It's like Red Wine and Coke!

Trey McIntyre Project which is based out of Boise created a piece for the HUGE Basque festival in Boise called Jaialdi. Jaialdi only happens every 5 years and this was the 50th anniversary of the festival. They estimated that 30,000-50,000 people from all over the world travelled to Boise for Jaialdi.

As a Basque and Basque dancer this is a big deal to say the least. Unfortunately I was not able to go (insert much sadness) so I had to live through my friends and family calling me to tell me stories and photos posted on facebook. Its just not the same damn it!

Anyways back to the point, Trey McIntyre created an AMAZING piece inspired by Basque dance which premiered at the Festara during Jaialdi. Basically Trey took my two worlds and melded them together in a way I could only dream of. (read a review of the piece Boise Weekly and New York Times)

In a way I'm jealous because I have always wanted to create a modern dance piece based on traditional Basque dance. In every piece I have ever made there are hints to my Basque dancing past. I have a strong tie to my Basque roots and in San Luis Obispo I feel like one of three Basques in a 500 mile radius. This is really hard sometimes since I come from a strong community of Basques. I miss going down to the block and hearing Basque music, eating Basque food, dancing on Sundays with the Oinkaris, and just being with my HUGE extended family, because lets face it, if you're Basque then you're probably related.

I miss my Basque life, but I'm learning to embrace it and allow it to help me remember where I come from. All I need in life is a kalimotxo, lamb stew, and a jota... then it feels like my family is with me, even if for a moment.

Here is a clip of the making of Arrantza (courtesy Trey McIntyre Project's blog *who as I went to get this link, posted a blog about Jaialdi!*):

Why I love Frye

short film to why I love Frye

Why I Love my Frye Boots from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

A Shift of Energy

Week 3 baby!

Ok so this tuesday (yesterday July 27) I taught the Variable Velocity beginning modern dance class. There were only 3 students this week and 2 are Variable dancers so I decided for the warm up I would un-structure it and go for more of a one on one detailed warm up. Since it is so rare to get really specific instruction on things like different types of roll downs.

I also wanted to teach the same combo to the students however I wanted to change it up a bit. So I changed the music and overall tone of the piece.

here is me doing the original version to the Chase McBride music

July dance combo from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

I changed the music to a song I have been unhealthily obsessed with

Crystal Castles "Empathy"

here is 2 runs in a row of the combo with me in it (it was really fast and tough)

Beginning Modern Combo week 3 (7-27-10) from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

Then I had the dancers take the movement and not think about timing or the order and just go, here's what happened

Beginning Modern Dance *Dancers only week 3 from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

I love seeing the differences between the the two versions. The movement is exactly the same, the only difference is the timing and dynamics. Gah! fascinating, this is the core of my work (at this stage in my life) and I love seeing how movement can change so much with little differences.

compare this week to

Week 1

Week 2

tonight Mee Heng Low Noodle House with Tanya, it's Jazz night which is my favorite

That one hurt a little, that one hurt a bit more... ok that one hurt a lot!

What a week. I 'm still wondering wtf happened and how. My head is in a tail spin to say the least I'm torn between laughing and crying every moment. However laughter always seems to prevail (I'm not much of a crier)

I taught Variable Velocity class again this Tuesday! and it was AWESOME I love teaching soooo much. There were 7 dancers, only 2 from last week, so I re-taught the same class essentially. It was great to see how the 2 who have done the phrase before progressed and how those new to my way of working approached the challenge.

Here is a taste from class (I didn't like any of the videos I was in so I'm only showing the one with the dancers)

Beginning Modern Dance combo week 2 from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

They are fantastic!

(music by Chase McBride)

Tuesday night and all day Wednesday I was SUPER sick with a virus or something so I ended up not going to the last day of classes for summer school and sleeping, since I couldn't move or walk really.

Thursday I took a final from 10-12 studied from 12-4 took the second final from 4-6 and then went home and ate soup and tried not to pass out or die from a massive headache (imagine being repeatedly hit in the head with a baseball bat). I decided it would be better not to go to dance that night and Diana agreed. However it turns out afterwards Jude went to the Hospital with some strange something I still don't understand, Transient Global Amnesia. I still don't know what that means. Then this morning, Friday, I get to work about to head out to the fair and I receive a broken 8 part text from Diana and I freak out because I don't know what to do and I can't leave work to go to the hospital though I desperately want to.

I guess I feel like I've failed since I couldn't or wouldn't be there for Jude, which brings back a lot of painful memories from my past, and past regret that I can't change no matter how hard I try.

Then there is the fact that I was supposed to be in SF this weekend for the Dead Weather show but decided not to go because of finals and my new job ( I could have gotten out of both but it would have been a lot of effort and a small lie which I don't do).

It's been a tough week and I just keep wondering about my life choices and the sacrifices I make... and specifically if they're worth it. Lately I'm not so sure.

Beginning Modern Center combo

Last night I taught the beginning modern dance class for Variable Velocity. After a short crisis of identity last week, it felt so good to teach and the dancers are AMAZING in the class. To be cliche I felt extremely fulfilled just to be there and to teach and of course to witness them perform the phrase. The phrase was based on the idea of opposition and dynamics.

I added video with both myself in it and just the dancers, as a typical choreographer I actually prefer the video without me in it. I was breathless watching it and I'm really excited to teach it again next tuesday.

I LOVE DANCE (sorry, I felt that was necessary)

Music by Chase McBride "Wild Child"

VV class combo dancers only from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.

VV beginning class combo from Lauren Chertudi on Vimeo.