Building Ballets II

With the cast of "In Between Time" February 1, 2010. top row from l to r - Enton Hoxha, Marc St-Pierre, Katie Williams, Me, Se-Yong Kim, Junio Teixeira, bottom row from l to r - Alys Shee, Jennifer Whalen, and Devon Teuscher. photo by Julie Cobble
WBAL-TV coverage of “In Between TIme” and the Baltimore Ballet

© Tony Powell. "In Between Time" February, 2010
DAY1
The snow that never seemed to end yesterday nearly cancelled my first day of work with Baltimore Ballet. I was relieved to see it let up around 9pm while working at the Busboys and Poets on 14th & V. Today’s rehearsal at Baltimore Ballet’s headquarters on York Road in Hunt Valley, MD was more productive than I expected. Three female dancers from American Ballet Theatre - Devon Teuscher, Katie Williams, and Jennifer Whalen - hadn’t arrived yet as they were finishing the last performances of their Kennedy Center run in Washington, DC, so I had a chance to work with, instead, 15 year-old ballet prodigy Alys Shee and four male dancers from Roxey, Baltimore, and New Jersey Ballets. The process was swift and revealing. The ballet I’m making (over the course of this week) will be the 120th I’ve created, and is only the second time I’ve worked in the studio without music as the driving force in the generation of choreography. I found this new approach very freeing, allowing me to focus solely on craft.
DAY 2

Devon Teuscher. photo © Tony Powell

Katie Williams. photo © Tony Powell

Jennifer Whalen. photo © Tony Powell
CRAZY DAY! The arrival of the 3 ladies from American Ballet Theatre could not have been more anticipated. They are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We got started right away teaching the three ladies the material that was generated the day before by Alys. At a certain point I knew it was time to put it all together in a way that would be meaningful while paying attention to the limited amount of time I have to create the new ballet.
DAYS 3 & 4

Jennifer Whalen and Enton Hoxha in a lift we call "The scarf" because of the way in which the woman unfolds around the man's neck as she is lowered to the ground. photo by Tony Powell

© Tony Powell. Aly Shee and Junio Teixeira. January 31, 2010

Junio Teixeira and Devon Teuscher. photo by Tony Powell

© Tony Powell. "In Between Time" February, 2010

© Tony Powell. "In Between Time" February, 2010
Filmmaker Shannon Schwait came today to make a high definition documentary about the process involved with the making of the piece. It was very strange to talk about the dance in an interview. It’s such an intensely personal work, on one hand a reflection on lost love, and on the other, a celebration of love’s potential.

The cast of "In Between Time." photo by Tony Powell
Every once in a while an idea is so clear in my mind that realizing it in the physical space can seem like an anti-climax. Such was the case when, after slapping on a faux ending on day 3, the true ending made itself apparent to me on day 4 after listening to the music for what must’ve been the 200th time! Instead of simply mirroring the music, I decided, instead, to have the piece finish with the curtain lowering 30 seconds after the music finishes while the dancers continue to move at full throttle.

Devon Teuscher. photo by Tony Powell
The image was so arresting to me that it made sense to open the ballet with a similar motif – using it as a way to introduce material that will come later in the work. LAST MOVEMENT FINISHED!
DAYS 5 & 6

© Tony Powell. Devon Teuscher and Junio Teixeira. February 5, 2010
There were only a few details of the opening movement that needed to be tweaked. A simple canon for 4 couples that originally finished on a long diagonal with the downstage couple facing toward the audience needed to be reworked – The first couple that finishes en pose couldn’t see the last couple complete the canon, which is the cue for all to continue in unison.

© Tony Powell. Katie Williams and Marc St-Pierre. February 5, 2010
Dance writer, Heather Desaulniers, was in the studio, as well, while I finished work on the middle movement, created for Devon and 3 men. A very difficult final lift involving Junio, Enton, and Devon had to be worked out with spotters a half dozen times. Just before the end of rehearsal we were able to link the three sections together for the first time.

