So, here I am back in Nyc,

You know what, I have only been in my home for the weekends this whole month, and where I seem to be shuffled back to is New York, so that's it and I;ve decided, I will be moving to NYC at the end of june!!

I have been here all week cause there has been an audition every day that I wanted to go to. Well, Once you get here, or I should say once things actually start panning out, and you're in the week, and life happens to you, you end up picking and choosing what is actually worthwhile auditioning for. For instance, I decided to not go to the WIZARD OF OZ call, cause it's only for a dinner theatre in Ohio! and Would I really want to do that show for an extended period of time, yeah I didn't think so.

Tuesday comes I get up early and go to another call for a new Broadway show, that is untitled. Now things like this bring people out of the woodwork, all kinds of people I hadn't seen before, and alot of the Equity regulars. And I mean alot, there was over 100 equity boys there, and then came us non ecs. Usually male calls don't get over the hundred mark. So I knew this was going to be a long wait, on top of that it was for a Gershwin project, which means old, and WHITE. This is just probably going to be a show with non so many black tracks(ie. roles for black people). SO I decided to leave and go work out, I figured I had another one later that day so wasn't worried about it, but what was funny is that on my way to the other studio, I stopped by Gershwin again and found out that my name had just been called to go in, I did wait and ponder if I was going in, but I decided not too. I headed down town to a studio I had never been before, and after finding it, was kind of weirded out. The ambiance was weird cause there were african type trinkets everywhere, it was a Capoeria studio. The weirdest place I have ever had a Broadway audition.

Well after waiting for what seemed to be a day, they finally got thru all the equity boys. It had been over an hour, and it was good thing they were done, cause we were making ourselves delirious with laughter, from the long wait weirded out environment, and crazy anxiousness. We had already seen one group come out incredibly soaked from sweat, and knew this was going to be an intense combination.

So we learned the most fun, fierce dance combo. It was great!!! It was a dance worth waiting for, haven;t had that much fun in an audition in a while.( though Lyrics audition was pretty fun). But again they were not making any cuts cause it was the first round of their whole process. Oh well. They let us dance it one more time just for the sheer fun of it. Awesome!!

Man I love to dance.

Well I was supposed to go to an audition on wed. but lets just say I only got home an hour before the morning news came on, so by the time the audition rolled around, I was sleep. It's ok, It wasn't a huge dancing show. But the great thing was despite that, I got a call back from MEMPHIS for thursday!!!, And then on top of that, I got a call from OK with a contract to do both SWING and 7BRIDES!!!!!!!!!!! WWWHHHHHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!

So I was way excited and happy to land this gig, with these 2 shows that I really wanted to do. And it's great timing in my schedule it will start like a week after I get back from Germany and London. I'm so totally stoked for that experience!!!!!!!!!!! Man I can't wait to find out I'm one of the brothers!!!!!!!!!!hahahahahahahha

Lyric theatre of Oklahoma

So I traveled up to New York again Last Tuesday for an audition for the tour of MY FAIR LADY, the National Tour and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS,and, URINETOWN, that this theatre in Oklahoma is doing for the summer. Now there was no real reason to audition MFL cause that was for just replacements for the tour which is only going til June, it was kind of weird and stupid that they were even having an audition, so that was just about auditioning.

WHat I mean by that is auditioning for auditioning sake. To sharpen my skills, at presenting myself, having a good time, picking up the dance combinations quick, that sort of thing. In this bizness, it's not just about being good at dancing and singing, but it's about auditioning well at the same time. Yeah that's another skill you have to learn. Now The combinations we learned were fun, and totally opposite, and all about being a character. In fact we really didn't have to stretch at all for these dances. The first one we had to act like we were drunkards, and the second like upper class snobs. Nice contrasts. Now what happened when it was all done is something that pretty much everyone agrees to hate on, and that's when the people who are looking at us don't make cuts. So they didn't cut any of us, and just gave us a blanket covering of information, and crap. oh well.

Now what I really wanted to perform well for was for the theatre in OK. I would love to dance in 7brides for 7bros. Now don't get mixed up by the name, it's not 7 Brothras, trying to find wives, No actually it's the opposite it's this mountain family of men in some country town. The movie is awesome, I totally recommend renting and watching it, it's freakin awesome, and all the Brothers have red hair! And the dance sequences are incredible. It's just a great male dancing musical. So I finally get in there to learn the dance, in he freakin teaches us the whole long thing, which is really complicated in just ten mins!! Lots of us were frustrated, cause this dance is all about guys gettin it! I mean big toe touches, and leaps and athleticism. And it was a pretty fun invigorating combination so we wanted to do well. At first I was scared and frustrated cause I couldn't get the transition of some steps, and sometimes, no matter how proficient you think you are, you feel to intimidated to ask questions. But Praise God by the time I had to perform it, I knew where I was going. I did a pretty good job, but what was to my benefit were the big jumps at the end. I praise God for the power in my legs, and I was surprised that a lot of the men couldn't get up as high, and stay on beat with the music. After everybody went, the Director asked to see a group go again, and he called 4 guys out, which I happened to be one of. One was this tall guy with big legs that were really spread wide when he was in the air, this other was this kid that you could tell he liked from giving him corrections before. SO I new this was a special group he was looking at. So we went, and people were cheering at us, and pumpin us up to dance well, and really perform, I had a fantastically great time!! And was so exited that I got called out.

