Comments for The Clytemnestra Project http://clytemnestraproject.com Documenting the Martha Graham Dance Company Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:18:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on NYU Residency at Skirball by Krzysztof http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/09/18/nyu-residency-at-skirball/#comment-244 Krzysztof Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:47:12 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=105#comment-244 beautifull expresion,if cassandra love,with Q one feet alone,hey beautifull expresion,if cassandra love,with Q
one feet alone,hey

]]> Comment on On your own by Hayley http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/18/on-your-own/#comment-158 Hayley Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:18:34 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=95#comment-158 Thank you so much, Blakely! Being a part of this piece has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience. It is a huge inspiration to think about Panorama, its origins, and Martha Graham's vision for dancers as a whole. So thank you very much for helping all of us realize our potential as dancers- it has been an exhausting and completely rewarding adventure! Thank you so much, Blakely!

Being a part of this piece has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience. It is a huge inspiration to think about Panorama, its origins, and Martha Graham’s vision for dancers as a whole. So thank you very much for helping all of us realize our potential as dancers- it has been an exhausting and completely rewarding adventure!

]]> Comment on A Message From Janet Eilber, Artistic Director by Lucy W. http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/01/a-message-from-janet-eilber-artistic-director/#comment-156 Lucy W. Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:20:51 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=83#comment-156 Hello! It is so nice to return to this website and have so many memories right at my fingertips! I just looked back at a few things on here and it has really made me smile. I cannot express what a valuable and, really, magical experience those three weeks were for me. I feel much more confident about the Graham technique, rep, and everything in between, and also feel as though I really got to LIVE the Graham life for those weeks… so so so cool!! I also still get goose bumps, sometimes, when I think of getting to watch those rehearsals, seeing Denise, my teacher, and Goddess, even before Skidmore, dance in those Clytemnestra Rehearsals, referring to the Company by first name, and having them know and spend time with me, and getting to learn the Cassandra name-calling, Panorama, and part of Maple Leaf Rag. Since the residency I had a few weeks at home in NY, and then I went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance for a month long intensive there. ?!?! Part of what we did at SFCD, was learn the repertory and technique (Gaga) of Ohad Naharin/ Batsheva. His technique is certainly veryyyy different from that of Martha Graham, but it has some relationships which I was able to tap into a fair amount! There is a lot about energy coming from the pelvis, and even about exploding from the pelvis, and that made sense instantly to me… Thanks Graham Company and directors!!! There was no actual Graham offered, but I found myself making some of my strongest connections with those people there who had experienced Graham in one way or another, and whom were moved by it. I even showed the Clytemnestra website to a few people, and they all found it to be very exciting. No matter how hard I tried, though, I always found it difficult to describe just how perfect the Skidmore program was, but whenever I did describe it at all, everyone was amazed that I got to learn Graham rep, PERFORM IT IN THE SAME SHOW AS THE COMPANY, live so closely with everyone, and work with such significant people in the Graham, and really the dance, world all the while, WATCH REHEARSALS, and so much more. As I reflect upon it, myself, I also realize that it was truly a unique experience to get to know such wonderful fellow students, as well, because we were all there for the same reason, and we all were growing so much so quickly. I remember sitting down in my Skidmore single room one night with about five other people, and we all spent hours looking through various Martha Graham books, in awe of the intensity and the beauty of it all. Where else can one find that in such an enjoyable, interesting, and supportive peer group?!?! I also learned to have confidence in my Graham work, as Melissa put so well in her own post. Taking class with the company members, or even Denise (!!!), was intimidating at first, but I learned that I could do it, and that I needed only to be fearless in order to soak up as much as possible each day. I was in heaven for those 3 weeks, and for that I thank everyone. MISS YOU GUYS!!!! Love, Lucy Hello!
It is so nice to return to this website and have so many memories right at my fingertips! I just looked back at a few things on here and it has really made me smile. I cannot express what a valuable and, really, magical experience those three weeks were for me. I feel much more confident about the Graham technique, rep, and everything in between, and also feel as though I really got to LIVE the Graham life for those weeks… so so so cool!! I also still get goose bumps, sometimes, when I think of getting to watch those rehearsals, seeing Denise, my teacher, and Goddess, even before Skidmore, dance in those Clytemnestra Rehearsals, referring to the Company by first name, and having them know and spend time with me, and getting to learn the Cassandra name-calling, Panorama, and part of Maple Leaf Rag. Since the residency I had a few weeks at home in NY, and then I went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance for a month long intensive there. ?!?! Part of what we did at SFCD, was learn the repertory and technique (Gaga) of Ohad Naharin/ Batsheva. His technique is certainly veryyyy different from that of Martha Graham, but it has some relationships which I was able to tap into a fair amount! There is a lot about energy coming from the pelvis, and even about exploding from the pelvis, and that made sense instantly to me… Thanks Graham Company and directors!!!
There was no actual Graham offered, but I found myself making some of my strongest connections with those people there who had experienced Graham in one way or another, and whom were moved by it. I even showed the Clytemnestra website to a few people, and they all found it to be very exciting. No matter how hard I tried, though, I always found it difficult to describe just how perfect the Skidmore program was, but whenever I did describe it at all, everyone was amazed that I got to learn Graham rep, PERFORM IT IN THE SAME SHOW AS THE COMPANY, live so closely with everyone, and work with such significant people in the Graham, and really the dance, world all the while, WATCH REHEARSALS, and so much more. As I reflect upon it, myself, I also realize that it was truly a unique experience to get to know such wonderful fellow students, as well, because we were all there for the same reason, and we all were growing so much so quickly. I remember sitting down in my Skidmore single room one night with about five other people, and we all spent hours looking through various Martha Graham books, in awe of the intensity and the beauty of it all. Where else can one find that in such an enjoyable, interesting, and supportive peer group?!?! I also learned to have confidence in my Graham work, as Melissa put so well in her own post. Taking class with the company members, or even Denise (!!!), was intimidating at first, but I learned that I could do it, and that I needed only to be fearless in order to soak up as much as possible each day. I was in heaven for those 3 weeks, and for that I thank everyone. MISS YOU GUYS!!!!
Love,
Lucy