© Tony Powell. "In Between Time" February 4, 2010
To my great surprise I was able to finish the piece on the 5th day – a day sooner than anticipated. I’m certain it had everything to do with the talent and energy of the dancers as well as getting an early start – the day before the arrival of the women from ABT – with Alys and the 4 men. The news that a massive snowstorm would hit on performance day had everyone questioning whether to persevere or postpone. With Super Bowl Sunday the following day and several dancers needing to catch international flights, Baltimore Ballet directors, Cem and Elysabeth Catbas, decided to reschedule the Gala for Sunday, March 28, 2010.
Filed under: Art, Dance, Events | 2 Comments
Tags: 2010, Alys Shee, American Ballet Theatre, ballet, Baltimore Ballet, Busboys and Poets, Devon Teuscher, Heather Desaulniers, Hunt Valley, In Between Time, Jennifer Whalen, Junio Teixeira, Katie Williams, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, MD, New Jersey Ballet, Roxey Ballet, Shannon Schwait, Tony Powell
Kimball’s Crew!
To see all the photos click here!

© Tony Powell. Philippe Cousteau and Kimball Stroud
The Dupont Circle brownstone of Kimball Stroud, DC’s lady about town who knows just about everyone who’s anyone, was the place to be for the first big party of the new decade! I can’t remember a gathering where so many things were dead on; the people, the food, the atmosphere, and the conversations (I know how to keep a secret…or 2.) And did I mention the ART? Every wall was covered with something original and out of the ordinary. My kind of place! When Kimball sends a text asking you over you know it’s going to be a calendar clearing event. Her text specifically said,“no camera, you’re not working,” but seeing as though I keep a camera in my trunk, at all times, and with so many friends there (old and new) I couldn’t resist: Nora Maccoby, Kiki Ryan, Philippe Cousteau, Chris and Susan Koch, Shari and Jason Gold, Jill Straus, David Vennett, Jonathan Capehart, Karen Finney, Jake Stafford, Pamela Sorensen, Ingrid Zimmer, Jessica Yellin, Ray Regan, Nicole Backus, Darren Thomas, Mary Streett, Melissa Torres, Christina Sevilla, YouthAIDS founder Kate Roberts, and on and on. They were still coming in as I was on the way out. James Alefantis and best pal Septime Webre lucked up and got my front-of-the-house parking space!

© Tony Powell. Norah Maccoby and Scott Sanders

© Tony Powell. Melissa Torres

© Tony Powell. Pamela Sorensen and Kate Roberts

© Tony Powell. Tedd Evers and Ingrid Zimmer

© Tony Powell. Karen Finney, Jonathan Capehart, and Susan Koch

© Tony Powell. Jill Straus and Shari Yost Gold

© Tony Powell. Chris Koch

© Tony Powell. Catherine Frels and Jacquelyn Davis

© Tony Powell. Pamela Sorensen and David Vennett

© Tony Powell. Kirsten Good and Diana Davis
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Tags: 2010, Chris Koch, Christina Sevilla, David Vennett, DC, Dupont Circle, Ingrid Zimmer, Jake Stafford, James Alefantis, Jason Gold, Jessica Yellin, Jill Straus, Jonathan Capehart, Karen Finney, Kate Roberts, Kiki Ryan, Mary Streett, Melissa Torres, New Years Party, Nora Maccoby, Pamela Sorensen, Philippe Cousteau, Septime Webre, Shari Yost Gold, Susan Koch, Tony Powell, Washington
Dinner at Tiffany’s!

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell
The Tiffany 2009 Blue Book Collection is the defining symbol of luxury in the World of fine gems. Teardrop Diamond Drop Earrings are $40,000, a flower Jardinet Diamond Bracelet in 18K gold is $320,000, and a 6.19 carat brilliant diamond – flawless and colorless with a double border diamond setting – a mere $1,475,000!
The dinner that was thrown at the Tysons Corner location November 20th, in honor of the collection, was just as luxurious as the stones being offered.

© Tony Powell. Tiffany VP Diane Ray Brown, Michael and Susan Harreld
After cocktails and shopping in the store guests were ushered out into the large foyer for dinner which was transformed into a Winter scene: every inch of the ceiling covered in white balloons and streamers nearly reached the floor – simulating falling snow.

