Louis Gervais in Performance!

a moment of zen

2010-04-23T11:15:00.001-04:00

Sacred Geometry

2010-03-23T21:32:00.001-04:00

For those of you that love sacred geometry like I do, you'll love this video.

The LIfe of Animals

2009-12-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder of how tiny we are

2009-12-28T01:38:00.001-05:00

Kitty is a VERY bad mystic

2009-12-27T13:36:00.000-05:00

Love and Art at Om Culture

2009-12-03T11:52:00.001-05:00

Love and Art! is quickly becoming the most talked about underground party on the Seattle scene. If you’ve never attended a Love and Art! party, then you’re really missing out on a blissful experience. It’s a dance party, a potluck, a performance, and a chance to meet and interact with others that are grooving on the love vibe. Love and Art! is love child of artists Louis Gervais and Jonas Radvick. Louis Gervais (MFA) is a solo dance artist and Jonas Radvick is a dancer/therapist. Their connection as artists, healers and as friends is the seed that creates the rarified atmosphere at these special events. It’s a fun creative adventure unlike any party you’ve ever been to. DJ Jens Wazel will be joining us at Om Culture and his mixes will keep the big, beautiful dance floor jumping. Come dance, laugh, hug, connect, eat, drink and be merry. Leave feeling blissful, relaxed, and alive! All for $5 and a food or drink contribution! That’s Love and Art. See you on January 2. Kids are definitely welcome! Doors open at 7 p.m.

Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody

2009-11-25T11:55:00.000-05:00

Chakra Shower

2009-11-12T21:03:00.004-05:00

The chakra shower is a wonderful watery way to learn about the chakras. A warm shower is the perfect tool to use to physically visualize the chakra system on the back of the body. The chakra system is a key to physical health. By taking time each day to bring the mind to the chakra system, you will energize your entire body through the energetic centers of your anatomy that is invisible to the naked eye.

Stand in a shower with a strong jet stream. It is helpful if the water pressure is good and that the water is rushing out of the showerhead and not falling in an arc as in a waterfall. With the water spraying down in a comfortable temperature, face away from the water and aim the stream at the area of the sacrum, the triangular bone at the base of the spine. Let the water pour down and into the sacral chakra area. Breathe into the experience, clear your mind and bring your attention to the point on your body that is being contacted by the stream.

The sacral chakra is the area of creativity. Imagine you are drawing the energy of the warmth and the pressure of the water into your sacral chakra to feed your creative life. Imagine the energy of the water feeding your pleasure or passions, hobbies or work. Visualize your goals and bring the waters energy to your goals like a current of electricity.

Let the shower stream move up the spine to the area of the solar plexus. The solar plexus chakra is located just below the ribcage on the front of the body. Locate the corresponding area on the spine by imagining a straight line passing through the body to the back. As you become more connected to your chakra system, you may be able to sense exactly where the chakras are by a difference of sensation in the chakras. It is sometimes a good idea to change the temperature of the water in between chakra areas to help the mind reinvest in the exercise.

The solar plexus chakra is the ego center. It is the chakra that holds our personal information. We learn about ourselves through every relationship. Everyone you know and love and even those you don’t are telling you about you. As the water, hits your solar plexus think of yourself as a sun. The kind of sun I first learned how to draw when I was a kid was a big yellow orb with rays coming out as lines from the center. You can use this image or one of your own, but imagine yourself radiating out through the water from your solar plexus chakra and connecting with all the people in your life, and with all the people on the planet.

Let the water, then, move up toward the heart area on the back body. Again, changing the water temperature will reinvigorate the exercise. The chakra areas on the back body are harder to connect to because most sense organs are on the front of the body. The back side of the body is visually harder to see which makes it harder to feel for some people. The use of the water is a helpful tool to connect to these hard to reach areas through the sense of touch.

The heart chakra, as the energetic source of love in the body, is our center for compassion, empathy and affection. Feel the water fuel your love connections. Also, think about those in your life with whom you have difficulty offering love. Let the water flow in the space between you and these others. Feel the warmth and pleasure of the water and hold it in your body as a feeling of love.

