(Was)Daily Dances

Wash Your Time

2012-01-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

I am very happy with this excerpt as an example of what I consider "good" improvisation. What does that mean? "Good" improvisation? For me some of the hallmarks of successful improvisation are:

1)Responsivity: when something happens we take it into the improvisation. We do not shut things out or down (a choice the other improvisor makes, a sound from outside the room, etc)..... we integrate.... we "yes" things. We find the sense in what occurs.

2)Immediacy: there is not a delay in our responses. We allow our intuitive response to come into action without pausing or blocking to analyze. We trust our experience and innate knowledge of composition to organize our response(s).

3)We are improvisors, not a dancer and a musician. I think it is essential to consider yourself an "improvisor" not a dancer or musician or actor if you are improvising. I believe those labels block our abilitiy to respond in an honest way. We are trapped in the definition of our role. As an improvisor, everything is at your fingertips. One is not limited to movement or sound or text. (What is important though is to know what medium you are able to work in with some level of control... going out of your medium and out of control is not "good improvisation".

4)Changes of Leadership: I enjoy this clip because I feel Jane and I take turns leading, following/supporting, working in simultaneous solo and duet. There is seamless movement and transition between these roles.

**** I have many other things to say about what is happening when improvisation is really cooking. This is just a small commentary on why I like this particular clip.

Thanks for watching and reading !!!

Thursday Night Improvisation Class at Green Street Studios

2012-01-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

Liz Roncka teaches Movement Improvisation

Thursday Nights in January
7:30-9pm $15
No pre-registration required

Green Street Studios
185 Green St.
Cambridge,MA

This class is open to everyone and anyone interested in increasing his or her creativity, awareness, sensitivity and responsivity to the environment. We approach improvisation as a performance form and cultivate our skills in movement invention and instant composition. However, we remain conscious that all of life is an improvisation. The skills we build in class are applicable to all parts of our lives... inside and outside of the studio. Come explore.

*last class January 26th

1612a

2012-01-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

Improvised Movement by Liz Roncka
January 2012
Cambridge,MA USA

Galerie G

2012-01-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

Christophe Delerce
Liz Roncka

November 2011

Galerie G
Paris, FRANCE

Excerpt 2: You Go Yours

2012-01-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

Christophe Delerce
Liz Roncka

November 2011

CANALDANSE
Paris,FRANCE

Did You Call Your Lover?

2012-01-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

Christophe Delerce
Liz Roncka

November 2011

CANALDANSE
Paris,FRANCE

MementoMori

2012-01-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

Performed by Liz Roncka
Original Music by Christophe Delerce
October 2011
Mobius
Cambridge,MA USA

Sunday Morning with Slide Guitar

2011-09-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

Improvised Movement: Liz Roncka
Improvised Sound: Mateo Lugo
Video shot 9/25/11

PS and DH

2011-08-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

Improvised duet at Mobius on 8.19.11 in Cambridge, MA.
Liz Roncka and CD/DH.

Bastardization

2011-08-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Improvised solo by Liz Roncka in studio setting.

Frank & Jane: Au Revoir Harrison Avenue

2011-08-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Final performance in Mobius' former location on Harrison Avenue.
Excerpt from an improvised duet with Jane Wang and Liz Roncka.

Frank & Jane

2011-08-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

Improvised performance with Jane Wang (bass/vox) and Liz Roncka (movement/text); June 2011.

Family Man

2011-08-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal with Jane Wang (bass/vox) and Liz Roncka (movement/vox); June 2011.

March 18, 2011

2011-04-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Haggai Cohen Milo (bass)
Amir Mistein (flute)
Liz Roncka (movement)
Christophe Delerce (movement)

*if no image is obvious, simply click space above text and video will play.

Zeroplan: 37

2011-04-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Spring Equinox Performance at Mobius

2011-04-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

And You are Full ... of Desire

2011-03-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

Haggai Cohen Milo (bass), Amir Milstein (flute), Christophe Delerce and Liz Roncka

Movement/Sound Improvisation

2011-03-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

Movement/Sound Improvisation with Haggai Cohen Milo (bass), Amir Milstein (flute), Christophe Delerce and Liz Roncka.

neptune sun

2011-03-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

Improvised solo to music by Boston-based band Neptune.

