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Profiles: Matt Del Rosario

 Matt explores life with a childlike curiosity and a youthful heart. As such, his improvisations are

 playful and unexpected. He can often be seen experimenting with a new move, discovering ways

to make it fit his body. His investigative qualities are personified in his role in “!," a quartethe collaborated on and was ultimately cast in wearing a foam fish head as a part of his costume.

Questions for Matt Del Rosario, Pilobolus Dancer

Hailing from the island of Lanai in Hawaii, Matt plays the ukulele, loves to surf, and enjoys

curating his extensive collection of Nerf munitions. He discovered dance “late in his life, !ut

through much determination went on to graduate from North "arolina #chool of the $rts with a%&$ in 'ance. ()*) marks his second season with +ilo!olus.

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Matt sports his fish head in (%, our second colla!oration with -n!al +into and $vshalom +ollak 

Jeffrey: Like many of the men of +ilo!olus, you came late to dance. How did it all start

Matt: -t all started when - was attending the /niversity of Hawaii. - !egan as an inspired

education major, !ut !efore long - started skipping class to surf. My “0h, -1ll go tomorrow

attitude led to me failing multiple classes. #o, - decided to take a dance class to !oost my 2+$.- signed up for !eginning !allet with +aul Maley, who happened to !e an alumnus of North

"arolina #chool of the $rts. -t was the hardest thing in the world, !ut - really enjoyed it and

didn1t give up. +aul got me in contact with N"#$ and that year the dean of N"#$1s dance

department flew to Hawaii to audition me at home. $fter the audition she invited me to come tothe school, and that1s how - got started.

Jeffrey: 3ou1ve talked !efore a!out coming to the “mainland and it !eing a !ig deal. 4hat wasit like leaving Hawaii

Matt: -t was a journey leaving my home. #ome of the most difficult moments of my lifehappened in North "arolina, !ut - discovered a whole new world5 6ven to this day - feel like

-1m still adjusting.

Jeffrey: How did you come to !e in +ilo!olus

Matt: - heard of +ilo!olus through a friend. - auditioned in &e!ruary of ())7. - actually started

my audition !y sending videos. - was in North "arolina at the time and - couldn1t afford a plane

ticket to fly up to N3" for the audition so - just sent videos of me jumping, running, dancing, etcetera. 8hrough numerous emails - finally found myself in N3" auditioning for +ilo!olus. 'ay

after day after day, the audition went on and, finally, - was the last man standing. - got a call andwas offered the jo!5

Jeffrey: #ince you joined the company in ())7, you1ve helped create three pieces and have

learned countless others. 'o you have a favorite

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Matt: My favorite piece to perform would have to !e “2nomen. 8here is a sense of

 !rotherhood and compassion that - really respect a!out this piece.

Jeffrey: $ny favorite tour destinations

Matt: #o far - think $ustralia has !een my favorite 9 it touches the +acific 0cean and it mademe feel closer to home.

Jeffrey: How do you like !eing on tour

Matt: 8he traveling is the !est part a!out !eing in +ilo!olus. 8ouring the world gives me so

many opportunities for adventure and to experience life. $t the same time, touring can !e themost challenging aspect. - find that always !eing on the move tires you out :uickly. - miss

 !eing in my home and sleeping in my own !ed, !ut - have the rest of my life to do those things

so why not travel the world now

Jeffrey: -s there any place you haven1t toured yet !ut would like to

Matt: Many places, !ut a!ove all Hawaii, so my family could see what -1m doing with my life,and so that may!e - can inspire someone from Hawaii to do what - have done. - left home to

follow my dream and to prove that the impossi!le is possi!le.

Matt makes possi!le the impossi!le.

+lease share5

8his entry was posted on ;anuary (<, ()*) at *)=>? am and is filed under  'ancers, +rofiles with tags 2nomen, Matt,

 N"#$. 3ou can follow any responses to this entry through the @## (.) feed 3ou can leave a response, or  track!ack  

from your own site.

3 Responses to “Profiles: Matt Del Rosario”

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*.

 Matthew Het#necker  #ays=;anuary (<, ()*) at A=)< pm 

- love hearing from dancers, especially the men. 4ell, !ecause -1m a male dancer and

started late in life.- love joy that the whole company seems to em!ody5

2reat flag Matt5

@eply 

o

 pilobolus #ays=;anuary (<, ()*) at A=>7 pm 

Hi Matthew5 8hanks for commenting. Male dancers unite5 How did you get into

dance -1d love to hear your story.

- think we, as male dancers, are fortunate to have so many opportunities in thedance field even though we often discover dance later in life than our female

counterparts. %ut - wonder if that is !ecause in our generally patriarchal society

 !oys are typically encouraged to participate in “sports rather than the arts Beventhough dancers are very o!viously athletesC while no!ody thinks twice a!out

enrolling their daughter in !allet class. - also wonder if in this age of mixing of

gender roles and !lurring of social context if young males will discover their lovefor dance sooner and if future generations will experience a slightly less

un!alanced ratio of female to male dancersD

@eply 

(.

 $ebra %rieden #ays=;anuary (<, ()*) at *=>) pm 

- loved seeing this interview with Matt. 2reat jo! Matt5 Making things happen5 #uccessthrough adversity and o!stacles takes strength and courage.

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“Lanterna Magica”

Posted in Pilobolus News with tags choreography, Lanterna, Magica, repertory on January 29,

2010 by pilobolus 

4e just posted another short video of one of our pieces to 3ou8u!e. “Lanterna Magica is a

sextet, choreographed in ())E !y Michael 8racy in colla!oration with $ndrew Herro, ;effrey

Huang, ;un Furi!ayashi, ;enny MendeG, 6dwin 0lvera, and $nnika #heaff . -n a previous post,

we wrote a!out our choreographic process. “Lanterna Magica has a particularly interesting

story.

