present work that is engaging to a vast range of audiences.
This project is sponsored by the following
Singapore International Foundation
Families in Global Transition
Everyday Crochet
TCKid.com
i hate this place
Denizen Magazine
The Luxury Spot
Holistic Health Fusion
GOSmile
Projet F
By Natalia Jewelry
YOR Health
Aqualia Spa
Dance of my hands photography
The Skinny

Review on ballet-dance magazine

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

http://ballet-dance.com/201002/articles/ahdance_chameleon_20090108_dombroski.html

A.H. Dance Company
'Chameleon'
by Victoria Dombroski
January 8, 2010 -- Dance New Amsterdam, New York, NY

The A.H. Dance Company performed a piece of work entitled “Chameleon” at the APAP
Conference Showcase at Dance New Amsterdam. This piece choreographed by Alaine Handa
incorporated both dance and film to carry out a variety of notions dealing with children growing
up in various countries all over the world, more than likely due to the careers of their parents
demanding travel. The title of the piece “Chameleon” was perfectly proper, as it was about
fitting in wherever one goes. These diverse young adults, who spent their upbringing in many
different countries, spoke of issues including homesickness, multi-cultural influences, and race.
Overall this amalgamation of film and dance to portray the sense of homesickness and lack of
belonging to one culture was remarkable. This piece was able to bring awareness of this topic
and lifestyle to an audience with true beauty and creativity.

The presentation started with a film that displayed different young adults talking about their
upbringing in different parts of the world. It was fascinating to hear them speak about, for
example, growing up in Japan for six years, Fiji for another two years, China for a year and a
half, and finally to America, as one discussed. One young woman described herself as having
the initial presence of an America, but really the Japanese culture was more in her blood than
American culture. When she thinks back to what home truly is for her, she naturally thinks of
where she spent most of her time growing up, which in her case was Japan. Another young
man, due to his constant travel as a child, was unable to create deep connections with others.
For all the speakers, their only constant in life was that they were sure they would have a new
home and set of friends wherever they traveled next. Their ability to adapt to constantly
changing environments became second nature.

The piece had a consistent flow between the themes in the film and the dancing on stage. At the
conclusion of the first section of the film, the dancing started as a solo, using slow hand gestures
of circular delicate movements in front of and above the dance’s head that almost created a
dream-like atmosphere. Dressed in a Japanese-style dress, the dance moved gracefully with
control and intensity about the stage. When she was on the floor she used her fingers to make it
appear as a person walking, and created a circle around herself. It seemed to be symbolism for
travel around the world and perhaps a wandering soul. As the piece continued with more
dancers, voices spoke strongly in the background talking about lost souls not entirely having a
home. The term home was considered an ambiguous term due to the constant traveling and
adaptation to yet again another place to live. They spoke about this movement as creating
happiness and sadness simultaneously. You create friends wherever you go next with ease
because you acquire a skill in it from the constant practice, but you know that you have been
quickly replaced wherever you just came from.

The dancing seemed to have a bewildered quality to it as the dancers moved their arms about
their heads as if in anger and confusion. There was one phrase that was repeated a few times,
“Confusion of cultures, uniquely me.” The dancers would look around themselves, searching
for something that never quite seemed to be at their grasp. It was a motion of looking for that
next new home and place to settle once again. The swaying arms towards the head reminded me
of a bubble of confusion and there was a lot of running from corner to corner creating a
panicking, uneasy emotion. The dancers would grab at the air in front of them and move
through space with no sense of stability and contentment. It was that yearning for more that kept
me wanting to watch and see if there would ever be a sense of resolution. The dancers were like
feathers on the wind and I liked the dreamlike quality that I felt from it. At one point the
dancers were using a hand shaking gesture as they moved quickly in a circle with an edgy and
tense quality, reinforcing the overwhelming sensation of always being on the move with a
constant change over of people.

Overall this piece was a beautiful representation of a lifestyle that is not commonly discussed or
even acknowledged by most. It allowed an audience to learn about and interpret this way of life
for themselves through the art of film and dance, thus leaving the audience with a unique
perception of the individuals’ lives in relation to their own.

