Seeing as I was the one who harassed these guys for a blog page on our fancy new website I suppose it’s time I write something.
I was hoping that these pages would be a point of departure for people to speak about art in the city, create a dialogue amongst artists. How can we improve what we have? Where can we grow? People keep talking about this being the “golden age for theatre in Calgary”. I guess I want to know what is golden?
On Saturday night, March 21st, I had the pleasure of going to “Dance Mainstage” at the University. This show is one of only three opportunities for dancers at the university to showcase themselves, the other to being Dance at Noon and Dance at Night. Dance Montage doesn’t actually count because it’s open to anyone from the community, although it is hosted by the university. This is a sad fact because theses dancers have so much to show. Although some of the choreographer’s visions might not always hit the mark for me, the dancers were a 10/10 as far as I’m concerned. I realize the university does not necessarily have the means financially, or the man power to put on more shows. My issue is not with the department but with the community. Who will foster these dancers? What opportunities are present for them?
I suppose my questions are somewhat selfish. Having recently graduated from the U of C with a minor in dance I’m finding myself being drawn to bigger city centers. Cities that have more companies, both independent and professional, with a strong focus on physical theatre.
If this is the “golden age of theatre” for this city, then what about dance? Where are the students coming out of school opening companies, pushing boundaries, and creating new work?
I eventually settled on an outfit for Sexual Outlaws.
Sorry, Mom.
I think it important to reitarate that the title and theme are really all Leda’s fault. People think mark and i are constantly throwing sex parties or something. Actually Leda got the burlesque troop last year, and then subsequently came up with the title: lust after sunset. So for this year we decide to roll with a similar theme and Leda indeed came up with ‘Sexual Outlaws’. (read mark’s post below for full details)
When Mark and i were first casually talking about a theatre company Mark said “i want to throw good parties”. i agreed, and that is something we try and do. that may sound silly or extraneous to a theatre company but i genuinely feel partying is an important facet of community building and community building is something very important to both mark and myself. We are always interested in engaging our community, bringing people together, and generally just having a kick ass time.
plus dancing is fun.
It seemed like a great idea.
“Let’s have a party!”
Okay, that sounds good. What should we call it? Something… y’know… something sexy. Tantalizing.
Sins and Inhibitions? Sinful Desires! Carnal Desires. Carnal Inhibitions? Friday Night F**k!
“It’s on a Saturday.”
Oh, right. Saturday Night Seduction?
Nothing was clicking. We sat around my office in silence. Leda scanned her eyes across my bookshelf.
“Sexual Outlaws!” she cried. She had spotted the book by John Rechy, the story of a bodybuilding part-time male hustler. Not the inspiration I’d been expecting, but somehow it seemed to work.
Sexual Outlaws is tonight. We have a killer line-up of music, a superbly talented bodypainter, deluxe prize packages and a bevy of confirmed guests. By all accounts, it should be a rockin’ evening. So what’s the problem?
I have no goddamn idea what to wear.
Well i am going to write so Mark doesn’t feel so lonely. I just turned 30 which i believe makes me no longer an “emerging artist”. This means i am now qualified to tell others how best to “emerge”… or so Theatre Alberta felt. In the spring 2009 TA newsletter there is some advice from independent producers to theatre artists getting out of school who wish to produce their own work, mine was perhaps a bit more the philosophy of doing so than a specific plan or blue print. I will post what i wrote as i feel it ties into Swallow-a-Bicycle.
1) Be courageous. Putting up your own work is an act of bravery. Take risks. You will fail, you will land on your face, reviewers will say mean things, two people will show up for your show. You will also learn and grow.
2) Volunteer to help as many other shows in as many other capacities so that you can learn how to hang a light, call a show, talk to a designer, do poster design etc. You will wear many hats as a producer the better you are at them, and the better you understand others roles on a production the more effective a producer you will become.
3) Be aware of money. budget. be up front with people about money. treat that side of it like a business. protect yourself financially.
4) have fun. it’s a lot of hard work and you most likely won’t get famous or rich from it, (if you do tell me how!), so enjoy it!
i would probably also add to it
5) Learn where the nearest 24 hour Wal-Mart is located. You will be shocked at the random, crazy shit you need to buy at 130 in the morning.
So, I did teach Charles and Léda how to use the blog. I did, for real. I’m not some kind of blog-hog. But they just don’t seem to be jumping onto the blog train. Sigh. I guess things like “turning 30″ and “travelling to London, England” just take priority for some people. Whatever.
I am increasingly psyched for Sexual Outlaws and its assured awesomeness. If you don’t already have March 14 in your calendar, then what the hell? We even have a handy Facebook event page where you can publicly confirm your attendance, so people can be like “Who’s going to this Sexual Outlaws thing anyway?” and then “Oh, he’s going? Ugh, I’m out.” Or, you know, preferably the opposite.
Hooray – I’m me again! Thanks to our fabulous web designer, Chelsea Klukas, I’ve deciphered the mysteries of WordPress and I’m able to post under my own name. Go technology!
We’ve had a lot of positive feedback about the website already. Thanks to everyone who’s visited! The site is still a work-in-progress, so keep checking back as we update with more photos, archives and Swallow-a-Bicycle goodness. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please drop us a line at info@swallowabicycle.com.
At some point, I’ll teach Charles and Léda how to use this thing so I’m not the lone blogger. At some point.
Well, the blog seems to be working! I’m not totally sure how to use it yet, but I think that’s more my fault than the blog’s.
(I’m also not sure how to post as “Mark” instead of “admin”. Any WordPress experts reading this? Help!)
I’d stay and ramble some more, but I’m off to go “snowkiting” for a FFWD article. My life tends to take odd turns. Ooh, but if I survive snowkiting, come check out my performance at the flywheel reading series, this Thursday, March 5, at 7:30 pm at Pages Books on Kensington (1135 Kensington Rd NW). I’ve been working on a fun performance art-y piece. It involves cake, hopefully of the scrumptious variety, and you will be able to eat some if you come!
Audience growth via bribery. I like it.
Mark Hopkins
