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John Bohannon talks and Black Label Movement dances at TED2012; together they tell a moving story of sex ed. Photo by James Duncan Davidson.
Image from BLM’s TED Talk “Let’s Talk About Sex” with John Bohannon & Jello Slave makes Best TED Images of 2012!
Take a look at the blog, here!
BLM’s Ted Ed Talk with John Bohannon was recently posted on the Ted Ed site. View the video here!
TED-Ed the TED Talk organization’s education platform relaunched John Bohannon & BLM’s Dance v. Powerpoint: A Modest Proposal Talk first presented at last year’s 2011 TEDx Brussels. The relaunch is in anticipation of the premiere launch of John & BLM’s TED 2012: Full Spectrum Talk The Facts of Life Talk that will take place during the week of December 3, 2012!
Carl Flink and David Odde recently published an article on bodystorming in the November Trends in Cell Biology Journal (volume 22, issue 12).
Abstract: “In everyday life, gravity and inertial forces often dominate our movements; in the cell, these forces pale in comparison to thermal forces. The violent, collisional world of the cell, where water moves faster than a jet airliner, can be difficult to imagine. To develop our intuitive understanding of cellular and molecular processes, we are exploring the concept of ‘bodystorming’, where human ‘movers’ act as molecules that diffuse, undergo reactions, and generate/absorb forces.”
Bodystorming was recently featured in a Science Magazine article. Read all about it here!
On November 15th, Give MN will be holding its annual Give to the Max day! From Nov 15th at midnight until Nov 16th at midnight, all donations will be matched by GiveMN partners. Please support BLM and donate. Encourage friends, family, co-workers, and strangers to do so as well!
Carl Flink’s evening length work, Wreck, opened last night at the Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, MN. Read the wonderful and very thoughtful review from the Duluth News Tribune, here. Wreck is inspired in part by the ore boat industry, and it’s incredible to present it so close to the industry and Lake Superior. The performance is presented with Zeitgeist Arts and will show again tonight at 7:30pm. For more information, click here.
October 1, 2012 – Saturday, September 29, 2012, the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television awarded an Emmy to Twin Cities Public Television’s MN Original Episode 319 in the category Magazine Program – Program. The episode features BLM artistic director Carl Flink and Artistic Associate Emilie Plauché Flink performing Carl’s A Duet for Wreck along with three other wonderful Minnesota originals!
BLM, Artistic Director Carl Flink and long time collaborator biomedical engineer David Odde are now featured in BLM’s third appearance on Twin Cities Public Television’s (TPT) MN Original. MN Original Episode #325, which premiered Sunday, September 30 at 6 pm on TPT’s channel 2, opens with HIT + The Moving Cell Project and focuses on the scientific and artistic collaboration between BLM, Carl and David examining the turbulent interior of the cell that have resulted in a potential scientific modeling tool called “bodystorming” and the creation of Flink’s ballistic quartet HIT.
The episode also airs:
9/30/2012 10:00 PM Life
10/1/2012 4:00 AM Life
10/1/2012 1:00 AM SW MN
10/1/2012 7:00 AM SW MN
10/1/2012 1:00 PM SW MN
10/1/2012 7:00 PM SW MN
11/6/2012 1:00 AM SW MN
11/6/2012 7:00 AM SW MN
11/6/2012 1:00 PM SW MN
11/6/2012 7:00 PM SW MN
12/26/2012 7:00 PM SW MN
State Theater, Mpls, MN, September 23, 2012 – The Theater Latte Da/University of Minnesota production of Spring Awakening: The Musical, featuring BLM Artistic Director Carl Flink’s volatile choreography, received a 2012 Ivey Award for “Overall Excellence.” The award presenter said of the production that one Ivey panelist enthused, “This is why the Ivey’s exist!” The Ivey’s are the annual awards for the Minnesota Theater community. The men of the Spring Awakening cast also performed Carl’s version of The Bitch of Living as a part of the ceremony. This is Carl’s second Ivey award having won one in 2010 as a part of the Jungle Theater’s production of Mary’s Wedding, which also was awarded for “Overall Excellence.”
BLM is pleased to announce that on October 9 & 10, 2012, we will present Carl Flink’s evening length work Wreck at The Machine Shop of the Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, MN. This production is a partnership with Duluth’s Zeitgeist Arts and The Clyde Iron Works. Wreck features Mary Ellen Child’s original score, which received a 2008 Sage Award. The music will be played live by all of the original musicians. More details soon, but mark your calendars for a road trip to Duluth if you’re not already up there.