© Tony Powell. "Chef" Geoff Tracy and Norah O'Donnell

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell
Catering was provided by Tiffany neighbor “Chef” Geoff Tracy who was accompanied by his wife, MSNBC correspondent, Norah O’Donnell. Other notables included Tiffany & Co. CEO Michael Kowalski, Michael and Susan Harreld, and Newt and Callista Gingrich.

© Tony Powell
The woman behind my involvement is Tiffany & Co. Vice President Diane Ray Brown, for whom I am greatly honored to have worked with now, twice.


© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell


© Tony Powell
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Tags: 2009, Diane Ray Brown, Fairfax Station, Geoff Tracy, Norah O'Donnell, November 20, Tiffany & Co., Tiffany 2009 Blue Book Collection, Tony Powell, Tysons Corner, Virginia
jackquinn
To view and purchase all photos click here!

© Tony Powell. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer with Susanna and Jack Quinn
The most impressive and anticipated holiday gathering to date this season occurred last week on the entire roof level of the W Hotel.

© Tony Powell. Jack Quinn and New York Rep. Joe Crowley

© Tony Powell. Ed Henry and John Warner
When Susanna Quinn calls to say she’s having an event and wants it captured it MUST be important.

© Tony Powell. Susanna Quinn and Tommy McFly

© Tony Powell. Jocelyn and friend
Each party she throws seems to be better than the last and the Quinn Gillespie & Associates Holiday party she hosted was the best yet! (they got it to snow inside!)

© Tony Powell. Brit and Virginia Hume
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Tags: 2009, Brit Hume, December 8, Ed Henry, Holiday Party, Jack Quinn, Joe Crowley, John Warner, Quinn Gillespie & Associates, Susanna Quinn, Tommy McFly, Tony Powell, Virginia Hume, W Hotel
In STEP with Molissa Fenley

© Tony Powell. Molissa Fenley

Mass Balance. Choreographed and danced by Molissa Fenley. photo © Tony Powell

© Tony Powell. Molissa Fenley

Mass Balance. Choreographed and danced by Molissa Fenley. photo © Tony Powell
September 15 and 17, 2009
Venue: Judson Church, 8pm
Location: 55 Washington Square South, New York City
Program: Ice, Dew, Food, Crew, Ape, music by Alvin Curran and poem, STEP, written and performed live by Bob Holman
Mass Balance, music by Cenk Ergun, prop by Todd Richmond
Cosmati Variations 1-4, music by John Cage
Performed by Kristina Berger, Molissa Fenley, Wanjiru Kamuyu, Katie McGreevy, Cassie Mey, Elisabetta Minutoli, Paz Tanjuaquio and Alyssa Lee Wilmot.
Ice, Dew, Food, Crew, Ape – the New York premiere of a work performed twice: once as set to a score by Alvin Curran and then again danced with STEP a poem written and performed live by Bob Holman.

Ice, Dew, Food, Crew, Ape. Choreography by Molissa Fenley. Photo by Tony Powell

Ice, Dew, Food, Crew, Ape. Choreography by Molissa Fenley. Photo by Tony Powell
This work was created while Fenley was in residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, February 2009. Alvin Curran’s score was created by his recording the sounds of the Nantucket ship horn against the sound of John Cage’s voice reciting the five monosyllabic words of Curran’s title.

© Tony Powell. Bob Holman
Bob Holman, also in residence at the ACA, watched rehearsals of the work underway, taking notes of phrases said during the choreographic process, directions taken, relationships expressed, movement described. These notes were then translated into the poetic form that is Holman’s work.

Ice, Dew, Food, Crew, Ape. Choreography by Molissa Fenley. Photo by Tony Powell
Standing in the middle of the stage and surrounded by the dancers moving through the choreography, Holman is sometimes in close proximity to the dancers, sometimes encircled as the dancers continue through their spatial constructions.
Mass Balance – music by Cenk Ergun, prop by Todd Richmond (NY premiere). A solo for Fenley, the work marks the beginning of a new investigation of dances made using a prop designed or suggested by a visual artist.