Move the water up to the neck or throat chakra. This chakra area is very sensitive to temperature since the spinal cord and major arteries move closely to the skin. Play with your relationship to the water. Let the throat chakra choose the temperature.

The throat chakra is the communication center. Imagine your words flowing in and out of your body on the stream of water. Imagine that the chakra area is actually pulling the water toward it, that it has the power of attraction. Let this inward flow empower your ability to listen to the communication around you. Next, imagine the stream as coming out of your body as the power of your words chosen wisely.

Place the shower stream to the back of your head. This stimulates the third eye chakra. Feel the water flowing against your head as intuitive information. Imitate the functions of the third eye chakra by imagining the water penetrates the back of your head and helpful intuitive information flowing into your mind. Intuition comes to us when our minds are sensitive and receptive. Open to the water stream and imagine yourself absorbing most of the water before it flows down your body.

On your own time, move so that the water rains directly down on to the top of your head. Adjust the water again so that the temperature is slightly cooler than you are now used to and imagine that the water is coming into the body cascading down the insides of the body, cooling the thoughts and filling the body with energy. You could also imagine that the water is actually lifting the body off the ground and pulling the body against gravity.

Turn and face the stream of water. If you wish, move down the front side of the body and stimulate the chakra system from the other side. Position the jet stream to contact the center of the forehead with a nice gentle warm current. Imagine the earlier visualization ideas or try something new. Perhaps imagine that the water is feeding your brain beautiful ideas that will help solve all your problems. Visualize that the water is alive and communicating with you. Listen to it. Talk to it with your mind. What does it need to tell you?

Move the stream down to your throat chakra. Imagine inhaling the temperature and softness. Move the water down to the center of your chest and imagine the water is melting and opening your heart. Imagine the water is concentrated stream of love reaching inside and holding your heart in the absolute most perfect way possible.

When you are ready, let the water move down to the solar plexus, a few inches below the bottom of the rib cage and equidistant to the navel. Don’t forget to move your mind inside each of these centers. Your thought stimulates these centers which in turn stimulates health and peace within the body, mind and spirit. Let the water then fall to the sacral chakra. The area just above the genitals in the front of the body. Play with the water temperature at any time and within any chakra point.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to stimulate the root chakra in most shower stalls. The root chakra points downward between the legs, and between the genitals and anus. A bidet or hand held shower head would be the perfect tools to use to extend the chakra shower to this final energy center.

You may have noticed one chakra area triggered emotion or discomfort. You may feel like returning to one chakra in particular or each again in turn. The chakra shower is a creative process. Experiment and to listen to what your body has to say. There is no way to do this exercise incorrectly.

Giving Thanks for Love and Art

2009-11-12T21:01:00.001-05:00

Giving Thanks for Love and Art

After you have had your turkey, come and shake of the sleepiness of overeating at Love and Art. If you’ve always been meaning to come but have never quite made it, you’re missing something really wonderful. If you’ve come to Love and Art, then you know its true.
I was realizing the other day that I never explained the concept of Love and Art. When I first came to Seattle to go to graduate school, I was interested in the ingredients of transcendent experiences. I studied danced religions and somatic explorations searching for the common elements that make us let go, open our hearts and have an excellent time.
These ingredients include:
Dancing for a long time to excellent rhythmic music like the Voudun from West Africa and Haiti. The music at the last Love and Art had the whole room vibrating. It was ecstatic for real.
A creative ritual conducted by a shaman- like figure. Shaman, unlike priests, don’t know where things are headed but they set things in motion and then watch the magic happen. Jonas and I don’t know what will happen, but it always does.
Wine. Jesus loved wine.
We welcome one another in a circle of community like the native Americans.
We spin and twirl and make ourselves dizzy not unlike the Dervishes.
Performance, which is an integral part of most religions.
We touch, hug, and roll around which is straight out of the church of contact improvisation.
Add to it some sort of cool somatic or chakra exercise and it’s just a really awesome time.
So come this Saturday after Thanksgiving and give Thanks for Love and Art. Bring some leftovers or water or wine.
Leave $2 in the jar and get ready for an awesome evening.