For immediate release

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:24:05 -0500

Contact: Michael Mastroianni
(212)430-5793
realityfactory@gmail.com
ahdancecompany@gmail.com

A.H. Dance Company presents Marketplace

Alaine Handa and Dancers is proud to present its winter performance season at Merce Cunningham Studios on March 6th (9 pm), March 7th (8 pm) and March 8th (3 pm), 2009.

Marketplace premieres Maladroit and revisits Salaam with additional works choreographed by company members Yayoi Kubota & Emily Vetsch, as well as guest choreographer, Bridget Rawls. In addition, Alaine Handa’s latest dance film will premiere at Marketplace.

The performance begins with Maladroit, choreographed by Alaine Handa. It is a deliciously awkward piece that embraces the child in each of us and the awkward scenarios we encounter along the way. The word “maladroit,” meaning “inept, or an inept person,” takes on a new meaning as nine dancers mix grace and coordination with the discomfort of everyday interactions.

Maladroit is followed by Handa’s latest dance film that explores how hard it is to say goodbye to a good friend. Described as a “third-culture kid,” Ms. Handa said many farewells to friends leaving for other countries and cherishing all the memories that each person gave her. A third-culture kid "refers to someone who, as a child, spent a significant period of time in cultures other than his or her own, integrating elements of them and their birth culture into a “third culture.”

Salaam ends the performance, starting with a penultimate solo performed by Molly Campbell. It shows courage in the face of war as a Muslim woman from a poor family is “sold” to an organization that thrives on violence. Salaam, depicting the fear and pride of women in a war-torn nation, facing extremes of emotion and brutality every day, is performed by the full cast.

Marketplace, offering a selection of original and revived work and exhibiting both the profound and familiar, marks the beginning of A.H. Dance Company’s second year. Berita, the company’s first full show, drew sellout crowds and inspired the New York dance community to return remarkable praise for a young company’s first showing.

Alaine Handa and Dancers’ mission is to present and support independent contemporary artists and companies in New York and worldwide. Through collaborations with local dancers and artists of other mediums, Alaine Handa and Dancers hope to share modern dance to communities that lack exposure to it. Ms Handa's movement vocabulary is quirky, athletic, and lyrical.

Marketplace will be presented at Merce Cunningham Studios, 55 Bethune St. (btw. Washington St. & West Side Hwy.) on March 6, 2009 at 9 pm, March 7, 2009 at 8 pm, and March 8, 2009 at 3 pm (community performance with Young Dancers in Repertory). Tickets are available for $15 pre-sale online, and $18 at the door. (Student and Senior discounts available, TDF/V accepted here) For tickets please visit: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/53175

Michael Mastroianni
Company Manager
A.H. Dance Company
http://www.alainehanda.com

For immediate release

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Contact: Michael Mastroianni
917-423-5390
realityfactory@gmail.com

A.H. Dance Company presents Berita

Alaine Handa and Dancers is proud to present its first full performance engagement, opening May 9th (9pm) & May 10th (8pm), 2008, at Merce Cunningham Studios in the heart of Manhattan’s West Village.

Berita, the Bahasa word for “news,” is a series of performances examining the depth of media in everyday culture and the ways it infiltrates our society and individual consciousness. It features choreography from a variety of dancers studying different disciplines

What happens when the path you are on is no longer the way to go? Sasha Soreff Dance Theater’s If You Can’t Get There From Here, Stand Still opens the show with an exploration of the vicissitudes of motion and the impulse to slow down.

Drifting in Delta will be Khoi Le’s first piece presented in New York. It follows concepts laid down by Erick Hawkins’ and Martha Graham’s techniques. Madina Agenor’s following duet delves into the complexities of human affectivity. It tells the story of an emotional connection between two people that transcends the boundaries of time, place and gender.

Alaine Handa’s first performance mirrors latchkey kids wasting away in front of television and video games. It is followed by Caber Tossed, a sneak peek into the two-dimensional world of childhood games such as Super Mario Brothers and Super Bonk.

Themes of pop culture continue into Alaine Handa’s and Jenny Boissiere’s duet regarding the unnecessary expectation on resembling the superslim goddesses of runway models and Barbie dolls. Homage to La-La-Land explodes this stereotype into a comical snapshot of the fashion industry and hyper-sexuality of the media, transforming innocent starlets to look “Hollywood perfect.”