Now this was just the day of no cuts, cause they didn't make selections either, but kept us all to sing. Which made the day even longer. Time passes, we take over the floors and lay around and become friends with people, including this guy who I met before at other auditions, who turns out to be in the movie I love ACROSS THE UNIVERSE! So I finally get in there to sing, I was forewarned about the pianist semi egotistical attitude, and saw exactly what everyone meant. sang my song nice and short, and on the way out one women gives me this compliment, " you have a beautiful head." umm, what I thought. Yes She proceeded to tell me that the shape of my head was great. Well what can I say, it was definitely weird though. I left the room, and went back to the holding room, and just about when I got to my stuff that woman came and chased me down and proceeded to secretively talk to me. I say that cause she was all close talking low, and asked me if I had the schedule open to dance in their other show that they still needed a dancer for, which happens to be SWING. Another show I would love to be apart of. So that made me feel totally awesome, and I'm just praying that I get that whole gig. It would be right after I come back from Germany. I added the famous barn dance for you to watch over on the side,!!! Please Enjoy

A quick breath

PHEEEEEWWWWW!!!!!!

Well, I am finally back. And I can finally get back into a groove of letting you know what's going on. I am sorry for those of you who have had nothing to do while I have been delinquent in not writing and keeping you updated. My life has been a whirl wind of travel, and opportunity, and new experiences!! Which is totally, fantastically, Awesome!!!!!

SO I have been in New Milford, CT rehearsing with the Dance company Pilobolus. Now I should clarify, I am not in the main company, no they are touring as we speak around the globe. But since they are wanted so much they have to have satellite companies that can do other gigs, hence where I come in, and the other cats in my company.

Now My company consists of the Director Otis who was in the main company for about 10 yrs, actually if you look down he's the white bald guy holding up those 3 other people in the picture. Yeah he's totally awesome too. He's like My big brother, we have the same kind of body type, and bald head, and love for dessert! Oh and we both have this really uncanny knack to become characters, just change our bodies and faces to create different people. So we're kind of paired against each other in our piece.

Then we have 5 others who have been performing with the satellite company for a while, Cdub, Cree, Holly, Molly, and Mark. They have been great in helpin us newbies learn the material, and feel comfortable about being ourselves and being there, and opening ourselves to create. The 3 others who got hired like me for this cast are, Mauriah, Lauren, and Jeff. So there are 10 of us, and the awesome thing is we all get along, and have a great time with each other.

Now Pilobolus work is very physical, and at times crazy, as you can tell from the pictures I've shown you before, so getting our bodies acclimated to this style took a while. Let me just tell ya, a 9 o clock felt like midnight, so after a 10 hr day, we pretty much crashed at 10pm the first week. Which explains why I was too tired to really write at the time what was going on. Now by the 2 week, we were starting to grasp things, so we were able to start hangin out with each other in our hotel rooms at night, but again only for like an hr or so, cause we would still need to go to bed at decent times to crank our bodies out the next day.

The piece we're working on is for a performance in Germany, and it's just a 1 time gig so we'll put it together, go over there and work it out for 2 and a half weeks and then be done. And if Pilobolus doesn't like me, they can just never call me again, but hopefully the plan for them is to keep using me, which is what I hope. Now since it is a one time gig, we don't have a consistent rehearsal schedule, actually it's kind of on crack. We had 2 and a half weeks on, and now we have 6 weeks off, then 3 days on, then 2 weeks off, then 5 days on then we go to Germany. The only nice thing about the time off is we can actually get back in shape again. Now It's not that we're not being physical, but it's not technical dancing, or even aerobic dancing, it's a lot of choreographed movements with certain dance flair. Now what's funny is that I am considered to be this Dancer- dancer, this ballet boy, who is just all about technique, Now I don't know how this came to be, but whenever there actually needs to be a beat or a count to a rhythm, they get me to count it. Or they'll ask me for some dance move or always assure me that they'll be some dancy moment. I just laugh. So I just try and live up to that.

More to come!!

Pilobolus day 2

WE come back for day 2 at noon, ready and warmed up for partnering. Actually the ballet class that was using the studio before us went over time, so we ended up stretching our mess in the hall way. Aw well do what you have too.

