Hip Hop showing and workshop with David Sincere Aiken

TOPAZ ARTS is thrilled to present Queenz Finest David Sincere Aiken for an informal showing of his latest choreography and Hip Hop workshop. As one of TOPAZ ARTS’ early dance video projects back in 2001, we are proud to present this rising star, David Sincere who is back from Los Angeles, originally from South Jamaica Queens, to bring a taste of his new moves. David Sincere’s style is a fusion of NY Hip Hop, African and Reggae style dance topped off with a technical approach. Come for an informal showing and take a workshop as Sincere and Friends prepare for upcoming shows in April 2015.

Hip Hop with David Sincere Aiken

Sunday, March 22, 4pm

Free, suggested $10 donation encouraged

RSVP by email: rsvp@topazarts.org or on Facebook

For complete details, click here.

TOPAZ ARTS
55-03 39th Avenue, Woodside, Queens
(map and directions)

Topaz Arts and Bliss on Bliss rally support for the Philippines, November 30

Join Us Nov 30 to Support Typhoon Relief

TOPAZ ARTS, Inc. and Bliss on Bliss Art Projects co-present:

New photo show features portraits of New York dance artists

TOPAZ ARTS 

presents 

inAction: the Virtuosity of Presence

featuring New York-based 

choreographers and dancers

Sylvain Guenot, portrait photographer

Whitney V. Hunter, curator

July 7 through July 27
opening reception: TONIGHT Sunday, July 7 (6-9pm)

Viewing hours: Saturdays 12-4 or by request info@topazarts.org

inAction: the Virtuosity of Presence is a collection of portraits of dancers from the well-established professional to the emerging artist. Presented at TOPAZ ARTS, this project is created by UK-based portrait photographer Sylvain Guenot and curator Whitney Hunter, in collaboration with 40+ dancers & choreographers photographed. With the focus of photographing the young dancer to the established artist, portraits of a cross-section of the diverse NYC dance community were gathered through the network of dance artists during two recent visits to New York. Rather than photographing the dancers in performance, images of the artists were taken in private environments, taking great care in using minimal external elements as subtle tools for composition and artistic insight. Focusing solely on the presence of the dancer, this new series of large-format prints offers the viewer a window into the heart and mind of the artist.

Read more.

TOPAZ ARTS
55-03 39th Ave, Woodside, Queens
(map/directions)

Surveying Manila's contemporary art scene

Works from Bastards of Misrepresentation

TOPAZ ARTS will participate in presenting Bastards of Misrepresentation: New York Edition, curated by artist Manuel Ocampo, featuring 20 leading contemporary artists from Manila. In addition to the Woodside-based TOPAZ ARTS, hosts for this multi-venue exhibit, on view October 27 to December 30, include:

Queens Museum of Art/Partnership Gallery
Crossing Art in Queens
NYU Asian/Pacific/American Institute
Tyler Rollins Fine Art

Bastards of Misrepresentation is a show about the cultural scene happening in the Philippines yet is not a definitive show about Philippine art. The 20 artists included represent the “now” of contemporary art in Manila whose works entice and challenge perceptions. Many of the artists have been recognized by the country’s most prestigious awards from the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Artist Awards and the Ateneo Art Awards, and are establishing reputations in Europe, Australia, and Asia, while locally others are highly visible as performers in the underground art, performance and music scene. With an Asian Cultural Council award for the exhibition, TOPAZ ARTS has invited three of the artists from Manila — Yason Banal, Lena Cobangbang and Maria Jeona Zoleta — to participate as Artists-in-Residence, creating new works, site-specific installations and performances.

Artists

Poklong Anading, Yason Banal, Bea Camacho, Valeria Cavestany, Lena Cobangbang, Maria Cruz, Gaston Damag, Dex Fernandez, Arvin Flores, Dina Gadia, David Griggs, Robert Langenegger, Romeo Lee, Pow Martinez, Jayson Oliveria, Carlo Ricafort, Timo Roter, Gerry Tan, MM Yu, Maria Jeona Zoleta

For complete exhibition details, including artist information and a schedule for each venue, click here.

Dance in Queens wants you!

TOPAZ ARTS Space Exploration Dance Residency

TOPAZ ARTS announces a new open call for Dance in Queens 2012:

Space Exploration Dance Residency. Taking place at TOPAZ ARTS, this artist residency focuses on contemporary dance makers, offering choreographers concentrated time and a private space in which to explore new ideas.

