PROFILE/INTERVIEW: Karen Nielsen, 2006 Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award Winner (Innovation) for film, Perceptions

Profile/Interview with 2006 Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award Winner Karen Nielsen (Perceptions, the movie)

Interview with Karen Nielsen, writer/director/producer of Innovation Winner, a short film using dance melded with narrative, Perceptions

This week, as promised, I profile another of the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award winners. Karen Nielsen of Blue Finn Productions wrote, directed and produced the short film Perceptions, an intense, dramatic narrative about drug abuse and its terrifying consequences but seen through the tragic, double vision of the woman at the center of the conflict—she exists in two worlds. One is her real but very harsh existence where she cannot escape the misery or the consequences of her drug addiction. The other illusionary world is idyllic and passionate, as seen through the cloud of drug intoxication. One world is mundane and ugly; the other is lyrical and portrayed through imaginative dance and sensual dancers. In showing the drug victim’s perceptions in this manner, it makes it easier for all of us to understand the deadly pull of drug use. Drugs are used to escape reality, but the high is only imaginary and the consequences ultimately dire.

This is Karen Nielsen’s second major film offering as a director. The first, Infinite Moments, another short film about a woman dealing with the night she was raped, has also received rave reviews and acclaim. She has done several other shorts as well as a PSA promoting reading and education in Canada as well as a comedy called HULA. Her work though, seems more typically dramatic in nature and more and more seems to be taking on social issues within the context of her narratives.

Karen was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada and attended the Vancouver Film School. She graduated with a Certificate of Recommendation from the Foundation Film Program I n1996. From there, she worked as an Associate Producer at the Toronto International Film Festival for the show REEL TO REAL and spent three years in Toronto working for Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox and Alliance Atlantis. Karen began her career as a producer and then as a writer/producer. Infinite Moments was Karen’s directorial debut.

[Question] What do you feel your movie is about? (both at the surface, deeper and even personally...)

[Karen] Perceptions is about a woman who is thrust into an alternative reality during a drug induced high where she is dancing in a world of her own. The woman’s perceptions are shaken as her two realities collide. As the intensity heightens and her confusion escalates, she is forced to choose between her two loves.

Perceptions addresses how we can sometimes see ourselves, compared to how we are perceived by those around us. Where the drug addicted woman sees herself as a beautiful dancer when she is high, her drug dealer as a sexy bad boy and her boyfriend as a knight in shining armor. Nothing is black and white, she is not just a strung out crazy drug-addicted woman, she is a person with issues, who is living in an alternative reality to get by. Sometimes people can get through with the support of those that love them and sometimes they don’t. The important thing is not to give up on someone because you perceive them a certain way, if the boyfriend had given up on her she would have died alone with a heartless drug dealer. The dance works in creating the alternative reality, showing how she is seeing everything and really feeling her emotion instead of being distracted by her drug-addicted appearance and only seeing that. I wanted to include the narrative to help the audience understand the journey and be aware of the judgments and perceptions that are made.

[Question] Where do you want to go as an artist? If you just want to be successful and buy matching mansions for you and your mum, that's ok. It's just that most artists I've met usually also have other, deeper goals for what they want to do with their work and what effects they have on the world.

[Karen] I think the world is endless for where I want to go as an artist. Yes I want to make narrative films that make a statement and get in peoples face. Subtlety has never been my style. Film is a wonderful way to reach huge audiences and make an awareness and hopeful change on many issues. One of the most satisfying things for me as a filmmaker is when I am approached by someone that connected with my film, and were moved by it. Just to let someone know that there are other people out there that understand or at least want to understand is so important. Too many people in this world feel that they are all alone.

I am also excited to just go out and have a little fun directing a romantic comedy or a thriller. I think all of my films will always have an underlying message, but sometimes you just need to turn your brain off and have a little fun

[Question] How did you get started? Did you always know that this was what you wanted to do?

[Karen] I started out volunteering at a local cable channel, doing some camera work and assisting the directors. When I started to think that this may fit for me I went to the Vancouver Film School. After film school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do, be an editor but that didn’t fit as nicely as I thought it would. Then I realized, I know what industry I want to be in but I am not sure where I fit in it. So over the years I tried numerous areas of the industry from production, marketing and publicity, post production and producing. Then when I was trying to figure out who should direct a short I had written, I couldn’t think of anyone that knew the story and what I wanted to say with it as much as I did. With the encouragement of my peers I decided to direct my first film ‘Infinite Moments’. For the first time in my life things began to fit and I realized I had found exactly where I was supposed to be in this industry, a director. I haven’t looked back since.

[Question] What is your inspiration for your work? How do you stay inspired in such a tough business?

[Karen] The people around me inspire me for stories and keep me inspired. From family & friends who support me and believe in me to complete strangers who see my films and are moved by them. I truly believe that everyone deserves to find happiness, and part of my happiness comes from making films and I would never let anyone stop me from following my dreams to being happy, no matter what the obstacle. As they always say, nothing in life worth having is ever easy.

[Question] Your movie has a deep social meaning to it (drug use) but you use dance as a way of telling that story. That is very innovative. Why dance? How did you come up with the idea? Is dance being used as more than a story telling mechanism here? Is it also being used as a metaphor?

[Karen] I chose to do a dance film as I wanted the challenge of being able to capture emotion through movement and not words. The music by Kubilay Uner inspired me for the story, as the music came before anything else. I had wanted to do a film revolving around the perceptions that we have of ourselves and that of others, as they are always different. I hate how society in general likes to shoebox everyone into a category. A Drug addict is disgusting and could stop if they really wanted to be clean, they are just throwing away their lives. The statement may be true, but it is not that simple and not that black and white. At the end of the day people are human and have vulnerabilities and insecurities, some more than others. Some are stronger to overcome obstacles and some are not, but that does not mean that they are less of a person because of it. I wanted the lead character in Perceptions to be seen as the strung out junkie who did want to make a change and come clean and have a wonderful future with this great supportive guy (her prince charming). That’s how I presented her, but the dance realm shows her how she sees herself. She needs the drugs to feel strong and beautiful, without them she feels insecure and disgusting, how we see her in the narrative. The dance in the film is her high, and when we are in the narrative we see her reality that she keeps slipping back to. When you see the two worlds, who wouldn’t want to stay in the dance euphoria.

The choreography by Josh Beamish really translated everything from the script along with the performances of the dancers. I learned a lot about the power of movement and expression to convey emotion and story.

[Question] What are you planning next? More dance or other arts being melded with film work? Or more traditional film storytelling?

[Karen] I am planning to do another dance film with ‘Perceptions’ choreographer Josh Beamish in which we are currently applying for funding for entitled ‘The Ballerina’ written by Dennis Goldberg and I am scheduled to shoot a short comedy in April. I am currently working on developing two feature film scripts, one drama and a comedy. I love doing a mixture of genre’s and formats of story telling. I really let the story and/or characters drive my imagination.