SO they seperated us girls and boys, about 11 or so in each group, and they sat us down and got our availibility, gave us some information like they were going to use all of us, pretty cool. They started out with us doing , big surprise!!!,....IMPROVS! We split up on the sides of the room, and they would call a number and that many people would run out and improv. That was fine. We do that agian, and I end up going in a group with 3 other guys. Well it was 2 martial arts guys, and another dancer like myself, so they tried to make us all have the same kind of movement which wasn't really happening, so they stopped us, and had us just simply be in competition with each other. What started out as me jumping out in front of the line ended up being us in a circle jumping up and down primal like, beating our chests, and throwing our arms in the air. It was hysterical for everyone.

After this pass they had us do another you guessed it improv, but this time in duets where they picked our partner. It's way easier to create with one person, umm that is as long as you have a good person. I was watching everybody, and seeing who were good movers and had a creative flow, and worked well with others, and the one person I was absolutely asking God to not be with, or course ends up being the person I am paired with. SO I try and just change my attitude and make the best of it, grab her hand and walk into the middle of the space, as I stop to turn front to get direction, she keeps going and ends up jerking my arm, and from that I knew that this was going to be nothing but conflict. Well it ended up not working so well, that they once again stopped us, and simply told us to play the slap game, so I slap her hands( and not softly either).So we're slapping, I mostly, and then she slaps my shoulder, and then the next time she like shoves into my stomach. Now at this point I am at a loss for words cause this is definitely not the definition of the slap game, so I am getting upset. So upset that basically I end up totally picking her up swinging her around my body a couple of times so she looses her baring, and maybe gets a little scared, throw her semi over my shoulder and just slap her butt continuosly, and she ended up slapping my leg upside down. The end. Well they loved it, while I hated the whole thing.

We then Headed into some real partnering, big lifts, and cool flips over shoulders, and fun weight shifting, and weight sharing excercises. We ended moving about 5pm, thats right 5 hrs. We were done at this point, and got to change our clothes and chill out. They wanted to talk to everyone one by one. and all the girls got to go first. So basically we were just playing around and chilling out from this long process, getting to know the other dancers and cultivating relationships.

I was one of the last 3 people they talked too, at 645pm

SO I sit down in this circle of the 2 original starters of the company, the head producer, a couple company members, maybe an artistic director. The main person who is speaking to me is the head producer I think, and the first thing he says to me is, well" when you first walked in here we immediately thought you had the totally wrong body type for their company, and that I was not going to really even be looked at." yeah um I was kind of flabbergasted and really didn't know how to react, but he continued," but as you kept moving, that where was not a point where each one of us didn't say wow he's awesome!" Pheww! So we continued from there, and they asked me what my goals were, and personal stuff. I told them about being let go from the tour, and how I was preparing for Cirque, well when they heard that they immediately went into securing me. They told me that they wanted to offer me a contract with them, but wanted me to say yes to them right there before they offered it to me, despite what happened with Cirque. Yeah definitely a little shady on there part. But I agreed realizing that this company would be a great thing to be apart of. I found out that this company is like a huge family. In which they constantly call people out of the blue to do different gigs, and performances, and commercials, so I wanted to get in.

Otis called me the next afternoon. He was one of the alumni company members there who was helping running the auditions, and he offered me a contract to dance with him and his crew for a gig in Germany!

In the family!!

Pilobolus DAY1

Well, here we go
Sorry I thought I was going to be able to write during the week after rehearsals, but man I end up going to bed at like 10 just knocked out. So here it is Sunday, doing what the Lord says to do and taking a day of rest, to catch up.