Up to six choreographers will be selected to receive free rehearsal space at TOPAZ ARTS. Choreographers will each be awarded 30 hours during April to June 2012 (hours to be used within a one-month period). The intent of this residency is to support the creation process within a concentrated time, allowing choreographers a space in which to explore ideas or new working methods, with an opportunity to have informal open rehearsals or artist talks to discuss their findings of this space exploration among peers and audiences.

Choreographers from all five boroughs of New York City may apply. Also open to artists outside of NYC, but please note: there is no stipend, no travel and no housing provided. Choreographers will be chosen from a competitive application process and reviewed by a panel of professionals in the dance field on the basis of artistic merit, description of intent for the residency and video work samples. Awardees will be announced by mid-March.

Get full information and download an application here.

DEADLINE: Friday, MARCH 9 (Must be received by 11:59pm EST)

10*10*10: Celebrating TOPAZ ARTS

TOPAZ ARTS celebrates its 10th anniversary!

Includes performances by Monstah Black, Molissa Fenley & Dancers and Paz Tanjuaquio with a reading by Carl Hancock Rux, a film short by Todd Richmond

also literary luminaries Luis H. Francia, Queens Poet Laureate Paolo Javier
and the opening of a solo exhibition of new paintings by Roy Fowler

Hosted by Christalyn Wright

The event continues with DecadeDance! featuring music compilations by
guest DJs Bruce Tantum and Niles Ford

TOPAZ ARTS
55-03 39th Avenue
Woodside, Queens

Information and directions

Tickets

Solo in Queens

Yesterday, I attended Dance in Queens 2010: Solo Flight--a showing of works-in-progress developed at TOPAZ ARTS in partnership with the Queens Museum of Art. Hosted and introduced by TA's co-director Paz Tanjuaquio, the program featured solos choreographed by Dina-Verley Sabb-Mills, Ursula Eagly (danced by marvelous Lindsey Dietz Marchant) and Daniel Charon.

I won't review these unfinished pieces. (Charon considers his dreamy This Much I Do Remember "fairly finished, because in my life, I like to move on to other things.") But I will say that the entire event, including the Q&A, was gracious and enjoyable.  And I do want to introduce you to an interesting artist who was new to me. 

Dina-Verley Sabb-Mills, from Philadelphia, is an MFA graduate of Temple University. Her piece--A (happy) Life, set to music by Corrine Bailey Rae, Kanye West and Miles Davis--calls to mind something of the stylish stage presence, agility and vigor of Camille A. Brown but with an insightful psychological honesty and vulnerability that's all her own. Sabb-Mills demonstrates the near-impossible juggling act of coping with trauma while trying to live one's public life, putting on the public face day after day. Made after a period of grief, demanding change and disconnection from her dancing, this solo is really one hell of a way to come back. It represents a personal turning point, for sure, but if it also hints at the strengths she will bring out in the future, then keep watch. Here's her website and schedule of upcoming gigs.

Topaz Arts welcomes you to its Open House

TOPAZ ARTS celebrates nine years of providing a creative space for the performing and visual arts on Saturday, November 21, 4pm-8pm.

4pm: “Cabaret Solitaire,” a dance performance featuring solo works by choreographers Molissa Fenley, Nicholas Leichter, and Paz Tanjuaquio. Admission: $15. Seating is limited. Tickets at http://www.topazarts.org.

6pm: opening reception for “Footnotes For Revelation,” a solo exhibition of new work by visual artist Roger Rothstein. Free admission to the gallery after 6pm.

For full details on program and artists, click here or contact rsvp@topazarts.org or 718-505-0440.

Topaz Arts
55-03 39th Avenue
Woodside, Queens

Subways: #7 to 61 Street or R, V, G to Northern Boulevard

Topaz wants YOU!