[Question] Anything you want to say to your fans about anything, this award, your work, anything?

[Karen] I love that people have embraced ‘Perceptions’, showing that dance is still an entertaining and powerful form of expression that people want to watch. I love pushing boundaries, and having this film represent being an innovator is very exciting and inspiring to continue telling the stories that excite me and allow myself to move outside of my comfort zone and push not only my own boundaries but push everything around me to bring my films to the world.

Thank you, Karen. It was great getting your perceptions!

For more information about Karen, her production company or her movies, including upcoming screenings, please see the information and links below:

Upcoming Screenings:
INFINITE MOMENTS
Okanagan Film Festival March 28 ­ Apr 1, 2007 (Kelowna, BC)
Rebel Planet Short Film Festival Apr 20 ­ 22, 2007 (Los Angeles, CA)
DeReel Independent Film Festival May 3 ­ 13, 2007 (Melbourne, AUS)
Swansea Bay Film Festival Tues June 5 @ Dylan Thomas Centre (Swansea Bay,
Old South Wales ­ UK)

PERCEPTIONS
Swansea Bay Film Festival Wed June 6 @ Dylan Thomas Centre (Swansea Bay,
Old South Wales ­ UK)

For more information on screenings please visit the Blue Finn Productions
website at http://www.bluefinnproductions.com

My Spaces
http://www.myspace.com/perceptionsthemovie
http://www.myspace.com/bluefinnproductions.com
http://www.myspace.com/janitorsoffice
http://www.myspace.com/infinitemomentsmovie


CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious!

Please do NOT copy or redistribute this interview (or pictures) without my express permission. This is because any interviews involve other people and their proprietary work, hard work, I might add—so it is a courtesy to them to treat their hard work with respect. Thank you.

Innovation and Risk: Why Google & Yahoo! Still know how and Big Brands Don't

Innovation and Risk, Why Google and Yahoo! Still Know How and Big Brands and Agencies Don't.

Canada, Culture, Hate Speech and Porn -- What's that got to do with Branding, Image, Risk and Innovation?

A recent commentary article by Jonah Bloom of Ad Age caught my eye today and I just had to get some stuff written.

The link is http://adage.com/columns/article?article_id=115717 It's entitled, "Great Products, Stories Will Take These Small Companies Far.... Three Brands That Make Sure Operations and Brand Promise Are the Same Thing." I don't spend a lot of time reading blogs and online magazines. I usually run search terms in order to find relevant articles and discussions. I do occasionally (a lot if there is time) cruise Technorati, CNET, CNN, BBC, several news mags/online papers including some Canadian ones. I rely heavily on advertising and marketing related newsletters though like Ad Age and eMarketer. They come into my email box every day with headlines and teasers of the stories of the day. I don't have time to read everything I'd like to, so I find such things invaluable--both for industry trends and for insightful commentary about the state of media. (You may not be able to read the article without a subscription, but if you can, I encourage you to read it.)

Bloom's article resonated though, especially since it is in line with the things I talk about frequently (and some things I've been dealing with in the offline world lately. I'm not even doing my usual inspect-rewrite-rewrite-rewrite method with this posting. I want to get it written and out there before I lose my train of thought--hopefully, not too late already!!!) His stuff is usually insightful about the industry and encourages innovation and risk taking, harshly criticizing agencies and companies that back down the instant some lone individual cries foul. I agree with him and other critics that the so called 'leaders' of the industry aren't the ones that truly lead...it's the smaller, lesser known agencies and companies that really do the innovation and leadership. If you watch them, you have a much better idea of what is to come.

I'll give you a fair use taste of what Bloom wrote:
"The real brand heroes are so often the small guys. The guys who innovate because they can't spend; the guys who understand brand utility, because if they didn't their companies would wither before they sprouted their first bud; the guys who know their audience, because they, well, talk to them. They not only get that everything their company does has to be true to their go-to-market strategy -- but are sufficiently involved in all those things to actually make sure operations and brand promise are the same thing. Jig-a-Loo is big in Canada, and it has recently completed a $7.5 million private-equity deal to take a shot at the U.S. market. Watch out WD40. "

Small companies and unknown brands innovate because they are unknown and it's the only real way to make a big splash. Instead of just spinning the same old thing a different way, or taking an inferior product and pushing it into the light with a lot of expensive spending, they actually need to do something new, different and relevant. Innovation requires risktaking, which means you could fail. Big agencies and big companies don't want that kind of risk. They're afraid that even a single failure will somehow cause their entire world to come crashing down.

Likely it won't but that appears to be the mindset. FEAR. Everyone wants sure things, yet everyone knows that there is no such thing as a 'sure thing.' But still, too often the bigger companies (or bigger names in terms of artists) think that if they throw money at it, then they can force something to be a sure thing. (Look at all the copycat TV programs or films...and all the remakes of remakes of remakes...rather than new innovative shows that might offend someone somewhere in someway or that might really take off and become the next big thing.) Or they will buy into any agency or promoter that promises them a 'sure thing.' Kind of sounds gullible doesn't it? Yet, these are the big boys and girls with the big money? Why would they act so stupid? aka...FEAR...it makes you stupid and willing to believe anybody that tells you what you want to hear.

Diet books and schemes that promise 'eat anything and still lose weight' or gurus that tell you that with enough money or being 'thin' enough, you will be happy. Doesn't work, doesn't happen. Need I say more?

So innovation happens because there isn't any choice--no easy answers, no easy 'sure things'--and thus, the risk becomes acceptable. The up side is that we get new companies, new groups, new people taking those risks and giving us great new things to use or listen to or watch. That's why I spend so much time surfing MySpace looking for emerging talent and (when I do review them) am often disappointed with established big names.

It's also why I'm so often disappointed with a culture and society that accepts this kind of attitude that prefers cheap imitation over real quality. Following your dreams, your passion is all about taking risks--as those that do already know. Following others, imitating them, thinking that doing the same will make you successful, is not...but if you imitate rather than blaze new trails, you aren't alone. Billion dollar companies--that got that successful usually by starting as a small but risk taking company--live the imitation life every day now.

Some don't. Both Google and Yahoo! come immediately to mind, both have seen setbacks and criticizms, but both have never stopped taking risks and trying to find new ways to innovate and succeed. They are both internet companies, but while that may help them understand the fast-paced, snooze-you-lose attitude that is the Internet and Web, it doesn't automatically imply success. (Remember Netscape?)

However, both Google and Yahoo! are constantly trying to find new ways to reach people and entertain them. Yes, entertain. After all, if it doesn't engage you, if it isn't 'fun' in some way, even something like 'search,' then you aren't going to bother using some new site or program, are you? And if it requires a learning curve of some kind, why bother if it isn't relevant to your needs anyway? Some companies never seem to get that part about new products or services.

