Alley 38 - An interactive theatre experience

Have you heard about Alley 38 yet? It's described as "a theatrical walking expedition through uncharted places," but we didn't fully grasp the idea until we actually went on the walk. Whoa, you guys. This is such a fun performance!

Conceived and produced by Artist's Laboratory Theatre (ALT), Alley 38 is part of the Artosphere Festival. ALT received an Artosphere Partner Grant to help bring the idea to life.

Patrons meet at the corner of Block and Spring street in Fayetteville (free parking at the meters after 5pm), and without giving too much away, are divided into two groups. There is a guide in each group, and you remain with them throughout the evening. Winding through the alleys of downtown Fayetteville, a story develops along the way and you find yourself anxious to find out "What is happening next??"

Here's a map of the area covered in Alley 38. While there is a lot of walking, there is plenty of stopping to rest along the way (sometimes you even get a chair!). There is also a brief (about 10min.) intercession where free drinks and snacks are offered.

Alley 38 runs through Sunday, May 27, and all performances begin at 7:30pm. At only $12/person, this is a perfect way to spend a spring evening discovering art, theatre and Fayetteville!

Alley 38 starting point

We need your help building a city!

Imagine...thousands of cardboard boxes, building assistants and the energy and creativeness of a child. The sky's the limit!

This Saturday, May 19, Polyglot Theatre is bringing their interactive program "We Built This City" to the Walton Arts Center stage for two shows; 11am-1pm & 3pm-5pm. Participants are welcome to come and go during the times that they purchase tickets. Tickets are $5 for kids & adults are FREE!

Children are encouraged to participate and help build cities on the Walton Arts Center stage. Polyglot Theatre provides building assistants to help guide the children through the construction process. They create an infrastructure, tunnels, alleys and more during the building activity. Then (we think this might be the most fun part) the kids get to knock it all down and do it AGAIN!

Just take a look at these photos, and you can see how much fun previous participants have had during "We Built This City."

photo by Ludovic des Cognets

photo by Ludovic des Cognets

Walton Arts Center has been gathering recycled boxes from our facilities as well as others to use for "We Built This City," which is a part of the Arts & Nature Festival, Artosphere.

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 3

Today we're finishing up our Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater. We have had so much fun getting to know more about this group of fascinating dancers, and we hope you have as well!

Diavolo will be performing two times this weekend; Friday, May 11 at 8pm and Saturday, May 12 at 8pm. As part of our 10x10 Arts Series, tickets to these performances start at only $10! We hope to see you here this weekend!

Photo by Kristi Khans

CaSon MacBride - dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

When referencing Diavolo... I tell them i'm apart of an acrobatic dance company. Similar to cirque du soleil but with a more contemporary dance feel. And then I usually pull out my iPhone and show them our demo video.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Nothing like watching really great classical ballet and smooth and groovin' first nations powwow dancing.  

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Bill Irwin 

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

Jumping from Column to Column.... looks difficult. Though getting into the piece is also difficult ;-)

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

If I absolutely couldn't perform... I'd direct or teach. Lead and grow performers. 

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

No breaks but my third day with Diavolo I received 7 stitches just below my knee because of a mishap on Traj (the boat piece). And once while rehearsing a site specific piece with another choreographer I dislocated my ankle.  

7. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

A teepee. I think it would compliment Diavolo's Dreamcatcher and also bring a cultural element to already great work. There are alot of pieces to a Teepee which would make for great props to make choreography.

The poles, the ropes, the canvas... and then there's the structure itself. The idea of living, dancing, playing on something that is created before your eyes I think would be amazing. Not a structure built before the show off stage behind the curtain; but a structure that the dancers have to discover piece by piece and manifest with an audience. 

8. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

My background is in American Indian Dance... I think in order to believe in the supernatural and the magic within everything you have to live in a surreal reality. Sherman Alexie... if you could consider his work surreal would be one. 

9. How does nature impact your artistic process?

Nature is inspiration, calm, home... you can't exclude yourself from nature. 

And nature is simple, unforgiving, fearless. You can distill anything that happens on stage, the life of a performance, to the simplicity of what is found in nature. When you remember that you can look for inspiration to play any role through how "nature survives".  

10. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

An aluminum water bottle that I refill as often as is convenient. Turn lights off when I leave (and TV's). Trying to not take advantage of food, resources, and energy while traveling just because someone else is buying. And I use the low flow flush on toilets when I go number 1. 

11. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Pizza & Yogurt... eaten separately.  

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 2

Yesterday we got to meet Jennifer Huffman, a dancer with Diavolo Dance Theater, and we learned that she thinks ice cream sandwiches are a healthy snack. Wait, you don't think they are? Shhh...don't tell Jennifer!

Today we're going back in to learn more about Shauna Martinez, Rehearsal Director, and Brandon Grimm, another dancer with the company.

Shauna Martinez - Rehearsal Director

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

Acrobatic dance company, flying and flipping off of very large structures similar to Cirque

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Contemporary/ modern

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Sabrina Vasquez

4. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Ultrasound technician or something with exercise science/ massage therapy

5. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Not broken, sprained yes.

6. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

hmmm... the challenge of performing on a revolving field would be interesting.

7. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

Jacques is pretty surreal at times... my spectrum of influence is very large.

8. How does nature impact your artistic process?

Weather influences the style or dynamic of my movement. 

9. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

Working with purpose, and finding moments and places of relaxation and rejuvenation. Lots of laughing and great friends!

10. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Love orange juice! Roasted pepper hummus with pita bread

Photo by Kristi Khans

Brandon Grimm - Dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

We are an acrobatic dance company that uses really large set pieces and structures. We play a lot with shapes within a space and movement patters in, on, and around the structures and stage. We are mostly closely compared to Cirque du Soliel, but on a much smaller scale.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Anything highly synchronized with pattern and formation changes. Cedar Lake's "Violet Kid" does an amazing job at this. I highly recommend it! 

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Coming from a Fashion design background, I'm really inspired by art deco designers such as Erté, as well as works from Alfonse Mucha and the Art Nouvear era.

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

The entire thing... After being given a video to study my track, of an almost 30 minute piece, it was really confusing to map my character. It became easier once we were in rehearsals, physically on the structure.

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Funny enough, I actually resigned from a high profile fashion design position to pursue my life as a professional dancer. I made it 51 weeks (1 week shy of a year) in that corporate job and realized I wasn't happy sitting in front of a desk wasting 15 years of training and performing as a dancer. So I quit...

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Never while Performing, no... But I did step on a screw (used to secure taps to tap shoes) in the middle of a piece. Luckily those screws are short and the sole in my jazz shoe was thick. No toes were injured...

7. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

I'd have to say... Paint... But I'd like to do it on large ramp, similar to a photographer's seamless paper, but something we could run up and splash around in. 

8. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

Surrealist artists, not so much. But currently I have an obsession with sculptor Richard McDonald. His workmanship in itself is surreal in the nature that, it's unfathomable how much life, detail, and character he puts into each work. His main focus is on the human form: physical artists and athletes in dance, gymnastics, and circus Arts. And as a dancer and performer, I am always inspired by the human form.

9. How does nature impact your artistic process?

I love nature! My favorite getaway is Alaska. Pristine, untouched terrain, covered in trees, glaciers, waterfall, and animals has always inspired me artistically. Architect, Frank Lloyd Wright is always taking inspiration from surrounding terrain and blending his architecture beautifully. Whether its allowing a natural creek to flow undisturbed though the middle of a house, or building a home directly over a waterfall I aspire to work as seamlessly with nature as Wright. I prefer not to disturb nature; but embrace is beauty and strength for inspiration.

10. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

Sadly, I don't live as sustainably as I would like as it's extremely expensive. I would love to have a fully solar home that relies not on an electric company, but soley on the power of the sun. In the mean time though, I have a reusable plastic Starbucks cup that I get refilled everyday. :-)

11. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Fresh cut mango... 

Thanks Shauna and Brandon! Check back in with us tomorrow as we finish up our Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater just in time for their first show on Friday, May 11! They'll be performing on Saturday, May 12 as well. Tickets to both shows are only $10, and from the looks of these photos it's going to be quite a show!

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 1

This week we have the brilliant Diavolo Dance Theater in our hall. Diavolo means "the day I learned to fly." Isn't that just the most wonderfully magic name you've ever heard? This 10-member dance company is made up of dancers, gymnasts and actors who deliver large-scale interdisciplinary performances that examine the funny and frightening ways individuals behave within their environment.

They will be in-residency for the week traveling to local schools to work with students, performing as part of our Colgate Classroom Series, and even instructing a Masterclass for people ages 14 and up. They will reach over 2,000 individuals in classroom and community settings this week. We are so lucky to have them in Northwest Arkansas!

Photo by Rose Eichenbaum

Diavolo is also part of our 10x10 Arts Series, and you know we love to grill them about the work they're doing so we can share it with you! Read below to find out a little bit more about the members of this interesting group that are spending the week in our community. Today we're talking with Jennifer Huffman, but come back tomorrow for more with some of the other company members!

Jennifer Huffman - Dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

I scare them. They aren't expecting what they get sometimes, so in a good way I believe it scares them.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Raw, athletic dancing

3.Who is your artistic icon?

I've never had one. There are many people I look up to for guidance; those that have taught me & continue to teach me.

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

The first complete run-through we did, I was soooo exhausted at the end of the first half that I thought there was no way I could do an entire second half. But, I did... :)

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Veterinarian

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Possibly...

7. If you could incorporate an object or structure into a performance, what would it be and why?

I have always enjoyed climbing and playing on anything. I have never been afraid of heights, and love to fly through the air, so anything I can jump off of, do a handstand on, climb, slide, crawl or bounce on would be fun for me!

8. Diavolo is performing during our Artosphere Festival, which focuses on arts, nature & sustainability. How does nature impact your artistic process?

The different seasons put me in different moods, and therefore effect how I work that day, or what I decide to create when I do.

9. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

I do what I want to do. Dance to the beat of my own drum, and find something that makes me laugh everyday!

10. What is your favorite healthy snack?

A tie between avocados and ice cream sandwiches. :)