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Andrew Nemr

Artist // Speaker

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A Response to Veritas

May 4, 2020 By Andrew

Last month Veritas forum facilitated a wonderful conversation by three artists around the theme of lament and creativity. Makoto Fujimura (visual artist), Lecrae (musician), and Alissa Wilkinson (writer), engaged in a discussion instigated by this quote from Andy Crouch:

“…lament is the seed of creativity. It’s the seed of genuine creative action.”

I am an admirer of the speakers, and have been honored to be a collaborator with Makoto Fujimura. This response is meant as a further offering to the conversation from the perspective of a dancer.

The time that we are currently in has profoundly affected our beings. COVID-19 has changed our entire context by threatening our bodies. Our physical relationship with our environment and one another has been dramatically changed, and limited. Alissa Wilkinson mentioned in passing, “We are not beings without bodies.” However our culture seems to affirm this truth less and less.

Dancers are uniquely equipped to speak to our physical nature. Our practice trains us to be highly aware of our bodies. In the best of cases, we develop a healthy relationship with our bodies, as we learn how to embody and share stories through virtuosic technique. As a tap dancer of more than 35 years, there are a few specific things that I’d like to share that I hope will add to this conversation.

Much of our present culture has relegated “dance” to either the stage or the club. While a few successful subcultures remain that have local dance traditions, our popular culture is almost completely commercialized. We consume someone else’s dancing, or learn the latest fad dance (electric slide, Macarena, the Toosie Slide). It’s easy to see then why sedentary lifestyles are prevalent. We lack daily movement unless our work demands it. Some of the things I’m going to share would be ingrained in us if we had a culture that danced.

First, it is important to acknowledge that dance is an ephemeral art form. It happens and then it is gone. Other forms (painting, drawing, photography, film, etc.) leave an artifact by their nature, and have even been used to document dance. Some dance has been created for the express purpose of being seen through film, but at its core, dance is a time- and space-based art form. The artifact of a particular dance lives on in the bodies of the dancers, and the memories of all those in attendance for that particular moment – nothing else. This is not unlike other live forms (especially those that incorporate improvisation). Jazz music comes to mind. The difference here is that music has had a longer history of being recorded (and industrialized for the market) than dance. The industry of dance requires the dancer to be present, and to dance, otherwise there is no product. Without the combination of dancer(s), space, and audience, there is no dance industry. There is no shared experience of dance. Once the moment is done, we celebrate having been a part of it, but mourn the fact that it will never be replicated. This is a natural part of the dancer’s process. We know how to lament.

When the mandates to self-quarantine, to distance, and ultimately shelter in place, were handed down, dancers lost everything. Every live venue, every dance school (at least for a time), and every way of communal training, was gone. More so, many dancers don’t live in a space that could accommodate their own movement (and sound, for the tap dancers). Our rehearsal studios are designed for running and leaping and training a body to fill a space much larger than itself. The idea of sheltering in place for a dancer is like putting a wild gazelle in a cage. The danger here is that over time the gazelle will forget its gazelle-ness. Having been acclimated to the cage, it will think that it was designed for stillness, or worse, for others to take pictures of it as a representative of its former self.

What of lament?

A dancer trains their body for a particular amount of exertion of energy per day, and a particular relationship with themself and their surroundings. The amount of care we put towards tending to our body is on par with most athletes. Yet, our craft is fundamentally that of story-telling. Our movement is tied to the emotions of the story. We are integrated beings. We process things physically, and share that physicality for others to bear witness to it – ultimately to feel a part of it. After all, we are of one body.

The experience of dance in a live setting is dramatically different to that on film. This holds true from the performers’ perspective and that of the audience. The feeling and the energy are different. The ability to share in that live experience is now gone. All experiences are now mediated through technology. The flatness of the screen extends to a flattening of the experience. I hope we don’t forget what the live experience was like.

Dancers will lament our personal practice, our communal practice, and of course, the final sharing on a stage. Our bodies will ache for the space to run and leap and make noise, by ourselves, and then again with our friends. We will search for ways to stay ready for the time when we can return without going to a gym or studio. We will search for ways to care for our colleagues, our communities, our crafts, and our audiences.

As we have seen, many dance studios have gone to online video calls, dancers have taken to instagram to run class, and organizations have mobilized to offer support (mental, financial, and emotional). Some of these are admittedly market shifts through economic pressures. But what of the more personal shifts? I wonder how many dancers will suffer for lack of movement? How many will find ways to give their dancing to new audiences (not just those who are technologically connected)? How many will turn, or rather re-turn, their dancing into prayer?