Mass Balance. Choreographed and danced by Molissa Fenley. photo © Tony Powell

Mass Balance. Choreographed and danced by Molissa Fenley. photo © Tony Powell
Fenley carries a 10-foot wooden dowel throughout the piece, experimenting with images of balance and weight. “Mass Balance” refers to the difference between the accumulation of snow and the ablation of ice of glaciers. Yearly measurements have shown a disequilibrium caused by global climate change.
Cosmati Variations are a series of works that Fenley choreographed while in residence at the American Academy in Rome, February-August, 2008.

Cosmati Variations. Choreography by Molissa Fenley. Photo by Tony Powell
Each variation is inspired by an aspect(s) of the 11th Century Cosmatesque mosaic pavements present in many of the basilicas and churches in Rome.

The inspirations are in terms of design: T-square and serpentine eyelets; in terms of measurement: movements or spatial travel that require three feet; in terms of ardor: demand of execution and in terms of form: triangles nested within squares.

© Tony Powell. Kristina Berger

© Tony Powell. Robert Swinston
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Tags: 2009, 55 Washington Square South, Ape, Cassie Mey, Cosmati Variations, Crew, Dew, Elisabetta Minutoli, Food, Ice, Judson Church, Katie McGreevy, Kristina Berger, Mass Balance, Molissa Fenley, New York City, NY, Paz Tanjuaquio and Alyssa Lee Wilmot, September 16, STEP, Tony Powell, Wanjiru Kamuyu
Celebrating Martha!

Martha Hill circa 1922

With my Juilliard professors Laura Glenn (Limon technique) Janet Soares (Dance composition) and Danny Lewis (Limon technique)

© Tony Powell. Mary Hinkson
To say that a quarter of The Cathedral NYC’s ballroom last night was occupied by living legends of the dance world is not an over statement. Each year around 200 dancers, choreographers, and educators gather to celebrate the life of pioneer in-the-field, Martha Hill. I have the great honor of being the official photographer of the Martha Hill Dance Award Gala and look forward to it each year with great anticipation.

© Tony Powell. Martha Hill Dance Fund President Vernon Scott

© Tony Powell. Dancer Dian Dong and Choreographer HT Chen

© Tony Powell. Choreographer Robert Garland and Ailey II director Sylvia Waters

© Tony Powell. Choreographer, dancer, and teacher Mary Anthony

© Tony Powell. Hannah Baumgartner and Henning Rubsam
Martha Hill is credited with singlehandedly uniting the chiefs of modern dance, during it’s infancy, and also for laying the groundwork that enabled the discipline to be studied, as a major, in colleges all across the country.

Tony Powell. Choreographer/Dancers Murray Louis and Beverly Blossom

© Tony Powell. Awardees Beverly Blossom, Hortense Zera, Jacqueline Green, and Virginia Johnson
I was very fortunate to have been one of the last students hand-picked by Martha to attend The Juilliard School - where she presided over the dance program for over 30 years. Well into her eighties at the time, Martha Hill was an inspiration like none other, full of energy and insight, wisdom, and compassion.

© Tony Powell
Ten years ago an award was created to celebrate her life which recognizes 3 individuals each year in 3 different categories of the life arc of a dancer: The Young Professional, The Mid-Career, and The Lifetime Achievement Awards. This year’s event was presided over by choreographer and dancer Murray Louis with awards going to Jacqueline Green, Virginia Johnson, and Beverly Blossom respectively.

© Tony Powell. Dance critic Jennifer Dunning

© Tony Powell. My Juilliard professors Jeanne Ruddy (Graham technique) and Linda Kent (Taylor technique)

© Tony Powell. Georgia Engel, Virginia Johnson, Elvi Moore

With my Juilliard classmates choreographer and dancer Rebecca Stenn on the left and author and dance educator Dr. Elizabeth McPherson (Beth just wrote the new book about Martha Hill)

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell. Ernesta Corvino
Filed under: Dance, Events, Leisure, Nightlife | 2 Comments
Tags: 2009, Awards Ceremony, Beverly Blossom, Dance, Jacqueline Green, Martha Hill, Martha Hill Dance Award Gala, Mary Anthony, Mary Hinkson, Murray Louis, November 30, The Cathedral NYC, The Juilliard School, Tony Powell, Virginia Johnson
Pole Pressure!