Studio Current
1417 E. 10th Street
Capitol Hill
Seattle, WA

November 28, 2009
7 p.m.

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How Chakras

2009-11-09T02:04:00.004-05:00

No matter how long or short, every life has a beginning, a middle and an end. No matter how simple or complex, every life has story. There is always a main character. In your life story, it is you. Every life story happens somewhere and every main character does something. Over the course of a life, the main character goes on an adventure where stuff happen, hardships are endured and lessons are learned. To learn about someone new, we ask questions about their story. Where are you from? What do you do? We ask questions because our stories are essentially who we are. We may have heard someone say “my life flashed before my eyes” when they come close to death. It is at the moment of death when the story of our lives is most apparent. When all of our belongings and our bodies are left behind, it is the story and the lessons of our lives that we take with us when we go.

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who. ~ Rudyard Kipling

The “Five Ws and an H’ refer to the six interrogative questions that writers ask in order to get the full scoop when writing a story. These six questions are who, what, when, where, why, and how. If we were to ask ourselves the “Five Ws and an H” questions of our own life stories, we would get different kinds of answers depending on where and how we looked. Our minds would produce a list of information about who we are, where we live, and what we do, a story full of facts and events. Our bodies will have a very different kind of answer. Our bodies hold our life stories in the story of our health, and the growth and healing we’ve experienced. While the chakra system, as a bridge between the body and the mind, will tell the story of our lives on the level of our energy.

As we ask our chakra system who, what, when, where, why and how, we find that one chakra would hold the energetic answer to each one of these questions. These pairs help to illuminate the chakra system. As the energetic part of our life story, who, what and where are the more concrete questions. These are answered by the lower three chakras, the root, the sacral chakra and the solar plexus. How, When and Why are more abstract and these questions are answered by the upper three chakras, the throat, the third eye and the crown. As we seek to understand the way in which our life stories are present within in our chakra system, we discover an invisible dialogue that passes back and forth between our bodies and our minds.

Who?
From the solar plexus chakra, we express the energy of who, who we are as the main star of our story. This chakra at the level of the base of the ribcage, is in the central area of our bodies just as our personal identities are central to our life story. This chakra is the ego center. All of our self identifying information exists within the ego/solar plexus chakra. From here we radiate the energy of who we believe ourselves to be as an individual and as part of a larger community. It contains our histories, education, culture, gender, and personality. Any energy or information that makes us the incredible individual that we are is expressed from the solar plexus.

What?
The sacral chakra is the energy center from which we express our creativity. This chakra radiates within the center line of the body, from the heart of the pelvic bowl. Whether or not we create consciously, we are continuously in the act of creating our lives by responding to events, needs and desires. It expresses at the level of the sex organs and is therefore connected with the ultimate creative act of creating new life. Some of us choose to become parents or artists or both. Those that do, engage sacral chakra energy in a powerful way. The energy of what we choose to create is sacral chakra energy. What are you creating in your life story?

Where?
The root chakra is the energy center that connects us to where our story is happening. For all of us, the larger answer to this question is the same. Our home is this planet earth that we are tethered to by gravity, but individually, the answers vary greatly. They could include mountain or desert, ocean or plain, tropical or cold. In these modern times, we can move great distances at great speed and our home environments can change as many times as we wish them to, but no matter what, our stories are always held within the container of space. From a standing position, the root chakra expresses energy downward to the earth from the pelvic floor and anchors us wherever we go in our story.

How?
We often ask one another “How are you?” What we are really asking is “How are you telling your story today?” How as a question means in what way? There are many ways in which to communicate our stories and we are often in the act of telling and retelling the events and our reactions to the adventure of our days. Our voices and words are powerfully creative. How we use them will have an important impact on the ways in which we understand and interpret our stories for ourselves and for others. The ways in which we choose to speak about our lives will color our epic tale. If we complain, we are telling the anecdote of a victim. If we look to the bright side of things, we shade our story with lighter hues. The throat chakra is our communication center and it is from this chakra that we tell our life story. How are you using your words to create your story?