Dancers understand the limited nature of the body. While we often do the unimaginable, we do it within the context of our limited bodies. We have to know our limits, otherwise injury is waiting in the wings. This limited approach to craft is an analogue to localized experiences. Not every country in the world is on lockdown, not every individual will have the same story coming out of this. It is important to remember that just as each of us has a unique physical body, we will each have a unique story, and they are all important. The cultural trend towards globalism (consolidated governance, markets, and stories) does not often affirm the local. Dancers have no choice – we exist in both the limitations of bodies and geography, and the seemingly limitless global ideal.

Lastly, a word on the predisposition of western societies towards linear thinking. Dancers are not linear. We are embodied and multi-dimensional. We exist in all our emotion, thoughts, movement, and imagination. While a dance happens across time, the dancer exists fully in every moment. This is true for all of us, for we are all embodied. That means that our experience of grief in this time will not be linear (neither will our experience of joy). We will not go through the cycles one at a time in an organized line, checking them off as we complete each one. Emotions are embodied. Like popcorn, they will interrupt our day. We will need to go through them as they pop up. We will need to learn how to move through our emotions as we move through our day. We will all need to learn to dance a little.

In this case the dance isn’t a series of steps that you learn to do, one by one in sequence. The dance is a way. It is a kind of movement that has a certain quality that is unique to each dancer. It encapsulates and expresses their voice, what they are experiencing, and how they are sharing it. As Christians we have someone who said, “I am the way,” in Jesus. He had a certain quality in the way He moved on this earth. His voice, what He experienced, and how He shared it are our guides. Not in a step by step list, but as an embodied, multi-dimensional, experience.

When it comes to embodiment, I’m not so worried about the dancers. We have the tools necessary to care for our bodies, and move through our emotions. My hope is that in the midst of our confinement, our societies will not forget what it means to move, and that we need to move. The magnitude of this shift is not about the products, the shift of economies or markets, or even the change in the arts. It is the shaking up of our lifestyle, our culture, and the way we embody what we believe. What if this shaking up allowed us to re-orient, re-commit, and more fully embody a way of caring for our colleagues, our communities, our crafts, and those we can reach relationally, that will outlast our current context?

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Filed Under: What's New

Tap Dance – Al Heyward

April 2, 2020 By Andrew

I’m writing this here so that whomever writes the book of tap dance history during this period will have a resource other than the immense number of facebook posts to go through. As is my habit, I will gloss over the commercial and deal more specifically with the first hit to the tap dance community that “RONA” (as my ER doctor friend likes to call it) has dealt us.

From an observer and practitioner’s vantage point, it has been wonderful to see tap dancers rally. Dancers have gone to every platform possible to teach free online classes. Entire dance schools have transitioned to online learning. The first global tap jam was held by the London Tap Jam, and the DC Tap Fest became the first ever exclusively online tap dance festival. There will surely be more. Folks are communicating like never before and that can be a good thing.

Now for the harder news. Two days ago it was announced that Al Heyward passed away. The announcement was short. I heard it through a facebook message. Complications from COVID-19.

This is the first thought I had: Who in the tap dance world today knows who Al Heyward is?

I’m going to do a horrible job of summarizing Al’s impact on the tap dance community from memory here (please search for more information as it becomes available). Summarizing Al’s life is not my goal. My aim is to offer a glimpse as to the impact he had on me as a young dancer coming up in the scene in NYC in the 1990s.

Al was tall. A towering figure, especially for me. I was a short preteen when I first met him. Al had a soft voice. You know the kind. It was so soft it made me would make you wonder what “angry” would sound like coming from him, or if “angry” existed at all for such a person. It did, don’t worry. Al was fully human, and I’m getting ahead of myself.

Al Heyward was one of the quintessential fans of tap dance. He enjoyed being around the art form (and the people) so much, that he dedicated a solid portion of his life to making sure that the craft was celebrated. He did this through his work on the New York Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day and the production of the annual Tap Extravaganza®.

The Tap Extravaganza® exudes different feelings for different people. For me, it was one of the best full community gatherings. Imagine, as I remember it, anywhere from 700 to 1200 tap dance enthusiasts (practitioners, celebrities, fans, family, and friends) of all ages gathering to celebrate a select few. Recognized leaders and up-and-comers would honor their elders – those selected that year to receive the Flo-Bert Award.