So, Wednesday( 2 weeks ago). I catch the 10am greyhound bus to NYC pretty standard, it'll get me there by 121opm and I have 20 mins to get to the studio, and check in, for the 1pm go, not stressed no problem. Well of course there happens to be some massive traffic problem, of course the day where I have no time to spare in between. So this uncomfortable ride where the bus is packed and I'm sitting with an odd shaped bag under my feet, which doesn't cause me to sit up, and an overweight bag in my lap, that usually lasts 2 hrs, ends up being pretty much 3, without a lot of pauses. Very Painful. As I look at the time I figure Ok, I guess I'm not meant to be at this audition, which I thank God this was not the major thing I was trying to go after, cause I was able to just stay relaxed, and say oh well, Cirque is Saturday!
But I was trying to figure a way out to still audition today, now I knew I would be cutting it close, so I figured worse comes to worse I could just try and finagle(I have no idea how to spell that), my way into the call back the next day. We finally get into the city, and I scramble to get to the subway and get the quickest train I can up town. Now I haven't been to this studio space before so I didn't even know exactly where I was going, but I end up getting on the wrong train then I anticipated, SHOOOT! this will take even more time, gees maybe I'm really not supposed to be here. Well As I shoot pass the stop I think I should be getting off at, I settle for the extra blocks I'll have to walk, It's all about changing your attitude, but as I get off and start trying to find an exit that leads me closer to where I need to get out, I realize that I made a mistake in my address, and that I was actually only a block up from where I needed to be, and That God had once again put me in the place where I needed to be, despite myself. HA
Anyway, so I rush to find this place, end up going in the wrong building and finally come to this place. I get up stairs and I see this young woman hanging out in the stairwell, with what looks like a sign in sheet. She realizes I'm there to audition and shes like umm, I ask if it's to late, and she decides to just teach it to me right there in the hall way, so I throw my stuff down, change clothes in a storage closet and go. No warm up, no stretch, Oh well, gotta do what you do.
SO I learn the phrase, it wasn't really a dance just movement, running, jumping, stopping, rolling. The thing that was perplexing me though was how quiet it was, there was no music coming from the studio where they were auditioning, and I just saw these guys, half topless, just waiting by the door looking into the studio. So after the phrase you go back to the corner and then one by one improv across the floor. So I join the last group, the last guy to go, we walk in stand in a line of which I am on the end of on the right, between 10-15 guys. We all state our names, age,where we're from, and how tall we are, and then we go off to the side, and GO.
So I pass the cut, and as they delegate what else needs to be done, I try and warm up, and stretch. They Have us do another improv pass, and he tells us to bring it, so I stretch out my hyper extension, and plan to bring it. I work it out starting off with some fast turns which go right into a turning leap to the ground. Do a toe touch, and a kick to my face and then a layout which is another kick to my face, and then while my leg is in the air I bend back. Awesome. and then I do a huge horizontal barrel turn( I love barrel turns), but as I land my foot semi slips, but my hands catch it just in time, and it all happens right when they called time,YES! They have us do another pass, they say they want something different, and full of energy, so I decide to do the opposite of what I thought was strong and manly, so I totally ditz out, just kind of skip hopping and flailing my arms, not dancing just really acting flamboyantly queer actually, but in the middle I break out into a krumping mode(popping my chest back and forth real quick, for all you non hip hoppers). I get mad laughs from that, so I feel good. They have us do another pass! this time they ask if we can loose our shirts, and then says well actually as much skin as possible. I have to admit I turned to the lady who taught me the phrase and asked if she wanted me to go down to dance belt, we laughed and agreed I was fine. Now I was running low on creative ideas, and was so relieved when I saw that he was directing to people on what to do. He made this one guy stand as tall as he physically could on his tip toes, which of course was not tall enough, then brush his teeth fiercely, and sing marry had a little lamb. Um, it was hysterical. Another guy had to from a neutral position turn into a hunchback, Another did half is improv with his eyes clothes, very daring. Now I went up there and presented myself, and in a stance that said alright give me your best, and actually one of the other guys leading the audition saw that , and said Yeah Bring it on! Well first he had me bring my shoulders to my ears, no make them touch leave um there, no dance! All the while he's yelling at me to keep my shoulders up and keep dancing. It kind of felt like he was saying "DANCE MONKEY DANCE!"
Well I was the end of all that, they had another cut, and then told the rest of us to come back at 5pm with the other group of guys, but what was really cool is they asked the 6 of us that were left when our availability was, and how soon we could start. That's never happened to me in an audition before. Oh and out of the 6 the teeth brusher, the hunchback, the closed eyes, were all in it. Now I thought the call back was the next day, so I figured they just decided to have it tonight instead, which was all fine by me. During the break I find the nearest gym, and stretch out some more, and do some crunches, gotta stay as snatch as I can. I get back around 430 to find that they are having the girls call back, and I find my friend Sara(the one who was doing Cirque with me who can stand on her shoulders, you know). 5 comes and they call the guys from the first group in and let the 6 of us watch them, actually we were all in by this point, including the girls they kept. Now they only had to do one improv pass, and then they made a cut, I felt that was unfair, but I'm also glad I was in the group I was in cause this group had a lot of acrobatic, martial arts type of guys, while ours was more dancy. Well after the made their last guy cut, there was some confusion as to what was going to happen, it was like 630 by this point, and we were only supposed to be there til 7. So they decide to just work with the boys for the rest of the night. We work on some cool partnering things, some sharing of weight exercises, and cool shifting moving things. Now I started out with a pretty rough partner, that just wasn't making me look good at all, but then God worked it out as usual that I got the best person, in fact this guy was the only other diesel guy there besides myself(dare I say). Actually one of the guys from the company came over to us and was working with us, and told us that they were actually really looking at us 2 for their company and that they really liked us, so needless to say I felt really good. and I was wrong, they told us to come back the next day at 12 ready to do a lot of partnering. That was day 1