KYL/D travels to upstate NY

KYL/D "known for its virtuosity, poetic sensibility, and strong spiritual underpinnings" travels to upstate NY this week for a master class, lecture demonstration at Union College, and a performance at the Egg Theatre, at the Empire State Plaza Center for the Arts in Albany.

We've been digging into some rep and I have appreciated the opportunity to go re-investigate Kun-Yang's work with the company and re-approach some familiar performance material with a deeper understanding of his CHI Awareness Technique. Come stop by the performance, if you're in town!

Here's more info from the Union College paper: KYLD at Union College - article

BeLonging 2 -2014 from Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers on Vimeo.

Dear Friend - thoughts for a young artist in challenging moments

Dear Friend...

You're not alone.

I write this in response to a recent email - from a former students, now friend - but also in response to an email I might have written as a young adult, person, and artist, myself.

The journey on which we engage after we leave the safety net of the undergraduate situation (or the high school situation, or the conservatory situation, or whatever seemly comfortable situation we had found ourselves in for a time) is scary. We find ourselves in uncharted waters often without a direct understanding of our "true north".

But your "true north" is there... just not in ways you/I/we might expect. It's in the journal entries from classes, from our past experiences, and in reminders from the Universe.

Some of my reminders:
"It's all about the search"
"Four rules: Show up. Pay attention. Tell the truth. Don't get attached to the results."
"DON'T GET ATTACHED TO THE RESULTS."
"Those festaus chainnes will certainly help you find your center and your spot!"
"I write this from a bus station so excuse any misspellings but I think you needed a response..."

Your reminders might come in small ways: dragonflies in the morning air; that same cardinal that chirps every morning (annoying at first, but comforting over time); and unexpected text, phone call, or facebook message just to say hello.

It may be difficult, and I realize I may be being vague, but continue the journey. Keep on the search. You're not alone.

As an artist, you see things differently. Feel things differently. And interact with the world - her people, her politics, and her energies - in a way that is unique and special and adds a much needed voice. You experience the world with a fresh perspective and although it's difficult (socially and financially) to embody YOU and your journey, you only know you. You can only be YOU.

I've told actors with whom I've worked - this is YOUR body. You can't not be you. Although you're telling someone else's story, you're telling it through your body and your perspective. Stay honest to that and the story will stay honest to your audience. This is true in theatre, and in dance, and in life.

As a performer, I am constantly seeking feedback and looking for confirmation or information on my ability to communicate. But I also need to trust my training and my craft and the constant search for improvement. (Again, in theatre, in dance, in art, and in life).

Dear Friend... although it may seem as such, you are not alone. There are many before you and many to come after. What is your journey? What is your search? What is in your heart? The answers may be challenging, but I encourage you to take the risk.

Thank you!

KYL/D's 23rd InHale Performance Series

Here are the featured artists for KYL/D's 23rd InHale Performance Series!

Get your tickets Dance Box Office

Behind the scenes with Brian Mengini - Out of Darkness

Thank you, Brian, for creating and sharing this video. I didn't even realize you were shooting a video during our time together!

If you're not familiar with Brian, personally, but you're into the dance scene, you're familiar with his work. His artistry has been used in professional dance magazines like Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, Pointe, and for promotional material for many studios, training companies, and colleges and universities. Check more out here.

A few days before this shoot, I had lost a dear friend and was trying to process. Kun-Yang often says to "Stop thinking with your head and move. Your body is smart." and, in processing this part of my journey, I needed to do just that.

Here's my earlier post about this process: Out of Darkness Exhibit post and reflection, August

I realize I said I'd be writing more, but sometimes, the movement speaks for itself. And sometimes, the movement is all that can be "said". Here's the video:

NGPP Residency at Lafayette College

Days after I returned from my amazing adventures in Germany with KYL/D, I traveled with the Nora Gibson Performance Project to a residency at Lafayette College.

A GIANT Thank YOU to the Lafayette College faculty and staff and Ben Munisteri! The space was beautiful! The Inn where we stayed was welcoming and cozy! The opportunity to work with Nora for 5 hrs a day was a luxury!

I was almost too engrossed in the experience to take some pictures, but here are a few:

The beauty of the light streaming into the window and creating dancing
shadows on the floor gave me a little extra inspiration after four
hours of rehearsal and pointe...