© Tony Powell. Jessalynn Medairy. 11.25.09
An unlikely set of circumstances led to my introduction to top-ranked pole dancer and Pole Pressure studio owner Jessalynn Medairy last week which culminated today in one of the most productive and meaningful photo shoots I’ve ever organized. Productive in that Jessalynn has a work ethic similar to mine and meaningful as it proved to be the right time, the right place, and the right person with which to attempt a fully bare-body outdoor shoot. I’m preparing new work for an exhibit, in the new year, of my large-scale photography, and some of these images are prime candidates for the show.

© Tony Powell. Jessalynn Medairy. 11.25.09
We almost didn’t meet. After a long night of shooting for Tiffany & Co. in Tyson’s Corner last Saturday, I remembered that my friend Lani Hay had invited me to Jayne Sandman’s 30th birthday party at the The Rookery. I really wanted to celebrate with Jayne and also to hear (Lani’s husband) Mark T. Smith, Jay Scott, and (Jayne’s husband) Jeff Dufour’s rock band, which headlined the B-day bash – but my body was asking to get some sleep. I’m glad that better thinking prevailed.

© Tony Powell. Jessalynn Medairy. 11.25.09
When I arrived, the band was already in high gear and the place was a sea of familiar faces and friends: Holidae Hayes, Winston Lord, Amanda and Curtis Polk, Susanna Quinn, Cindy and Evan Jones, Lindsay Czarniak, Jessica Gibson, Patrick Gavin, Lee Brenner, and Alexe Nowakowski.
I spied an attractive blonde woman hanging out with Sharon Yang and something about her seemed special…but I didn’t know what. I later discover that she was none other than Sharon’s pole dance teacher, Jessalynn Medairy, among the top 12 pole dancers in the US for 2009 and in the top 15 for 2010.

© Tony Powell. Jessalynn Medairy. 11.25.09
The woman has NO inhibitions – and that distinction shone through, lending the resulting images we created an immediacy that only authenticity can provide. She IS her art and, at least for the 4 hours we were together, we breathed as one. I can’t remember a time when I was more in sync with the person in front of my lens than with Jessalynn. Shooting started early in the afternoon – indoors at the Carriage House Studio, home of the DC Photographers Coop – near 9th and O Sts. The 9.5 foot tension-based pole she brought with her was securely erected within minutes – snugly fitting between floor and ceiling, providing the necessary support for the myriad moves she executed over and over again.
As luck would have it the rain stopped as soon as we finished in the studio so we headed over to Rock Creek Park to a secluded area near The Nature Center. We were able to get in a hundred shots of what I really wanted to shoot: the bare form in space, outdoors, in nature. We erected her portable stage and 10 foot pole right there in the middle of the woods. My strobes were being powered outside by one of two sine wave inverters that I own, which gives me roughly 300-400 full power bursts of light with as many lights as needed, attached. The only disadvantage of working with an inverter is not being able to use the modeling light on a strobe head for any length of time, as the battery will deplete quickly or worse yet, the inverter can become damaged.

© Tony Powell. Jessalynn Medairy. 11.25.09
An additional sign of support from the Universe came in the form of the Sun – it showed it’s face the second I was set up and ready to take my first shot. That bit of Sun changed everything for the better so the portable lighting was repositioned to allow the Sun to be my rim light. We’ve planned our second shoot together once she returns from an International pole dance tour of England and France.
She’s heading to Europe today for a week of competitions, teaching, and workshops. A dancer, choreographer, and teacher of dance myself, I found the newness of her very specific movement style intriguing, forever expanding my limited conception of movement and portraiture.
Filed under: Art, Dance, Photography | 3 Comments
Tags: 2009, Alexe Nowakowski, Amanda Polk, Carriage House Studio, Cindy Jones, Curtis Polk, DC, DC Photographers Coop, Evan Jones, Holidae Hayes, Jay Scott, Jayne Sandman, Jeff Dufour, Jessalynn Medairy, Jessica Gibson, Lani Hay, Lee Brenner, Lindsay Czarniak, Mark T. Smith, November 25, Patrick Gavin, Pole Pressure, Rock Creek Park, Sharon Yang, Susanna Quinn, The Rookery, Tony Powell, Washington, Winston Lord
Booshie Shoot

