A Mid-Week Pick Me Up

On Monday, a man made me mad. Tuesday, I kicked myself for erasing a year's worth of important information. I woke up this morning, Wednesday, and asked God, "What else you got?" She replied with a note from 5 year old Ashley:

I love ballet.

"Thank you for teaching me how to do ballet. I love you."

Empty Theaters

This weekend, for the second time in a month, I went to see a dance concert in which the house was barely filled. “This is EXACTLY what I’m trying to avoid,” I remarked to my friend as we took our seats. “I don’t want to put on a fully produced show and NO ONE shows up. If that’s going to be the case, then what’s the point?”

As artists, we work so hard to create work and then even harder to show it in front of an audience. And for what? -- If the only people who show up are our loved ones. Trust me, I’m so glad when my parents can make a trip north on I-95, and my friends can take a night away from their busy schedules, but I make dances to connect, engage and communicate with audiences beyond people I know personally.

So as I’m jumping into a season of performances this February, March and April, I’m thinking about what I can do to make sure I’m not dancing to an empty house:

• Partner with people and organizations that have a built in audience

• Choose a size appropriate venue – I’d rather have standing room only, than mostly empty seats
• Promote! Promote! Promote!

That's all I've got. You?

Dancing into 2012!

2011 has come and gone & it was an incredible 12 months.
Thank YOU: the community that supports me, making the vision for Sydnie L. Mosley Dances a reality.

A QUICK Recap:
In January 2011, a group of dynamic individuals generously contributed to SEED THE DREAM, starting the business entity Sydnie L. Mosley Dances fiscally sponsored by The Field. February, March and April saw a slew of performances including the National Choreography Month (NACHMO) showing, Brooklyn Ballet's First Look, and The Pearl.

In May, we launched The Window Sex Project and June, July and August hosted 3 successful community workshops empowering women and their bodies through dance. As a result, I began creating my first evening length work which we showed in excerpt at Harlem Arts Alliance's September Artz, Rootz & Rhythm Festival, and in its entirety at Land Yoga in November. After that Work In Process showing we headed back to the studio during December to continue to work.

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Thank YOU...
Dancers whose bodies bring my dreams to fruition.
Blair Hotchner and Diondra Sertorie, the most amazing interns and administrative support I could ask for.
Barnard College Dance, Center for Research on Women, and Africana Studies for your guidance, resources, and belief in my work.
Collaborating artists: Ebonie Smith, Leah King, Princess Dennis and Auzriel Hall for your brilliance.
Hollaback!, Stop St. Harassment, RINY Media, Land Yoga, AFIA sustainable fashions, Best Yet Market, Citizens Committee for NYC, INSPIRIT and the YMCA for your GENEROUS in-kind support.
DONORS who gave dollars to make The Window Sex Project happen.
Stanley & Crystal Mosley, my rock star parents who are there every step of the way.

I couldn't have done any of this with out you!

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ONWARD!
Now it's January again, and we are revving up for an even more abounding year!

SAVE THE DATES!
(Go ahead. Really. Click the links to purchase tickets and write those dates in your calendar.)

February 4, 2012, 5pm & 7:30pm
Joyce SoHo, 155 Mercer Street, New York 10012
The Bootstrap Arts Festival Presents: An Evening of Dance at Joyce SoHo
featuring Ephrat Asherie Dance, Trainor Dance (Caitlin Trainor), Sydnie L. Mosley Dances, SAWTOOTH dancers (Cristina Jasen), and Shandoah Goldman.
Tickets $15 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

February 24, 2012, 8 pm
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), 421 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216
...first... An evening of choreography by ANAE, Tendayi Kuumba, Sydnie Mosley, and Simone Sobers
Tickets $12/$20 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

April 2, 2012, 6:30pm
Barnard College, The Diana Event Oval
The Window Sex Project: Performance and Discussion with guest moderator Professor R. L'Heureux Lewis
For more information...

See you at the show!

On Writing Dance

Last night the Dance/NYC Junior Committee had the privilege of sitting and talking with dance writer Eva Yaa Asantewaa. Forever a student, I listened intently taking notes on what she finds important when writing about dance because let’s face it – writing about dance performance is not always the easiest thing to do.

First, she stated that she is not so invested in the term “dance critic.” Instead of criticizing what she sees per se, she is more interested in bringing her personal experiences to the reader.  She said, “We are bodies watching bodies… and what emerges from that experience is precious.” How refreshing. Seriously, when is the last time you read a review and you felt the author wasn’t distantly looking down his or her nose at the performance?

Read More...

CupCake Kisses

My family is awesome.

Today I want to tell you about my Stister who is awesome. She bakes the best cakes and cupcakes you've ever tasted, and I'm not just telling you that because she's my sister. I'm telling you because it's true.

Check out the un-biased review below:

For more information:
http://cupcakekisses.tumblr.com
@cupcakekisses86

To order, email:
cupcakekisses86@gmail.com