Liz Roncka's 20x20 Presentation for Pecha Kucha 21 Boston

2011-03-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

47

2011-01-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

Improvised solo by Liz Roncka presented at the Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn, NY on January 22, 2011. Music by Christophe Delerce.

smashing

2011-01-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

An improvised piece created at Mobius on January 7, 2011. Video by Sara June. Cello by Jane Wang.

nuknotwear

2011-01-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

Video/Set/Movement/Text: improvised by Liz Roncka
Music: Max Lord electronix

silentfloorsolo

2011-01-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

Improvised duet with floor. 12/30/10. Video by Olivier Besson. Movement: Liz Roncka.

ithinkiminlove

2010-11-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Improvisation in a square of sunlight....Studio 3 at the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA USA on 11/1/10.

la mort/l'amour

2010-11-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

Improvisation by Liz Roncka performed in Seance at Mobius on 10/31/10.

la mort/l'amour from liz roncka on Vimeo.

Autobiographie 10.15.10

2010-10-15T21:18:00.001-07:00

Autobiographie 10.15.10 from liz roncka on Vimeo.

10-15 bit

2010-10-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

Improvised solo by Liz Roncka excerpted from "rehearsal" today....10/15/10.

Sounds and Signs

2010-10-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from Sounds and Signs at Mobius on 10-2-10 featuring movement artists Olivier Besson, Ellen Godena and Liz Roncka and musicians Amir Milstein (flute) and Haggai Cohen Milo (bass).

Sounds and Signs Rehearsal for Oct 1&2 Boston, Oct.9 Brooklyn

2010-09-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

Sounds and Signs Rehearsal for Oct 1&2 Boston, Oct.9 Brooklyn

2010-09-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Olivier Besson, Ellen Godena,Liz Roncka and Amir Milstein (flute).

Prostitution of Art Video 2

2010-09-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

Tiny, Me, Mami and Moj Improvised Quartet

2010-08-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Glass Dance Project @ the Oberon Theater Cambridge MA

2010-08-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

Body of Eyes

2010-08-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

"Improbable"

2010-08-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Collectif Emma Jupe performs at the Festival Chemins des Arts at La Bergerie de Soffin France on July 31, 2010.

Collectif Emma Jupe performs "Improbable" at Festival Chemins des Arts from liz roncka on Vimeo.

Trio in "Silence"

2010-08-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Face1: Artist Statement

2010-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Third Practice @ batv June 21st 2010

2010-07-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

Another clip of the Glass Project with Philippe Lejeune (visual artist) and Emily Beattie and Liz Roncka (movement artists).

duet

2010-07-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

Olivier Besson & Liz Roncka

First Practice @ batv June 7th 2010

2010-06-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal excerpt for the Glass Project in collaboration with Philippe Lejeune. Dancers in clip: Ellen Godena and Liz Roncka.

iz3

2010-06-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from iZ performed on 4/27/10. Featuring musicians Haggai Cohen Milo, Amir Milstein, Jamey Haddad and movement artists Olivier Besson, Ellen Godena and Liz Roncka.

fortysevensecondsolo

2010-06-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

6/9/10 Liz Roncka

iZ Solo by Liz Roncka

2010-05-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

My solo excerpted from the evening length performance of iZ: the ancient language of sounds and signs performed at Mobius on 4/27/10.

Dancers: Liz Roncka, Olivier Besson, Ellen Godena
Musicians: Haggai Cohen Milo (bass), Amir Milstein (flute) and Jamey Haddad(percussion).

ArtRages - the glass dance project (2) second performance

2010-05-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

izintro

2010-05-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

ArtRages - the glass dance project - first performance (2)

2010-05-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Clip #2 of 8:30 performance on 5/8/10

A few notes after watching a performance clip.....

2010-05-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Watching and thinking about movement, appreciating clarity and remembering one of her favorite quotes from a former dance teacher: "stop on a dime and give u nine cents change." No wanking, no noodling. Clear start, clear stop. If u don't know what 2 do, do nothing.

It is as much about what u do as what u don't do.

Remember the power of stillness and silence.

Amen.

ArtRages - the glass dance project - first performance (1)

2010-05-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

First clip from "4 Glass Piece" collaboration with Philippe Lejeune (Installation/Light), Lucas Lejeune (live Music), Emily Beattie (Movement) and Liz Roncka (Movement). Performed at ArtRages 5/8/10.

Duet with Olivier Besson and Liz Roncka from the Winter Contact Improv Festival in Boston February 2010

2010-04-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Every now and then you see a piece that you made that is sweetly satisfying. This duet is one of them for me. Olivier Besson and I have been working together for about a decade now. To me, this duet shows the ease and depth that results from long term collaboration. The first clip gets a nice picture of the whole piece. The second clip shows more details. It is nice to appreciate both aspects. This piece was performed at Boston's Winter Contact Improv Festival.