When?
The third eye chakra focuses on the when of our story. Of course, this includes when in history we are living, but more specifically, this chakra expresses the energy of our constantly changing consciousness. As thoughts pass through our awareness, the third eye chakra flickers through time. Thoughts of past, present and future fly through our minds at lightning speed. When a pattern in thinking emerges, it reshapes our life story. For example, when we are overly focused on an event in our past, we bring the energy of past events into our story whenever we think about them. As we live in the present, our story becomes about the past. Those who meditate, work to gain control of the mind by bringing it into the present moment. This allows the third eye chakra to align with the life story as it is happening.

Why?
The why of our story is impossible to explain. Why do we live? Why are we here having these life stories? This is the big question tackled by most major religions. It is a mystery and therefore, open to interpretation. But if there is an answer to the question of why, it exists within a higher order of reality that is beyond our knowing. Even though we cannot fully grasp this higher realm with our minds, we are still connected to it through our crown chakras. This is exactly where our crown chakra is pointing: up, out, and beyond our minds. We may never know the why, but we can remain open to the answer to this question on an energetic level by feeling up and opening to the energy that passes into and through our crown chakras.

Because
The heart chakra does not have a question associated with it but it does hold an answer. In a way, it is the answer to all the questions. Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? Because. Because of love. The heart chakra holds the energy of love. Why do we live? We live because we can know and learn about Love. Every aspect of our lives can be seen from the perspective of love. Generosity, compassion and intimacy are easily connected with love energy, but what about greed, envy and anger? These are lessons about the absence or withdrawal of love. Experiencing an abundance of love and a vacuum of love are both necessary spiritual lessons about love.

A fish learns a lot about water when it leaps out into the air. In that moment, it learns about the temperature, density and gravity of its home. As spirit, we exist within a unified field of love and like the fish, we cannot know what that world is like until we leave it temporarily by living lives. But like early underwater divers, we are still tethered to the love of our spiritual reality through our chakra system. We are living lives and creating stories in these miraculous bodies because we are here to learn about the love we know from our spiritual home.

The Five Ws and an H…and a B

Who? We are embodied spirits with individual identities. Although each of us is an individual our identities are created by our connections to others.
What? Our lives are creations and the what of life is what we create of our lives.
Where? We live here on earth in three dimensional space and in our homes and towns and landscapes.
When? We live here now in the present moment and sometimes in the past and the future.
How? Stories need to be told and the way in which we tell our stories to others is the truth of how our stories go.
Why? Perhaps we cannot know why. The source of intelligence that created us is beyond our knowing. But we can feel why…
Because. Because we are here to learn about love and feeling love is at the heart of who we are.

Messages from the Universe

2009-10-30T12:29:00.001-04:00

I get these messages from the Universe every Friday. Here is today's message.

Any attempt to measure one's progress in life with an assessment of their present physical surroundings, or even a panoramic glance at their life and times to date, is just plain "whacked." The reason being, Louis, is that each journey, kind of like a haircut, should never be fully appraised until it's complete. Otherwise, one might mistaken a miracle-in-the-making for a setback, loss, or the "wet-look."

Your cosmic barber and de-whacker,
The Universe

2 Fall in Love and Art

2009-10-27T20:30:00.005-04:00

Love is you
Love is you and me
Love is knowing
We can be
Love is free
Free is love
Love is living
Living Love - John Lennon

2 Fall in Love and Art

Love and Art is so fantastic, Jonas and I have decided to do it again!

Here’s what a happy partygoer had to say:
I had this moment last night of watching some dancers out on the floor, feeling their energy, and feeling how connected and open everyone was in that room. I disconnected a little from my body and saw all of us as pure energy; love that exists beyond time and space without separation. Louis and Jonas are remarkable men for creating that experience, giving it life, and sharing it with all of us. I can't thank you enough.

It’s a potluck!
It’s a dance party!
If you’d like to dj or perform, contact Louis!
Bring your friends!
Donations graciously accepted.

November 7, Studio Current 1417 10th Avenue East, Seattle, Washington
7 p.m.

Whirlpool of Love

2009-10-26T18:29:00.004-04:00

I am in the process of writing down my exercises from my chakra class. Here is an exercises called the Whirlpool of Love. Give it a try with your friends or yoga class. I'd love to hear how it works for you.