Leave $ "omment

Proles! Matt "el  #osario

Posted in "ancers, Proles with tags $no%en, Matt, N&'( on January 2), 2010 by pilobolus 

 Matt explores life with a childlike curiosity and a youthful heart. As such, his improvisations are

 playful and unexpected. He can often be seen experimenting with a new move, discovering ways

to make it fit his body. His investigative qualities are personified in his role in “!," a quartet

he collaborated on and was ultimately cast in wearing a foam fish head as a part of his costume.

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Questions for Matt Del Rosario, Pilobolus Dancer

Hailing from the island of Lanai in Hawaii, Matt plays the ukulele, loves to surf, and enjoys

curating his extensive collection of Nerf munitions. He discovered dance “late in his life, !ut

through much determination went on to graduate from North "arolina #chool of the $rts with a

%&$ in 'ance. ()*) marks his second season with +ilo!olus.

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Matt sports his fish head in (%, our second colla!oration with -n!al +into and $vshalom +ollak 

Jeffrey: Like many of the men of +ilo!olus, you came late to dance. How did it all start

Matt: -t all started when - was attending the /niversity of Hawaii. - !egan as an inspired

education major, !ut !efore long - started skipping class to surf. My “0h, -1ll go tomorrow

attitude led to me failing multiple classes. #o, - decided to take a dance class to !oost my 2+$.

- signed up for !eginning !allet with +aul Maley, who happened to !e an alumnus of North

"arolina #chool of the $rts. -t was the hardest thing in the world, !ut - really enjoyed it and

didn1t give up. +aul got me in contact with N"#$ and that year the dean of N"#$1s dance

department flew to Hawaii to audition me at home. $fter the audition she invited me to come to

the school, and that1s how - got started.

Jeffrey: 3ou1ve talked !efore a!out coming to the “mainland and it !eing a !ig deal. 4hat was

it like leaving Hawaii

Matt: -t was a journey leaving my home. #ome of the most difficult moments of my life

happened in North "arolina, !ut - discovered a whole new world5 6ven to this day - feel like

-1m still adjusting.

Jeffrey: How did you come to !e in +ilo!olus

Matt: - heard of +ilo!olus through a friend. - auditioned in &e!ruary of ())7. - actually startedmy audition !y sending videos. - was in North "arolina at the time and - couldn1t afford a plane

ticket to fly up to N3" for the audition so - just sent videos of me jumping, running, dancing, et

cetera. 8hrough numerous emails - finally found myself in N3" auditioning for +ilo!olus. 'ay

after day after day, the audition went on and, finally, - was the last man standing. - got a call and

was offered the jo!5

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Jeffrey: #ince you joined the company in ())7, you1ve helped create three pieces and have

learned countless others. 'o you have a favorite

Matt: My favorite piece to perform would have to !e “2nomen. 8here is a sense of

 !rotherhood and compassion that - really respect a!out this piece.

Jeffrey: $ny favorite tour destinations

Matt: #o far - think $ustralia has !een my favorite 9 it touches the +acific 0cean and it made

me feel closer to home.

Jeffrey: How do you like !eing on tour

Matt: 8he traveling is the !est part a!out !eing in +ilo!olus. 8ouring the world gives me so

many opportunities for adventure and to experience life. $t the same time, touring can !e the

most challenging aspect. - find that always !eing on the move tires you out :uickly. - miss !eing in my home and sleeping in my own !ed, !ut - have the rest of my life to do those things

so why not travel the world now

Jeffrey: -s there any place you haven1t toured yet !ut would like to

Matt: Many places, !ut a!ove all Hawaii, so my family could see what -1m doing with my life,

and so that may!e - can inspire someone from Hawaii to do what - have done. - left home to

follow my dream and to prove that the impossi!le is possi!le.

Matt makes possi!le the impossi!le.

Please share*

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> "omments

Poll! (udience Participation

Posted in Polls with tags +eedbac, suggestions on January 22, 2010 by pilobolus 

-t1s !een a little over a month since we started the +ilo!olus %log and it1s time for a checkIin

with the most important aspect of this !log= You.

4e want to hear your comments, suggestions, and whatever you have to say. 4ith your

colla!oration we can tailor our !log to your interests. 8ake our poll, comment !elow, or email

 jhuangJsuggestionsKpilo!olus.org.

8hanks in advance for your time and feed!ack5

I am interested in:

Audition infoUpcoming projectsWorkshops/intensives/master classesPilobolus

dancers/directors/staff profilesPhotos/videos of repertoryGeneral art/dance newsOther:

Vote View ResultsShare ThisPolldaddy.com

Leave $ "omment

“#ushes,” Part 2! Peter 'lus-a

Posted in Pilobolus News with tags ani%ation, "ece%berists, Peter, #ushes, 'lus-a on

 January 1., 2010 by pilobolus 

&his is part two of our series of posts on “'ushes," the (() collaboration with *nbal +into and

 Avshalom +ollak.

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6very piece is the result of multiple colla!orations dancers, artistic directors, costume designers,

lighting designers, and composers collectively put in hundreds of hours to create a single, unified

work. &or “@ushes, we enlisted the artistry and mind of +eter #lusGka, N3"I!ased animation

director for Hornet, -nc., to create a short se:uence that one of the characters dreams during his

slum!er. $lthough you can view the animation in our “@ushes clip on our 3ou8u!e channel,

we are happy to report that you can see a much clearer version, al!eit slightly modified for

viewing independent of the original context, on the Hornet, -nc. we!site.

$ few :uestions for +eter=

Pilobolus: How did you get into your art

Peter: - studied 6nglish and visual arts at "olum!ia /niversity !efore taking animation courses

at the #chool of isual $rts. /ltimately, stopImotion animation seemed like a good way to

com!ine a lot of my creative interests !ecause it lets you create character and story, as well as

visually experimental work.

