Erinn Liebhard: Dance Artist

Upcoming Performances!

Erinn — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:15:45 +0000

One down (EEE at the Ritz), several to go this Spring! Hope you can make it!
Erinn

The Eclectic Edge Ensemble with the St. Thomas Choirs
March 13th
The University of St. Thomas
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Dance with live choral music? Awesome!

Blue Heaven, created by Lisa Conlin of Ballet of the Dolls
March 1-4 (7pm 1st and 4th, 8pm 2nd and 3rd)
The Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE, Mpls)
www.ritzdolls.com
A dance theater journey exploring the stages of grief/recovery.

Alternative Motion Project’s Premiere Show
March 23 and 24 at 8pm
Old Arizona Theater (2821 Nicollet Ave, Mpls)
Facebook Event
9 new dance works by Joanna Lees and Kristin How. Big, moving dance!

Patrick’s Open-Call Cabaret, Featuring New Choreography by Erinn Liebhard
April 13 and 14 at 8pm
Patrick’s Cabaret
www.erinnliebhard.com / www.patrickscabaret.org
New dance to the brilliant music of Tune-Yards. Groovy and physical movement!

Upcoming Performances!

Erinn — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:19:13 +0000

The Eclectic Edge Ensemble presents Reeling Over Love
February 16-19 (8pm 16-18, 2pm 19)
The Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE, Mpls)
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
A campy, danced take on the differences between love in the movies and on the big screen. Should be pretty hilarious

Blue Heaven, conceived, choreographed and directed by Lisa Conlin of Ballet of the Dolls
March 1-4 (7pm 1st and 4th, 8pm 2nd and 3rd)
The Ritz Theater (345 13th Ave NE, Mpls)
www.ritzdolls.com
A dance theater journey exploring the stages of grief and recovery. This one will be touching

Awesome New Twin Cities Jazz History Book

Erinn — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:48:11 +0000

I had the day off yesterday.

In that day, I managed to do several times one of the things I generally truly avoid; shopping. However, my first trip panned out to be quite enjoyable, in the fact that it was my first stop to Garrison Keillor’s book store, Common Good Books (located just around the corner from Nina’s Coffee Shop at the corner of Selby and Western in St. Paul). I have had a gift card for the store for about two years now, and finally got the chance to stop in. And am I glad I did; the store is carefully curated just like a great visual art gallery, so you know each book is bound to hold great value.

My hands eventually found their way to this book;

‘Joined at the Hip,’ written by Jay Goetting and published by Minnesota Historical Society press just last year. I have not yet cracked the cover, but am pretty excited for when I do. I am especially grateful to have stumbled over this book on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday celebrating a man who fought for the rights of black and African American people. The influence of these cultures upon music in our country were some of the most important building blocks for our jazz tradition. If you love both jazz and the Twin Cities like me, this book is likely for you.

I’ll let you know Groove on,

Erinn

Jazz really is all around!

Erinn — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:10:55 +0000

So, most of this is indeed a direct steal from the most recent post written for Rhythmically Speaking. But hey, I wrote it, and it’s all stuff I want to get out myself, so what the heck. It seems that jazz really is all around! Here goes!;

1.) Rhythmically Speaking, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Flying Foot Forum, Rhythmic Circus and several other rhythm-dancin’ friends have been mentioned in Dance Magazine! Linda Shapiro has furnished us with an excellent review of the Twin Cities dance scene. Check it out; ‘An All-Weather Scene.’

2.) Mark your calendar for June 18th, 19th and 20th, and plan to head down to Dallas, Texas to participate in‘Teaching Jazz Dance, a Symposium,’ hosted by Danny Buraczeski! This is an excited opportunity to touch base with some of the country’s best jazz movement methodologists, so don’t miss it! For more info, email Heather Guthrie at hguthrie@smu.edu.

3.) Rhythmically Speaking’s Social Dance Meet-up is on Friday, and all are welcome, so bring your mother, sista, brotha and pet! Deets;

A Rhythmically Speaking Social Dance Meetup
Where: Loring Pasta Bar, Dinkytown (327 14th Avenue SE, Mpls, MN 55414)
When: Friday, January 13 | Drinks @ 8pm / Dancing @ 10pm – close
Cover: $8 (18+ with ID)
RSVP: Here (Facebook Event)

I hope you’ll come shake it with me Friday night!
Erinn

Rhythmically Speaking’s First Social Dance Meet-Up!

Erinn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:21:32 +0000

Happy New Year!

I am excited to step into this new year in my social dance pants and to get it shakin’ at Rhythmically Speaking’s first Social Dance Meet-up, being held at the Loring Pasta Bar on January 13th. I truly believe the professional dance community could stand to get out dancin’ socially a bit more, and am proud to Co-Artistic Direct an organization that can encourage this. Want to join? Come for the hot Salsa dancing, music by the Salsa Police, libations and good conversation.

