Leonix Movement Theatre Ensemble

Spring Community Workshop Series!

2010-02-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

We have been in the cave, writing a lot of grants and propsals for our next devised work, The War Within.

However we are emerging to offer a Spring Community Workshop Series! Check it out!

Leonix Clown Development Workshop
Saturdays 4-7pm @ Diavolo Space in the Brewery Arts Complex
Mar 6, 13, 20, 27
Instructors: Erin Schlabach

There are no balloon animals or squirting flowers in this workshop! The clown state we are referring to is a theatrical style where the performer gets the chance to shine the light on their own humanity, revealing their imperfections and celebrating them. Clown calls on the innocence and trust of a child and the rigor and maturity of an adult. Lecoq-trained Erin Schlabach will guide the class in analyzing our natural bodies and states to find our own unique clown. The journey begins with the tiniest mask of all, the red nose. We will explore clown bodies, entrances, hierarchies, relationships, improvisations and will conclude the workshop with the creation of informal pieces. Space is limited. NO drop in, $60 for the series (+ cost of clown nose). Classes at Diavolo Dance Theatre Space, 616 Moulton Avenue, Downtown LA, 90031, in the Brewery Arts Complex off North Main and the I-5.
Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=311039189982&ref=ts

Ensemble Improvisation and Music Collaboration
Sundays 3-6pm @ Church in Ocean Park
Mar 7, 14, 28, Apr 18, 25 (NO CLASS Mar 21, Apr 4 & 11)
Instructors: Jones Welsh & Will Salmon

Facilitated by Jones Welsh and Will Salmon, this workshop will focus on the dialogue created between a musician and dancer. With engaged listening, the participants will explore a lively moment-to-moment interaction between dance and music that is fluid, surprising, and satisfying. Performance techniques of Contact Improvisation and ensemble awareness will be employed, as well as theatrical elements of story, movement quality, and device will form a group consciousness. Participants will work quickly to establish rapport with a professional group of musicians and dancers, then work to score a detailed performance structure that will be presented for the last class. $20 drop in, or $70 for the series. Classes at Church In Ocean Park, 235 Hill Street, Santa Monica, 90405 (off Ocean Park Blvd. & Main Street).
Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=358020262328&ref=ts

Leonix Movement Theatre Workshop
Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am-12pm @ Diavolo Space in Brewery Arts Complex
Mar 23, 25, 30, Apr 6, 8 (NO CLASS Apr 1)
Instructors: Jones Welsh & Erin Schlabach

Erin Schlabach and Jones Welsh guide the group of participants through elements of devising performance work that explores specificity in a given theme and crosses artistic disciplines. Their company, Leonix Movement Theatre Ensemble, combines elements of dance, music, and gesture into non-linear story structures and strives to create work that is courageous and regenerative. Improvisation used as a development tool and intense body training are combined with exploring context and texture to create a trusting environment of play and an expanded awareness of rhythm, intention, and focus. $7 drop in, or $30 for the series. Classes at Diavolo Dance Theatre Space, 616 Moulton Avenue, Downtown LA, 90031, in the Brewery Arts Complex off North Main and the I-5.
Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=312429378060&ref=ts

For more info, call Making Faces Productions at 818-618-4772
To register, visit www.makingfacesproductions.org

The Last Cargo Cult

2009-12-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

Mike Daisey is giving the audience members his pay during the run of The Last Cargo Cult at the Public...literally giving them cash in different denominations that they can chose to keep or return at the end of the show. He will tally the results up and write about it later. This highlights his theme: our relationship to money.

Read more here:
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/12/hows_giving_away_all_your_mone.html

I saw a workshop version of The Last Cargo Cult in LA and thought it was incredibly thought provoking. Mr. Daisey was performing the completed version in Seattle when we were there on tour, but we couldn't make it (much to my disappointment).

In this monologue, Mr. Daisey chronicles his journey to a remote South Pacific Island, Tanna - previously occupied during WWII, where they hold an annual festival to worship American consumerism. He contrasts this with an examination of the financial collapse. What emerges is a thoughtful examination of our deeper values.

You can hear audio clips here: http://www.publictheater.org/component/option,com_shows/task,view/Itemid,141/id,991

Angels' Night Part Two.

2009-11-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

Leonix was also asked to create a short dancing skeleton piece on the fly to the Addams Family theme song as the opening number for the evening. Here is what we came up (in one day!)
Cheesy, yes. Fun and ridiculous, also yes.

Angels' Night Part One.

2009-11-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

Leonix was invited to be guest puppeteers for "Darwin" at Center Theatre Group's Annual Fundraiser, Angels' Night. Ian and Eleonore, of Corbain, were fantastic to work with. It was a lot of fun to perform in the dark! See a trailer for "Darwin" below. They will be back at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in January 2010. Check them out!

http://www.iancarney.com/images/TRAILER_G_web300.mov

On Tour - Indianapolis!