Pilobolus: 4as this your first time working with dancers

Peter: 8he @ushes project was the first time - had worked with dancers and was also the first

time - had created work specifically for a live performance. -t was a great experience, so when -

had an opportunity to do some more concert projections for the 'ecem!erists last fall, - jumped

on it. - think the considerations inherent in conceiving work meant to play with performers

challenges you to think a!out your creative process in new ways and that1s usually a positive

thing.

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$ still from +eters work for the 'ecem!erists

Pilobolus: How was it colla!orating with so many choreographers and dancers

Peter: 4orking with +ilo!olus, $vshalom, and -n!al was a uni:ue and challenging experience

for me. 8he most rewarding part was coming to the studio and o!serving the dancers and

choreographers colla!orating. $s the performance developed, - would go !ack to the studio and

create imagery !ased on what - had seen, as well as discussed with @o!!y %arnett O+ilo!olus

artistic directorP, $vshalom, and -n!al. $s it was experimental, dreamy, and a!stract, not

everything - shot worked so there was definitely trial and error involved in developing content

that seemed to fit. +eriodically, we projected work in progress at rehearsal with the dancers1

 participation and as the dance performance !ecame more cohesive, so did the film.

Pilobolus: 3ou used some wonderfully resourceful techni:ues to achieve some of the imagery in

the dream animation. "an you tell us a little a!out your creation process

Peter: Mostly - shot on a multiIplane set up with the camera rigged a!ove looking through

 planes of glass. - shot a lot of ink and water, as well as sodium !icar!onate, the fancy term for

ground up $lkaI#eltGer. 4hile these interactions had a less controlla!le, organic :uality, - also

animated photo cutouts, colored !locks, and !ranches, trying to create more controlled !ut

hallucinatory transformations !etween the dream images.

Pilobolus: Last :uestion 9 whose work has influenced you and why

Peter: #ome of the early guys - really liked and got me interested in animation are Ladislas

#tarevich, 8erry 2illiam, Nick +ark , and 8im %urton. 4hile all of these directors started as

animators, most of them have worked with mixed media in interesting and inspiring ways.

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e think +eter-s work is interesting and inspiring, too, to say the least. ou can see more of his

animation online on the Hornet, *nc. website , including a sequence created for “outh in

 'evolt," a recently released ma/or motion picture featuring Michael 0era.

 +.1. *f you wish to see the entire visually stunning pro/ections for &he

 $ecemberists concert featuring the animations of +eter and three other directors, the music

 feature film Here 0ome &he aves 2 &he Ha#ards of 3ove 4isuali#ed is available for rent or

 purchase on i&unes.

Leave $ "omment

“#ushes,” Part 1

Posted in Pilobolus News with tags (/shalo%, nbal, Peter, Pinto, Polla, #ushes, 'lus-a on

 January 1, 2010 by pilobolus 

8oday we !egin a series of posts on “@ushes, our first colla!oration with -sraeli choreographers

-n!al +into and $vshalom +ollak B())EC. 8he -n!al +into and $vshalom +ollak 'ance "ompany

has performed around the glo!e check out their we!site1s gorgeous video and photo

footage. +eter #lusGka, a N3"I!ased director and animator, also colla!orated on “@ushes,

creating a surrealist animated dream se:uence projected atop one character1s head as he falls into

a deep sleep midway through the piece. Here1s a clip of “@ushes we posted to 3ou8u!e. B3ou

can find more of our videos on our 3ou8u!e channel.C

$udience mem!ers often ask us what our pieces are a!out after they see a show we tend to !e

more interested in how what they saw was meaningful to them. 8here really are no right or

wrong interpretations of +ilo!olus1s art. -n response to “@ushes, we have !een asked, “3ou1re

insects, right, and we have !een told the piece was a!out people in the lim!o of an insane

asylum waiting room. 4hat do you think

Leave $ "omment

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Mailbag 3! 'trength 4raining

Posted in Mailbag with tags strength training, techni5ue on January 6, 2010 by pilobolus 

+ulled from a comment on our 3ou8u!e video a!out the %ig #it=

5uys, can you please respond to a strength training question6 * /oined a dance group last year.

 Having had some gymnastics training *-m probably the strongest lifter of the group, but *-m still

not strong enough to do one arm raises like this one. 7ne of the things that hinders me is that

my shoulders do not fully go back so * end up having to support the weight a little in front of me,

rather than over my head, which is very hard. 0an you give me any specific exercise tips6

1ambucca

Hi #am!ucca,

8he %ig #it is a com!ination of techni:ue and strength and how we use the !alance !etween

lifting a dancer and lifting ones self. -t is a little difficult to notice in the video $ndy is actually

using !oth of his arms to lift $nnika Bhe is using his left hand as a shelf to lift up through her left

footC and $nnika is pushing herself up using her left foot. $ll the magic happens at a!out )=*A.

-t1s :uick. Many of +ilo!olean “moves rely on open colla!oration and communication !etween

lifters and liftees.

$s for specific exercise tips, we1re not certified or even officially trained in personal training, so

giving you specific tips might not !e the !est idea. However, we try to stay lim!er to keep as

much range of motion as possi!le. 0ur rehearsals and performing keep us fit and many of our

dancers crossItrain in yoga, +ilates, martial arts, and running, are just a few, to vary their

movement and stay in shape.

8hanks for your :uestion5 Hope this helps5

+ilo!olus

 Have you ever had a question that you were dying to ask after a show6 7r are you curious what

the dancers eat6 hether your inquiry is important or trivial, commonplace or abnormal, we-ve

 got your answer. 8mail your question to /huang9mailbag:pilobolus.org .

* "omment

Pilobolus $lossary! London 7ridge

Posted in Pilobolus $lossary with tags glossary, London 7ridge on "ece%ber 2., 2009 by

pilobolus 

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8he London %ridge, performed !y ;un, "hris, and Matt. -t is not in any piecesDyet.