Whirlpool of Love

When I was a kid, a favorite summer fun thing to do was to create a whirlpool in a neighbor’s above-the-ground swimming pool. After we had our initial thrill of cooling off and splashing around, my friends and I would all work together to create a whirlpool. We would push ourselves through the water, wading in the same direction around outer edge of the pool. Around and around we launched ourselves until after a few minutes, the circular current grew stronger and stronger. Then, we would lift our feet and let ourselves float as the current carried us along.

Here is an exercise that you can use to create a whirlpool of love energy with your class or friends in a similar way. Perhaps as an alternative to savasana at the end of a yoga class on a cold winter day. This is a great way to use the group energy to create some healing and connection.

Warm up for this exercise by walking around an open space with the palms of the hands placed over the heart chakra. Hum a warm “mmm” sound into your hands and feel it resonate between your hands and your heart. Do this for a minute or two.

Come into a circle. Invite everyone to stand somewhat close together so that your shoulders almost touch. Turn to face the outside of the circle and lie down on the floor on your backs with heads toward the center. Inch toward the center until everyone is touching each neighbors on both sides with their shoulders. Let the connection on either side be comfortable, not too close as to feel cramped or claustrophobic. Feel the warmth of your neighbor’s body on your upper arm at the level of your heart chakra.

Take a moment or two to relax in this configuration. If contact is new or uncommon in your group, take a moment or two to breathe into the floor and into the connections on either side before continuing the exercise.

Fill the Pool

Each person will now take some time to connect to their own sources of love energy. This next part can be read aloud during the exercise or recorded and played.

Bring to your heart the beauty of love in your life. Bring to your heart the physical memory of love given and love received. Bring to the circle the love of family. Imagine the love at your birth. Feel the love given to you unconditionally when you were most vulnerable. The love of care and nurturing you received from your parents and family as an infant. Bring to your heart love given freely to your own children and the children of those whom you love. Love to nieces and nephews, to students and those that look to you for guidance.

Bring to your heart the love of your friends. Imagine these friends opening in your heart chakra like unique flowers, each offering a different shape, color and beauty of love. Re embody the easy expansiveness and joy you feel when you are with your friends. Perhaps you have a best friend with whom you share everything. Bring the depth and gratitude of your love for this friend into your heart chakra at this time. Bring to your heart the love of all your love relationships. Remember lovers past, present and future. Feel the complete connection you now understand from these important people in your life. Feel the fullness of this love sensation in your heart chakra.

Create the Whirpool

Imagine your heart is now an overflowing source of love. Like a mountain spring, visualize this love energy begin to flow like a stream outward from your heart center and into those around you now in the circle. Let it rush from your center like a waterfall and disappear into the point of physical contact with the person on the right. Relax and trust that the flow is happening without any effort. Remember that at the same time that your love energy is flowing out the right side of your body that a strong current of love energy is flowing in from the left. Visualize love flowing in and love flowing out.

Can you feel the current of energy flowing through your heart chakra. What does it feel like? What sensations are present? Allow your mind to be empty and open. Imagine that you can collect images of love from the love stream as it passes through your body.

Changing Direction

Let the stream begin to slow and eventually to stop. Before reversing the energy stream to the left, check in with your own heart energy. Oftentimes, it is moments of transition like this when the energetic body can be sensed most clearly. Repeat the same process of allowing the energy to flow out from your heart like water from a tap.

Let it flow out toward your neighbor on the left side this time and receive the current from the friend on the right. Once the flow is created, relax, receive, rejoice in this communal feeling of connection. This time allow the current to swirl through out your body before it passes on. Let it visit any pains. Let it wash away any heartaches. Let it refresh and revive every part of your energetic self.

Playing music with a feeling of continual flow is helpful to the experience. When the exercise feels complete, allow a moment or two for everyone to come out of the experience in their own way. Allow time for neighbors to talk about the whirlpool of love. Sometimes hearing what a neighbor has to say can enhance and expand the experience even further. Enjoy!