Trio with Haggai Cohen Milo, Amir Milstein and Liz Roncka from Spring 2009

2010-04-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to be performing with Haggai Cohen Milo, Amir Milstein, Olivier Besson and Ellen Godena on Tuesday, April 27 at Mobius, 725 Harrison Avenue, Boston at 8pm.

Here is a rehearsal clip with Haggai, Amir and me.

Forbes Graham and Liz Roncka

2010-04-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Three things come to mind with this clip: 1. An old phrase my sister and I used to scream repeatedly while laughing hysterically: "There is art in repetition." 2. Extended technique 3. An good ending is worth more than 50% of the piece. I believe Forbes and I nailed the ending here. This is a great thing to discover when u rehearse for the first time: that u sense endings at the exact same time (particularly satisfying because it is all improvised).

Another Excerpt with Forbes Graham

2010-04-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

Another rehearsal excerpt with Forbes for our Jazz Week performance on 4/29/10.

FGLREX1

2010-04-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

Duet with Forbes Graham on trumpet and Liz Roncka moving. We are preparing for a gig at Hyde Park Library on Thursday April 29 as part of Jazz Week.

Creatures Preview

2010-04-08T19:44:00.001-07:00

Rogue Re-incarnated

2010-03-26T11:50:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

In March 2009 I made an improvised solo called "Rogue".

It was performed in SWAN DAY last year. That Rogue wore black and wandered the streets.... scoring, surviving and being scorned. A few months later, I wanted to experiment with another aspect of that Rogue. The "white" Rogue explores the more solitary, internal aspect of this character.....alone in her house. Music by Haggai Cohen Milo and Amir Milstein.

glassmob4

2010-03-23T11:54:00.001-07:00

Movement: Emily Beattie and Liz Roncka
Structure/Lighting: Philippe Lejeune

glassmob2

2010-03-22T20:42:00.001-07:00

Rehearsal video with Emily Beattie, Liz Roncka and Philippe Lejeune. Although this is a rehearsal clip for a live performance, I enjoy it as a video. I prefer art that does not come with a set of instructions. However, I do invite u 2 let go of the notion of the real bodies being the dominant image. Allow ur mind to re-calibrate and notice the reflections as much as the "real bodies". Afterall, what is a reflection? What is reality? what is the difference and does it matter! If u didn't know the difference, would there b any? Come see a live version of this at ArtRages......May 8. More details to come!

lastrainduet

2010-03-21T18:29:00.001-07:00

short

2010-03-19T19:57:00.001-07:00

ABC Duet No. 2 with Emily Beattie and Liz Roncka

2010-03-18T09:28:00.001-07:00

Second version of this duet.... a little loose, but loved the extended handstand thanks 2 my chiropractor. Once I realized I could stay, I thought "why come down when i can b upsidedown?"

Music by Mateo Lugo and Daniel Wright.

Improvised duet with Emily Beattie and Liz Roncka

2010-03-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

ABC Duet

2010-03-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Improvised duet with Emily Beattie and Liz Roncka. Music by Daniel Wright and Mateo Lugo.

"creatures" rehearsal warm-up

2010-03-07T19:14:00.001-08:00

Movers: Emily Beattie, Ellen Godena, Liz Roncka
Sound: Max Lord

Once again, this is not "creature" movement. BUt.....it is 3 out of 4 of the movers. We were doing a duet warm up score which I then jumped into to create a trio. "Trio-ing" is often quite challenging but this gave me some new ideas. It also invovled "contact" which was not what I was teaching. I do like coming at contact from this angle ....more from a perspective of momentum and movement than weightiness. Although that is essential, I question whether teaching about weight before momentum creates "heavier" dancing. ???? Oh, it is time 4 me 2 teach 2 find the answers 2 these questions. Soooon soooon.... There will b some creature-esque clips posted soon though.

Creature Rehearsal Warm UP

2010-02-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

Our first "creatures" rehearsal with all the dancers. The movement here is just warm-up/tuning-in stuff,not our creature movement. More to come........

Stop Mix

2010-02-20T10:25:00.001-08:00

It's been a while.