( "omments

8appy 8olidays*

Posted in Pilobolus News on "ece%ber 2), 2009 by pilobolus 

Enjoy the ne year! " fe #ore ee$s in the stu%io then off to "lbu&uer&ue, 'M January

()th* +e loo$ forar% to seein so#e of you there*

* "omment

Proles! (nnia 'hea 

Posted in "ancers, Proles with tags (nnia, Juilliard on "ece%ber 2, 2009 by pilobolus 

 %or Annika, “exuberant" is an understatement and “playful" is a lifestyle, and we love every

aspect of her inimitable performances, onstage and off. 1he-s as pliable as a paperclip ;anyone

 seen the women-s duet in “3anterna Magica"6< and strong enough to lift brawny male +ilobolus

dancers ;see “+ersistence of Memory", second photo below<=a combination of power and

 grace that never fails to captivate those who watch her.

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-ac$stae ith "nni$a .heaff, Dancer

$ native of a "hicago su!ur!, $nnika #heaff has !een dancing since she was three years old.

$nnika is a graduate of the ;uilliard #chool, where she received the ;uilliard -nterarts $ward for

her arts education outreach work in New 3ork, &lorida, and #outh $frica. #hortly aftergraduating in ())<, she joined +ilo!olus and is now !eginning her fourth season with the

company. #he is married to a percussionist, and when she1s home from tour she relaxes !y

knitting and making recipes from Martha #tewart magaGine.

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$nnika and Manelich in +ersistence of Memory B())EC

Jeffrey: $nnika, you1re well into your fourth year with +ilo!olus. How does it feel to finally !e

one of the “seniors in the company

"nni$a: -t is a ton of fun to finally feel like - know what - am doing, and to !e a!le to answer

the newer dancers1 :uestions. - feel a sense of responsi!ility that - have not felt !efore, which is

a !it intimidating, !ut - can handle the new challenge5

Jeffrey: 3ou1ve !een a !eautiful dancer to watch since you joined the company in ())<, yet yousay it1s taken you four years to finally feel like you know what you1re doing. $ny!ody who has

danced with +ilo!olus -1m sure felt the same way during their time in the company and knows

what you1re talking a!out, !ut can you try to explain that experience

"nni$a: +ilo!olus is a dance company that has its own techni:ue. Most companies re:uire

dancers to have some knowledge of !allet or modern techni:ue, !ut to get through a +ilo!olus

audition you have to !ust out some very different skills. 3ou have to show them how creative,

innovative, fun, smart, and playful you are through movement. 4hen you dance with +ilo!olus,

you spend your entire first year figuring out this new style. -t takes a long time to feel confident

in such a foreign movement voca!ulary.

Jeffrey: - remem!er at the end of my first year, - felt like - was just !eginning to grasp the !asics

 Q there was no way - would have !een ready to leave after my first or even my second year.

"nni$a: Me, too.

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Jeffrey: 4hat1s your favorite piece to perform

"nni$a: - have two favorites right now, “'ay 8wo and “@ushes. - love performing “'ay

8wo9a classic +ilo!olus piece made in *A7*9!ecause it allows me to go to a place that - rarely

get to go in my every day life. - can !e very sexual and raw, a tri!al woman, strong and

vulnera!le all at once. -t is a rush.

“@ushes, from ())E, is a piece that - was lucky enough to help create. 4e colla!orated on it

with the -sraeli choreographers -n!al +into and $vshalom +ollack, who - think are genius artists.

- was a!le to help create a world, and a character within that world, that over the past three years

- have !ecome attached to. - learn more and more a!out the character each time - perform the

dance. -t is amaGing to feel that even though - have performed @ushes hundreds of times, every

 performance is still new for me, and - can always dig deeper into it.

Jeffrey: - loved that a!out @ushes. 6ven when - thought - had my character down, $vshalom

came !ack the next year and gave us notes and it made me analyGe every movement all over

again and think, “4hy am - looking there or “4hy is my character nervous right now

“@ushes never got old for me. Like you said, it1s something new every time. $nd now you1re

starting a new project with $rt #piegelman5 How1s that going

"nni$a: #o far, the process has !een different than our typical process, which for me is a nice

change of pace. /sually we work very fast, with lots of improv, hundreds of ideas, and nothing

is settled until the second or third week of creation. 4ith this work, there already seems to !e a

very clear idea of what we are trying to create. 4e are receiving very strong direction and ideas

from $rt, all totally !rilliant. - am having a great time so far5

Jeffrey: - can1t wait to see what you guys come up with5 ;un is keeping me a!reast of the

 progress with some photo and video. -t looks really interesting5

+ you:/e e/er %et (nnia 'hea, you now that “e;uberant” is an understate%ent

and “wacy” is a li+estyle +or her, and we lo/e her that way< (nnia is as pliable as a

paperclip =seen the wo%en:s duet in “Lanterna Magica,” anyone>? and strong

enough to %anhandle a tough Pilobolus dancer =as seen in the duet “Persistence o+

Me%ory”?, a capti/ating co%bination that always deli/ers<

* "omment

Per+or%ing +or the @ueen

Posted in Pilobolus News with tags 7ette Midler, &haa Ahan, John Lennon, Lady $aga, Miley

&yrus, 5ueen, #oyal Bariety Per+or%ance, Choopi $oldberg on "ece%ber 21, 2009 by

pilobolus 

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7n $ecember ), +ilobolus-s “1hadowland" cast performed at the 'oyal 4ariety +erformance in

 !lackpool, 8ngland, a >)?year?old annual show traditionally held for the 'oyal %amily and

televised to millions of people around the world thereafter. Artistic Associate@'ehearsal

 $irector@1pecial +ro/ects 0reative $irector@4eteran $ancer Renee Jaworski  talks about what it

was like to perform for the ueen.

My first thought when we walked down the long entranceway to the 4inter 2arden 8heater in

%lackpool was that we were jesters and acro!ats arriving in a @enaissance court. -t was a

 !eautiful theater with a!out >,))) seats, !alconies, and massive chandelier. 8he Rueen sat in a

 !ox with four other people in the first !alcony, stage left of center. $t the end of our set, we

 !owed first to the audience, and then turned to !ow to Her Majesty the Rueen.