Apply now for an opportunity to perform at TOPAZ ARTS:

TOPAZ ARTS collaborates with DanceNow/NYC in presenting a showcase for choreographers. This is a great way to share your work in a friendly and stress-free studio setting. For artists who have never been presented by DanceNOW, apply now for the chance to have your work seen and perform in the RAW Festival. Among five studios, TOPAZ ARTS will be presenting artists on Saturday, March 21st:

The RAW Festival
Five Studio Showcases
March 21 through April 12
Online Application Deadline: January 24, 2009

How To Apply: click here for more details. Online application

Queens' jewel

Paz Tanjuaquio, seen here performing in 2005 at Danspace Project, opens a new evening-length production tonight at Topaz Arts, her center in Woodside, Queens.

on the other side of silence--based on a 1952 manuscript by Yoko Ono and featuring dance, film, new music and interactive installations--will run through Sunday at 8pm.

Information and ticketing

How to boost your online presence

STAGE PRESENCE ONLINE

The Queens Council on the Arts invites you to a free workshop on September 25 (6-8:30pm) on tuning up your Web site and developing an effective presence on the Internet.

Location: Topaz Arts, 55-03 39th Avenue, Woodside, Queens.

Registration required; space is limited. Email your name, address, phone number and artistic discipline to mbouin@queenscouncilarts.org. A select number of performers' Web sites will be reviewed and evaluated at this workshop. To have your Web site reviewed include its URL in your registration.

Tanjuaquio speaks at Asian-American women's conference

Dance will be well represented by Paz Tanjuaquio--dancer-choreographer and co-founder of TOPAZ ARTS--on the Media, Visual and Performing Arts panel of the 2008 CUNY Conference on Asian-American Women, Friday, May 16. For complete details and registration information, here.

Free workshop in dances of the Raramuri

Tarahumara: Dances of the Raramuri Natives of the Sierra Madre, Northern Mexico

Special Free Workshop
Saturday, June 7 (12pm) and Sunday, June 8 (2pm)

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company researches the powerful, ritualistic dances of the Raramuri natives through a series of free workshops open to the public. The workshops will explore the history of a disappearing culture through their dances. With this knowledge, the company will develop a new choreographic work.

Workshop is free and will take place at TOPAZ ARTS at 55-03 39th Avenue, Woodside (Queens), New York. Space is limited. For further information, registration and directions, please call 718-507-2617 or email info@calpullidance.org or click here.

Queens Summer Residency for Choreographers

Call for Proposals for Dance in Queens: Summer Residency 2008

Deadline: April 25, 2008 (postmarked)

TOPAZ ARTS and Queens Museum of Art announce a call for artist proposals for the sixth annual Dance in Queens summer residency and performance series. Four choreographers will be selected from a competitive application process. Awardees will receive free rehearsal space, a stipend of $500 and a public presentation of their work at the Queens Museum. New this year, rehearsals will take place both within the galleries of the museum and at TOPAZ ARTS during June-August 2008. Choreographers from all five boroughs of New York City may apply.

Click here to download current guidelines and application form.

Application seminar & walk-through at the Queens Museum of Art
Saturday, March 22 (3:30pm) with Paz Tanjuaquio (Topaz Arts) and Hitomi Iwasaki (Associate Curator QMA)

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this free application seminar. This is an opportunity to tour the museum where rehearsals and performances will take place. The application process, review criteria, and questions will be covered. Learn how proposals can be strengthened and see the available galleries that can be used as a performance space. For directions to Queens Museum of Art, click here.

Dance in Queens residency began in Summer 2003 as a collaborative project between TOPAZ ARTS and Queens Museum of Art. Dance in Queens is funded, in part, by American Express, Independence Community Foundation, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

TOPAZ ARTS, Inc. founded in 2000 by artists Todd Richmond and Paz Tanjuaquio, fosters the creative process, producing new works and provides public programs for contemporary dance, new music and visual arts. TOPAZ ARTS maintains a 2,500 sq. ft. multidisciplinary arts center in Woodside, Queens which includes a dance rehearsal space, audio room, and gallery. Providing affordable space, technical support, residencies and presentation opportunities, TOPAZ ARTS enables artists to realize their projects and the process shared with audiences. For more info, click here.

The Queens Museum of Art was established in 1972 to provide a vital cultural center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the borough's unique, international population. The Queens Museum of Art is home to the Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335 square foot scale model of the five boroughs, and a collection of Tiffany glass from the Neustadt Museum of Tiffany Art. The museum presents changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art that reflect the area's cultural diversity. Click here for more information about upcoming exhibitions and events.

TOPAZ ARTS, Inc.
Co-Directors: Todd Richmond and Paz Tanjuaquio
ph/fax: 718.505.0440
info@topazarts.org