Shanna Sheline

Solos Feature in The Plain Dealer

Read about Shanna Sheline, a founding member of Antaeus Dance, in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, February 1, 2009. Arts Critic Donald Rosenberg's feature article about Shanna and her life in dance will be in this Sunday's Arts section. There will also be a link to video of Shanna performing excerpts from MOLT, the Company's upcoming premiere.

Check back here on Sunday morning for links both the article and the video.
Joan

Shanna Sheline photo by Marty Horvath

MOLT: Beginnings

It takes as long as it takes. - Jan Hyatt

MOLT began in October of 2007. Normally, I have a modest window of time within which to create work prior to its premiere: in most cases about three months. In this case, that window was thrown wide, so much so that it shattered completely. My initial thought was, "This is great! What a luxury to have TIME!" More on that later...

We began with improvisation; some days I would participate, but most of the time I directed. I have truly enjoyed witnessing this group improvise...even after watching them again and again, both in rehearsal and later on video, to prise from the hours of movement the kernels which we later developed into entire sections. Much of what the dancers did was extracted intact; still more has been developed and taken us in new directions.

During those initial months I was astonished, frustrated (usually because I was watching and not doing), amused, pleased, and otherwise moved to respond. And so the dance grew.

NOTE: The process began with Jenita McGowan, Carla Monzo, Sherri Mills, Amy Notley, and Shanna Sheline.

The process continues with Amy Compton-Schulz, Marissa Glorioso, Jenita, Sherri, and Shanna.

More on that later.
Joan

MOLT photo by Scott Radke: Amy & Carla

Critical Mass

"Don't hand me a glass of wine.
Pour it in my mouth.
I've lost the way to my mouth.

The wine we really drink is our own blood.
Our bodies ferment in these barrels.
We give everything for a glass of this.
We give our minds for a sip."

from A Children's Game by Rumi

As I write this as I am considering this evening's MOLT rehearsal. This work has developed over an extensive period of time and is beginning to gain momentum. We are now at a place where things are happening quickly, or so it seems to me. This is a result of many months of slow going, during which time the dancers have been ever-patient, always ready to work, and tremendously invested. The creation of any [dance]work is a leap of faith. I can identify, with relative certainty, the place from which I am leaping; but I do not always know where I am going. In some cases, as with MOLT, I think I know where I am headed...

I love to drive without knowing exactly how I am going to get to my final destination. When I am on my own, dead reckoning is my favorite form of navigation.

I forget about this propensity of mine when not in the car. It is only when I get to this place of critical mass that I remember that I like to ramble (coincidentally the informal name of one section of the dance) along the way and that, often, the destination changes in the process.

I am starting to feel the ferment and I am racing ahead of myself, as I always do at the end. While my intentions have remained relatively solid, I am delighted to see that there is room for MORE!

MOLT will premiere at Cleveland Public Theatre April 30 - May 3, 2009 as part of DanceWorks09.

Look for further information about MOLT in my next post.
Joan

MOLT photo by Scott Radke

Welcome: What to Expect

"There is no shortcut about learning dancing. You just have to get in there, and step by step, see how the thing feels..." -Erick Hawkins

I recall my impatience as a fledgling student of dance, my wanting to know more, to be more, MORE NOW. My impatience has been tempered over time, not so much by its waning as by the emergent reasons and desires behind it.

This blog will offer musings on my current work with Antaeus Dance, and will undoubtedly reference past works as well. Because none of us exist in a vacuum, I may also reference my life as (in no particular order) an educator, wife, citizen, etc.

I will post news about Antaeus Dance, reflect on the creative process, invite questions and comments, and generally provide insights into how and why we do what we do as a company.

Welcome! and please visit again soon.
Joan Meggitt
Artistic/Executive Director