8he dancers and - choreographed a special piece for this performanceQa fantasy story of a

 !urglar stealing the royal crown from the 8ower of London, and a young superhero, who is half

dogShalf girl, and her sidekick chase him all over the country to rescue the crown. - wanted the

 piece to !e lightIhearted and kidIfriendly !ecause it was early in the show. - was completely

nervous that were somehow going to insult the Rueen and all of 6ngland !y telling this madeIup

tale. %ut - kept reminding myself that our single goal was to make the audience to laugh.

8hankfully, they did.

6veryone in the greenroom !ackstage was very encouraging. %ette Midler, who gave a !eautiful

 performance, and the hilarious 4hoopi 2old!erg were there with us, as was "haka Fahn. Miley

"yrus was very sweet, and Lady 2aga showed some truly talented singing and piano playing

skills. 6veryone wanted to know who did our new, catchy music B'avid +oe5C.

8he Rueen met us on stage after the show and was warm and grandmotherly. #he asked us where

we had !een and where our company was going next. 4e had !een instructed on eti:uette !efore

meeting herQdon1t speak until your spoken to address her as 3our Majesty say “ma1am as in

 jam, not “mar1am as in smarm and do not extend your hand until a hand is extended towards

you. - was sure she had reached her hand out to me when - extended mine, !ut then - wasn1t so

sure, and was froGen as we spoke, expecting guards to come and whisk me away. %ut all was fine

 Quntil she walked away and - realiGed -1d !een !arefoot the whole time that - talked to her5

+erhaps not as overt as ;ohn Lennon1s famous line, !ut - think it1ll go down in history as a

classic +ilo!olus move.

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(nother snea peeD

Posted in Pilobolus News with tags (rt, pre/iew, snea pee, 'piegel%an on "ece%ber 21,

2009 by pilobolus 

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Hey fans,

4e1ve got an early present for you= another sneak peek of our colla!oration with $rt

#piegelman5

Leave $ "omment

Mailbag ! "a/id Poe

Posted in Mailbag with tags da/id poe, Mailbag, shadowland on "ece%ber 20, 2009 by

pilobolus 

 Hi,

 Bust saw your performance on the 'oyal 4ariety 1how? absolutely ama#ingC

 +lease can you tell me what the music * heard was 2 * caught the lyric “*f it brings you /oy, then you don-t have to explain itD" ;or something like thatC<

 Many thanks

 $avid 

Hi 'avid5

8hat would !e the sweet lyrics of 'avid +oe, a composer that we colla!orated with on

#H$'04L$N', an eveningIlength shadowSdance work that just finished touring in Turich andMadrid. He created the entire soundtrack for the work, which, as you have already heard, is

 pretty awesome. /nfortunately, the soundtrack isn1t availa!le for downloadD yet .

$nd for the other readers out there, in case you didn1t hear a!out it 9 we performed for the

Rueen of 6ngland5 4e even have proof5

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@enee ;aworski, +ilo!olus dancer extraordinaire, next to Miley "yrus and 8H6 R/66N 0&

6N2L$N'5

8hanks for following us5 #tay tuned for more info on the #H$'04L$N' soundtrack5

+ilo!olus

 Have you ever had a question that you were dying to ask after a show6 7r are you curious what

the dancers eat6 hether your inquiry is important or trivial, commonplace or abnormal, we-ve

 got your answer. 8mail your question to /huang:pilobolus.org .

Leave $ "omment

Proles! Jun Auribayashi

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Posted in "ancers, Proles with tags (rt, captain, dancer, Jun, Proles, 'piegel%an on

"ece%ber 1), 2009 by pilobolus 

 *f you-ve seen a +ilobolus show recently, you may remember seeing a solo called

“+seudopodia," which features a dancer in a red unitard tumbling and somersaulting all over

the stage like a tumbleweed freshly catapulted from an exploding gas station. 7r maybe you-ve seen Bun being lifted weightlessly to the sky in the men-s quartet “5nomen." !oth qualities,

 fiery and weightless, are Bun-s specialties. He nevertheless maintains a grounded attitude in the

 studio.

 

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/ettin up close an% personal ith Jun 0uribayashi, Dance 1aptain

;un was !orn in ;apan and raised in Lawrence, Fansas. He excelled in athletics during his

adolescence, most nota!ly in swimming, !reak dancing, and "apoeira. 4hile attending the

/niversity of Fansas, at age of ((, ;un !egan his classical dance training. -n ())?, he received

his %achelor of &ine $rts degree in 'ance and toured with Momix !efore joining +ilo!olus

'ance 8heater. ;un has !een with +ilo!olus for the last U years and, as of this year, has taken on

the role of 'ance "aptain. He is married and has an adora!le dog and !unny ra!!it.

;un, his wife "asey, and their adora!le $sia

Jeffrey: ;un, you1re starting your sixth year in the company, and - know you1ve !een to some

really amaGing places around the world. -1ve !een to most of them with you5 4hat was your

favorite destination

Jun: 8o narrow it down to one location would !e impossi!le. How a!out top two places

Jeffrey: 0k5

Jun: 0ne of them would have to !e 8el $viv, -srael and the surrounding cities we toured. Mostly

 !ecause my own perception of the country was waaay off and when - landed there - was

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delightfully surprised. My mental image of the country was that of a war torn country with death

and destruction lurking around every cornerD - was wrong. 8he land is full of kind, !eautiful,

interesting people, and the food5 8he food was amaGing. Hummus 3ou haven1t had real

hummus unless you1ve had it there. -t also didn1t hurt that the audiences we performed for while

in -srael were so warm and welcoming.