CHAKRA BALANCING

2009-10-23T17:38:00.003-04:00

LOUIS GERVAIS / CHAKRA BALANCING
Movement, Meaning and the Creative Healing Power of the Chakra System

Beyond our visible, physical selves, our bodies emit invisible layers of energy. The densest part of our energy system is the chakra system which resembles a chain of interconnected energy centers.

“Chakra” is from the traditional Indian system of medicine and means “spinning wheel” or “vortex.” Our bodies express seven main chakras. The chakras are aligned with the center line of the body from the top of the head to the base of the spine. Our chakra energy is filled with the information of consciousness. This energy flows in, out and throughout our physical bodies and as it moves it interacts and influences our physical selves and our health.
Our bodies are constantly speaking to us through energetic shifts in the chakra system. These shifts can often be felt as physical sensations. We can create powerful personal relationships with our chakra system by tuning in to these sensations and discover what our chakras are telling us. Through meditation, visualization, sound and creative movement, we can build a body/mind bridge to this invisible part of ourselves.

Once created, we can use this new awareness to enhance our lives in many ways. We can listen to what our energy bodies are telling us and make connections between our thoughts, our health and life situations. We can also empower ourselves with enhanced intuition and open ourselves to abundance. Most importantly, knowledge of the chakra system is extremely valuable as the basis for a powerful active creative healing practice. Knowledge of the chakra system can vitalize yoga & other body/mind practices as well.

Louis Gervais (MFA) brings 40 years of experience & creativity to his teaching. Louis became inspired to work with the chakra system through his mature yoga practice and career as a professional dance artist. Chakra Balancing is the culmination of many years of research in somatics (body/mind training), eastern philosophy and transcendent dance practices.

Weekly classes: November 7 – December 12
$15/class; $70/6-class series
Saturdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Studio-Current. 1417 10th Avenue, #C. (btwn Pike & Union). Seattle, WA 98122.
One on one sessions at the studio or in your home are also available.

Be Careful Crossing the Street!

2009-10-19T20:26:00.001-04:00

Fall in Love and Art

2009-10-17T18:59:00.003-04:00

Love and Art!

It’s time to Fall in Love and Art again!

We’ve missed you terribly.

Join Louis and Jonas on October 24 at 7 pm for Love and Art!

Love and Art!

Is a potluck, party, performance and …something else that starts with a p.

Ingredients include:
• A rarified atmosphere!
• Lots of really cool people: dancers, artists, performers, therapists and all their very cool fun friends.
• Great dance music!
• Studio Current, the coziest of cozy studio spaces with plenty of room to dance and comfy places to relax and hang out.
• Performances about love! If you have something to share, please contact Louis!
• Food and wine! Please bring some! We will too!
• Guided group fun! I know you’re thinking…this could be goofy or embarrassing (and sometimes it is!), but in the past it’s been just awesome trippy fun. Louis and/or Jonas take the whole party higher with some boundary breaking exercises, guided meditation or somatic exploration.

And that’s Love and Art! Sounds great, right? It’s probably the best party in town if you want to dance, feel good, relax, hang out with friends and meet wonderful people. Maybe that’s the other p. People.

Come fall in Love and Art again with this wonderful community of alive, creative, people.

Studio Current
1417 10th Avenue,
Seattle, Washington
Louis Gervais and Jonas Radvick
October 24, 2009
7 pm – 11 pm
Donations are most graciously accepted

12 Minutes Max

2009-10-17T16:56:00.002-04:00

Hey there!
Just wanted to let you know that I am performing in the next 12 Minutes Max! I’ll be performing Sister Sally, the last piece on the program. This seminal work is a spiraling examination of love vs. objects. Six characters respond as their sister Sally starts stealing their suitcases. This piece brings together some elegant dancing, lovable characters, loads of humor and transcendent truth. If you haven’t seen it, it’s not to be missed! See you there!
Louis
On the Boards
100 West Roy Street
Sun - Mon / Oct 25 – 26
7 pm / $8 / Studio Theatre
Ontheboards.org

The students

2009-09-20T08:46:00.003-04:00

Here in Samos, we have use of an ancient theatre built into the mountain side above the town. We work each morning before it gets too warm. The students have been exploring all kind of creative movement exercises and getting in touch with their creative connections and to each other.

