GP Dance

I have been working on creating “Come Along” for the past month with dancers Clare Bayens and Erica Perus. Getting into the studio to sketch work has been such a enjoyable process.  I am excited about the work especially about these two dancers they are passionate dancers who take the work seriously.  Both are committed to A SECOND CHANCE cause of supporting Daybreak Day Center a program of OPCC for homeless women.

You can see Erica & Clare perform “Come Along” on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 4 PM @ Hype Dance Studios in Torrance, CA for the Second Chance Dance Festival.

For more info contact Carrie Smaczny at info@gpdance.com

Festival Title: A SECOND CHANCE
Grounding Point Dance Company is excited to announce that Artistic Director, Carrie Smaczny, will be producing a dance festival at Hype Studios.  The purpose of this dance festival is to raise money for the Daybreak Day Center at Ocean Pacific Community Center (a homeless shelter) in Santa Monica, CA.  ”100 % of the proceeds will go directly to the shelter to help get homeless women off the streets,” states Smaczny.
Smaczny states she is ” looking for dance companies and independent solo dance artists who want to help raise money by performing in this festival.  I am interested in all types of dance - Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Cultural, Fusion, Multi-media from professional & pre-professional dance companies.   I am looking for 8-10 dance pieces from different (professional) choreographers with themes that are uplifting, artistic and entertaining for this family friendly event.  ”

How did Grounding Point Dance Company get involved with OPCC?

“I have been volunteering at OPCC as a Pilates instructor since November of 2008.   These women are so inspiring to me.  I want to give them more than just my time.  I want to raise awareness of the homelessness problem we have in America today and I want to help raise money to support their current programs.  We will be having a silent auction and reception prior to the performance” states Smaczny.

Smaczny’s friend and pilates client Melaine Miller, who has been involved in the film and music industry, has taken the role of silent auction coordinator.  More information about the silent auction items coming soon!

If you are interested in donating, dancing, volunteering at the event or just want to support us by passing on the information please contact Carrie Smaczny at info@gpdance.com

Grounding Point Dance Company is current searching for new dancers for a project to benefit a OPCC a women’s homeless shelter in Santa Monica, CA.  Carrie Smaczny is seeking mature male and female dancers for a new Contemporary Jazz piece.  

This piece will be performed in the dance festival, Grounding Point Dance Company is producing at Hype Studios on May 16, 2009. This dance festival is a fundraiser for the women’s program at the Homeless Shelter, Daybreak Day Center of OPCC in Santa Monica.  

Requirements:

Strong Jazz and Contemporary or Modern Background, ballet background or improvisational skills a plus.  Come prepared to learn a Contemporary Jazz Combination.  Please bring resume & head shot.  You need to make a reservation to audition.  E-mail Carrie at info@gpdance.com

Positive attitude and Available for Rehearsals on Wednesdays from 8-9:30 PM beginning Feb. 18. Rehearsals will be on Wednesdays for February and March.  In April and May rehearsals will be twice a week (continuing with the Wednesdays & adding another day).  

THIS IS A NON-PAID POSITION.  Dancers would be donating their time to help fight homelessness.  

DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 11 @ 7PM @ Hype Studios, for company class 8-9 PM additional combinations. YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR SPOT BY E-MAILING info@gpdance.com

Address: 1951 West Carson, Torrance, CA 90501 

All DANCERS NEED TO BE LEGAL US RESIDENT AND OF AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE 

For More Information contact Carrie Smaczny at info@gpdance.com or by phone at 949-302-1208.

So, here I am in Yoga class once again practicing my headstand.  I decide to finally try it away from the wall.  No help, I either do it or crash and burn.  So once again I seceded, however, it was short lived: for about three seconds. I got too excited, lost my balance and safely tumbled to the ground.  What I realized is that I don’t need my “crutch” the wall for my support.  I am capable of more than I think I am.  

