Studies  allow us to work not only on perfecting our ability to make the required movement and sound but also to perfect our capacity to compose.  The study allows us to practice both the techniques of dance and music but also use the creative skills we need in our work.

Every study is a little performance.  We put a frame around each one, taking our places in the space and waiting in our basic standing position for a moment to separate what we are about to do from daily life and what was going on before.  We do the study, articulating the internal changes with minute pauses to separate the ABA sections.  We hold the last movement and then return to our basic standing position for another moment before returning to daily life.

The study is also the building block of work we show to the public in performances.  Many of our performances have started with ideas, words, situations, emotions.  We then need to translate those things into our dance system.  We begin by defining which movement elements and what shade of each one is appropriate.  Do we want movement that is fast or slow, large of small, outward or inward, up or down, going somewhere or in place, forceful, forceless, stopped, sustained.  What degree or degrees of those qualities are needed?  So forceful that we could break down walls or just a little bit forceful?  Do we need a progression?  An alternation?

The answers to those questions lead us to frame studies.  Our response to the studies leads us to further studies and to series of studies that ultimately become the completed composition and the entire performance.

Our vision for this company is to have the leisure for daily company class where we could spend several hours just working on studies that help us to hone and perfect our techniques and our skills.  This in addition to rehearsal of works in progress and things we want to show the public is a great luxury, but one that our artists deserve.  Such attention to our artists will lead to richer and deeper gifts to offer the world as well.

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