Like I said, both have had ups and downs. I even joke around by calling Google the New Evil Empire, meaning they have immense influence and power now. Are these companies evil? No. Are they angels? No. Google has come under attack for their China policy as well as allegations that their advertising only business model allows disreputable sites to operate, well, disreputably--while Google turns a blind eye. Do they? I don't know. I do know that the companies complaining the loudest are Google's competitors and also are the same ones declaring that Google's business model is unsound. It must really bug them that the textbooks seem to be wrong on this one and Google just keeps succeeding in spite of their 'unsound, shaky, can't last' business model.
And yes, if Google were encouraging grey or black hat SEO tactics, I would be screaming very loudly and angrily. Black/Grey hat SEO (Search Engine Optimization) are methods that use luring keywords, mislabeled content, false updated sites and so forth to raise the search list status (ie.. to get closer to the top of the list so that you, the searcher, will click on them.) Porn sites, especially illegal ones (child porn), or violent racial hatred sites are notorious for this kind of behavior--they especially try to lure the very young to their sites, to expose them to vulgar, violent and illegal images or hateful, bigoted views that encourage violence.

I've done a lot of research on predators (online and offline types), pornography effects, child porn and abuse, hate speech and social identity in the online space. I've seen and read things that I won't discuss here. I care a lot about these subjects and so applaud shows like Dateline's To Catch a Predator that bring the subject, in only a portion of its true horror, to a larger audience. If I thought Google were a part of that, believe me, I'd be screaming pretty loudly. So far, what I've learned is that while Google will play political games (China) in order to penetrate a market, like everybody else, they deal pretty severely with illegal activities and black or gray hat activities. Same with Yahoo!

If you are curious about some of my extensive academic research, a lot of it is still online (for a while...until I need the space)...the online stuff is meant to be online and presented in a online (visual, aural and kinetic) way--trying to both entertain and enlighten. Go to my main website and click on the Old Academic link. http://www.myuw.net/cganders (And yes, every child porn site I tracked down I reported to reputable agencies--problem usually is that these sites move around a lot or are hosted in countries that are unwilling to take action against them, or against local predators.) You'll understand then why I hate Larry Flynt and Hustler and don't think of Hustler as 'free speech in action.' You'll get why I like Canadian culture and their views of Hate Speech as illegal rather than the U.S. view of it as 'free speech.' Why I believe that pornography incites violence toward women, toward children and in general toward everyone, especially in a culture that already worships violence, accepts bigotry subconsciously and secretly needs to subjegate someone in order to feel powerful.

There are powerful social institutions at play involved here. That research effort, along with a related look at the Mai Lai massacre and the misleading, inaccurate and self-serving Bowling for Columbine movie, aren't online but were offline projects. Women, children and (if government approved) ethnic and so-called 'racial' groups are usually the easiest targets. The problems are all related and go back to cultural institutions, insider/outsider tribal patterns and social identity theory.
Sounds intimidating, I know, but it's true--and yes, I really do do that kind of background research on things. Cultural problems are complex and quick fixes need not apply. It also applies to marketing research and customer insight and media trends, believe it or not. {smile and wink inserted here!}

I may not do negative reviews on this site, but commentary is a different matter entirely. This stuff pushes my buttons, especially when I see companies, groups or politicos trying to trivialize such matters.

You may be able to throw money at your problems in the offline world and stave off your competitors, but on the Web, Innovation and Risk are the name of the game. The digital media world can do anything the old media world can do--and what's more, is gradually displacing it more and more. The marketing/ad mix models don't work the same on the Net. Content control doesn't work the same. Mass media doesn't work the same. Gate Keeping is gone. Time control is gone (and hence channel marketing, drive times and so forth.) Tracking ad/marketing/media effects is actually just as hard as it is in the offline world but also easier in some ways (unlike the offline media world.)

However, agencies and companies haven't adjusted yet to the new metaphors and hence still see it as more difficult rather than easier--and marketing dollars only flow when such individuals think they will get something 'risk-free.' It's not risk free in the offline world, but they grew up in that world and learned their trade in that world--they know that world and don't even recognize how shaky that world and its preconceived notions really are. That world is familiar and so seems more understandable and stable to them. A world that requires them to constantly innovate and take risks is frightening, especially since in the digital world, lack of control is more common than hierarchical control.

Cable took a lot of control away from broadcast TV, but you still have heads of broadcast companies not recognizing that a big part of getting a 20 or 30 share in the past was because of 'scarcity.' Three channels means three choices, period. Five hundred means less control, less loyalty and more choice. It also means better demographic segmentation but fewer dollars per channel. Fewer dollars and greater fear to spend (since it's less bang per buck now) means less original content, not more...which means less interest by viewers, which means less effectiveness for advertisers, leading to less money spent on that medium, which means less money spent on original content and so on. Downward spiral.

A newer medium (Net) is at least 'new' which implies interest (for a time.) How the Net will develop 'content-wise' is still to be seen, but develop it will.

By the by, social networking and viral marketing (i.e. a place like MySpace or YouTube and the way a cool vid, story or picture travels around the Net and gets seen by thousands to millions) are just another form of word-of-mouth marketing, a very effective and very old marketing method from the offline world. Still difficult to track but still probably the most effective (read targeted with great results) method there is. Thus, the offline world and online world are using similar methods, just different names sometimes. It also explains the intense interest by marketing and advertising folks in social networking and viral campaigns. The problem crops up because they don't want to relinquish control of the message and trust the online community--they want it risk free.

In the end, what does this mean to you as an individual, as a company or as an artist? Quite simply, it means stay true to your core beliefs (as long as they don't involve hurting other people in order to make you feel important--that's not a core belief, that's something much darker) and don't be afraid to push boundaries and follow your heart. Be willing to take the risks and risk failure. Don't follow every trend just because it's there (like all the big stars trying to be rappers or do hip hop because they think that's the hot trend right now.)

Naturally, you don't want to turn off your fans (or customer base) but don't let that fear overwhelm you. Your fans were attracted to you because you were you, not some cheap imitation (hopefully!) So IMAGE matters. If you've made your image true to yourself and NOT let someone else (company, agency, agent, music exec, TV exec, etc.) do it for you, giving you a fake image (Whitney Houston comes to mind)...then if you've defined a true you, then as you change and grow into a maturing artist, your fans will perceive that it is still genuine and should be willing to accept the changes. (David Bowie comes to mind.)

If your image was fake or faddish, even a gimic or part of some socio/political agenda, then the fans (or customers) still following you aren't true fans. They (like you, following the fad) are just there because they think it's the cool thing to do and that it (and you) will make them look better somehow. When the fad ends, you're dropped as fast as a squid sandwich. If they stay, it's hard to tell why they did. At its worst, you get obsessed fans that have tied up their worth with your identity, rather than their own self worth. (That, at its worst, can be deadly...but luckily, isn't as common as the headline/ratings hungry media makes out.) Just remember, that that is their identity problem...not yours! You just concentrate on being the best you possible--so push those boundaries, take those risks and change the world just by being...you.