A trio performed by Emily Vetsch, Khoi Le and Yayoi Hirano follows, dealing with two lovers suffering through the loss of each other in times of war and witnessing the schism through a haze of drugs and alcohol. Red Satin Puppets shows dancers Melanie Monterey and Sarah Gelband bound to each other in a dark examination of pawn governments, blurring the line between puppet and puppeteer.

A penultimate solo performed by Molly Campbell shows courage in the face of war as a Muslim woman from a poor family who is “sold” to an organization that thrives on violence. Berita ends with Salaam, a piece about Muslim women in a war-torn nation, facing extremes of emotion and brutality every day.

Alaine Handa and Dancers has a mission: to present and support independent contemporary artists and companies in New York and worldwide. Through collaborations with local dancers and artists of other mediums, Alaine Handa and Dancers hope to share modern dance to communities that lack exposure to it. Ms. Handa's movement vocabulary is quirky, athletic, and lyrical.

Berita will be presented at Merce Cunningham Studios, 55 Bethune St. (btw. Washington St. & West Side Hwy.) on May 9 & 10, 2008 at 9 pm & 8 pm respectively. Tickets are available for $15 ($12 Seniors/Students, TDF/V).

Michael Mastroianni
Company Manager
A.H. Dance Company
http://www.alainehanda.com

For immediate release

Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

May 14, 2007
Contact: Alaine Handa
(212)430-5793
themovementcollective@gmail.com

The Movement Collective presents…
From the Ground

The Movement Collective is back and proud to present From the Ground dance showcase, a look into the eccentric minds of some of NYC’s hottest up and coming choreographers. From the Ground hits the catwalk with an explosion of energy bound to have audiences on the edge of their seats. The Movement Collective’s very own, Alaine Handa, Sarah Milosevich, Molly Campbell, Briana Fails, Anne Lukaska, and Roger Dunson, bring you through a tour of virtual reality, political and social satire, tornados, wildly hot and bawdy burlesque, disturbing recollections of sexual abuse, and censorship. Along with The Movement Collective’s choreographers, From the Ground will also showcase four guest choreographers to celebrate the diversity of dance in New York City. Among them are Shelley Hardin, Ariel Grossman (York Danceworks), Amy Secada (Kinetic Junglist Movement), and Graham dancers/choreographers (Laura Beneitez, Carolina Marquez, Esther Eiras).

Alaine Handa will be unveiling three distinctly different dances. Caber Tossed, is a sneak peak into the two-dimensional world of video games, inspired from playing Super Mario Brothers and Super Bonk as a child on long flights. Ms. Handa’s second dance piece displays two dancers tied to each other in a dark exploration of puppet governments, blurring the line of manipulation. Ms Handa’s final dance piece, Homage to La-la land is a comical snapshot of popular culture and the fashion industry. Ms Handa emphasizes the over-sexualization of the media, through a transformation of “innocent starlets” to look “Hollywood perfect”.

Molly Campbell’s solo is a collaboration with a New York based spoken word artist, Gary Bonadonna. It’s late at night, the artist’s surroundings are unclear, and the only thing in focus is his object of desire.

Sarah Milosevich, in her NYC debut as a choreographer, is presenting a piece that explores the psychology of a storm using movements inspired from rain, thunder, winds, and climaxing into a swirling tornado. Her inspiration is drawn from her personal experiences of growing up in the middle of tornado alley.

From the Ground will be Briana Fails, Anne Lukaska, and Roger Dunson’s debut with The Movement Collective. Fails piece is a moving recollection of sexual abuse. “When faced with inescapable vulnerability, pain is often a lonesome cry and even those who love us most can't save us.” (Fails) In Anne Lukaska’s piece a trio of dancers give an interpretation of censorship by covering each other’s eyes, ears, mouths as well as their own. “In a society of freedom, it is alarming that we are frightened of sharing our feelings to others. We get angry when we’re censored by others but how much do we censor ourselves?” (Lukaska) In contrast, choreographer Roger Dunson brings to the stage, his “rock and roll” burlesque meets Marilyn Monroe dance piece. Mr Dunson’s choreography is fast, fun, flashy, and downright funny. My Heart Belongs to Daddy was originally staged for Miami’s Revolver Party at Studio B. Mr. Dunson dubs the piece as “Courtney Love meets Moulin Rouge with a sour Fosse flavor.”