This was my view from "barre" as I warmed up before each rehearsal.

Best friends! Beautiful shoes. My notebook. Oofos (AMAZING post-pointe shoes!!)
Get Oofos here
(I don't get any proceeds for endorsing Oofos - they just feel amazing and
help after a long day of rehearsal)

Nora working out Math and Composition problems

This is what happens when I asked them to "do something"!

Action shots! Thank you to the Lafayette photographer who also took some images and shared them with us so I could share with you! (There were a lot more, but some of them contained images of students and I didn't want to invade anyone's privacy by posting them). 

Stay tuned for updates as to when the work that we created during this time will be publicly shown! We did have a showing at the end of the residency, but I was too busy dancing to post information about that (Sorry!).

Remembering Germany

At the end of August, KYL/D performed at the International Tanzmesse Festival in Germany. The stage and the studios were beautiful and a dream to dance in and on! Thank you to everyone who supported us on our journey!

If a picture's worth a thousand words, I'll share some instead of trying to translate them into words:

Series 1: Architecture.
The architecture was beautiful and inspiring. Buildings that look like the coo-coo clocks I grew up with lined the streets. They were complimented by many contemporary buildings that boasted the same grandeur, but with a very different aesthetic perspective.

Series 2: The Dance Spaces
From my understanding, the Art is government sponsored. The studios and the theatre spaces were soft, inviting, and breathtaking. They begged to be danced in and created in. The Tanzhaus (Dance house) had several spaces like the one in which we rehearsed and there were posters all over the city with information on the space and the performances it was hosting.

Snacks in the dressing room provided by our hosts! Thank you!

Wally and Stephen (KYL/D's lighting designer) backstage

The lighting grid

Welcome!!

This way to the stage!

Backstage while the crew was mopping the floor

On our way!

Studio rehearsal

Beautiful space! Check out the windows and the skylights!

Series 3: The People
Thanks to the KYL/D family for your openness, honestly, adventure, and sensitivity during this trip! We had a lot of fun not only dancing together, but growing as a company!

Post-performance imitation of the festival poster

Boat trip

Navigating the streets to find the Bikram Yoga studio (yep! Dancers are always on the move!)

Post performance group shot

Dress rehearsal - Mandala Project 3 by Kun-Yang Lin

Dress rehearsal - Mandala Project 3 by Kun-Yang Lin

Getting back into the swing of things...

Please excuse the disruption in my writing. I've been traveling and dancing and creating and teaching and thinking a lot in the past few weeks, but I haven't sat down to include you, my readers. I'm sorry! I had also been questioning the purpose of the blog and writing. I've often questioned the purpose of what I was doing. I've been provided many reminders through performing and teaching over the last few weeks.

One of these reminders came as a surprise to see a packed audience for KYL/D's performance in Germany and to learn that the art there was so supported by the government that it was part of the everyday culture of the population.

One of these reminders came in the form of a student question. Nora and I traveled to Muhlenberg during NGPP's residency at Lafayette College to meet with some students and talk about the challenges of living life as an artist after college. "How do you be a person in the world? How do you relate to people who don't understand you." The work we do is important! I responded... and in doing so reminded myself that we, as dancers, work so hard to create beauty and to ask questions of our world, and our work does matter. It's different than the neurologist and the farmer and the psychologist and the construction worker, but we're all different and we need different people to do different things. We, as dancers, create beauty... and create works that build community, challenge societal norms, and question the status quo...

One of these reminders came from a fellow dancer who recommended a book for inspiration. In a admitted moment of self doubt, she prompted, "You'd be surprised at what you offer people and what people have learned from you."

One of these reminders came from a dear family member who, although not entirely sure of what I did or why, was interested enough to sit with me over the fire, ask really intriguing questions, and tried to understand my viewpoint and my art.

One of these reminders came from a fellow artist who, despite personal hardship and challenges, repeatedly throws himself into his artwork and makes himself vulnerable through his process. In doing so, he's touched and changed many lives.

So, I'm getting back into the swing of things with my writing. I'd love to hear what you're interested in and what you'd be interested in learning with me.

Thank you!