So be true to yourself, as the saying goes. In this case, the saying gets it just right.

Keep in mind, these are my comments and my opinions. That said, they are also based on a helluva lot of research. (If you can't tell from the above stuff, I have a research/insight background to go along with all the tech and art) and I've delved a lot into social identity theory, insider/outsider (stranger or Other) research findings about group behavior, porn/childporn/violence and media research. So it's at least an informed opinion, even if big brands and media heads don't want to hear it and would rather dismiss it (and the changes to the media world) as just one person's opinion. It's why I write science fiction, thriller fiction and literary fiction...and why I did website projects that weren't dry and informational but tried to demonstrate the principles as well, making an emotional connection and creating a visceral experience...all are easier to use as a way of conveying social commentary than the whole lecture/complain/sound like a shrill idiot method or even the pontificating bastard format common to politics. :)

Still, every now and then, the whole commentary in a direct method way, is fun to do. ;)

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious!

First Impressions--Microsoft expresses a winner, Adobe flexes but doesn't inspire--Cool Tools for Designers not Developers

Microsoft’s Expression Suite and other Media Design Perspectives and First Impressions

Expression Blend is Sweet, Adobe Flex Doesn’t Inspire and Web 3.0 is Just on the Horizon, So Get Ready Now!

Aha! Blogolicious! Innovation Media Winner Karen Nielsen’s (Perceptions, the movie) profile/interview will be next week. I’m still waiting for some important info from her.

I’ve typically discussed music, dance or art on this blog with hints at marketing research and customer insights and how to use that in the artist’s search for fame and fortune. I’ve also spoofed technology/media companies more than once on this blog, since they are so much a part of the Internet/Web and Media world and ripe for a little friendly criticism. In their wars of domination for the minds and dollars of New Media citizens, they often forget who made them (i.e. their user base) and who can break them (again, their user base…us!) So I spoof them and we get the next Evil Empire—Google—with their Death Ray (courtesy originally of Dilbert) gone horribly wrong and destroying the Universe (i.e. the Galaxy Gal spoof serial.) We also get Microsoft wanting their Evil Empire dominant s/w power role back, which they had taken over from IBM. We get the 8000 (not 800) pound gorilla of content-power Disney being largely ignored by Internet based (software) media companies as they fight for marketshare with better gadgets and ever higher search term bidding wars.

We get this sort of fighting from them, rather than them remembering that in the world of media, regardless of mechanism of delivery, it’s the CONTENT that counts.

Good content brings in people. And I do mean PEOPLE, not ‘eyeballs,’ not ‘users,’ not ‘consumers,’ not NUMBERS…but actual living, breathing, thinking, feeling, striving and surviving people who have their own hopes and dreams—which do not include being part of some company’s “marketshare” or “revenue stream.” Relevance means be useful to people…don’t use them.

But what is content? Or rather, what is good content, since that is the gold standard for making New Media create a better online & offline experience—and therefore, a better world?

Generally, it’s information that is relevant to the searcher, it’s current, it’s useful, it’s clear but it’s also pleasing to read or view. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, nor does it have to be comedy, nor does it have to be the complete technical specifications to product X or service Y. But it does have to be clear, so that the reader/viewer will understand it and know what to do with the information, not to mention trust the information and trust that you will take good care of them if they build a customer-supplier relationship with you. This is usually accomplished through good design.

You could have the most innovative, best, most useful, groundbreaking, moneymaking product in the world—but if you can’t convey that message to those that need to hear and know that they understood the message—then you might as well try to sell snow to polar bears, because you’re gonna be eaten alive anyway.

This applies to musicians, visual artists, dancers, writers, you name it. You are the innovative, best product in that case. Therefore, it’s up to you to get your message out and create that trusted bond with your customers (your fans, your supporters, your agency, you get the idea.) You provide the relevant, interesting, understandable, useful and compelling content—in your art form and in your presentation. Your presentation is often the Web.

But I’ve harped on your need to present yourself (your image) and market yourself before…this time, I’m looking at tools that actually HELP you with that process. Cool tools that you can use yourself and don’t require you to become a techie/programmer in order to use them. (If you already are or have a friend that is, great!, go for it. However, for the rest of you, if the idea of learning yet MORE programming and more computer software stuff fills you with dread, then read on…help is on the way!) Naturally, there will be a learning curve, but you won’t have to learn Ajax, XML, CSS or worse, things like C# or Java or .Net to use these tools.

But this blog is about MEDIA, and tools and tech are definitely part of creating great content and doing great media things.

Now, I’m not going to go into a detailed heavy technical review…good god, no! You can get that on Technorati, Wired and all the maker’s websites. In fact, you’ll probably get overloaded or underloaded if you go to those sources—lots of tech info but also lots of spin on that info. I’m not going to go that route.

I’m going to take a slightly different perspective—the non-techie one, namely, the “I’m tired of tools that make me spend more time learning how to use to tools to be creative rather than ACTUALLY help me to BE more creative.”

I used to work at Microsoft years and years ago, but that’s not a bias—trust me, it’s definitely NOT a bias. However, it does mean that I know something that a lot of people don’t know about Microsoft. Yes, they have a ton of very smart, hardworking developers (and marketing people and designers and support people.) But I happen to know that they also kick ass on design tools, they just haven’t really been focused on them that much. ( I was part of that push before the project got canceled…the market was changing and so this design tool, which was being made FOR designers, was dropped because what it did wasn’t going to be the wave of the future anymore. The Internet was going to be the wave now, not multimedia titles. And they were right…the Web is the Wave. Or at least part of the whole that is Media.)

So I was happy to discover that Microsoft had been working recently (i.e. years, not weeks) on some kick ass design tools—and ones focused on helping designers, not programmers, do cool design work without having to become mini-programmers in order to do that work.

The Microsoft Expressions line is very cool and it begins with the interface itself. Blend and Design (two of the suite) are dark and edgy in appearance, and definitely not klunky and Window-ie and shall I say it? NOT Programmer/Techie tool looking. Hurrah!

Now it may not seem like that much…but if you want to stay in a creative-mode, then nothing kills that buzz like being faced with an ugly, confusing, tech-IDE-oriented application that assumes you want to look at data and code, rather than think ‘design.’ So a visual interface that helps keep you in a creative spirit is a welcome first step to using the software itself. Photoshop, the king of 2D graphics packages, even has problems with this—nice initial visual but very complicated learning curve in order to learn to use it. Flash with its filmatic theme has problems as well, with complexity, with ‘techie’ terms, and with its general visual theme.

You would think with Flex (the new Flash so to speak, since it’s about using Flash and javascript/XML to create websites), they’d do better than they do. But the interface seems to be a step backward rather than forward in design and intuitive use. When Adobe and Macromedia merged, I had great hopes—two design/media juggernauts becoming one. The competitors were likely shaking in their Berks. But beyond the impressive array of Adobe products that were there already (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premier, InDesign…) …nada on the merge and conquer front that much. I have no doubts about the power involved, but I’m not inspired to jump in—I’m nervous about learning yet another tool.