This production is supported in large part by funds provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s arts and cultural with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Watch the Wreck Preview
Watch BLM Artistic Director Carl Flink & Artistic Associate Emilie Plauche Flink perform Carl’s touching A Duet for Wreck on site at The Soap Factory in Minneapolis, MN. The video first aired April 29, 2012 on Twin Cities Public Television’s MN Original.
BLM Artistic Director Carl Flink was just named one of three 2012 McKnight Choreography Fellows. He is deeply grateful to BLM without whom such an honor would not be possible. Flink was also a 2008 McKnight Choreography Fellow.
On April 18, 2012, The Twin Cities City Pages selected BLM artistic director Carl Flink as the 2012 Best Choreographer stating simply “Thanks to Flink’s HIT, it’s now clearer than ever that dance is an excellent way to learn more about the secrets of our existence.” full article
BLM welcomes the following new movers to the BLM community!
Elayna Waxse, Margaret Johnson, Alyssa Mann, Joe Crook, Natalie Braun, & Zack Teska.
We are also excited to announce the return of Crystal Edwards to BLM after a year long stint with Diavolo in LA!
On April 14, Theater Latte Da in partnership with the University of Minnesota Theatre Arts & Dance Department opened a brand new version of Spring Awakening: The Musical directed by Peter Rothstein, music direction by Denise Prosek and choreographed by BLM‘s own Carl Flink. The critics and audience responses were incredible.
Twin Cities Star Tribune Review by Caroline Palmer: “When Frank Wedekind wrote the source work [for Spring Awakening: The Musical] in 1891 he described [it] as “a tragedy of childhood” and Flink picks up on this dark theme throughout the movement – it fairly roils with the barely-contained energy and scrambled desires of disaffected youth. . . . Flink integrates all of these challenging ideas into his choreography. It’s not neat and tidy – rightfully so. Instead it is performed by the entire cast with all the raging heart and rugged soul of young people who so desperately yearn to be set free from the bounds of social convention that they must express themselves by using every means necessary.” full article
Twin Cities Star Tribune Review by Graydon Royce: This Spring Awakening “locates the personal immediacy amid the pageantry of music and movement [and] beautifully reminds us that every generation needs its voice.” full article
St. Paul Pioneer Press: “You could light a bonfire with the energy coming off the stage at Theater Latte Da’s Spring Awakening.” A big one.” full article
Twin Cities Daily Planet: “And the choreography, oh, the choreography. Carl Flink has these kids stomping and leaping and flying and climbing on anything that will lift them off the ground and into the air. It’s a powerful, athletic, often gravity and sense-defying set of physical pictures on stage that keep building until it’s all you can do to stay in your seat in the audience.” full article
Twin Cities City Pages: “Director Peter Rothstein and choreographer Carl Fink present a piece that is overwhelming in its constant movement and energy – so much so that you want to jump out of your seat and join in by the end of the show.” full article
Howwastheshow.com: “But here’s a play that rings all my bells: Spring Awakening. Terrific story, excellent book, tasty music, superb direction, boffo performances. Here’s one I can brag about.” full article
Metro Magazine: “Seeing Theater Latt
Black Label Movement will hold auditions Friday, May 18 from 9:30 am-1:30 pm and call backs Saturday, May 19 from 11 am – 6 pm in Minneapolis, MN for men and women for full company members and individual projects. More details about the audition and coming BLM year to follow. Mark your calendars now!
Well, not exactly, but BLM is conducting a dynamic series of residencies at the Clara Barton Open Public School in Minneapolis and the Monroe & Linwood Public Elementery Schools in St. Paul focused on teaching students math and dance as complementary fields of study in an innovative project supported by a major grant from the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and administered by St. Paul’s Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.
March 3, 2012 – On March 2, 2012 at approximately 9 a.m. p.s.t., BLM, collaborator John Bohannon and Jelloslave cellists Michelle Kinney and Jacqueline Ultan gave their new 2012 TED: Full Spectrum presentation on talking about the facts of life with children at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in downtown Long Beach, California. The company rehearsed at the Cal State Long Beach Dance Department where Carl and movers Eddie and Natalie also gave a master technique class on March 1, 2012. Follow this link to some great BLM images from the conference: TED Pics
This presentation continued the evolution of our collaboration with John that started with our recent 2012 TEDx Brussels presentations A Modest Proposal and Zero Gravity Dance.
For more information go to the 2012 TED: Full Spectrum speakers page and the March 2, 2012 program guide
February 4, 2012 – BLM Artistic Associate and Mover Eddie Oroyan will premiere a new work as a part of the James Sewell Ballet Ballet Works Project. This year’s event also celebrates the grand opening of the Sewell Ballet’s new TEK Box space in the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts. Tickets
