If you’d like download this music for FREE please subscribe to our playlists through the Spotify Malashock on Spotify or check out the Spotify Malashock Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/spotify.malashockdance

Speaking of FREE, Join Malashock Dance, Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater, and San Diego Ballet for on December 26th for Dance Place of San Diego’s Free Day of Dance.

Bradley R. Lundberg: “Just Give Me A Reason” by P!nk

Erika Malone: “Youth” by Daughter

Khamla Somphanh: Warda’s Whorehouse by Philip Glass

Molly Puryear: “My Angel Rocks Back and Forth” by Four Tet

Q: What are 3 of your favorite finds that you bought for under $20 and where did you get them from?

Molly Puryear
Adult Beginning Modern Dance Instructor & Malashock Education Director:

1. Jersey Boatneck short-sleeve shirt from The Closet on Rosecrans. I wear it to dance, to sleep, out on the town…you name it. It’s my favorite basic.

2. Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish in Commander in Chic. I love funky nail polish colors, and this one is a (relatively) low-key neutral somewhere between lavender and taupe.

3. iFrogz earbuds. They are so comfortable, come with different sized buds, and the sound quality is amazing.

Diana Nicastro
Youth Creative Dance I & II Instructor

1. Long sleeve black shirt purchased at The Closet triple duty: great for teaching, hanging around & sleeping in.

2. Beet Chips – yes, they are freeze-dried beets. Yummy, crunchy and healthy.
(If you don’t want to buy them, here’s a recipe to bake your own )

3. A new DVD – “Breath made Visible” about
the dancer & choreographer Anna Halprin – very inspirational.

We’d love to hear from you - Share with us what your favorite things are…..

1. Malashock/RAW3 promises to offer “beautiful, cutting-edge and provocative new works, poised to out-shock and out-delight audiences”. What can audiences expect with this third iteration in the RAW series?

Malashock/RAW is our most daring, dynamic and bold production of the season. Audiences can expect to have both a visual and visceral experience. If I had to steal a quote from one of our hardcore patrons, it would have to be: “Raw is sweat, skin and non-stop, no-holds-barred energy. RAW is Rawsome!” During our third year, the new dance work will tackle many controversial themes; will include some nudity, physical danger as well as stellar performances by the Malashock Dance company members.

2. Your piece is titled Bully. Is it a theme that permeates all three works?

The theme of bullying applies only to my work. The other two works by John Malashock and Regina Klenjoski address other subject matter and themes. Though, having seen their dances, there are definitely elements which could be construed as bullying.

3. October is bullying prevention awareness month. Tell me how and why you and/or Malashock Dance decided to address this issue? What can dance bring to the conversation?

This issue has been on my radar for quite some time.

Much of the bullying I experienced was based on homophobia, machismo and antiquated ideas of male identity. I was searching for a way to not only address bullying in general, but what I felt were some of the causes.

Malashock/RAW provided me with the perfect opportunity. My approach to BULLY will surprise many members of the audience, both in content and structure. It is atypical, satirical, violent and, when the two main characters finally come together, very poignant. In other words, BULLY is one of the reasons Malashock/RAW exists – to take chances, to embrace risk.

I can’t remember who said that, but I certainly know the feeling. By and large, we are creatures of preference and are not put together to just accept whatever the universe throws at us with a cheerful shrug and an, “Oh well” attitude. We tend to make our problems worse by cursing them, tearing out our hair, and making those around us very uncomfortable.

Blythe Barton, Stephanie Harvey and Kiona Daelyn in Malashock/RAW3!

We all know things would be a lot easier if we just went along with everything that comes our way, but people just aren’t that smart. Our desire for comfort and our futile wishes that life would just progress according to plan is probably a deeply ingrained design flaw of our brains and character. Or is it?
How we rise to face our challenges is, for me, the most interesting part of being human. I generally avoid using the word spiritual, but striving to accept circumstances that are far beyond our power or control is, perhaps, some of the loftiest work we can endeavor to do.

What does this have to do with dance? Well, my new work for Malashock/RAW, Uneasy Surrender, delves into this realm head first. It plays out several short dramas that have built-in resistance to “what is” and looks at how people react —both positively and negatively. My beautiful cast of seven dancers portrays the delicate balancing act between fighting with the world, and the “uneasy surrender” to proceeding on our unforeseen pathways.

I DO know who said, “ Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” John Lennon certainly got that one right!

Not that I should play favorites, but Malashock/RAW is one of the most exciting dance events in San Diego. Now, it could be because I am partial to provocative, cutting-edge and daring work, or it could be because I produce the show. Either way, this year’s RAW is going to be just as thrilling and enticing as ever.

Andrew Holmes and Nick Strasburg

In UNEASY SURRENDER, John Malashock tackles the dark, inner battle between the desire for a life imagined and acceptance of the life that is. These opposing dramas fuel a dance landscape that is visually unpredictable, emotionally super-charged, and physically on-edge. Seven dancers physicalize this uneasy match between our minds and a universe that refuses to act the way we want.

Malashock/RAW is so raw that it is right!

-Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE

HERE IS A SAMPLE OF 2 OF THE SONGS FROM MICHAEL MIZERANY’S NEW WORK, BULLY:

MALASHOCK DANCE IS EXCITED TO NOW SHARE THE MUSIC ITS INSTRUCTORS USE IN CLASS. Students are now able to listen to the music we love from dance class, which is available for free through SPOTIFY. They can also be accessed from our SPOTIFY MALASHOCK FACEBOOK PAGE:

http://www.facebook.com/spotify.malashockdance

WE WILL ALSO BE POSTING THE SONGS AND ARTISTS USED IN CLASS ON OUR BLOG.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE SONGS FROM THE BEGINNING MODERN ADULT CLASS:

Malashock Dance is excited to now share the music its instructors use in class. Students are now able to listen to the music we love from dance class, which is available for FREE through Spotify.

Spotify is a computer application similar to a hybrid between Pandora and iTunes, except you have access to millions of songs, and it’s free. You just can’t save them on your computer. Simply download Spotify to your computer and use the internet to play the music.

Here are the instructions to get your Malashock Dance class playlists:

Step 1) Download and follow the instructions to download Spotify: http://www.spotify.com/us/get-spotify/overview/

Step 2) Login to Facebook and add “Spotify Malashock Dance” as your Facebook friend.

Step 3) Open Spotify on your computer, click on the “people” link.

Step 5) Double click on the “Spotify Malashock Dance” icon, click on the “Add to Favorites” button in the top right corner and click on the “Subscribe” button next to the playlist.

Each week Malashock Dance instructors will upload their playlists. It will automatically be sent to you in your Spotify playlist library. Enjoy!

* Music on Spotify is not downloadable to your computer or iTunes library. If you choose to upgrade Spotify, it can cost you money. Malashock Dance does not endorse Spotify or suggest that you purchase any of its products.

A group of dancers has a character that is separate from the characteristics of the individuals who make up that group. The character of the student body in this year’s Summer Intensive Workshop was incredibly sweet. All of our faculty members agreed – they were just a joy to work with.

We threw a LOT at them and they just kept rising to the occasion in a wonderfully good-natured way. They happily absorbed four different technique styles, six new choreographic works, a week of contact improvisation training, and another week of aerial work on silks. Then they performed in a fully produced show at the end of the three weeks. Despite the inevitable aches, pains, and injuries that go with a workshop this intense, they maintained their focus on moving into new physical and artistic territory, without complaint. Even a chin full of stitches and a last-minute visit to the emergency room the night before the show didn’t get in the way of their culminating performance.

This group character really paid off on performance night. These dancers clearly had each other’s backs and they delivered one of the most solid student performances I have ever seen. I always tell dancer that they can learn a lot in the studio, but the work isn’t finished until it is put in front of an audience. This group really finished the work and made us all proud. From my standpoint, I feel like we truly provided them with an experience that will add to their artistic character. It was hard work, but FUN!

It was truly an educational, intriguing and inspiring experience.

Hundreds of dance professional descended upon San Francisco for three days of wonderful seminars, performances and exchanges. These included advances in social media, digital marketing and website design. There were also round tables or “breakout sessions” to discuss NEA funding guidelines dos and don’ts, helpful hints to international touring and facilities planning.

So much wonderful and valuable information that I filled up an entire notebook.

There were also many fantastic speakers including Sydney Skybetter of Skybetter & Associates, Jennifer Edwards of JenEd Productions and Julie Begley, Managing Director for MoGoARTS Marketing. The opening plenary speaker, Simon Sinek, was probably the most talked about man at the Conference. Simon is a visionary thinker, articulate orator and his unconventional views on leadership are reshaping the way we do business. Yes, and dance is a business!

See an excerpt of his TED talk here:

If you are dance professional, or simply love dance, I would recommended attending the Dance/USA Conference next year. You too will be inspired!

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE

Artistic director John Malashock and associate artistic director Michael Mizerany will be teaching technique and setting four new dances on the Intensive students. Many professional students will use the Intensive as an opportunity to audition for the Malashock Dance Company. Who knows, you may see some of them performing throughout our 25th Anniversary Season.

During the second week of the Intensive, Regina Klenjoski, artistic director of The Regina Klenjoski Dance Company in Long Beach, will join the Intensive faculty and teach her own unique and visceral style. Regina is the guest choreographer for Malashock/RAW3 this October as well.

Bradley Michaud, artistic director of Method Contemporary Dance in Los Angeles, will be teaching and setting new work. His explosive technique and dynamic self-catapults (also known as “hucks”) are sure to be a hit. For an example of his virtuosic style, take a look at his dance work, THIS IS NOT AN EXIT, performed at Malashock/RAW in November of 2010.

In the afternoons, there will be many exciting and wonderful mini-workshops. Laura Dasi from Aerial Revolution will lead a workshop on aerial silks. Jess Humphrey and Anya Cloud from SDSU will teach a contact improvisation class and Geoff Scott will instruct each dancer on how to get the best and most compelling dance picture during his photography workshop.

The Intensive will culminate in a performance at The Saville Theater on the campus of San Diego City College on July 27th at 8pm. For tickets and more information about the Intensive, go to www.malashockdance.org.

It is gonna be GREAT!

Michael Mizerany
Associate Artistic Director, MALASHOCK DANCE