Isadora Duncan

2009-09-20T08:43:00.003-04:00

Following in the cultural colonializing steps of Isadora Duncan, in the last week of the program we wore traditional greek costumes and did some Isadora dancing.Although what Isadora did wasn't culturally accurate and as the students pointed out, the movement and costumes have little to do with modern day Greece, it was still fun.

Monestary of St. John the Divine on the island of Patmos

2009-09-18T10:21:00.001-04:00

On the nearby island of Patmos, the monestary of St. John the Divine is a major tourist attraction. The monestary was built several hundreds of years after John, the writer of the book of revelation received his visions in the cave of the apocalypse, also on the island. We couldn't take photos in the cave or monestary, but the cave was really charged with energy. Those rock walls were vibrating!

Dancing in an Almond Grove

2009-09-18T10:13:00.004-04:00

We spent one evening here in Greece dancing in an almond grove. Using positive and negative space as technique of making dances, we used these cut off and apparently dead almond trees to create these movement studies

Ephesus, Turkey

2009-09-17T13:04:00.002-04:00

Here's a video taken inside the terraced houses showing the interiors of some beautiful homes of the governmental officials of the first century AD.

Samos, Greece

2009-09-04T10:53:00.002-04:00

This is Christos our famous artist/local coordinator. He's pretty adorable.Here are students Houston, Lynnly and Sally at the castle working on some site specific dances.This is Herion, the ruin of the temple of Hera. At one point, there were 155 columns holding up a marble roof. Quite an amazing place.

Czech Rock and Roll

2009-08-19T12:05:00.001-04:00

Words cannot express the goofiness. The bearded guy has some great moves and the finale...well, I'll not spoil it.

Graduation!

2009-06-14T21:33:00.003-04:00

This is me and my best bud Darren Scala. We became best friends the first day of my undergrad at Emerson College. 26 years ago!

This is me and my Yummy (aka Jamie Hall). Yummy and I fell in love day one of grad school. I have good luck on the first day.
This is the incredibly beautiful and talented Catherine Cabeen. The three of us, Catherine, Jamie and I were the whole MFA class of 2009.

Me and my best Seattle bud, Jonas.

Excellent friends Tom Greer and Dennis King.

Fellow dancer Jill Cooper and Hannah Wiley, dance faculty and Me at the graduation ceremony.

Me and BA graduate and student, Morgan Hougton.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the class of 2009.

Louis Gervais In Performance

2009-05-25T11:16:00.003-04:00

On Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, Louis Gervais in Performance with special guests Joan Laage, Joseph Schanbeck and Morgan Houghton.

Studio 267,
Meany Hall
University of Washington,
Seattle

8 p.m.
donations accepted

For this show, I'm going to try some new things. First of all, Joseph Schanbeck will perform one of my solos. This is the first time I've set one of my solos on another dancer and Joseph does it beautifully.

Another thing I'm going to try is to step into a sort of narrator role. Usually, I just do my thing without any explanation, but this time I'm going to share a little bit about my work as I perform.

Joseph and Morgan Houghton are going to perform a little duet that came from a composition class last quarter. It's a really sweet look at childhood friendship between boys.

Also! Joan Laage will be performing a solo in Red Square just before my show from 7:00 - 7:45. Joan is a Butoh performer extraordinaire! It will make for an exciting evening of dance.

Here's a little video of the opening piece called Evolution. It's my take on the challenges that face us as a species. Will we have the good fortune to continue to evolve or will be done in by the pollution and violence that threaten to stop us in our tracks?

The Nobles of Versailles

2009-05-25T10:57:00.004-04:00

During the reign of Louis XIV, the nobles of his court lived at the Palace at Versailles where they were forced to learn to dance. This is the way in which Louis kept his courtiers from rising against him. In order to rise in influence, the nobles spent their days taking dance lessons and participating in dance productions in which Louis himself would be the star performer.
For the MFA/Faculty show at the UW, I created a piece that explored the world of these earliest ballet dancers. The two characters in ballgowns are sophisticated and slightly unruly members of the upper class that are shadowed by the characters in underwear that represent their inner desires for freedom and sensuality. These characters emerge from beneath the skirts of the nobles at the beginning of the piece.

