Dance Truck News

Extended Dates: Dances Made to Order
Now through May 31st, watch the ATLANTA Edition of the popular online dance series, Dances Made to Order. Log In and enter code: TRUCK for a 20% discount on monthly or annual subscriptions. Watch the films online anytime. This inventive platform for presenting contemporary collaborations puts 75% of all proceeds into the hands of Atlanta artists.
www.dancesmadetoorder.com


Our Sister Organization: The Lucky Penny
Dance Truck is officially a project of Atlanta's new presenting organization, The Lucky Penny. Dance Truck's Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Malina Rodriguez and Choreographer Blake Beckham founded The Lucky Penny in 2011 to support the creation and presentation of cutting-edge contemporary art, aiming to advance artistry and cultivate community in Atlanta, GA.


This summer, The Lucky Penny presents Blake Beckham's new work: Threshold at DramaTech Theater August 16-19. Creative Loafing broke the news on 5/21 about our exciting collaboration with Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects in this article. www.theluckypenny.org


Next Stop...Dance Truck: Double Wide
Our next production is BIG. Double Wide is a public performance with two trucks side by side and a band stand in between. 2 choreographers will perform simultaneous new works to an original piece of music by a local music act. We will curate 6 choreographers, 3 composers, 2 lighting designers, and 1 technical director for this ambitious truck adventure.


We are currently seeking a SPONSOR to step up and commission this classic Atlanta performance phenomenon. Contact Malina Rodriguez, Artistic Director, at atldancetruck@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Barefoot in the Park - May 4th

Dance Truck goes OTP Friday, May 4th
We'll be in Duluth for their Barefoot in the Park Festival GALA


Performances by
Onur Topal-Sümer with Zephyr Instrumental : "Barefoot Dance"
Ursula Kendall Johnson : "BREATHE" 
  with music composed by Quentin "EQ" Johnson


Lighting Design by
Danny Davis

Ursula Kendall Johnson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating with Magnet honors at Tri-Cities High School, Ursula had the privilage to audition for the Alvin Ailey School. She was awarded a partial scholarship from Denise Jefferson to attend the Ailey School, and today Ursula teaches as a Jazz Instructor for Ailey Camp Atlanta sponsored by the Fox Theater Atlanta. As Ursula furthered her education at Dillard University, she participated in the Dillard Diamonds as a member and choreographer. Ursula has trained under Roscoe Sales, Diane Sales, Patdro Harris, Jimmy Lucas, Nina Gilbreath, Waverly Lucas and Dawn Axam and collaboratively worked with choreographers such as Juel D. Lane, Nakia Henry and Duane Cyrus. Her creative works and collaborations graced many collegiate stages in “Soweto, Soweto, Soweto A Township is Calling”, directed by: David Kote; “For Colored Girls” directed by Barry Franklin; and 106th and Park with the Dillard Diamonds. Ursula returned to Atlanta from hurricane Katrina, where she began to captivate her unique blend of West African, Hip Hop, and Contemporary movements along with her present dynamic energy. She recently completed a residency at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master Class at Wake Forest University. Her next adventure, is to produce a project called "SHE, Created IT" as her first solo production premiere in 2013.

Onur Topal-Sümer is originally from Istanbul, Türkiye. Onur has trained in ballet in Vaganova Technique for 12 years and get started working on modern and contemporary dance technique in 1997. She has a B.F.A. in Dance from Istanbul and in 2006 she completed her M.F.A. in Dance with an emphasis in choreography and digital technology from UC, Irvine. Onur has trained, performed and staged her original works across Europe, USA & Asia and had the privilege to work with legendary dance artist Donald McKayle and Pina Bausch Wupertal Dance Company members among many other acclaimed artists around the world. She has been commissioned to create site specific choreography and video installation for FLUX 2010 & 2011 in collaboration with Zoetic Dance Ensemble in Atlanta. Onur is the “Dance Camera Istanbul” Festival director & curator and teaches dance, Pilates, dance for camera and more. She has worked with international dance companies CRR Istanbul Dance Theater, Istanbul State Theater, Loretta Livingston & Dancers (USA), Architexture Dance Company (USA), No Dancers Company (Germany)... and she has been also working with local dance companies; Full Radius Dance, Beacon Dance and with independent choreographers as a dancer/choreographer/filmmaker as well. Onur loves collaborating, creating, sharing and experimenting life through ideas, arts, open mind & heart.  

Founded in 2008, Gwinnett-based Zephyr Instrumental is one member of the family of performing/recording groups and individuals within Zephyr Music, Inc. Zephyr Instrumental is a 16-20 member “21st Century Orchestra”. Together with the compositions of Richard C. Bragg, the ingenuity of producer P. Kerry Fetter, and the abilities of its many members, Zephyr Instrumental offers a unique perspective to the modern classical style of music. With acoustic and electronic instrumentation, along with the use of multimedia visuals and effects; Zephyr Instrumental stands as a leader amongst a new wave of music. Zephyr believes that there is beauty in every form of art and it is the duty of every artist to recognize this beauty and display it for the world to see. Zephyr Instrumental is releasing two new CDs this summer . . . “Elements” and “America”. In the fall they will be recording “Meditations”. All releases will have a DVD and Blu-Ray version with original art, photography and videography. The concert schedule is available on-line at zephyrplanet.com. Listen to Zephyr Instrumental and experience Zephyr Instrumental!