A Rhythmically Speaking Social Dance Meet-up
Where: Loring Pasta Bar, Dinkytown (327 14th Avenue SE, Mpls, MN 55414)
When: Friday, January 13 | Drinks @ 8pm / Dancing @ 10pm – close
Cover: $8 (18+ with ID)
RSVP: Here (Facebook Event)

Come over to the Loring Pasta Bar starting at 8pm to grab a drink with your fellow dancers, and stick around for the salsa dancing. Come when you can, leave when you must. All are welcome!

Groovin’,
Erinn

Happy Holidays from The Duke!

Erinn — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:55:42 +0000

Merry Swingin’ Christmas and Happy High-hat Holidays!

Check out this awesome video of the Ellington Nutcracker, featuring a little interview with the Duke himself. While these kind of sounds may be familiar now, they forged new artistic territory that many are capitalizing on today to create their own fresh, new sounds. Pretty amazing!

The happiest of holidays to you,
Erinn

Don’t Take My Word For It, Take Cathy Young’s!

Erinn — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:59:04 +0000

What does jazz mean to dance these days? This is a question I ask and look for answers to as much as I possibly can, and in that process, I came across the video below. If you do not take my word for the fact that jazz if ever-evolving in dance, take the word of Cathy Young, long-time Twin Cities dancer with JAZZDANCE and Zenon, and now the head of the dance program at Boston Conservatory;

Well, said, Kathy. Well said.

Groovin’,
Erinn

This Weekend: The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers present ‘The Nutclogger!’

Erinn — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:49:33 +0000

Happy Holidays!

Looking for a crazy, rhythm-driven dance event this weekend? Boy have I got one for you; Check out ‘The Nutclogger,’ a Wild Goose Chase Cloggers holiday production featuring legendary local band the Roe Family Singers.

When: Sunday, December 4th at 3:30pm
Where: The Walker Community Church (3104 16th Avenue S, Mpls, MN 55407)
Tix: At the door fer cheap!
www.wildgoosechasecloggers.org

If you dig rhythmic social dance with live music and little comedy thrown in, this show is for you! This Sugar Plum Clogger hopes to see you there!

Erinn

tUnE-yArDs!

Erinn — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:03:48 +0000

After a three month hiatus from visiting the studio with my choreographer hat on, I excitedly returned today to start working on a new piece with lovely local dancer Sarah Jabar. I am thrilled to be working with the music of tUnE-yArDs, which has inspired within my wild needs to create! This is especially true after attending her concert at 1st Ave on Saturday evening.

Here is a piece of the action;

Her music has so many layers and just begs for movement to go with them. I’m excited to provide!

In rhythm,
Erinn

Traits of People with ‘Creative Flow’

Erinn — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:49:24 +0000

I wrote this as a dump onto my personal blog, but thought it qualified to be shared with other arty-thinking people.

Hm…doesn’t everyone and their mom think that they are creative?

Ok, well let me re-phrase; doesn’t anyone with any spec of self-esteem think they are creative? I think the answer must be yes, and I am not sure if I think that is good or bad thing. I read an interesting blog this morning from Entrepreneur the Arts (http://blog.entrepreneurthearts.com/2011/11/07/creative-productivity-the-creative-theorists-part-3-csikszentmihalyi/). It addressed Csikzentmihalyi’s theory of ‘flow’ as the creative channel between boredom and anxiety, skill and challenge; his way of describing the onset of the creative process. Very interesting stuff. Along with defining this ‘flow,’ he describes the characteristics of people that tend to possess the ability to flow. Said traits;

Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they’re also often quiet and at rest.

Creative people tend to be smart yet naive at the same time.

Creative people combine playfulness and discipline, or responsibility and irresponsibility.

Creative people alternate between imagination and fantasy, and a rooted sense of reality.

Creative people trend to be both extroverted and introverted.

Creative people are humble and proud at the same time.

Creative people, to an extent, escape rigid gender role stereotyping.

Creative people are both rebellious and conservative.

Most creative people are very passionate about their work, yet they can be extremely objective about it as well.

Creative people’s openness and sensitivity often exposes them to suffering and pain, yet also to a great deal of enjoyment.

I first read these, I thought ‘WOAH! I just read a portion of my horoscope!’ And yes, I do believe in astrology. Then I heard Kris’ voice of reason come into my head, saying something to the affect of ‘You can make anything you read fit to yourself if you want to.’ It is an interesting thing to consider. Did I apply all these characteristics to myself because I want to BELIEVE I possess them, i.e. that I am creative, or do I actually exhibit these qualities?

Basically, what I am getting at is a larger psychological question, one that seems to come up in a number of ways every day for me. And I do not think I am alone. In the midst of all these thought-processes about ideals and tendencies according to generation, I think this must be shared by my generation of peers that were raised to think we could do whatever we want, be whatever we want, accomplish anything. Yes, there are great things about thinking this way. There are also absolutely debilitating things about thinking this way too. I am coming to feel I had better unveil the source of this injection of thought; http://nymag.com/news/features/my-generation-2011-10/.

Pretty freaking interesting to consider. How right are we about ourselves? At any given point, are we on to something, or just falling into the trap of being able to cast ourselves in whatever light we wish?

Something to consider.