TWWDTT is a one-act contemporary dance show set to the music of George and Ira Gershwin. It explores the romantic journey of 20- and 30-somethings today, and all the tongue-in-cheek and heartfelt angst that goes with it.
Why?
First, I've always loved old movie musicals, and that was one of my earliest ideals of romantic love. Secondly, there's something about those old love songs that still pulls at the heart of this 25-year-old living dating individual. I want to explore what is is about those old songs that holds our fascination some 75 years later, and how the paradigms of romantic love from a couple generations translate to our experience today. (Fred and Ginger's characters didn't tweet. You know?)
Project History
The project started in spring 2010 in Chicago, culminating in a first production in August 2010 at the Fasseas White Box Theatre at the Drucker Center. In January 2011 it made the leap to New York City - an excerpt was included in Dance New Amsterdam's Works-In-Progress series. Through the rest of 2011, TWWDTT saw workshops and showings in several venues around the city.
Kickstarted!
In October of 2011, TWWDTT was successfully funded through kickstarter.com. See the video and learn more here. The campaign was an incredible experience and it's the reason this project has come this far!
With a reduced cast of six women, TWWDTT had its first full-length showing at the end of October at Steps on Broadway. The showing was attended by backers, friends, former dancers, and was open to the public. The feedback from the showing was used for a choreographic process in January and served as a jumping off point for the next phase of the project.
New York Foundation of the Arts - Artspire
TWWDTT started 2012 with an acceptance into NYFA's Fiscal Sponsorship program through Artspire. This gives us access to grants and funding otherwise reserved for non-profit organizations. Sweet! Cue grant-writing and networking events. See our profile and learn more about the program.
The Process Continues
January 2012 brought an online survey and a blog full of workshopped bits for the show as an intentional practice. (See news.)
New York City Debut
TWWDTT was presented at Theatre80 St. Mark's on May 31st and June 1st, 2012. Video coming soon!