This began as a movement study for a piece I am starting which will involve confined space. For no specific reason, I did the original study to "stop" by Jane's Addiction. Then I started randomly cutting up the piece and re-arranging the parts and overlapping them. I started 2 b curious about removing audio from certain parts. Eventually, all the music was gone and 4 minutes of movement was 2 minutes. I decided to dub another piece of music onto the clip to bring on a more introspective mood.

I definitely miss my daily dances. I won't return to that intensity but I should do this more often. It is important to me to stay process-oriented and not get all caught up in just doing things based on what gig is next. FTS.

Jane Wang and Liz Roncka

2010-01-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

2010-01-18T12:15:00.000-08:00

Ellen and I have been exploring generating sound with movement lately. Much of this clip doesn't have intentional sound because our practice involves waiting until something genuine emerges.

My particular interest is in how adding sound deepens my connection to my internal being and the insides of my body.....sensing my esophagus differently, sensing my larynx, my lungs, etc etc....deepening my ability to embody a given state (whatever that means!?!). I am also interested in how it expands my ability to express a certain feeling, emotion or state. For a long time, making sound with my voice was a scary, blocked place. It feels essential to unlock that in order to fulfill my "artistic" potential.....my "expressive" potential. It is a strange journey full of discovery, confusion and humor.

Sh(r)ed in San Francisco

2010-01-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

An improvised trio with Mateo Lugo, Daniel Wright and Liz Roncka performed on January 8 and 9, 2010. The piece was presented in a group show Bare Bones Butoh Presents 16.

(Viewing on full screen is recommended)

Sh(r)ed 1
January 8, 2010

Sh(r)ed 1 from liz roncka on Vimeo.

Sh(r)ed 2
January 9, 2010

This clip actually begins approximately 2 minutes into the piece. The video camera was unable to capture an image in the beginning secondary to low light and possibly the vibratory motion and use of tulle.

Improvisation 5/7 Orange ABC

2010-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Here's the last of the series...........

Improvisation 4/7 Orange ABC

2010-01-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

4/5 Music by 7 Orange ABC.....see FB or MySpace for more information on the band.

Improvisation3/7 Orange ABC......"Ness Again"

2010-01-04T05:52:00.001-08:00

I have already done an improvisation to this piece which I re-posted below the latest incarnation. I think it is quite interesting to see 2 very different "dances" to the same piece of music.

This new one is a stark contrast!!

Improvisation 2/Music by 7 Orange ABC

2010-01-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Here is the second of the series.

For more info about the band, see their FB or MySpace page or 7orangeabc.com

Enjoy!

Improvisation 1/Music by 7 Orange ABC

2010-01-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

This is the first of a set of 5 improvisations to music by a Berkeley-based band 7 Orange ABC. Check 'em out on FB and MySpace or at their new website www.7orangeabc.com

2 More Window Dances

2010-01-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

Liz Roncka:

Ellen Godena:

The Windows Project at Mobius

2009-12-31T13:01:00.001-08:00

Here are 2 clips from the Windows Project at Mobius (http://mobius.org).

We constructed a semblance of a snowglobe for a make-believe store window. The first video features Liz Roncka as a Naught/Nice Santa. The second video features Ellen Godena. I think she looks like some strange Snow Queen, but.......

Another Excerpt from Musical Mondays at Mobius

2009-12-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

Improvised Collaboration on December 7, 2009 at Mobius

Bass:
Jane Wang
Mike Bullock

Trombone:
Tom Plsek
Ryan Dragon

Movement:
Andrea Blesso Albuquerque
Liz Roncka

Musical Monday at Mobius 12/7/09

2009-12-16T19:59:00.000-08:00

An excerpt from an improvisational collaboration between Jane Wang (bass), Mike Bullock (bass), Tom Plsek (trombone), Ryan Dragon (trombone), Andrea Blesso Albuquerque (movement) and Liz Roncka (movement).

Rehearsal.......A Return to "Solo-ing"

2009-12-10T16:58:00.001-08:00

More rehearsal in prep for this weekend's ZEROPLAN performance. This clip will have nothing in common with what happens that night except me. Different music, a costume, different mood, etc. However, it has been a while since I soloed....so in that way this is prep for my solo on Saturday. I will be performing with Luke Moldof on guitar. We've never met. I am intrigued by this.

I posted 2 clips here because it was one long piece and I felt posting them separately compromised the integrity of both the music and the movement. Youtube only allows 10 minute clips. Music here by Balvanyos Ensemble, an improvisational group of musicians based in Budapest that I collaborated with somewhere around 2000-2002.

