Artist in Residence & Project RETROGRADE

We have accepted our first Artist in Residence, a very talented up and coming photographer Jenna Gard (see bio below). She will be the starting point in RETROGRADE, working with concept/choreographer Robin Lynn Simpson to create the first collaborative performance piece to be presented at the Fundraising Gala this late summer/early fall. We are still looking for more artists for [this piece] the piece RETROGRADE. Still in needed of: writer, musicians/musical director, and acting coach/director. Please submit your resume and sample of work to robin.simpson@surgeinitiative.com RE: retrograde application

RETROGRADE iArtists in Residence will work a typical creative process in reverse starting with a photographic storyboard. The storyboards will then be passed to a writer who will develop dialogue, then on to a choreographer whose dance will ultimately be set with an original score, and finally completed with stage direction. In this unique approach we hope to open new doors and inspire creativity among up and coming artists.

Photographer/Artist in Residence: Jenna Gard is feeling fine in 2009, and it's extremely excited to be a part of the SURGE crew! Currently a student of photography at Marymount Manhattan College and International Center of Photography, she will be graduating in 2010. Hailing from Sarasota, Fl., her background is in a multitude of things, ranging from the visual fine arts to technical theatre and stage managing, and the prospect of constant collaboration is something she enjoys in being able to push her art further. She has been the recipient of the Disney Dreamers and Doers Award, a NFAA youngARTS Award, and has recently had her work show in a number of small shows featuring herself and her peers. Thank you to everyone who has gotten her to where she is, and everyone who will take her to where she is going. "New art should not arouse hostility among the learned, but does, and alas always will." -Alan Ginsberg

Outreach Programs Offered in our 2009-11 Seasons

I. Brainstorm Forum

Artists today are met with increasingly prohibitive expenses with regard to securing rehearsal and performance venues; for this reason, they lack opportunities to expose developing work to trial audiences for the purpose of gaining feedback.

Once a month SURGE will be offering a no-fee forum for artists, particularly emerging artists, to show works-in-progress to an invited audience of SURGE Board Members and established artists in related fields. Brainstorm Forum will be held in NYC. Location and start date TBA.

Population to be served: Artists of any performance-related discipline including, but not limited to, music, dance, writing, set design, video, etc… who would benefit from the opportunity to show and gain feedback on work-in-progress.


If interested in participating please submit an email to info@surgeinitiative.com with the following information:

Name:
Artistic Medium:
Title of Piece:
Short description of piece:
If additional performers are needed, what is the total head count for your piece including your self?
Please list items or props you will be bringing:
Will you need a sound system for your piece?
Email:
Phone:
Web-site:
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II.Class Card Scholarship Award

The cost of open-enrollment arts classes, a source of ongoing education critical to artists and aspiring artists, is prohibitively expensive. Recipients will be awarded a 10-class card to be utilized in an intensive period of arts study. SURGE staff will work with the recipient to formulate a schedule of classes that will expose the artist to new styles and/or disciplines.

Population to be served: New-to-the-arts individuals, and aspiring/professional artists who have financial difficulties affording open-enrollment arts classes in New York City.

For more information on The Class Card Scholarship Program please email us at info@surgeinitiative.com

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III. Master Class Series

High-quality performing arts instruction is prohibitively expensive for many community members and dancers; master classes currently offered are limited in diversity of styles, levels and philosophies. SURGE Performance Initiative offers The Master Class Series, which exposes artists and community members of all backgrounds and ages to high-quality performing arts training in a spectrum of styles at low or no cost. All members of the general public are welcome to participate, from beginning to professional skill levels. Classes will be held in New York City.

The Master Class Series will offer six no-fee, two-hour performing arts classes once a week for six weeks. Each class will be open-enrollment. Each series will highlight one specific style (ex. world dance, jazz theory, contemporary theory, musical theater, performance art, etc…). A different master instructor will teach each class. There will be a suggested donation of $10 (optional but not required). Each series will be video documented for assistance in future funding opportunities.

For more information on The Master Class Program please email us at info@surgeinitiative.com
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Licenses On The Way. YES!

In two-three weeks we will officially be 501(3)(c). Yes that's right, Non-For-Profit. The state has received our application and is "in process". WOW this is exciting. Stay updated and receive email updates on our blog posts. Please set up a subscription as well as becoming a follower. This way you wont miss a beat of this exciting endeavor.

Our Mission

Mission Statement

SURGE Performance Initiative seeks to unite people of all backgrounds in study and celebration of multi-disciplinary performance art; the organization is committed to strengthening culture in our community by promoting collaboration between artists of different disciplines and providing for the formation of new work.

Organizational Overview

SURGE Performance Initiative (hereafter referred to as “SURGE”) was organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and artistic purposes. Specifically, SURGE is dedicated to building interdisciplinary collaboration in the performing arts. SURGE maintains that drawing together individuals’ skills from distinct disciplines and cultures supplies insight into our self and others, nurtures new means of expression, strengthens arts culture, and connects us more deeply to our shared humanity.

SURGE programming serves three core interest areas: education, community outreach, and performance.

Setting Our Foundation

I would like to announce the Board of Directors for the 2009-11 season of SURGE Performance Initiative. Bios soon to come.

Robin Lynn Simpson*
President
Artistic Director

Aleca Borsuk
Secretary
Project Supervisor


Cassie Bednall
Treasurer
Youth Development

We would like to acknowledge our Web Designer/Manager Brendan McNerney, who is in the initial stages of setting up the site. We would also like to thank our wonderful panel of volunteers that took part in our first official brainstorming session. Many great things will come of your ideas and feedback.

* implies an active member in Actor's Equity Association

Getting the Ball Rolling

SURGE Performance Initiative

Mission Statement: to provide unique performance and education opportunities, while uniting performing and multi-media artists to collaborate in the creative process.

Welcome to the very first post SURGE Performance Initiative, We are in the initial stages of developing a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit Performing Arts Company. Check in weekly to keep up to date on our progress. We are still in the application phase for certifing our 501(c)(3). This weekend is our first brainstorming session, which is quite exciting.

We see many opportunities within this program to offer education opportunities to the community. The goal of this program is to offer a collaborative environment for creating new works and education opportunities. And although the name: SURGE Dance Theatre, may just imply a dance company, We are looking for creative types of all artistry. Writers, Directors, Vocal Directors, Actors, Visual & Technical Artists as well.

We will soon be announcing our Creative Team & Sponsors. We will be launching the first phase of our web-site and begin setting up our fundraiser hopefully to be held late spring/early summer 2009.

Keep up to date by subscribing to this blog.

Tallyho,

SURGE Perfromance Initiative