The Factory Dance

This is a dance that represents the repetitive, mind consuming labor that many factory workers endure, some times for years on end. Our group along with Katherine Mann's group paid tribute to them on July 22nd, 2009. We painted freakish red squares and various shapes around every one's eyes to emphasize the patterns that became the lives of many GM and other factory workers. The intensity in the space was so thick you could cut it with a knife as we payed homage and gratitude to the people who paved the way for industry and economic stability. While being filmed, we performed our calculated factory movements over and over again until the groups leaders "got the shot". To lighten the mood, we then changed the music and danced around and posed to the slamming lyrics of Beyonce and Missy Elliot songs.

-Curtis Brown

Tim and Clarissa

It was the kind of dance that is hot, spectacular, and amazing. Pas de deux- a dance between a two people. I thought it was phenomenal. The lovely Clarissa, and brilliant Tim performed to a very intimate electronic score by Thom Wilhem. It begins with them in an intimate embrace and transforms with twists, turns, and crazy run ups. I took part in filming it and you couldn't put a price on the sight of the beautiful dancing that took place before me. It was challenging trying to film every angle as they glided cross the space, but to witness such beauty as their performance is something that I will never forget.   

-A.C. Taylor

De'Narrow's Sweet 16 and slaying the Vermonster.

Our wonderful youth participant De'Narrow turned the ripe old age of sixteen yesterday July 22, 2009. We celebrated with Ben & Jerry's and collectively ate 20 scoops of ice cream, 4 ladles of hot fudge, 12 cookies, 4 bananas, 8 brownies, and a whole lot of shared germs.

Happy Birthday, De'Narrow!

A bunch of savages.

De'Narrow, disgusted.

Finger-lickin' good.

It was epic.

Being shapeless and formless, water flows freely and peacefully. Water allows itself to be controlled by gravity, but we as individuals strive to defy it. On Wednesday July 15, we did just that. Imagine water shooting from the earth beneath two youth participants as they dance in opposition to the motions, becoming foils to the essential liquid. 

Arriving at the RiverScape fountain, I was filled with emotions on the opposite ends of the spectrum: excitement, nervousness, and fear. I was excited to move and dance in the water, but my inexperience with the performing arts invoked some of my fear. Being an athlete and competitor, I felt I had the physical capabilities but not the skill or knowledge of dancing. After three hours of collaboration with our group and Lisa's group, 'The Fountain Dance' proved successful and was a great experience. That day was another example of what collaboration, practice, determination, creativity and fun can accomplish.

To me, your a work of art. Stay tuned for what else Blue Sky has in store. 

Thank you,

Youth Participant Chris Miskell 

Kenny Mosher/Man with the camera

Our wonderful Blue Sky Videographer/photographer extraordinaire, Kenny Mosher got these GORGEOUS shots of Rodney after the chaos of the flying paint. Enjoy. They are incredible!

The Paint Tango

Monday July 6, 2009 the groups of Rodney Veal and Katherine Mann got together at the Excelsior Building on East Sixth Street in the Oregon District in downtown Dayton, Ohio for the much awaited Paint Tango. Due to unfortunate events, Rodney's partner Clarissa couldn't make it for the performance, so he improvised as a solo dancer. We used rich and complimentary colors such as light blue, pink, purple and dark blue and the dance was choreographed to 'El Tango De Los Assassinos' from the Mr. & Mrs. Smith soundtrack. This performance was created by talented youth participants, student artists, and resident artists of the Blue Sky Project and shows what it looks like to be a dancer, painter, and artist. This is an amazing work of both performance art and a mural that will always be a part of our lives. I can't wait for everyone to see it in person.

See you at Excelsior!

-DeNarrow Brown

The Paint Dance

On Wednesday June 24, we created the infamous "Paint Dance." Think seven dancers, white jumpsuits, red bandanas, goggles, gallons upon gallons of latex house paint and a 30 foot pit inside of an empty warehouse. With a Jay-Z soundtrack.

Oh yes, it was fabulous.