I’ll take the old Flash IDE interface any day.

So I was really, really surprised to see the Expressions line—big chunks of it still in beta. They really thought about DESIGN when they actually put it together, not just about tools that designers need to be creative, but the actual FEEL of the software—its emotional appeal. THAT IS GREAT DESIGN AND CONTENT! Expression Blend makes you WANT to learn how to use it. I can’t say that about Photoshop (and I spend a lot of time with Photoshop but still don’t consider myself anything more than intermediate on my best days.)

Expression’s Design I have a harder time with—still a beautiful, enticing interface but the fact that it keeps freezing on my machine every time I run it (it’s still beta) makes it difficult to really get into it. It doesn’t appear to be as powerful or as robust as Photoshop (at first glance, that is… before it goes into the bambi-in-headlights pose and I have to shut it down again.) Photoshop is definitely its competitor here. However, it also is a version 1.0 and a really good ver 1 at that. It could just be that I haven’t had time (between freezes) to play with it enough. Besides, the point being, Photoshop is uber powerful, but hard to learn. If Design does less, but makes it easier to learn and implement, then it already fills a much needed niche!

And the examples/samples they include with these products are way cool as well—not the usual ‘hello world’ or stupid little pet tricks that you get with most other applications. The samples aren’t that powerful but they are mini-apps. I like the Animation sample application. Its interface is cool and the sample actually works. I found myself treating it like a full app (not a sample) and getting irritated that I couldn’t do standard drawing functions or some other flash IDE like animation stuff. Then, I would remember that it was just a sample app—now that is impressive to me. The Grand Piano sample was fun, too. The keys worked. Piano tunes came out—it was great. Yet, more importantly, beyond it being fun to play with the samples, it did more—it made me think about stuff I wanted to DO. In other words, even the samples were igniting my imagination and getting me excited about creating something new.

They were encouraging creativity.

Did I mention that the first thing that Adobe sent me, to encourage me to use my Flex 2 trial and get ‘more’ out of it, was a code snippet for “Hello World.” Uh, yeah…like that is going to inspire me.

I may know some javascript, actionscript, Lingo, HTML, CSS and so on, but throwing stuff like Ajax, Atlas, PHP, ASP.NET and stuff at me only makes me cringe. Some awareness of them is fine and I do have awareness of them and what they do, but….I want to create and design…not become a webmaster. There isn’t enough time to learn everything. I want to focus on the stuff that is important to me and makes me want to get up and go to work in the morning!

Microsoft Expression Web (one of the suite and already released) wasn’t as exciting. It stands up well to Dreamweaver and I suspect it’s just an updated, slightly sleeker FrontPage with new gadgets. The interface looks like a Windows app—so not cool, but functional, just like Dreamweaver. In other words, it’s for techies, not designers. Or for those that just want to put up a normal Windows looking website quickly and add in design elements later.

I still just want a website builder that doesn’t believe in right angles. I want to create a template that creates a circle of buttons, and buttons and dropdowns and so forth without hard angles or edges—and I don’t want to have to design custom transparent fake circular controls to put there. Just give me a button that is naturally circular, or a triangle or a freeform polygon. And a circle instead of list or a table that doesn’t look like a table, but a wheel of fortune. Sigh…and of course, CSS or other settings that make my browser window turn into a freeform image rather than a rectangle—with video oozing everywhere, of course. Then again, I haven’t delved too deep into Blend yet—maybe it does allow for that and make it easy. Luckily, the idea of getting deeper into that tool doesn’t appall me—it’s fun instead, especially the animation stuff.

The last element of the suite, but not really since it installs separate from the others and is called iView MediaPro3, is also another Windows app with a black background. It’s a cataloging system. Content Management is a huge drag on doing good production work. I definitely remember the days of juggling all kinds of files, image and writing files, and doing it by keeping them in file folders with an Excel sheet to try to keep track of what was where and who was doing what (or had done what already) so you could track it. Yes, CMS systems are needed and so at least Microsoft is including one, so to speak, but it’s not tightly integrated and it doesn’t even have offline help available. You have to be logged in to the Net in order to access help files. Bummer, since I spent a lot of time working offline, especially when I’m traveling.

At least, Microsoft offers trial versions of all four of the apps. Six months for Blend and Design, 2 months for Web and 1 month for MediaPro3. Fully functional trial versions of software are critical these days. No one in their right mind is going to spend that kind of money for something they can’t test drive first—or should. Adobe thinks you should in most cases, but does let you have a trial period for Flex 2. Maybe they’ll start being more trial friendly now that Expression is here.

So yes, tools do matter. But they are TOOLS. Creativity comes from you and always will. Therefore, any toolset that helps you stay creative, focused on creating rather than a steep, scary learning curve and a toolset that doesn’t try to turn you into a programmer is a blessing…and there aren’t that many of them out there.

Imagine what you could do with something that actually encourages you to “imagine.” I’m not just talking improving your website, but that of course is naturally the first place to start. I’m talking about your website, your mobile site, your music, your vids, your production skills, your multi-media merging/creating skills, everything!

That’s what Web 3.0 is going to be about—getting creative, innovative content out there regardless of medium. Imagine people finding your MySpace or your Blog or your YouTube site—and finding it from their phone or their PC or their TV.

And imagine them finding it on any of those media without any loss of quality—you don’t need to cut down and create an ugly, gimpy cut down version for the Mobile user.

Your music or your video or your images are there—in full—without compromising on anything. You and your friends and your fans (or your customers for the marketing minded) are connected, connected socially and emotionally, regardless of the gadget used.

That’s Web 3.0 and that’s why it’s important to have tools that encourage you to be creative without bogging you down with having to become someone else in order to use the new tech. The tech becomes transparent and seamless—a tool to be used, not a technology to be worshiped.

Transparent tech…leaving only the content…YOU.

That’s why I’m so jazzed about Expressions. I knew Microsoft could do kick ass design tools, really truly innovative, intuitive design tools for designers—and now they are back in the game! It’s makes me excited about the future and want to be a part of it.

So Hurrah for Microsoft! (Maybe it was a good thing that they lost their Evil Empire title to Google?)

Link to Microsoft Expression page
Link to Adobe Flex page

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious!

This article may be copied in whole or in part, as long as fair use rules are observed, no parts are modified from the original and credit is given when quoted or reposted.

CG Anderson is a 10 plus year new media provocateur involved in media, art, technology and the online world. Also a writer, blogger and novelist. CG's comments are personal and opinionated and solely the responsibility of the author, so there. Don't like the opinions, disagree, agree, don't know? Great, make a comment—clean ones will be allowed, netiquette-challenged ones will be ignored!

MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/ahablogolicious Help me reach 1 million friends. Add yourself as my friend today and get your friends to do the same! Thank you so much! Together we can bring great artists to a wider audience!
Blog site: http://ahablogolicious.blogspot.com/
URL: http://home.myuw.net/cganders/

New MySpace site using Bill Gates (MSFT) to push flashy graphics stuff!

Quick and humorous note about a new site on MySpace going after Bill Gates.

ok, I don't know how long this site will survive--Bill isn't known for his sense of humor.

OK, I really don't know how long this myspace site, obviously a spoof, will survive so you might want to check it out before Bill finds out and takes possible action.

It's a myspace profile site for Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation (so they/he/she really is/are going after THE Bill Gates, and not trying to just play on the name.)

It's got true info on Bill from his biography and sounds semi on the level (except about the babes bits) but it is obviously a gimic promo for another website that does those annoying flashing graphics that show up all too often in comment sections.

I'm not sure if it is spoof enough to be protected by satire or fair use laws, so it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Bill is not known for his sense of humor. ;)

I hope this person has insurance (legal and medical!)

Cheers,
CG

it didn't have a proper site name up yet for a link, so here is the full ugly myspace link for your browsing pleasure..

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=159616929

Interview with PROJECT Dance of Michigan (Part TWO)

Innovation and Dance are Alive and Well in Michigan!

PART TWO of my Interview with Kathy King and company of PROJECT Dance of Michigan

Link to PART ONE of Interview

This is part two of my interview with Kathy King and her crew of PROJECT Dance of Michigan, an innovative, new dance company that is seeking to expand the senses and cultural experiences of Michigan through dance, including dance classes, amazing performances, and charity and other social outreach efforts. For them, it’s not about money. It’s about dance, creativity and offering up a delectable cultural feast for their community as well as giving young dancers hope for the future and the opportunity to succeed.

This interview has been presented in two parts. This is part two. All photos in both parts, courtesy of Kathy King, were taken by photographer George Petersmarck (www.georgepetersmarck.com). Please do not copy them or this article without my AND Kathy King's express permission.

I was very impressed with this group, and not just because of the images I was seeing of their performances, especially Art Kinetic. I was impressed by their community outreach efforts, their sincerity in trying to bring more dance opportunities and exposure to Michigan and their current level of achievement in so short a period of time.

I was also surprised.

First, by the fact that PROJECT Dance is a non-profit organization (remember, I’m a neophyte in many things “dance”) and second, by the relatively young age of the founder and director, Kathy King. It takes a great deal of determination and drive to create any company, dance related or not, much less make it a success. It’s unusual to find that in a person who hasn’t graduated college yet—not unheard of, but still…unusual…and perhaps more so, since we aren’t talking about a business student out to start their own dot com, or a computer geek/genius putting together the next great technology wave in their dorm room or their parents’ garage. I’ve met many of those types.

No, instead we are talking about a dance company and a non-profit one to boot. This is my first experience with a company and a founder like that! (But then, I fully acknowledge my neophyte status and my own inner stereotypes that I continually struggle to dissolve so that I might see the world more clearly.)

[Question] PROJECT Dance is a non-profit organization? Why go that route (versus say, the dance company/sponsored route)?

[Kathy] Actually, you’d be surprised to see how many dance companies operate as non-profits. I decided to go this route with PDM because I knew that it would be easier for the community to open their arms to a non-profit as opposed to just another person out there trying to make money. I’m not in this to make money, I’m in this to make art and share that art with the community.

[Question] Tell me about some of the things you've done that you are most proud of.

[Kathy] Well, starting this company has been a huge milestone in my life. I’m young, only 21 years old, and this has been my dream, so I guess this would be my proudest moment. Teaching dance also gives me a great sense of pride. When parents come to me and tell me that their children cannot stop talking about “Miss Kathy” at home, I know that I’m doing something right with my life. I love passing my enthusiasm for art on to my students.

[Tiffany] I am proud of Kathy because I have lived with her since she got the idea to start her company. So I have seen everything that she has put in this company and how dedicated she is. Without Kathy, we would be nowhere.

[Question] What are some of the biggest hurdles or setbacks that you've experienced?

[Kathy] We’ve had awesome luck getting the company up and running, but of course, life isn’t perfect. Being young has certainly made people skeptical of my abilities to develop and run a professional dance company. Also, because we are still so new, we don’t have much funding yet. We only get to rehearse and have company classes on weekends because I don’t have the money to pay my dancers to be there every day of the week. That certainly hinders my ability to train the dancers as I wish or work on choreography as often as I would like.

[Question] You seem to be heavily involved in not only groundbreaking and a higher level of performance, but also teaching and charity work. Can you tell me a little about that and what you've done, what you want to do still and what you've gained from those experiences?

[Kathy] I absolutely love teaching people of all ages about dance. I think that if this company is on a mission to creating a stronger dance community in Michigan, we must get out there and work with as many people as possible. We have been opening our company classes to the public so that advance level dancers in the area have an option to take a professional level class at a low cost. We have gone into public schools and taught dance to children who otherwise would never get to experience a dance class. Recently, we held a small benefit concert to raise money for the local food bank. It was a huge success and helped bring the community together, even if just for one night. I want PROJECT Dance to always be remembered as a company that not only put on a great show, but also helped the community in so many ways.

[Heather] We would love to be able to travel more to teach and perform. It has been a great experience teaching these children. It is always fulfilling to share what you do with others. We have taught from the dancer that has never set foot in a dance class to the advanced dancer.

[Question] Tell me about ART KINETIC. It looks like it was an amazing show. What prompted it? What inspired it? What is the basic theme or themes that run throughout it?

[Kathy] Art Kinetic was our very first full-length show as a company. It was an amazing weekend and that good energy will stick with me forever. The title “Art Kinetic” came from the fact that our show was so diverse and full of life, and those two words seemed to capture best what the show offered. Each piece was completely different. We had modern, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, break dancers, improvisational dancing, and musicians. Our guiding theme was “let’s create something for everyone”.

[Question] You have some still photographs on your MySpace site and your main site of Art Kinetic, and some video clips of practice sessions. Will you have any video clips of Art Kinetic up soon?

[Kathy] Yes! I am getting our show tapes transferred to DVD and will be putting together a little sampling of Art Kinetic to share with all of our Internet friends.

[Question] Where do you want to go with Art Kinetic? Was it just a one time deal—a one time performance, or is it meant to grow into something more (or an annual/semi-annual/etc event)?

[Kathy] At first, the show was planned as just a one time deal. However, I would love to make Art Kinetic our annual winter concert series. I love that title too much to let it be used only once!

[Question] How has the Michigan community responded so far?

[Kathy] I have been very pleased with the way the community has responded thus far. It is funny because people around here honestly don’t understand what we’re doing or the concept of a dance company, but they are so excited about all of our little projects. It has surprised me because there are a few other great professional companies around Michigan, and they have been around for 25+ years, but then here comes this new company and the general public acts as though they’ve never even heard of a professional company. We’re slowly but surely educating the public about what we do, and they are more than willing to listen.