Jeffrey: Mmm5 8he food in -srael was delicious5 $nd -n!al and $vshalom were right 9 the

cucum!ers there '0 taste !etter5

Jun: 8he second would have to !e $uckland, New Tealand. - don1t know if we just got lucky

with the people we met there, !ut the overall warmth of the people there was amaGing. 4e made

some really good friends while we were there. 4e also had the pleasure of hanging out with

some Maori people and learning a!out their culture. $nd if you1re into excitementDthis is the

city for you. 3ou can do so many craGy adrenaline pumping activities like !ungee jumping, sky

diving, tower walking etc. Had the !est fish and chips there also. $uckland is definitely one of

the top places -1d love to revisit.

Jeffrey: %etween all the touring and traveling !ack to ;apan to see family, you1re :uite the

seasoned traveler. -s there any item that travels with on every tour

Jun: 3ou can reIwear jeans or shirts if you1re desperate, !ut there1s one thing - won1t reIwear on

tour= undies. #o traveling with clean, comfy undies is a must for me.

Jeffrey: Haha. - can understand that. - remem!er when one of our previous dance captains

forgot to pack his underwear on tourDthere was a lot of handwashing garments in the sink for a

few days. $nd speaking of dance captains, this is your first year as dance captain5 4hat1s it

like

Jun: -t1s a whole new experience !eing dance captain5 My duties re:uire that - !e accessi!le to

everyone (?SE. - have to plan the rehearsals, approve programs, trou!leshoot, make sure

everyone is communicating and upItoIdateDand that1s just the !eginning. -t1s a com!ination of

 performer and administrator and - never imagined it would !e this difficult, !ut - can say this for

certain= - love what -1m doing and - plan to stay as long as possi!le.

Jeffrey: #ounds like you1re up for the challenge5 $nd now the company is just !eginning a newcolla!oration with $rt #piegelman, a +ulitGer +riGeIwinning comics artist. How is it working in

the studio with him

Jun: 0ur first colla!oration day with $rt was pretty darn amaGing. 8he man1s a legend in his

field, yet - was surprised at how down to earth it was. 4e started out the day with $rt educating

us on comic history and then we did what we always do= improvise with each other and test out

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movement or theatrical ideas. - think $rt was pretty entertained !y our process. He ended the

day !y saying, “8hank you guys, -1m just exhausted from watching you guys do what you do5

8here1s not too much more - can say a!out this project without giving away too much, !ut -1ll

definitely send you some videos and pictures so people can see what our process is like.

Jeffrey: $wesome. -1m excited to see what you guys come up with5

 Bonus Question: hat super?power would you like to have and why6

 Jun: !eing able to stop time would be my choice ;so long as *-m not aging when time is

 stoppedC< because time is one thing * feel like * never have enough of. * could stop time when

 *-m tired before a show and take a nap. * could stop time when we needed more time to teach a

role to a new dancer. ;$id * mention that if * was touching them while * stopped time, they-d stay

animated too6< ou could do and learn so much at your own paceD ou know, they say %ather

&ime is the best teacher. Enfortunately, he kills all his studentsD

8wins

&une in next week for another profileC Fext upG Annika 1heaffC

( "omments

(rt 'piegel%an, &o%ics Master%ind

Posted in Pilobolus News with tags (rt, collaboration, 'piegel%an on "ece%ber 9, 2009 by

pilobolus 

3ou may have heard it through the grapevine, or perhaps you saw a leaked photo or two on

&ace!ook. 3es, it1s true5 Last week we !egan colla!orating on a new piece with $rt

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#piegelman, +ulitGer +riGeIwinning comics artist and author of Maus, *n the 1hadow of Fo

&owers, and !reakdowns, and creator of 4acky +acks and 2ar!age +ail Fids.

"reating a dance theater piece with $rt #piegelman fits into +ilo!olus1 larger project of

colla!orating with multiIdisciplinary artists. 4e don1t keep artists in their respective disciplines1

corner our approach to colla!oration involves all creative people as e:uals in the studio. #o in

this piece, $rt is working directly with +ilo!olus1 artistic directors and dancers to invent a superI

cool, noirish, comicsIinspired world.

Here1s a little sneak preview of what we1ve !een doing in the studio=

8his piece was generously commissioned !y the Hopkins "enter for the $rts, 'artmouth

"ollege, and the $merican 'ance &estival, with additional major funding from $nnie Hu!!ard

and Harvey #chwartG, the Litchfield "ounty &riends of +ilo!olus, and the National 6ndowment

for the $rts.

+.#. "heck out $rt1s full page of artwork pu!lished last week !y #an &ranciscoI!ased

Mc#weeney1s Ruarterly “+anorama. Mc#weeney1s also pu!lished three of his sketch!ooks,

titled “%e $ Nose.

( "omments

Pilobolus $lossary! 'houlder 'tand

Posted in Encategori-ed with tags "ay 4wo, glossary, 'houlder 'tand on "ece%ber ., 2009

by pilobolus 

 Nile and 4inston demonstrate the #houlder #tand from “'ay 8wo, until an inopportune volley

of foam darts rains havoc.

Leave $ "omment

Mailbag 2! 4hat one %o/e whereD

Posted in Mailbag with tags glossary, Mailbag, %ne%onic de/ices on "ece%ber 6, 2009 by

pilobolus 

 $ear +ilobolus,

 How do the dancers remember all the moves that they do on stage6

 2!arbara H.

'ear %ar!ara,

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#ome dance forms, !allet and tap for instance, have terms for each “move that a dancer does,

like a pliV or a toe drop. B8here1s a really cool online glossary of !allet terms with video here.C

$s you know, in our dance studio we like to “reinvent the wheel when we create movement,

and as such we name the new moves as well. 4e use the names as mnemonic devices to help

ourselves remem!er the moves, !ut also to make it easier to communicate to each other a!out the

movement, especially if we1re giving notes or corrections.