Among the guest choreographers, Shelley Hardin, will be unveiling her solo with an exploration of how a mask can transform the way we perceive the person behind it. Her solo debuted at Merce Cunningham Studios for the Chunk in 9 dance showcase earlier this year. Ariel Grossman is co-artistic director of York Danceworks and her piece, 24 Transitions details the dichotomy of a 24-year old woman stuck between adult responsibilities while simultaneously holding onto childhood innocence. On the flipside, Amy Secada, founder of Kinetic Junglist Movement, chose to embrace the innocence and curiosity in The Lost Children, a mythological story about creation through mother spirit. Lastly, Carolina Marquez, Laura Beneitez, and Esther Eiras will present their collective piece, Strings, which features live music by professional dancer and cellist, Laura Beneitez. The dance is set on three women, who are overcome by envy and “open the darkest places of their souls to finally destroy each other.” (Marquez) All three of these women hail from Spain and their movement quality embody the drama and intensity of both Graham technique and flamenco.

With such diversity in one show, The Movement Collective is excited for From the Ground and we hope you will join us on July 28, 2007. Tickets are available for $15 at the door. Teatro la TEA, 107 Suffolk Street (between Delancey and Rivington), Suite 200, New York, NY 10002; 3 pm & 7 pm shows. We hope to see you there!

Alaine Handa
Renee Ines Gonzalez
Molly Campbell
Co-Artistic Directors
The Movement Collective
http://www.geocities.com/themovementcollective

For Immediate Release

Mon, 1 Jan 2007 16:58:45 -0500

January 1, 2007
Contact: Alaine Handa
(212)430-5793
themovementcollective@gmail.com

THE MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE presents….
TANGLED!

The Movement Collective is proud to present TANGLED! -- a collaboration between dancers, choreographers, musicians, beatboxers, videographers, and photographers. Featured choreographers include Molly Campbell, Renee Gonzalez, Alaine Handa, and Jenny Schworm. An exciting evening of dance featuring selections from each of the choreographers, TANGLED! will take you on a rollercoaster ride of different emotions.

Alaine Handa’s first piece, Caber Tossed, is a daring athletic piece with hints of humor, insanity, and colorful vibrancy. Ms. Handa’s piece invokes images of pop rocks, video games, and tossed salads. The music is collaboration with the talented Human Drum Machine a.k.a. Nick Fox and the likes of Postal Service-meets-indie-rock Sean Nerney. Ms. Handa’s second piece, Porcelain Pieces details the story of a woman distressed from the loss of her first love -- performed by two women moving together as one psyche. Ms. Handa’s final piece, a solo, portrays the confused nature of growing up in an expatriate community overseas.

Renee Gonzalez presents two works beginning with Breaking Through, an evolution from the themes of uncertainty and confusion to life changes, acceptance, growth and unity. Ms. Gonzalez’s solo piece, Tears in the Night, she attempts to put herself in the shoes of her grandparents and understand the trials they endured during their migration from Portugal to America.

Jenny Schworm, explores the eternal matter of the heart and its efforts to heal, using the tools of yogic philosophies and practices. Through her movement, Ms. Schworm replicates the seemingly endless struggle the heart and soul has to go through after being violated. This piece details the feeling of total upheaval in one’s life, while also revealing the total strength and self-resilience of the heart.

Finally, Molly Campbell’s piece is a powerful infusion of Motown-influenced jazz and urban hip-hop. Unlike the other choreographers, Ms. Campbell brings a style very reminiscent of a West Coast dance scene. Her energy is evident as the piece brings to life the desired glamour, power, and soul women have captured and competed for throughout time.

Tickets are available for $10 at the door at Teatro la TEA, 107 Suffolk Street (between Delancey and Rivington), Suite 200, New York, NY 10002; 2:30 pm, February 18, 2007.

We hope to see you there!

Alaine Handa
Renee Gonzalez
Molly Campbell
Co-Artistic Directors
The Movement Collective
http://www.geocities.com/themovementcollective