May 4, 2009

Invitation to First NYC Great Dance - Internet and Technology Meetup

I would like to invite readers to attend the first NYC Great Dance - Internet and Technology Meetup.

Title: Low-Cost Approaches to Promoting Dance Through Video and the Internet

Date and Time: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:00 PM

Location:

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
547 West 26 Street (between 10th and 11th avenues)
New York, NY 10001

RSVP: Please RSVP on Meetup.com

Detailed overview of first event on Meetup.com and below.

Much thanks to Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet for hosting the first gathering!

Low-Cost Approaches to Promoting Dance Through Video and the Internet

To kick-off our first meetup, we're focusing on free and inexpensive ways that dancers can use the Internet and technology to share their dancing with audiences, friends, students and others. Among the software programs and tools we'll be demonstrating include Flip video cameras, live video streaming, Facebook and Twitter.

And in addition to presentations, we'll have an open forum for discussion and demonstrations of dance websites, blogs, social media applications and other Internet and technology resources for dancers.

Program Guide

1) Introductions and Future Directions for This New Meetup

We'll start the first meetup by sharing our backgrounds and interest in dance, the Internet and technology. Among other topics, we can discuss what Internet, technology, social media, new media and other digital tools we'd like to learn about and see in action. And we can brainstorm about the best format and focus of these monthly gatherings for dancers and other members of the dance community.

2) Demonstrations: Video, Facebook and Twitter

We'll have four presentations (see speaker bios below):

- Malinda Ray Allen we'll demonstrate how she broadcast a solo dance performance in real-time using the free Ustream.tv video service. She will set-up a live video broadcast during our meetup so we can see this service in action and discuss different applications for dancers.

- Catherine Paull will demonstrate how she uses the popular Flip video cameras and easy-to-use video editing software to shoot, edit and upload dance videos to sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.

- Jody Sperling will show how she uses Facebook, the popular social networking site, to help promote her dance performances. And she'll highlight the latest Facebook changes and the benefits of creating Fan pages.

- Doug Fox will demonstrate Twitter and how to use this application to network with dancers, students and audiences. He'll also demonstrate programs such as TweetDeck that offer an improved way to communicate with Twitter friends and followers.

3) Open Forum: Discussions and Demonstrations

Following the presentations, we'll have an open user-group forum for discussing and demonstrating dance websites, blogs, social media applications and other Internet and technology resources for dancers.

Speaker Bios

Malinda Ray Allen

Malinda Ray Allen creates works of body-based theater and film using subtle physicality combined with charmed athleticism. Her roles range from playwrighting and direction, to choreography and performance. Malinda has worked with collaborators ranging from HBO Def Jam artist Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, to art-punk poet/violinist Alicia Jo Rabins. Her projects have been presented at Dance Theater Workshop, Chez Bushwick, Dixon Place, PS 122, and the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance. Malinda Allen is a 2008 Fellow of the Urban Artist Initiative/NYC. On New Year's Eve 2008, Malinda embarked on a 24-hour continuous dance performance as part of Miguel Guiterrez's Freedom of Information Project - a nationwide remembrance for people affected by the Iraq and Afganistan wars. Her entire performance - along with those of 30 other artists across the US - was streamed live online with viewers across the United States.

Catherine Paull

Catherine Paull has worked in the performing arts all her life. From 1974-1978, Catherine was Assistant to the Administrator for The Eliot Feld Ballet (aka Feld Ballet), overseeing the production of Broadway, Off-Broadway, National and International tours. Highlights from those years were producing Baryshnikov on Broadway, working with Mark Morris and Patrick Swayze. Catherine was Production Administrator for the Spoleto Festival USA from 1976-1986. During these years, Catherine has also functioned as the Administrator of John Paull Productions, which provided production management for "Les Miserables", "Phantom of the Opera", "Miss Saigon" and other Broadway shows. Most recently, Catherine has worked as the Administrator of the Logrea Dance Academy (school of the Westchester Ballet Company).

Jody Sperling

Jody Sperling is a dancer, choreographer and dance scholar. Jody Sperling is the founder/Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance, a company that gives an avant-garde twist to vintage genres. In particular, Sperling has gained international recognition for her contemporary evocations in the style of Loie Fuller, a pioneer of modern dance and innovator of stagecraft technology. Sperling has performed her own works and/or lectured about Fuller at many theaters, museums, colleges, universities, festivals, and conferences throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.

Doug Fox

Doug Fox is an Internet consultant, educator and writer who focuses on dance and the arts. He created the Great Dance blog in 2005, which covers a wide range of topics related to dance, the Internet, social media, technology and marketing. And, he is the creator of this new meetup group.

I hope to see you at the meetup on Monday, May 18th!

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