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  • Posted on September 02, 2011
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Deus Ex: The Eyeborg Documentary

I have tried for years to separate the movement of my left hand’s pinky and ring finger. I have, so far, continued to fail at this undertaking. I sometimes think to myself “if only I had a bionic hand…” Not to take my fortune of have working appendages for granted, but it seems as if that dream may become a reality in my lifetime. Check out the video for a glimpse into what could be our biomechanical future as humans, dancers, artists.

What are your thoughts on the future of biomech/prosthesis technology and dance?

  • Posted on August 31, 2011
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Onwards, Upwards, Westwards

I remember heading out to Los Angeles for the first time in 2008. I was there to meet Graph for the first time and out to the California desert to Coachella. Even though my stay in Los Angeles was short, I felt as if I was home. Fast forward over 3 years later and trips across the entire country and here I am, still in Illinois…but not for long.

I’ve recently been offered a job in LA and over the next 2 weeks I’ll be packing my bags for what could be one last road trip. This is a big moment not just for me personally but for F.N and Liquid Dance as a whole, as I hope to become a hub for dancers interested in visiting LA from afar as well as a mentor to the future molding of a west coast army of Liquid dancers.

With both the music and dance scenes in a thriving state, I promise to do my best to represent and grow Liquid Dance to the best of my abilities. Wish me luck and as always, drop me a line if you’re interested in visiting.

  • Posted on August 30, 2011
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Andrew Zuckerman – On Curiosity, Rigor, and Learning As You Go

The99Percent delivers once again with executive genius in the form of professional photographer Andrew Zuckerman. Lots of great quotes and ideas are stowed within the nooks of this video including bits on curiosity, motivation, influence and finishing projects.

Zuckerman notes that “when curiosity and rigor gets together, something happens.”  Curious about what he has to say? Click the play button rigorously. :)

  • Posted on August 26, 2011
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Drex – On the Merits of Arguing Poi Frameworks

In this stunning write-up on the merits of arguing Poi frameworks, Drex touches on the very topic I hope to expand on as we get closer to the promotional material for the new F.N Instructional DVD.  Here’s some excerpts:

We all know this story…you’re at a festival, spin jam, or on an online forum and somebody mentions a trick or concept you’ve played a lot with. So much so that you have a framework worked out in your head for how to understand that move and how many other moves interlock with it. You speak up and say, “x move is a type of y and here’s why!” And so begins a lengthy debate over the nature of the move that can at times get heated. Each person clings to their understanding and points out the logical fallacies in the other approach. Sometimes it ends in agreement, sometimes it goes on for hours and you part still arguing with each other in your heads.

Check out the full post over on Drex’s blog where he continues his thoughts on these types of debates and how they can be used in a positive way to push understanding of an art forward.

  • Posted on August 26, 2011
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C2b – Dobbelaere

Body. Illusion. Pattern. Objects. Music. Sound familiar? Reminds me of Liquid Dancing, but in fact I’d like to share a video about another type of artform: Juggling. What makes them sound so similar in text? Perhaps that they’re linked through the larger performance arts grouping of Object Manipulation, similar to Poi, Staffs, Contact Juggling, Hooping and various other expressions. This video is a standout and highly encouraging as to what a master of their art can accomplish.

  • Posted on August 25, 2011
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Now Taking Applications – Solo DVD

Verb, host of Confluence and highly regarded F.N member is calling our community to action. He’s looking to build an inspirational DVD comprised of talented dancers like YOU! Yeah, you, the person reading this. Head on over to Solo DVD thread, see what it’s all about and speak up on how you’d like to help.

  • Posted on August 25, 2011
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F.N Studio – Behind The Scenes

Like most dancers, I dream of having a studio at my disposal. Unlike most dancers, my dream studio doesn’t have hardwood floors and mirrors. It has muslin backdrops and softbox lighting. I’m referring of course to a photography studio and my dream is now a reality. I’d like to take this opportunity to present some behind the scenes shots and descriptions of the setup process.

I needed 4 main things to setup my studio: camera, lights, greenscreen and space. Continue Reading

  • Posted on August 23, 2011
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The Creative Gap: Becoming Better Than Most

Nick Campbell is a professional blogger, photographer and motion graphics artist. He has put hard work into plugins, presets and tutorials for his industries (that have been used by F.N mind you) and knows what it’s like to have an insatiable craving to improve at a creative output. In this hour long panel, Nick describes what he calls The Creative Gap; how it’s important to have and how to use it to become “better than most.”

Check the video and check his blog at greyscalegorilla.com

  • Posted on August 22, 2011
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Book Recommendation – Talent Is Overrated

I have never considered myself to be what some call a “natural talent.” In fact, while I’ve taken up many hobbies in my life (drawing, skating, DJ’ing, photography, videography and more), it’s my opinion that the reason I’ve stuck with dance for so long is because I’m not naturally good at it. Dance has been the most challenging undertaking of my life and I am succeeding at it where many of my fallen peers have failed. The question is: Why? If I’m not naturally gifted with the ability to dance, how do I go about improving, innovating and developing a unique expression?

Talent Is Overrated: What Separates World-Class Performers From Everybody Else looks to tackle that question and in my opinion, does it in the most admirable way possible. Where some might try to save face by saying they cannot succeed because they were not born with a gift, author Geoff Colvin aims to look deeper into the reasoning and evidence behind world-class performance in history.

Check out the synopsis and purchase link after the break.  Continue Reading

  • Posted on August 21, 2011
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Introducing – The F.N Studio

Two years ago I had an epiphany about dancing. I realized that we as dancers have historically had slim to no means of making our art tangible. Sculptors have wood and clay. Painters have canvas and walls. What do dancers have? A moment in space in time. Observable? Yes, but lasting only in memory.

Today we have a new champion. Cheap, readily available video recording equipment and a free and easy means to distribute the content created with them (Youtube, Vimeo, the Internet in general). The technology is here. The content is here. We have great dancers in our ranks. What is missing? Continue Reading