[Heather] The Michigan community has responded with enthusiasm and a great amount of support. We have received many compliments and encouragement for MORE. The community has taken great interest and seems very excited about the new company.

[Question] So? What's next? What does the future hold for PROJECT Dance? For all of you? Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? What do you want your legacy to be? When it's all said and done, "who are you really?" and "what do you want?"

[Kathy] My number one goal is to get PDM off the ground and into the public eye. I want PDM to become a nationally known company. As for myself, I will always continue to choreograph… it is just what I do. I am so excited to be supporting the arts right now, and I hope that I can be known as someone who always takes the time to help others achieve their goals. There are so many talented dancers in Michigan, but they go unknown because there is nowhere for them to go. I want to be the person they can go to… I want PDM to become a backbone for dance in Michigan.

[Heather] I plan to stay with PROJECT Dance as long as I'm able to. I can't stay in Michigan forever, as I have a husband going through school and what not. I will stay here and support PROJECT Dance as long as life allows me. If I have to leave, I plan to come back, choreograph, and support in any way I can. PROJECT Dance is a cause I believe in and that I am positive will continue to grow and prosper in the future.
As far as my legacy and who I am… I am someone who wants to change the world of dance by giving dancers that opportunity to get the job for the right reasons... To give more opportunities for dancers that won't be demoralizing or degrading... Exploring all forms of movement and choreography.... And to be remembered for putting on a GREAT SHOW!

Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to answer my questions. For more information about PROJECT Dance of Michigan, please go to either their MySpace site or their main website.

MySpace site:

www.myspace.com/projectdanceofmichigan
Main Web Site: http://www.projectdanceofmichigan.org/

Next week, more great stuff...the primary of which will be an interview/profile of another of the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award winners, namely, Karen Nielsen, the writer/director of Perceptions, a short film that merges dance, drama and social commentary.

Stay tuned!

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events and Canada…

Interview: PROJECT Dance of Michigan--Innovation and Dance are Alive and Well in Michigan!

Innovation and Dance are Alive and Well in Michigan!

Interview with Kathy King and company of PROJECT Dance of Michigan.

Link to Part Two of Interview

You find amazing dancers and amazing dance groups in unexpected places. If you asked the average person where an innovative, progressive dance group might be located, I somehow doubt "Michigan" would suddenly spring to mind. Yet New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Chicago and so forth aren't the only places to find dancers either working hard in an industry that often under-appreciates them or to find dance groups pushing the envelope in order to push our culture to the next level.

Yes, I included Los Angeles, but mainly because of the film and television industry, as well as the music industry, that employs so many dancers regularly. Most jobs there may not be pushing for ever-expanding artistic development, but jobs are jobs. It's impossible to improve the art without support of some kind, so even if a dancer's main job is as 'back-up" dancer, it's still a living—and better yet, it's a real, honest to god, job as a working dancer.

You can make the same observations about other "cultural" centers. We tend to think of New York or London based ballet as the epitome of the dance kingdom—or perhaps Harlem Dance, for those that know about and prefer modern. It’s a stereotype, of course, since there is much more to dance than ballet companies performing Swan Lake, but when I did an informal survey, walking around asking people to name a dance company, I typically either got a blank stare or them naming a locally or internationally known ballet company.

Yep, I actually do silly things like that…luckily, I’m harmless looking so people don’t scream and run away in panic. They probably just think I’m odd…and they’re right, of course. After all, who would walk around aimlessly asking people about dance, dancers and dance companies? Yes, there must be something wrong with that girl…too much caffeine probably. Hmm…. No, no such thing as TOO much caffeine! I need my four cans of Coca-Cola, three cans of Diet Pepsi and singular once a week treat of a Double Caramel Mocha with Whipped Cream, Chocolate and Caramel Sauce and Dark Chocolate Stick from Seattle’s Best Coffee (SBC)…I need it, you hear?! NEED IT!!

Uh..anyway….

If you ask about a dancer, the result is more mixed and based on age and exposure. Here you get responses that point to people that watch dance shows on television to local dancers they know personally to again, internationally known dancers, most typically ballet or modern practitioners—and often “as seen on film or tv.” This even included film stars who were in movies (and danced in them) about dance like “Shall We Dance?” or often, especially among those over thirty, who were in musicals (film, tv or Broadway and including both old and new films and shows.)

However, when you phrase it as dance “company” then that slight change of semantics leads to a much wider chasm, or lack thereof, of recognition. That was why I usually got a tentative reply involving a ballet company as a response—but the successes of a few dance companies don't represent the thousands of companies out there, nor the hundreds of thousands of dancers struggling to learn and perfect their craft. It's also important to note that most dance companies, even and including the dominating few at the top of our cultural awareness, continue to struggle with funding issues.

Dancers dance because they just plain NEED to dance, just as other artists, including writers and musicians, ply their craft because of inner drives rather than outer rewards. It's a gift and a curse, depending on how you look at it. Some might even call it a compulsion or addiction.

As the saying goes with acting, "if you can be happy doing anything else, then do that…and get out of the business for your sanity's sake, if nothing else." It's the same with any art form and probably any sport…I'd say it's probably the same with ANY inner drive from art to sport to business to science. It’s just with the arts in particular, more than other professions, often the external rewards are slight—and the inner price is often high, very high indeed sometimes.

No one wants to be a starving artist—but then the joy to be reaped from doing what you love, what you feel inside you needing to be expressed…it's indescribable to those that never feel such passion, such yearning, or such compulsive drives in their daily low risk lives, even if the passion not experienced isn’t art or dance, but a passion for another field of study or work. Doing what gives you joy isn’t limited to the artistic mindset, but so many others out there still never experience that joy, regardless of the pursuit involved.

Perhaps such others are happier…then again, perhaps they just need that inner joy and hidden passion (whatever that passion may be) to be awakened by someone else, a musical group, a dramatic story, an action-packed film, a painting that resonates, a sculpture that inspires…

…or perhaps it will be awakened and nurtured by a dance group seeking to share their own sense of joy and deep passion with others.

So yes, Michigan…not New York, not LA, not the usual stereotypes…not even Detroit…but Brighton, Michigan.

Allow me to introduce you to PROJECT Dance of Michigan.


In fact, I'll let them introduce themselves. Responding to my interview were the following people: Kathy King, who is the founder and director of PROJECT Dance of Michigan (PDM.) Heather DeVries is the PDM Rehearsal Director. Tiffany Janeway and Love Miller are both dancers with PDM. They were very kind to take the time to answer my questions, which range from the neophyte to the silly sometimes, if I do say so myself, knowing that I’m a self-recognized neophyte at many things considered common knowledge in the dance world. However, as off center as my questions might have been at times, their answers were definitely center stage and insightful—insightful regarding dance, their company, their work and even themselves.