]]> Comment on Technique by Cherri Thompson http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/17/technique/#comment-152 Cherri Thompson Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:19:24 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=90#comment-152 To all the dancers going through the Panorama process in Baton Rouge, I just wanted to drop a line of encouragement. Learning the choreography of Martha Graham is kind of a shock at first because honestly the depth of the movement is hard to understand until you start actually doing it. You experience exhaustion, aches, pain, and yes, shin splints! The few pieces of advice that I can gladly offer to you is to take care of your bodies. Get enough rest. Ice on sore spots when you get home. Hot baths with epsom salt is a great idea! You can put Arnica on your aches at night, and Tiger Balm is something you're probably already familiar with. It is my rock before rehearsals. As for the dance, the contraction is tricky... like a puzzle. All the pieces of it are there, but it takes time and observation to fit them all together. I learned that no matter what you do, you must engage your whole body into your movement; all the energy must flow from the top of your head, the back of your neck, the core of your body, the pelvis, the bottom, all the way to your toes. And after all of that, your mind must be alert and anticipating. Lastly, I had not intended to write a novel, but I want to mention a theme that really helped me in the Panorama process. This work was choreographed as a statement against the acceptance of powerlessness and complacency. Whatever your personal cause is, you march to the beat of that drum and shout "We Demand IT", protest "We Demand It!", think "WE DEMAND JUSTICE" before that music comes on. Janet told us that even though Panorama was made so many years before our time, if we could just think of one cause that we felt strongly about now and relate that to the dance before we take the first step, it would not only connect us personally to the piece, but also communicate to the audience the original essence of the dance. I know that was a mouthful but, Merde! You can do it!! To all the dancers going through the Panorama process in Baton Rouge, I just wanted to drop a line of encouragement. Learning the choreography of Martha Graham is kind of a shock at first because honestly the depth of the movement is hard to understand until you start actually doing it. You experience exhaustion, aches, pain, and yes, shin splints!
The few pieces of advice that I can gladly offer to you is to take care of your bodies. Get enough rest. Ice on sore spots when you get home. Hot baths with epsom salt is a great idea! You can put Arnica on your aches at night, and Tiger Balm is something you’re probably already familiar with. It is my rock before rehearsals.
As for the dance, the contraction is tricky… like a puzzle. All the pieces of it are there, but it takes time and observation to fit them all together. I learned that no matter what you do, you must engage your whole body into your movement; all the energy must flow from the top of your head, the back of your neck, the core of your body, the pelvis, the bottom, all the way to your toes. And after all of that, your mind must be alert and anticipating.
Lastly, I had not intended to write a novel, but I want to mention a theme that really helped me in the Panorama process. This work was choreographed as a statement against the acceptance of powerlessness and complacency. Whatever your personal cause is, you march to the beat of that drum and shout “We Demand IT”, protest “We Demand It!”, think “WE DEMAND JUSTICE” before that music comes on. Janet told us that even though Panorama was made so many years before our time, if we could just think of one cause that we felt strongly about now and relate that to the dance before we take the first step, it would not only connect us personally to the piece, but also communicate to the audience the original essence of the dance. I know that was a mouthful but, Merde! You can do it!!