Trio with Haggai Cohen Milo, Amir Milstein and Liz Roncka from Spring 2009

2009-12-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

As I edit down some old footage from Spring 2009, I have come upon some excellent clips to share. Here's a trio with Amir Milstein (flute), Haggai Cohen Milo (bass) and me.

Our First Time with Wings

2009-11-25T17:53:00.001-08:00

Our first time putting on the wings...messing around in the Cyclo. There are some technical difficulties to solve in the next few days, but overall a satisfying first flight. Andrea Blesso Albuquerque does the first solo with voices of Adam Shea (the "wing-maker") and Liz Roncka. Second solo by Liz.

More Wings and Metal

2009-11-24T10:55:00.000-08:00

Come see this full on in performance: 12/1 @ 6 pm at the Cyclorama!!!

Reh for Medicine Wheel with Andrea Blesso and Matt Samolis

2009-11-23T18:19:00.000-08:00

Excerpt of Vocalization Experiment 1

2009-11-23T17:24:00.000-08:00

Entering the world of vocalization experiments. I have worked with improvised text a bit in this blog. Now Ellen and I are on to something else. Something stranger, deeper....I don't know. It seems like something in itself....this vocalization and it seems like a portal. I am deeply curious. I am fascinated and I also find myself laughing out loud. It is serious and hilarious. Who knows what ur experience will be..........

Rehearsal Excerpt with Andrea Blesso for Medicine Wheel

2009-11-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

A clip from reh for Medicine Wheel taking place at the Cyclorama on December 1. Andrea and I will be on @6pm. Our piece will feature costumes by Nicole Collela and Adam Shea....including wings. We get our wings tomorrow, so soon we will begin to understand the actual physicality of moving with the wings on.

Matt Samolis will be joining us on bowed metal for the performance.

The music in this clip is random. Some of it works and some of the techno beats make me wanna laugh.
All movement is improvised as it will be in the performance. Enjoy!

Exploring with Ellen Godena

2009-11-12T10:53:00.001-08:00

Solo by Ellen Godena. Strong image under black fabric........giving me ideas for a future project TBA. Still we are exploring textures and states while quieting the mind and activating the body.

Excerpt of 1st Reh for Medicine Wheel 2009

2009-11-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Andrea Blesso and Liz Roncka improvise exploring flicking-fluttering-twitching-soaring. The first incarnation of this piece will be performed at Medicine Wheel at the Cyclorama on Dec. 1. The dance will feature winged costumes by artists Adam Shea and Nicole Colella.

Nunc 2

2009-11-03T18:10:00.001-08:00

Round 2 of Movement at the Mills. Improvised trio entitled "Nunc" with Akili Jamal Haynes (music) and Olivier Besson and Liz Roncka (movement).

M-Zyg from the Outside

2009-11-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

M-Zyg Performance at Movement at the Mills-Clip 1

2009-10-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from M-Zyg featuring improvisation by Ellen Godena and Liz Roncka. The music u hear was not our music. Our music was heard by the audience via headphones. Hopefully future clips will feature our audio.

Last Rehearsal for M-Zyg

2009-10-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from our last rehearsal for M-Zyg for Movement at the Mills. Movement: Ellen Godena and Liz Roncka. Sound: Max Lord (music) with Liz Roncka (text).

Last Nunc Rehearsal Medley

2009-10-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

A medley...a mash-up...a little sampler from our last rehearsal before Movement at the Mills. Olivier Besson and Liz Roncka (movement) and Akili Jamal Haynes (music).

Preview of M-Zyg

2009-10-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is a sample of the work I will be presenting with Ellen Godena at Movement at the Mills on October 29 from 6-9pm. The piece will be improvised and accompanied by original music by Eric Gunther, Max Lord, Bob Raymond, Jane Wang and Liz Roncka in collaboration with Max Lord played via headphones.......old skool style.

ness

2009-10-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

An improvised solo by Liz Roncka. Music by 7 Orange ABC.

Boxeshornspeople Part II

2009-10-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

boxeshornspeople

2009-10-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Liz Roncka: movement
Akili Jamal Haynes: sound

More Prep for M-Zyg

2009-10-15T17:10:00.000-07:00

Rehearsal Excerpt with Ellen and Liz in Prep for M-Zyg /Movement at the Mills

2009-10-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Improvised Trumpet Solo Accompanied by Dance

2009-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from an exercise we were doing experimenting with the notion of leading, following, and dance accompanying music. Akili Jamal Haynes on trumpet.

Twinning

2009-10-09T10:26:00.000-07:00