A good lesson for me to mediate on in the New Year.  I find that the person holding myself back from doing something really extraordinary is my own ego…

Happy Headstands! Carrie

As I stumble out of bead this morning, my stomach is still full from the excellent meal we feasted on yesterday, but my motivation is nil.  Having a morning cup of coffee I look into what morning Yoga classes are offered today.  I find a teacher I like in Santa Monica, CA.  She is exactly what I need.  However, I have no motivation in my mind.  My body wants to move, but my mind just wants to chill…

So I did it I pushed myself out of bed into the shower and bounced to class only arriving 5 minutes late… Which isn’t bad consider I do live somewhat far away from Santa Monica.

Point being, is that I have this engrained sense of discipline of the physical body from Dance.  I was trained to take class, always 2-3 days a week at least.  With dance, the movement is constant and the body is challenged with rhythm, past paced direction and heat.  For me, with yoga the movement is purity to enhance breath, rid emotional blockage and cleanse energy.  Every class is hard for me to go to, but I push myself to do it.  And I am always happier after class, balanced and ready to eat.

Applying this discipline to other parts of my life, is my journey…  Yoga, Pilates, & Dance are pathways for me.

I was taking my 5th yoga class this week and I was finally able to execute a headstand.  I didn’t think I could do it, but I decided to give it a go and see what happens.  To my surprise, I was able to balance and immediately got excited / lost focus and came tumbling down while laughing.

I was really impressed and that same time frustrated, sometimes when I get in the moment I loose focus. To stay present is my personal struggle.  However, this got me thinking…  As the holidays approach, instead of getting stressed out about things, I am going to give myself a 30 day challenge.  This challenge is a physical challenge to practice movement in excellence and at the same time it is a mental challenge to stay present and focused inside of it.

Is anyone up for it?

I was online this morning looking for a quote that is about happiness.  This is what I found:

Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Aristotle 

This quote makes me feel that I have more control in my own well being.

Have a HAPPY DAY!

“I did get out and vote today.  I felt very patriotic about voting.  If you haven’t voted today, it’s not too late.  Make your voice heard”, stated Smaczny.  

“As an artist my response to the energy surrounding the US economy and election has me quite affected.  I haven’t felt this way since 911 /  going to war in Iraq.  My response was through making work (choreography) to help me articulate my sadness, hope, anger, and passion for my country.  I have HOPE for our country and world, but I feel sometimes so insignificant in the process of our government.  That is why voting was so important for me today.  I was able to finally voice my opinion.”

How to make art…  

I find myself searching everyday for objects, people, music that inspires me to create.  It is not a outright search, but more of a curiousity that draws me into a subject.  It might be an emotional conversation that inspires me to move or just the way the waves break on the beach (and, yes I do live in a place where I get to see the waves almost everyday, which is a blessing).  I also give myself challenges.  Especially with the video component.  I might improvising with the camera using a hand held technique, or locking down the camera having the dancer move within a certain part of the frame.  Exploring is the most exciting part of the work.

It is great to make the work, but I also enjoy reflecting about the work I have created.  Being critical artistically about what more could I have done to make this piece have deeper impact.  Sometimes I don’t get that perspective for a couple of years down the road from when it premieres.  I have a tendency to fall in love with the creative process of the work.  That is really what I love to do as an artist is CREATE.  

For me, dance is at it’s best in the rehearsal studio working at a movement until it feels just right.  For me, many great performances have happened in the dance studio with an audience of one — myself.

At the end of the day, I have to be happy with my work, and I am.  I stand by my work, it reflects my life, my morals, and being a young American woman making a statement of emotion, beauty,  and depth. 

Enjoy the show!

Grounding Point Dance Company’s Artistic Director, Carrie Smaczny, states ” I am really excited about our new project.  I am shooting footage of the company for the flash banner for our website.  This is another avenue of choreographing”.  GPDC’s forsees to have a new 25 second short every month.  

“It is a fun project to create and at the end the year, I will create a full-length work based on these improvisation pieces.  Grounding Point Dance Company wants to push the boundaries of what a dance company is.  People don’t always want to go into the theater to watch a production.  I want to give people a chance to see work quickly and on their own time”, states Smaczny.