]]> Comment on On your own by ChristineP http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/18/on-your-own/#comment-151 ChristineP Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:42:35 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=95#comment-151 Thank you so much, Blakeley and Janet for entrusting this piece to us. Know that we will continue to pursue the goals that you have set for us with your inspiration, extreme patience, and humor. I feel that you truly have opened a window to new outlooks on dance for many of the dancers, most of whom have had little experience with Graham technique. I hope that we will make you proud in October. As for me, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and exploring this piece. Its energy is relentless and compells your movement despite exhaustion. That's a rare find. Thanks again for everything. Thank you so much, Blakeley and Janet for entrusting this piece to us. Know that we will continue to pursue the goals that you have set for us with your inspiration, extreme patience, and humor. I feel that you truly have opened a window to new outlooks on dance for many of the dancers, most of whom have had little experience with Graham technique. I hope that we will make you proud in October. As for me, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and exploring this piece. Its energy is relentless and compells your movement despite exhaustion. That’s a rare find. Thanks again for everything.

]]> Comment on Taking A Stand by EmilyGrace http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/16/taking-a-stand/#comment-149 EmilyGrace Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:12:47 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=88#comment-149 I totally agree with Renee. I understand the concept of the contraction initiated by the pelvis but my body doesnt quite understand yet. haha. The "ice cream scoop" helped a lot but i'm definitely going to have to keep working on expanding rather than compressing- it's an unknown concept for my body. I really do enjoy manipulating my body to learn new things and movements though! It's definitely been a cool experience. Thanks so much! I totally agree with Renee. I understand the concept of the contraction initiated by the pelvis but my body doesnt quite understand yet. haha. The “ice cream scoop” helped a lot but i’m definitely going to have to keep working on expanding rather than compressing- it’s an unknown concept for my body. I really do enjoy manipulating my body to learn new things and movements though! It’s definitely been a cool experience. Thanks so much!

]]> Comment on Taking A Stand by blakeleyangel http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/16/taking-a-stand/#comment-148 blakeleyangel Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:57:54 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=88#comment-148 Yes Renee, I wish there were more time for class as well- that's where the individual work gets done. Deena will be leading some Graham-based warm-ups for you all and hopefully that will give you some time to explore your contraction/release and how these movements move you through space. You can also always write to me here for any questions or guidance. You're doing great, keep going. Yes Renee,
I wish there were more time for class as well- that’s where the individual work gets done. Deena will be leading some Graham-based warm-ups for you all and hopefully that will give you some time to explore your contraction/release and how these movements move you through space.
You can also always write to me here for any questions or guidance. You’re doing great, keep going.

]]> Comment on Taking A Stand by Renee http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/08/16/taking-a-stand/#comment-145 Renee Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:16:19 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=88#comment-145 My two cents: The pelvic contraction feels extremely foreign to my body. I feel like I understand in my mind what it is supposed to be - but then my body just can't always find the place. I know that it is a very important and fundamental part of Graham technique though so I will keep trying! I do wish we had more time for technique classes. My two cents:
The pelvic contraction feels extremely foreign to my body. I feel like I understand in my mind what it is supposed to be - but then my body just can’t always find the place. I know that it is a very important and fundamental part of Graham technique though so I will keep trying! I do wish we had more time for technique classes.

]]> Comment on LIVE STREAM : Skidmore Student Showing @ 7:30pm by Lucy http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/06/19/live-stream-skidmore-student-showing-730pm/#comment-100 Lucy Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:43:34 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=75#comment-100 We are in our last day here, at Skidmore, and many of us seem rather stunned. We had our last class this morning, and there was both a sense of accomplishment and community, but also, I think, a tinge of sadness as well. I have found a real heaven on earth here... a place where other people would join me in my room late at night to look through Graham books, a place where we worked to create and recreate material, and a place where we were able to come into contact with so many divine dancers and teachers. I am so proud of, and full of love for everyone. Merde this afternoon!!!!! We are in our last day here, at Skidmore, and many of us seem rather stunned. We had our last class this morning, and there was both a sense of accomplishment and community, but also, I think, a tinge of sadness as well. I have found a real heaven on earth here… a place where other people would join me in my room late at night to look through Graham books, a place where we worked to create and recreate material, and a place where we were able to come into contact with so many divine dancers and teachers. I am so proud of, and full of love for everyone. Merde this afternoon!!!!!

]]> Comment on Life after SPAC by Blakeley http://clytemnestraproject.com/2008/06/17/life-after-spac/#comment-94 Blakeley Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:47:16 +0000 http://clytemnestraproject.com/?p=72#comment-94 Dancers, it has been a joy to watch you all immerse yourselves so fully into the intensity of life as a Graham dancer. You have seen and felt first hand the discipline and resiliency which are so vital to the dancers' life. Congratulations on all of your creative accomplishments - keep sharing yourselves with the world - it needs you. Dancers, it has been a joy to watch you all immerse yourselves so fully into the intensity of life as a Graham dancer. You have seen and felt first hand the discipline and resiliency which are so vital to the dancers’ life. Congratulations on all of your creative accomplishments - keep sharing yourselves with the world - it needs you.

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