Not so much for the sun and swimming and other good summer S’s (well, sure, maybe a little bit!), but mostly for the exciting opportunities my summer holds for deeply engaging in jazz and dance. I’ll be teaching my butt off, attending a conference on teaching jazz dance in Dallas (thanks for hosting, Danny Buraczeski!) and choreographing and performing too. Most of these opportunities are shareable, so come along for the ride! Highlights;

Teaching at Advanced Jazz Class at Zenon Dance
Fridays, 9:30-11:00am (Now – May 25th, and June 8 – July 20)

My advanced class focuses on jazz as a rhythm-driven dance formwith vernacular influence, emphasizing musicality, weight-shift, groundedness and groove. This class session is tailored toward thinking about dance from the perspective of a musician, hitting on elements like melody, harmony, timbre and of course, rhythm.

Block out 9:30-11:00am on Fridays to come get down.
Questions? Contact Erinn at ekliebs@gmail.com.

Choreographing 44 Plays for 44 Presidents by Theater Pro Rata June 29 – July 14 at Calvary Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
www.theatreprorata.org

A chronological, biographical survey of each of the 44 men who have held one of the most revered and regrettable positions of power on earth. Originally created by the Neo-Futurists in Chicago, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents is a love song to every Mad Tom, Tricky Dick, and William Henry Harri-who.

Performing in A Grimm Tale by the Eclectic Edge Ensemble
July 19 – July 22nd at the Ritz Theater
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com

Choreographing for Dances, Chances, Circumstances
August 10 – 12 The Phipps Center for the Arts
www.thephipps.org

And, of course……
Co-Artistic Directing/ Producing, Choreographing for and Performing in Rhythmically Speaking presents…. 2012
August 16 – 18 at the Southern Theater
www.rhythmicallyspeakingdance.org

We’ve got a wicked line-up this year, promising a varied, music-driven and ENERGETIC evening of choreography to stir your soul and make you move! Choreographers;

Deborah Elias
Karla Grotting
Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner
Carrie Lande
Erinn Liebhard
Jennifer Mack
Whitney McClusky
B-Boy J-Sun and Dancin’ Dave
Joanne Spencer

Join me in getting ready to not only enjoy the sun and swimming this summer, but also the swinging and stepping of some awesome rhythm-driven dance!

Sincerely,
Erinn

Photos by Jim Smith/ Jillian Denae Photography.

Thanks for the awesome photos, Jim!

Here’s a bit about some upcomings that I am excited for this summer;

June 29 – July 14:
44 Plays For 44 Presidents by Theater Pro Rata
Choreographer
www.theatreprorata.org

July 19 – July 22nd
A Grimm Tale by Eclectic Edge Ensemble
Performer
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com

August 10 – 12
Dances, Chances, Circumstances
The Phipps Center for the Arts
Guest Choreographer

And, of course……
August 16 – 18
Rhythmically Speaking presents…. 2012
Co-Artistic Director/ Producer and Choreographer
www.rhythmicallyspeakingdance.org

Hope you can make it to one or all!

Want to absorb some of this rhythm? Come learn about jazz dance through the lens of a musician. I teach Advanced Jazz on Friday mornings from 9:30-11:00am at Zenon Dance in downtown Minneapolis! More info here.

In rhythm,
Erinn

Friday and Saturday: Choreography in Patrick’s Cabaret Open Call: Revelations
April 13 and 14 at 7:30pm at Patrick’s Cabaret
I’m barefoot and tap-shoed improving with upright bass player Craig Sandberg on Saturday, and showing new choreography to the amazing sounds of tUnE-yArDs and Dosh both nights. More info here.

Saturday: Costuming Conversations with Sonya Berlovitz, A Rhythmically Speaking Community Forum
12:00-2:00pm at the Cowles Center. Details here, RSVP here!

Sunday: Call for Rhythmically Speaking Submissions Closes
Submission form and information here. Submissions due Sunday!

Also…..my birthday is on Sunday

Friday and Saturday: Choreography in Patrick’s Cabaret Open Call: Revelations
April 13 and 14 at 7:30pm at Patrick’s Cabaret
I’m barefoot and tap-shoed improving with upright bass player Craig Sandberg on Saturday, and showing new choreography to the amazing sounds of tUnE-yArDs and Dosh both nights. More info here.

Saturday: Costuming Conversations with Sonya Berlovitz, A Rhythmically Speaking Community Forum
12:00-2:00pm at the Cowles Center. Details here, RSVP here!

Sunday: Call for Rhythmically Speaking Submissions Closes
Submission form and information here. Submissions due Sunday!

Also…..my birthday is on Sunday

Submission form/ requirements for Rhythmically Speaking’s annual production are currently posted here. Submissions are due April 15th, and choreographer selection will be posted to this website by May 1st.

2.) Costuming Conversations with Sonya Berlovitz
A Rhythmically Speaking Community Forum

When: Saturday, April 14th from 12:00-2:00pm
Where: Tek Box Theater at the Cowles Center/ Hennepin Center for the Arts
Cost: Free of charge! Organized and Sponsored by Rhythmically Speaking

We lined up celebrated local designer Sonya Berlovitz to lead a discussion on costume design. The event will occur at the brand new Tek Box Theater, giving you a chance to check out this new, dance-focused black box theater. RSVP here!

3.) Alternative Motion Project’s Premiere Show
When: March 23 and 24 at 8pm
Where: Old Arizona Theater (2821 Nicollet Ave, Mpls)
Cost: $12, reserve tickets at alternativemotionproject@gmail.com

9 new dance works by Joanna Lees and Kristin How. Big, moving dance! Check out this awesome new compay at www.alternativemotionproject.com.

4.) I will be teaching the Advanced Jazz class at Zenon this spring (March 23-May 25). Block out 9:30-11:00am on Fridays to come get down to some awesome music while learning to think about dance as a musician! Feel free to contact me with questions about class!

5.) I’m going to grad school! After a long and detailed fall and winter of applications and auditions, I am very excited to have accepted an awesome offer to the Dance MFA Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. I am very excited about the range of dance they support and innovate within, the collaborative nature of their faculty, their flexibility in allowing students to incorporate their professional work into the degree, and the teaching opportunities I will have there (along with many other reasons, so I’ll just stop there ). I am excited to take everything I can from this chapter in my life, and plan to move back to the Twin Cities afterward. So, Boulder-bound I am this fall, to deepen my understanding, philosophy of and ability to teach jazz and rhythm-driven dance forms!

I guess what I am trying to say…..is that life is good  I am thrilled and thankful to be surrounded by and creating awesome opportunities. To Spring!

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!

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!

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 beautiful show exploring the stages of grief and recovery.

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!

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!

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

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!

]]> http://erinnliebhard.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/upcoming-performances/feed/ 0 mnjazzdance http://erinnliebhard.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/awesome-new-twin-cities-jazz-history-book/ http://erinnliebhard.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/awesome-new-twin-cities-jazz-history-book/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:48:11 +0000 Erinn http://erinnliebhard.wordpress.com/?p=226 Continue reading →]]> 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