© Tony Powell. Juelles Chester. 11.23.09
You never know who you’ll meet or where it might lead when staying open to all possibilities! Choreographer and dancer Kate Jordan invited me to the most recent open house at the Carriage House Studio, just before Halloween. The loosely knit group of photographers (pros and hobbyists) that comprise the DC Photographers Co-Op come together there once a month to share ideas and also to work with a variety of models, in the studio, and throughout the adjacent alleyways in the historic Logan Circle corridor of DC.

© Tony Powell. Juelles Chester. 11.23.09

© Tony Powell. Erica Dudley a.k.a. Model Keka. 11.23.09
The models that night a few weeks ago were dancers on loan from Kate’s dance company – they also rehearse there as part of an exchange. The stylist was a newbie seamstress and Booshie Design founder, Ginger Carlin – she only started sewing a year ago. What I first noticed about her was an overabundance of energy – she bounced around from model to model adjusting clothing (all her designs), applying makeup, and touching up tresses of hair, here and there. A veritable one stop shop for models, she seemed like an ideal partner for a photo shoot.

© Tony Powell. Vanja Simovic.11.23.09

© Tony Powell. Juelles Chester. 11.23.09
We hit it off right away. A casting call went out and we had 3 great new faces with which to work – Vanja Simovic, Juelles Chester, and Erica Dudley a.k.a. Model Keka. Makeup artist Carl Ray, Hairstylist Shannon Greene, and my photo assistant Kevin Smoot, rounded out the team.

© Tony Powell. Erica Dudley a.k.a. Model Keka. 11.23.09
Fast forward to the day before yesterday! Our grand plan for an all-day shoot at the Carousel, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park came to a screeching halt when Mother Nature showed us her plans for the course of the day! The steady downpour of rain forced us inside and thanks to Ginger we were able to get the Carriage House studio on short notice. After a long day of shooting and some homemade chicken and steak fajitas back at Ginger’s Q Street crash pad we were ready for round 2! But where? Still raining, Ginger, model Juelles, and I drove all over NW DC looking for a quirky indoor location. A gas station? Safeway? The nightclub Heaven and Hell? Tryst? At midnight I finally decided to try the lobby of the Donovan House on Thomas Circle. After a series of emails and phone calls to the director of PR and Marketing, we got the green light. The PR director remembered my name from the summer when I would come up to shoot parties on the roof by the pool each week.

© Tony Powell. Juelles Chester. 11.23.09
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Tags: 2009, Carl Ray, Carriage House Studio, DC, DC Photographer Coop, Erica Dudley, Ginger Carlin, Juelles Chester, Kevin Smoot, Model Keka, November 23, Shannon Greene, Tony Powell, Vanja Simovic, Washington
Capital City Ball
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© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell

© Tony Powell
Filed under: Charities, Events, Nightlife | Leave a Comment
Tags: 2009, Capital City Ball, DC, Dupont Circle, Innocent's at Risk, November 21, Polaris Project, Tony Powell, Washington, Washington Club
Birthday Bash
For Politico coverage click here!
My good friends- DC Film Commissioner Kathy Hollinger, far right, and Kimball Stroud, threw me the best birthday party I can remember! Fifty or so friends came out to Cafe Milano to help me celebrate last week in style!!! Thanks Kathy and Kimball!

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Tags: 2009, Birthday Party, Cafe Milano, DC, Kathy Hollinger, Kimball Stroud, November 12, Tony Powell, Washington




