I make note of the award, as it was named after two performing artists who may be lesser known in the tap dance community but no less important to our history. Check out Florence Mills and Bert Williams when you have a chance.

Back to Al. My experiences with him were always wrapped in a graciousness that dispelled the responsibilities he carried. He co-chaired the committee to select the honorees, produced the annual awards show (and sometimes two shows a year), all while working a full-time day job. That is an accomplishment to be acknowledged. He seemed to keep his sanity and soft touch in the midst of most it, too. As someone who got a break performing at the Tap Extravaganza® (1998, in honor of Bunny Briggs), and produced and directed the show (2011, on behalf of the Tap Legacy™ Foundation) I tip my hat to you, Al.

I wouldn’t consider Al a show business cat. I would consider him a people business cat. When he asked my how I was doing, he wanted a real answer. When he asked me what I was up to, he was genuinely curious. When I fell out of touch with dancers from my own generation I could count on Al to share important community news with me. He cared about the connections. He cared about the community.

My first image of Al will always be in his tuxedo, dressed and ready to host the annual Tap Extravaganza® (he wore it even if he wasn’t hosting out of respect for the honorees), but that isn’t quite right. More important are the memories I have of his kindness, thoughtful opinions, and support of the people in our community.

I’ll miss you.

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Filed Under: What's New, Writing

Some Ideas and Resources for times with COVID-19

March 13, 2020 By Andrew

Updated, March 16th, 8:38pm PT.

The world is shifting to adapt to the spreading of COVID-19. Many are affected. Below is a list of ideas and resources that I’ve compiled here so that we can help support one another as we all discover the way forward.

Artist’s Services Mutual Aid List

This is a list I’m putting together of artists who are offering services that still work during times of social distancing and/or quarantine.

  • Sign Up Here: https://forms.gle/Mhi1mESvqgeuSRxr6
  • Visit the List Here: http://asmal.mystrikingly.com/

Ideas

Here are a bunch of thoughtful ideas that began with a post from my dear friend Priya Darshini.

Musicians, performing artists, and other self-employed and freelance folks are taking a huge hit during this time. Here are a few ways to support them:

  • Buy their music online and from their websites
  • Subscribe to their channels
  • Request private concert for you and your family (live streamed!?!) and pay the artists well.
  • Commission them for new works.
  • Pay them for cancelled gigs if you are able to.
  • ASK THEM TO SET UP A TIP JAR (Venmo or Paypal) and just send them money ($1, $5, $10) – we don’t have to be transactional during this time.

A lot of amazing folks are currently working on ways to support artists at this time. Reach out to them and see how you can help. Here are a few:

  • Amanda Palmer
  • Gene Sxip Shirey
  • Bill Bragin
  • The Great Discontent

The people who will get hit the most are folks who can’t afford to stay home. It’s a privilege if we can afford to stay in. There are people working jobs, risking themselves to all kinds of viruses all the time and this time is no different for them. Please find a way to support them. Here are some ways to begin:

  • Share your groceries
  • Drop off needed items, if they’re having to be at work.
  • Share your hand sanitizers since you can stay home and wash your hands!
  • Make extra food to give away

Do you have extra resources. Were you one of the folks who stocked up early. Remember that your readiness can be a support to others. Consider sharing some of your extra stock with neighbors who a currently in need.

More Ideas

If you are in an area where businesses have had to close or restrict services. Here are some ways to support:

  • Buy their gift cards
  • Buy their merchandise (think T-shirts from your local restaurant)

If you are a business and have access to buying household essentials in bulk, you can become a resource for your community and neighbors. Remember, please do not price gouge.

Resources and Lists

  • FindHelp.org – it does just what it says.
  • Template for artists to track lost revenue.
  • Here’s a website that’s compiling resources for freelance artists.
  • And another huge repository of resources.
  • And yet another huge repository of resources.
  • A huge resource for Multi-lingual needs re: COVID-19
  • A List from Dance.nyc for the New York City dance community

Distance Learning Resources

  • Here’s a helpful document for those of us being thrust into distance learning through video conferencing.
  • Three documents from Katie Friedman
    • Preparing Students for distance learning
    • Distance Learning Curriculum Unit Template
    • A Social Story to help students process the change of school closures.