This interview will be presented in two parts. Here is part one. All photos in both parts, courtesy of Kathy King, were taken by photographer George Petersmarck (www.georgepetersmarck.com). Please do not copy them or this article without my AND Kathy King's express permission.

[Question] Tell me a little bit about PROJECT Dance. You know, the usual stuff that you always get asked. Always asked yes, but these usual things are also important, too…things like who started it, why did they start it, and what is PROJECT Dance all about?

[Kathy] I started PROJECT Dance as a way to offer dancers in Michigan a chance to get out there and perform. The dance community in this area has been quite static lately and I wanted to put an end to that. PDM is here as an outlet for dancers to begin their professional career without having to make the move to big cities like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago. This company is all about creating an inviting atmosphere for people to simply enjoy the many aspects of performance art. We keep things exciting and diverse so that anyone attending one of our performances can find something that they can relate with and understand. In addition to performances, we teach classes and participate in community outreach as often as possible.

[Heather] Kathy approached me about starting PROJECT Dance mid-summer of 2006. Kathy and I had always said someday we would start a dance company together. She finally woke up one morning and wondered why she hadn't gone through with the idea and gave me a call. There are many purposes driving PROJECT Dance. To name a few; to give more career opportunities to Michigan dancers, to share our artistic vision with the community and also to educate children and fellow dancers alike with a broad spectrum of dance styles and choreography. We are very strong supporters of all forms of art and love to lend a helping hand in the community, whether that be through volunteering our time to teach in schools or through benefits we hold for charity organizations.

[Question] Tell me now a little about you all. What is your background? Why did you start this… or… Why did you become a part of PROJECT Dance? What do you get out of the experience? What do you contribute to it?

[Kathy] Dance has always been a major influence in my life. I moved around a few times when I was a child and eventually ended up in Michigan for high school. I was never excited about living in Michigan… it is a rather depressing state most of the time. After high school, I made the move to Los Angeles. I stayed out there for a year, but never found the experience fulfilling. I thought I wanted to be a “commercial” dancer, but in all reality, it wasn’t for me. I’m more interested in the meaningful, artistic side of dance. Once I ran out of money, I came back to Michigan to attend Wayne State University. The university setting was great for me, but I still needed more. I finally stopped procrastinating and started working on the beginnings of PROJECT Dance of Michigan. It didn’t take too long for me to connect with some key people, obtain the non-profit license and find a rehearsal home for the company. Now, I spend every waking moment thinking about PROJECT Dance and what I need to be doing next. I’m also working on my degree in Public Relations, which has proven to be very useful in the promotional aspects of running the company.

[Heather] I have had a passion for dance since a very young age. Through my teen years, it was basically all I was, all I thought about, and all I wanted to be... "a professional dancer." Upon graduating, I attended Brigham Young University and soon became restless for more career opportunities and made my move to Los Angeles. There I auditioned for the Edge Performing Arts Center Scholarship Program and was one of twenty to be accepted. I studied intensively with the top choreographers and teachers in LA. I studied all forms of dance, gymnastics, voice and acting. Upon graduating from that program, I signed with Clear Talent Group. I danced in various show, benefits, music videos and movies. When I lived in LA, it was a bittersweet life. I was LIVING my dream but still couldn't find that sense of fulfillment in what I was doing. I planned a temporary move back to Michigan for foot surgery and soon after recovery was debating whether to move back to LA when Kathy approached me regarding PROJECT Dance. PROJECT Dance has given me that sense of fulfillment. It has given me more of an opportunity to let myself and others showcase their talent. I love letting our performances be about the dance and the movement rather than everything always being so image-driven. I love being able to be a part of the audition process as well. It's nice to be able to be behind the scenes and choose dancers because of their potential and talent rather than because they "look the part" or have the "right" body. As far as my contribution, Kathy and I work together to create shows that are versatile and entertaining. Kathy and I are the two main choreographers for the company, but our dancers are permitted to choreograph if they desire. I help with promotion, choreography, and whatever Kathy might need help with. Kathy is definitely the head of it all. She loves the company and her passion and dedication to PROJECT Dance really shows through her work and leadership. She has such enthusiasm for dance. We are all very lucky to have her leading the company.

[Tiffany] I have been dancing since I was three and always wanted to pursue dancing as a professional career. I joined Project Dance because I wanted to be involved in making Michigan more dancer friendly. Project Dance gives me more chances to improve my technique and perform more.

[Love] I joined PDM because it was new, and they were actually organized and doing real dance. It wasn’t just a hip-hop, or modern based company… we do everything. I’m glad I was chosen to be in the company because with as many auditions that I got turned away from, I kind of was giving up hope. So I’m grateful that they accepted me to be apart of the company, and help get out there and show Michigan that there is real talent here.

[Question] PROJECT Dance seems to have a lot of philosophy behind it, a driving need to not just create incredible dance experiences, but to also change the world—or at least the way the world views dance and how dance affects the world just by being. Is this coincidence? Am I wrong?

[Kathy] That is an intense statement. I love what I do, and I love sharing it with others. I strongly believe that dance is good for the soul. I also believe that if artists are given an outlet in which to work, we can do amazing things in this world. We just have to get out there and support one another. The philosophy for this dance company is greatly influenced by my own personal philosophy, which I hope is strong enough to at least change the way the Michigan community views dance. But if we can change the world, that would be great too!

[Heather] We definitely have a lot of philosophy behind the company. Kathy and I both have a lot of philosophy behind the lives we live and therefore desire to create a philosophy driven company. I think one of the biggest ways we can change the way the world views dance is simply by exposure. Exposure to all forms of dance and helping the world learn to accept and appreciate more than just the booty pop. (Although we do love the booty pop.) That is why I believe it is so important to educate children. They are the leaders of tomorrow and if we can plant the seed and open their eyes to the world of dance, and help them appreciate dance or give them an outlet, a hobby, a passion, anything…We have succeeded.

[Question] Where do you want to go with PROJECT Dance? What are the big goals and dreams?

[Kathy] My biggest goal is to have PDM develop into a full running company, with dancers on salary and touring the country.


[Question] If you could achieve anything with this project, what would it be? (no matter how big, small or outrageous.)

[Kathy] I would like for Michigan dancers to have a respectable and accessible company close to home. I would like for aspiring choreographers to have an outlet in which to experiment with their work. I would like to open the eyes of the everyday person to the excitement of performance art. All in all, I just want to help dancers succeed and help the public embrace art.

[Love] There are a few things I would like to achieve while being apart of this company. I would like to let as many people know about PDM as possible so that they can support us and we wont be one hit wonders. But that the company will be able to grow and travel all over, just like well-known companies, for instance Alvin Ailey or Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Their Myspace site is www.myspace.com/projectdanceofmichigan and their site is www.projectdanceofmichigan.org


Stay tuned. Next week, I will post the rest of the interview (and more pictures of Art Kinetic.!)
See you then.


CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media

This article and these pictures are not copy-able, so please don't. Thanks.