&or instance, it is a lot easier to say, “"an you lift your shoulder to hold me in place during the

manIoIwar instead of “"an you lift your shoulder to hold me in place during that move where

you and the two other guys run around in a circle and lift me and the two other girls

"heck out our +ilo!olus 2lossary, where we show and explain moves from our vast repertoire5

 9+ilo!olus

8he manIoIwar from $:uatica

 Have you ever had a question that you were dying to ask after a show6 7r are you curious what

the dancers eat6 hether your inquiry is important or trivial, commonplace or abnormal, we-ve

 got your answer. 8mail your question to /huang:pilobolus.org .

Leave $ "omment

Mailbag 1! Letters +ro% the audience

Posted in Mailbag with tags choreographic process, +an %ail, inspiration, Lanterna, Magica,

Mailbag on "ece%ber ), 2009 by pilobolus 

 Have you ever had a question that you were dying to ask after a show6 7r are you curious what

the dancers eat6 hether your inquiry is important or trivial, commonplace or abnormal, we-ve

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 got your answer. *ntroducingG Mailbag 2 our online fan mail columnC *f you have a question

that you-d like answered, email it to /huang9mailbag:pilobolus.org.

#ince this our first Mail!ag post, - thought we1d pull a :uestion from our &ace!ook fan page.

 Hello,

 * was in the audience for your matinee show in 1alt 3ake 0ity, * think * was the youngest person

thereC * am six. * wanted to ask you about your last piece, “3anterna Magica," * think. * was

wondering how you came up with the story and where it started.

 * really loved your show, and * loved the magical one so much. * loved the first piece a lot, you

 guys looked like chickens in the yellow costumesC * wanted to dance with you, * like how you

know how to walk in all sorts of ways. * am learning to moon walk this morningC

&hanksC

5age ilde

'ear 2age,

8hanks for come to the show 9 we1re glad you enjoyed it5 “4alklyndon, the first piece you

saw, is one of the very first +ilo!olus works and was originally created on a s:uash court in

Lyndonville, ermont. B8hus its name.C 8he dancers got the idea for the piece !y simply

watching people walk around.

 Nowadays, on the first day of the creation process in our dance studio, the artistic director that

we are working with will !ring in some sort of inspiration as a starting point. -t can !e anything.

-n the past we1ve used photos from a !ook, a piece of music, and even a single word. 8hen, we

start improvising. 4e dance with each other and !y ourselves, we watch each other dance, and

comment on anything that we think is interesting. 4e never know what we1re going to come up

with and often times a piece will !ecome something completely different in a matter of days.

8here is a funny story a!out “Lanterna Magica 9 we were experimenting with a lot of different

movement and characters in the studio, when 6dwin, one of our dancers at the time, came out of

the !athroom with a decorative lantern, one that had !een sitting in the !athroom for years5 4e

ended up improvising and playing around with it so much that it ended up !ecoming a focal

 point for the entire piece5 -t goes to show that inspiration can !e anywhere5

 9+ilo!olus

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Lanterna Magica I we got a new lamp !tw

* "omment

Pilobolus $lossary! 7ig 'it

Posted in Pilobolus $lossary with tags 2, big, day, glossary, 5ueen, sit, two on "ece%ber F,

2009 by pilobolus 

$ndy and $nnika have fun demonstrating the %ig #it from “'ay 8wo. #ometimes also referred

to as the Rueen #it.

Leave $ "omment

Meet the blogger

Posted in "ancers, Proles with tags ("G, Jerey, P6 on No/e%ber 2., 2009 by pilobolus 

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8hats me during the creation phase of 'arkness W Light I it was very experimental

Hello5 ;effrey Huang here, -nteractive Media Marketing Manager for +ilo!olus. -1m the person

in charge of this !log, as well as +ilo!olus1 &ace!ook  and 8witter  accounts. - thought - would

take a moment to write a little a!out myself so you, the reader, know who is posting the !log

 posts and answering comments. 'on1t worry, most of my time from here on out will !e spent

 !ringing you pertinent +ilo!olus news and updates. - promise.

- took up my position as -nteractive Media Marketing Manager in 0cto!er of this year B())AC

after leaving the main touring company of +ilo!olus, with whom - colla!orated, traveled, and performed with for the last four years. B-t was an amaGing experience 9 more on that in a sec.C

-1m extremely excited to help +ilo!olus !egin its new venture into social media. - finally get to

use my !usiness degree and it helps me cope with my +ilo!olus withdrawal symptoms.

#ometimes, in the middle of the night, when - feel extra lonely, - lean up against a wall or

 !alance large o!jects on my head. B-1m kidding.C

-1m from #eattle, 4ashington and although - played sports and studied music throughout my

childhood, like many of the men of +ilo!olus, - didn1t start dancing until college. -n ())U, upon

graduating from the /niversity of 4ashington with degrees in !usiness and dance, - traveled to

'urham, North "arolina to take part in the sixIweek $merican 'ance &estival. -t was at $'&that - auditioned for +ilo!olus and saw my first +ilo!olus performance. - remem!er seeing the

audition notice posted at the $rk !uilding at $'& 9 - had never seen +ilo!olus, !ut - had the

afternoon free and decided to go to the audition on a whim. My !ackground in !usiness taught

me that one should never decline a jo! interview, and why should auditions !e any different $t

the end of the afternoon, - was among a few dancers who were asked to come to the call!ack

audition in N3" later that summer. - attended the call!ack audition and shortly thereafter B*>

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days to !e exactC moved to "onnecticut to dance with +ilo!olus. Little did - know at the time

that day would !e the single most influential day of my life to date.

0ver the next four years - colla!orated in the creation of E +ilo!olus works, learned nearly ()

 pieces of repertory, and performed them in ?U)J shows in ** different countries. Needless to

say, it was an exhilarating experience. %ut whenever people ask me a!out my time touring with

+ilo!olus, -1m always a little short on words 9 - don1t know how to articulate or express the high

of taking a !ow, exhausted, in front of thousands of people, or the surprise and delight Band

sometimes guiltC of going to some really !reathtaking foreign destinations, not having paid a

 penny of my own money for airfare. %ut -1m glad that it happened and - will treasure those

memories for the rest of my life.  And, oh, the storiesDleave me a comment and we1ll chat.

