Enriching lives through dance
We had a great time attending The Arts Council of Fairfax County 2013 Arts Awards – Celebrating Visionary Contributions in Fairfax County . Big congrats to Kathy Fredgren, Founder of BalletNova Center for Dance for her award. What an achievement! It’s so well deserved! Thank you for all you do, Kathy!
“… when I was 14, my friend in Taiwan gave me my 1st Dance Magazine (from U.S.), I immediately knew I wanted to come to the U.S. to purse my dance dreams…” Just wanted to share with you my interview with WMI!
Photo by Ruth Judson
Shu-Chen Cuff
I’m so thrilled to be doing a solo performance along with musical performances by some of the finest musicians in the metropolitan area at the benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington at 7:00 pm on November 3. All donations will go to Habitat for Humanity for their relief efforts in US cities and towns devastated by mother nature. It’s free! Come, enjoy, and give what you can! With Reception to follow.
Photo by Lindsay Benson Garrett
“The show began with Gin Dance Company’s The Core, an almost meditative piece full of preciseness and delicacy. The five dancers, wrapped in white chiffon-like fabric, shifted in small individual sections of the stage. While they did not interact with one another physically, their repetitive phrasing and direct focus created a lovely connection throughout the piece…” Check out another review of the ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’ featuring GDC.
Read more: http://www.gayrva.com/arts-culture/yes-gets-national-dance-companies-on-the-rva-stage/
Photo by Ruth Judson
Extra!! Extra!! Dance review of the ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’ from the Richmond Times-Dispatch!! ”
“Gin Dance Company, from Northern Virginia, featuring choreography by Shu-Chen Cuff set to music by Patrick Burke and R. Luke Dubois opened the show, immediately placing audience expectations high.
The sharp isolations and angles contrasted with smooth, long lines revealed intelligent and creative dance composition. The sporadic fidgets of the dancers were a welcomed surprise, and there was just enough unison and variation throughout the piece.
Shu-Chen Cuff’s beautiful facial expressions and detailed finger movements reminded the audience how lovely details can be.”
Photo by Ruth Judson
Choreographed by Shu-Chen Cuff
Thank you so much for hosting such an incredible festival ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’, Kaye!! Kaye Weinstein Gary is the Artistic Director of K Dance. Kaye’s hard work and dedication had led the 15th annual ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’ – A national festival of contemporary dance and theater to a great success. GDC was so thrilled to be part of this amazing festival and to be sharing the stage with BODYTRAFFIC, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Chisena Danza, S/OAP Lab (Owen & Stewart), and K Dance. Thank you for all you do, Kaye!! Big congrats for another successful festival!
Big congrats and thank you for the beautiful performances at ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’, GDC dancers!!
So thrilled to be sharing the stage with these beyond amazing and beautiful artists at ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’!!
BODYTRAFFIC!!!!! What INCREDIBLE performances they did!! If you ever have a chance to see them perform, GO!!!! You’re going to LOVE THEM.
Amazingly Beautiful Cynthia Harada with Houston Metropolitan Dance Company!!
Day 2 – October 18, 2013, Friday, it’s time to meet all the artists… We had introduction meeting on the stage with BODYTRAFFIC, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Chisena Danza, S/OAP Lab (Owen & Stewart), and K Dance at 2:40pm follow by a dress rehearsal at 3:00 pm. It was so nice to meet everyone and we all were so anxious to see each other’s work.
We had a great dress rehearsal… It’s time to refuel and get our energy back! This time Lindsay took us to The Black Sheep. Wow!!! Wow!!!!!! Delicious!!!!
Bach to the theater… Opening night!!! ’Yes! Dance Invitational’, here we come!! GDC’s ‘The Core’ opening Act!!
Look who we found after the show!!! Harriet & Jay!!! What a great surprise!
It was so good to see Ivy who is GDC dancer (but not in the show) at the Yes! Dance Invitational performance!!! Thank you so much for making the trip to see us, Ivy!!
October 17, 2013, Thursday, Gin Dance Company was on a road trip heading south to Richmond. We were so looking forward to be featured in the 15th annual ‘Yes! Dance Invitational’ – A National Festival of Contemporary Dance & Theater. There were total three performances in two days. 8:00 pm on October 18 and 2:00 & 8:00 pm on October 19. The performing company includes BODYTRAFFIC, Gin Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Chisena Danza, S/OAP Lab (Owen & Stewart), and K Dance.
This was how the trip went…
Our Executive Director Gary Cuff drove us to Richmond on his Birthday October 17… The weather was a little overcast, but still was a beautiful and very comfortable autumn day.
After we checked in to our hotel room at Crowne-Plaza Richmond Downtown. Take a quick view from our window and then heading out to Dogtown Dance Theater for tech.
Tech was a piece of cake! The theater crew Jenny and Matt were so efficient. They had already studied our dance from the video we sent them before we got there. There are several specific lighting cues for ‘The Core’. Normally, ‘The Core’ takes a while to get the lighting specials spiked and get all the lighting changes right for the dance. Not with Jenny and Matt… We were done in no time!
After tech, it was time to feed the hungry dancers… GDC’s dancer Lindsay who was also traveling in this trip was living and studying in Richmond while she was with VCU, so we got a perfect tour guide to take us to the best restaurant in town. Can Can Brasserie, amazing French restaurant in Carytown! If you are ever in Richmond, go check it out!
Birthday surprise!!! Crispy Blue Berry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream plus surrounding by 5 beautiful dancers. Pretty lucky, Gary!!