2009-09-07T18:42:00.001-07:00

We had a great IndyFringe experience! Photo descriptions: 1. Assembling our custom-made table...THAT SKY! 2. Waiting for the parade to begin. 3. Meredyth, the Queen of Naps, refueling before previews. 4. Street performing to promote our show! 5. With the Mass Ave sign. 6. Under the big top. 7. We took a mini-vacation at the lake. I think this photo of Isabel encapsulates what that experience was like....heavenly!

On Tour - LA & Seattle

2009-09-07T18:27:00.001-07:00

The first two shots are from LA: Meredyth putting her makeup on, and the cast on the Son of Semele stage in Los Angeles before our first show. The following three are from Seattle: The cast at our fundraising dinner, The Annex sign, and Mer catching a few zzz's before our show!

Photos - Crossing the Bridge

2009-09-07T18:09:00.001-07:00

Crossing the Bridge Tour

2009-09-07T17:22:00.001-07:00

I had high hopes of documenting our journey through our LA, Seattle, and Indianapolis but alas..it was Leonix's first tour and there was a LOT to take care of!
The tour was a great success. Thanks to everyone who made it out. It was a joy to share with you! Here are reviews, etc.

LA Weekly
Pick of the Week

Dance in LA
"Crossing demonstrates elegant economy throughout, but particularly in its transitions – more miraculous transformations than segues. Especially exquisite are the actions of the chorus..."
"...fleshed out beautifully both in words and movement..."

Indianapolis Star
One of "Five not to miss"
"The pacing of this simply patterned piece is exemplary..."

NUVO
4 stars
"Crossing the Bridge represents the kind of well-executed movement-infused theater we could use more of..."
"tender, beautiful, painful, ridiculous, joyous..."

IndyTheatreHabit.com
"The fusion of theatre and dance, of dialogue and mime, of humor and poignancy, of life and death, in this show made me weep...it also left me feeling uplifted and blessed."
"...refreshingly free of clichéd material..."

IndianaAuditions.com
"We saw 11 shows in 2 days and of all 11 this was my favorite."
"one of the most powerful, emotion evoking performance I have experienced in a long time."
"a very polished performance and mesmerizing to watch...This is truly one not to be missed" - SheilaB
"Crossing the Bridge--at the top of my list. Moving, powerful, innovative, clever." - AmyP

EastofIndy.com
"a tragicomically beautiful performance."

IndyFringe Fest Blog
"Truly moving."

Thought Bites
"A beautiful marriage of movement and storytelling that did not fail to engage."

We are beginning research on our next two pieces and look forward to presenting them in the new year! More info coming soon!

Interview with IndyTheatreHabit

2009-09-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks Alternative Transmissions!

2009-07-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

We are honored to have won the first-ever Alternative Transmissions Soup Kitchen mini-grant!

"Alternative Transmissions Soup Kitchen is envisioned as a semi-monthly artists salon and micro-financing endeavor in the form of a soup kitchen. The basic equation is: $5 buys you a bowl of soup and one vote on project proposals; votes are tallied and whichever receives the most is awarded the mini-grant of total monies raised."
More info: www.altsoup.blogspot.com

They say "a bowl of soup" but, my friends, this was a FEAST! It was a beautiful afternoon/evening of connecting with fellow artists, eatingeatingeating, and lounging in the hot tub.

What a great way to support performance in our communities! Big thanks to organizers Anna B. Scott, Sara Wolf and Nehara Kalev!

I see, I hear, I smell.

2009-07-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we asked friends, family and complete strangers 3 questions:

When I think of death, I see _____, I hear _____, I smell _______.

We received nearly 200 responses! We received simple words, memoirs, essays, manifestos, poems, and songs. Thanks so much! The responses have been thoughtful and thought-provoking. They were a great jumping off point as we began our journey into "Crossing the Bridge".

Below is a poem that was written from the provocation by Christy Boyer.

"When I think of death,
I see-
I hear-
I smell-"

panty hose under skirts, boring shoes
rustling of fabric, murmering
men in suits, ironed cloth, nectar gone bad.

relief
relief
relief

darkness
echoes
dirt

My father, a boy, white as chalk
dirt hitting his mother's coffin, like cruel spit.
Sweat that pours too much from tiny palms.

peace
peace
peace

Tessie's melting face, her tiny mother in a shawl
Chanting
a too small body, unpreserved, a depth of scent that touched my bones and hasn't left.

a shooting star
crickets chirping
air like clear water, and when it shimmers, I will drink it.