ATLANTA Edition-Dances Made To Order

Dance Truck is proud to take part

in the online [[ dance for film ]] craze

known as Dances Made To Order.

We selected 3 independent choreographers...

Corian Ellisor

Lillian Ransijn

Onur Topal-Sümer

You voted on the topics of their films,

and the results are in...

123 people voted to inspire Atlanta with:

- Am I awake or am I dreaming?

- shiny/tarnished

- an imaginary history

Now we have 2 weeks

to make 3 great films!

Pre-order your ticket

for the online premiere on May 2.

www.dancesmadetoorder.com

Dances Made To Order: Atlanta = April Edition

Dances Made to Order is a curated, monthly, online film series. Every month, we feature 3 different artists who each rise to the challenge to create a five-minute film in just two weeks in response to the ideas chosen by our audience. In 2012, we will spotlight a different American city and their unique dance culture every month. Explore America through the cinematic vision of 33 different artists without leaving your desk. These films are available exclusively through Dances Made to Order.

Visit:

www.dancesmadetoorder.com

Buy a subscription for the entire 2012 season or a single, monthly ticket.

Use this discount code for 20% off: TRUCK

With the discount, the season subscription is only $40 and a single, monthly ticket is $8.

Malina Rogriguez of Dance Truck

and The Lucky Penny has curated

the Atlanta edition in April 2012, featuring:

Corian Ellisor

Lillian Ransijn

Onur Topal Sümer

Next Stop: High Museum of Art

Join us for College Night at the High Saturday, 1/28

We're throwing a dance party with DJ Santiago Páramo

10pm-12am

and featuring 3 local college dance programs

(Spelman, Emory, and Agnes Scott)

Bring a student ID: get in for $7 or $5 if you're in a group of 10!

(Museum members free, $18 general admission)

TAKE MARTA...to Arts Center Station

Friday the 13th, Trucks = Good Food + Dance

January 13th - 7 to 10 pm

Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center

535 Means Street NW

On Friday night, Dance Truckers will be attending the opening of two phenomenal exhibits at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Day Job: Georgia and 100,000 Cubicle Hours. We're teaming up with our fine friends at the Good Food Truck who have put dance truck dance lessons on their menu for the night.

Dance Trucker: John Jaramillo

Dance Lesson: Flamencos - The Sevillanas and Tango

"I've been a working Performing Artist for 25yrs+...so well, this is my day job!"

As a professional dancer John Jaramillo has performed nationally and internationally. He has been as a principal performer with Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco/Segundo Compania, Ritmo Flamenco as part of the internationally known Festival Flamenco of Albuquerque NM, Dance Espana, Sentir Flamenco and others. Performing highlights as a principal performer include the American Dance Festival, Dance Theater Workshop (NYC), Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors (NYC), Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and multiple performances with the Dallas Opera including "El Amor Brujo" with opera sensation Denyce Graves. John performs his Flamenco Dance of Spain and also his Aztec Dances of Mexico arts in education programs in schools and communities around the U.S. He is a longtime teaching artist and part of the Alliance Theatre GA Literacy Wolf Trap program, Woodruff Arts Center Arts Partners Program and Young Audiences Arts for Learning. John hails from New Mexico and is full-blooded Native American (Pueblo).

Dance Trucker: Corian Ellisor

Dance Lesson: Hip/Pop/Hop - Werk!

Corian Ellisor is a dance artist here in the great city of Atlanta. He actually makes his living through dance! He currently teaches after school at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville. On occasion Corian teaches classes at CORE in downtown Decatur. He has taught classes at dance 101, Emory University, University of Houston, Miami Dade College and other institutions across the country. Corian is an accomplished choreographer and performs for CORE Performance Company as well as Catellier Dance Projects.

Dance Truck is having a Year End Sale!

November Was a Blast:

Atlanta Magazine published an article about Dance Truck in their November issue!

On 11.5.11, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine and Dance Truck presented Crossover Movement Arts on the tracks adjacent to Stein Steel in Reynoldstown.

On 11.11.11, The Lucky Penny held an experimental art festival at The Arts Exchange. They presented our Dance Truck: Moving Pictures Film Screening at their 11.11.11 Spectacular! Spectacular! where the Dance Truck also hosted a Tea and Talk with New York performance artist jill sigman/thinkdance.

On 11.18.11, Dance Truck Friend/Fan/Collaborator Bobbi Jo Brooks opened her first gallery show with 'Portraits of Mystery' inspired by Dance Truck artists.

Business News:

Our Fall Fundraising goal was $4000 and we raised a total of $185.00 in donations from 5 generous folks, 3 of them were from out of state!

We really need to raise at least $1200 by the end of the year. So we're having a SALE!

We have Tshirts, Hoodies, Bumper Stickers and Custom PEZ/Dance Trucks...heck, we'll even make you a 2012 Dance Truck Calendar. Email Malina at atldancetruck@gmail.com for pricing

Media News:

Check out the December issue of JEZEBEL Magazine for a pic and a preview of our Dance Truck!

Upcoming Performances in January:

1/13 with the Good Food Truck at Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

1/28 College Night at High Museum of Art