How-To’s

  • Make a poster of your favorite song lyrics to help you remember how long to wash your hands.
  • A guide to develop a Neighborhood Aid Network (the other thing that is needed when social distancing/isolation is enforced) from Harvard Medical School.

Free Music

  • Here you can enjoy the Berlin Philharmonie for free with their digital concert hall.
  • Enjoy The Metropolitan Opera as they stream live for FREE every night, March 16-22.
  • Korg and Moog offer FREE MUSIC APPS

More Events

  • The Social Distancing Festival – ongoing
  • Reimagine – Social Isolation Breaks – in development
  • COVID FEST – March 28th

Ways of Support

  • A list of ideas to support the Seattle Creative community – a good reminder to think local.
  • A resource list by Kevin Adler (Miracle Messages) to coordinate those who have with those who need, specifically supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness.
  • A brand new Artist Relief Fund that started on Facebook. This just closed, but you could start your own!
  • Artist micro-grants.
  • Announcement of healthcare support for Artists in the U.S.

Additional Information

  • Why COVID-19 Spreads Exponentially – Washington Post.
  • A thoughtful TED Talk about COVID-19 and healthcare systems.
  • A TED Interview about the model for the spread of COVID-19.
  • A thoughtful daily coronavirus update podcast.
  • A short paper by Nassim Nicholas Taleb on Risk and COVID-19.
  • An interesting article on the History of Pandemics.

Impact Surveys to Fill Out

  • Vancouver Performing Artists – https://www.gvpta.ca/covid19_survey
  • New York City Dancers – http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5497557/Coronavirus-Impact-Survey

If you have a resource or idea you’d like me to add to this list, please send it here.

If you’d like to support me during this time check out three ways here.

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Filed Under: What's New

Tap Dance Freedom – Change of Dates

May 6, 2019 By Andrew

Sometimes you have to realize when you’ve put too much on the plate. When I realized that I’d be directing the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival, performing Rising to the Tap, and teaching the Tap Dance Freedom Summer Intensive all at in the same week I had an epiphany. In case there was something I could.

The dates of the Tap Dance Freedom Intensive are moving – now Sept 2nd-6th – so that I can be at my best for all the participants in the room, and participants can take full advantage of all the VanTap Festival happenings the week before.

// Learn more about the intensive
// Apply Now!

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Tap Dance Freedom Participants – Special Announcement

April 26, 2019 By Andrew

If you were at the Stockholm Tap Dance Festival, you might have heard the news by word of mouth, but here it is officially. Every participant in the 2019 Tap Dance Freedom Intensive will receive a FREE advance copy of Andrew’s upcoming book.

The Tap Dance Freedom Intensive Swag Bag has been known to be filled with some unique items for the tap dancer – Vacuum sealed thermoses, Moleskine journals, instructional DVDs, and more. The addition of Andrew’s new book makes for just one more reason to apply to participate!

// Learn more about the intensive
// Apply Now!

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Tap Dance Days in Vancouver

April 26, 2019 By Andrew


Since moving to Vancouver I’ve had the amazing opportunity to begin hosting community events at the VanTap Cultural Arts Center. This coming May we’re celebrating Tap Dance Day with three weeks of events! Everything from workshops and community conversations to tap jams and performances. Check out the list below for everything that I’ll be involved in:

May 4th – Shim Sham Workshop // Register

May 4th – Celebrate Uncle Bo // RSVP

May 11th – Community Conversation // RSVP

Find out about all the events here.

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Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: Event Announcement, Tap Dance Day

Tap Dance Freedom Applications Open!

March 30, 2019 By Andrew

August 26-30

Andrew’s one week summer intensive is moving from NYC to Vancouver this year. Participants will experience over 40 hours of training and activities. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to take part in the events of the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival which is running the same week! But first you have to apply.

Visit the Tap Dance Freedom website for more information or Apply Today!

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Filed Under: Education, What's New

2019 Teaching Tour

March 25, 2019 By Andrew

I get super excited about opportunities to teach. They are opportunities to share experiences in the craft and witness learning in action. Two things I really enjoy doing. In addition to regular classes in Vancouver, here what’s in store for 2019:

Stockholm Tap Fest // April 2019
Dancelife Teacher Conference // July 2019
Tap On Barcelona // July 2019
Tap Dance Freedom // August 2019
Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival // August 2019

See you in the shoes!

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