U "omments

( welco%e and a reHintroduction to Pilobolus

Posted in 8istorical with tags &reati/e 'er/ices, history, nstitute, Pilobolus on No/e%ber 26,

2009 by pilobolus 

&irstly, elco#e to the ne Pilobolus blo. $s this is a new foray into the !logosphere for us,

we will do our !est to keep this corner of the interwe! free of dust!unnies and meaningless

dri!!le Bmost of the timeC. #u!scri!e to our !log via @##, &eed@eader, or watch our 8witter  and

&ace!ook  posts for !log updates to stay a!reast of what is fresh and new with +ilo!olus and our

Gany world of colla!oration and creativity.

#econdly, depending on where you discovered +ilo!olus for the first time, !e it through the latest

 N&L shadow commercials that you saw on 8 or on stage performing repertory over the last few

decades, you might not know the hole story. #o, here it is=

+ilo!olus !egan in *AE* at 'artmouth "ollege in New Hampshire. $ group of students with

conventional li!eral arts !ackgrounds in science, english, philosophy, and sports decided to take

a dance class. -n the course of that year they choreographed a short piece titled “+ilo!olus.

8his work drew the attention of a num!er of helpful dignitaries, including modern dance great

$lwin Nikolais, and soon “+ilo!olus, the dance, had evolved into +ilo!olus, the dance

company. %y *AE>, +ilo!olus had picked up two female dancers and presented its first

 performances at the $merican 'ance &estival. B8he company has appeared there nearly everyyear since.C

 An older recording of some early +ilobolus works

 Now, nearly ?) years after its conception, the small fourIman group has evolved into a

 pioneering $merican arts organiGation of the (*st century. 8he company now revolves around

three nuclei of activity= Pilobolus Dance 2heater, a radically innovative and glo!ally acclaimed

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concert dance company 2he Pilobolus nstitute, uni:ue educational programming for schools,

colleges, and pu!lic arts organiGations as well as a series of classes and leadership workshops for 

corporate executives, employees, and !usiness schools and Pilobolus 1reati4e .er4ices, a

division specialiGing in a wide range of movement services for film, advertising, pu!lishing,

commercial clients, and corporate events.

+ilo!olus is !ased in 4ashington 'epot, "onnecticut and performs for stage and television

audiences all over the world. +ilo!olus works appear in the repertories of a num!er of major

dance companies 9 the ;offrey, &eld, 0hio, $riGona, and $spenS#anta &e %allets in the /.#., the

%allet National de Nancy et de Lorraine and the %allet du @hin in &rance, and -taly1s erona

%allet 9 and since *AAA the company has !egun colla!orating with multiIdisciplinary artists from

outside the company, including the famed writer and illustrator, Maurice #endak  the -sraeli

choreographic team, -n!al +into and $vshalom +ollak the remarka!le $merican puppeteer, %asil

8wist the lead writer of #ponge%o! #:uare+ants, #teve %anks and the film composer, 'avid

+oe.

+ilo!olus has received a num!er of prestigious honors, including the %erlin "ritic1s +riGe, the

%randeis $ward, the New 6ngland 8heatre "onference +riGe, and a +rimetime 6mmy $ward for

outstanding achievement in cultural programming. -n ;une ())) +ilo!olus received the #amuel

H. #cripps $merican 'ance &estival $ward for lifetime achievement in choreography and in

())? the company was featured on "%#1 “<) Minutes. -n ())E @o!!y %arnett, Michael 8racy

and ;onathan 4olken received the Fenneth and Harle Montgomery 6ndowment &ellowship from

'artmouth "ollege.

 +ilobolus on “( Minutes"

8he physical voca!ularies of +ilo!olus works are not drawn from traditions of codified dance

movement !ut are invented 9 emerging from intense periods of improvisation and creative play.

8his process has !een the source of much interest, in response to which the company inaugurated

the +ilo!olus -nstitute, an educational outreach program using the art of choreography as a model

for creative thinking in any field* 8he -nstitute offers sustained programs for !oth children and

adults around the country, as well as a series of Leadership 4orkshops for corporations and

 !usiness schools. @ecent work includes programs at the 4harton #chool of the /niversity of

+ennsylvania, 'artmouth "ollege1s 8uck #chool of %usiness, and the %a!cock #chool at 4ake

&orest /niversity. 8he -nstitute also maintains an ongoing residency in the 8heater #tudies+rogram at 3ale /niversity.

8he third arm of the company1s activity is +ilo!olus "reative #ervices, a choreographic and

 performance collective providing movement design and production for commercial applications

in !usiness and advertising. +"# has made television spots for Mo!il, &ord, 8oyota, 0pel, and

Hyundai, created live events for -%M, McFinsey, /nited 8echnologies, 'upont, and Merck, and

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has presented gala performances for ;oe %oxer, Marithe 2ir!aud, M$" "osmetics and FriGia.

-n ())E, the company created and presented < acclaimed performances during the EAth $nnual

$cademy $wards, as well as produced a series of original segments for the “0prah 4infrey

#how and “Late Night with "onan 01%rien. +"# has also produced two !ooks for national

distri!ution, &wisted oga and &he Human Alphabet, and releases an annual calendar of dance

 photography in colla!oration with a num!er of noted $merican photographers. -n spring ())A, a

spot that +ilo!olus "reative #ervices created for the N&L Network was nominated for an 6mmy

$ward in #ports, and the company1s we!site was nominated for a 4e!!y $ward in %est

+hotography.

 Hyundai-s 1anta %e Advertisement featuring +ilobolus

8he ())A season marks the middle of +ilo!olus1 >Ath year. 8he company has continued to grow,

expanding and refining its unusual colla!orative methods to produce a !ody of over *))

choreographic works, and while it has !ecome a sta!le and influential force in the world of

dance, +ilo!olus remains as protean and surprising as ever.

? "omments