The fantastic cast from l to r: Kate Jensen, Annie Chang, Louis Gervais (choreographer), Joseph Schanbeck, Fausto Rivera.

Ellen Degeneres

2009-05-20T11:06:00.001-04:00

Here's Ellen giving a common cement speech at Tulane University. Great speech!

Cell Phone and Brain Cancer

2009-05-10T03:02:00.002-04:00

I usually only put happy fun stuff on my blog, but for years I have hated the feeling of having a cell phone near my head. I try to always use an earpiece and I uncourage those that I love to do the same. Please just think about how obvious it would be that the electromagnetic field of a cell phone would interfere with the electromagnetic field of the human brain. Please use a hands free just to be on the safe side.

F.U.N.E.X.

2009-05-08T18:13:00.001-04:00

Super Slow Mo Surfing

2009-05-08T14:53:00.001-04:00

Sleepy Head Dance

2009-05-06T11:31:00.000-04:00

Cry Baby Dance

2009-04-18T03:03:00.001-04:00

Authentic Movement

2009-02-19T16:06:00.000-05:00

Branford Marsalis on his students

2009-02-09T12:47:00.002-05:00

These two videos were forwarded to me from my professors. I need these reminders both as a student and as teacher.

Louis CK on this generation

2009-02-09T12:44:00.002-05:00

Contact Improv Duet

2009-01-30T12:45:00.001-05:00

This is a contact improvisational duet with Jamie Hall (my lovely Yummy).

Eyebrows

2009-01-27T10:21:00.001-05:00

Ellen Degeneres Stand Up

2009-01-16T15:41:00.001-05:00

I just love Ellen Degeneres. She makes me laugh and this clip is one of my favorites.

Le Balon

2009-01-15T23:22:00.000-05:00

Cow Gives Birth - For Dennis

2009-01-07T21:22:00.002-05:00

Uncle Jay Sings the News of 2008

2009-01-06T00:48:00.001-05:00

Christmas in Maine

2009-01-02T12:02:00.005-05:00

Sweet Pea! Don flew in from Albuquerque on Christmas Day and we had a precious 24 hours together. It was great to see him. He is really loving his new life in the southwest.

Johnny Cronin is my best friend in Maine. Hanging out with Johnny is a healing experience. He is truly an angel.

My mom is doing great! She got to spoil her grandkids a bit this Christmas which is something she loves to do. Watching these kids grow is a big part of her joy in life these days.

And here they are: Owen, Ty, Andrew, Eliza, and Randy. All really sweet kids, although Andrew in the middle is practically an adult now.

Visiting with Randy is always a treat. He is such a great kid. We got snowed in, played Apples to Apples with Johnny Cronin, cuddled with a really cool cat and watched movies. Randy is really into reading mythology and music these days. We downloaded some dance music and got down. Randy got a guitar and a ukelele for Christmas!

Joe, John and Me. My biological brothers. They are great guys and really love being dads. They look so much alike here. They have a tight bond.

Me, Sweet Pea and JC. My spiritual brothers. Lots of love in this trio.

Winter Song

2008-12-17T18:04:00.000-05:00

SARA BAREILLES AND INGRID MICHAELSON: "Winter Song," from the compilation Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs.

Horse Sweat...very nice

2008-12-15T13:09:00.002-05:00

This is the photo my oldest best bud took of me for my graduation from Emerson College in 1987. I am standing in a sculpture of soldiers riding horses in the Boston garden. I can't believe how I haven't changed a bit.

What animals want for Christmas

2008-12-11T01:42:00.000-05:00

Itnretsitng

2008-12-03T23:47:00.000-05:00

This is weird, but interesting!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and yo u can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by is tlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Marmoset

2008-11-25T21:40:00.001-05:00

Don in Albuquerque

2008-10-23T22:47:00.003-04:00

Don Mercer has moved to Albuquerque. Here are some photos of his new home, new friends and adventures.

Here's an old mission.

This is Boo Boo, the house dog.

Don on the phone with Douggie.

Backyard!

Jumping Puppy

2008-10-14T01:18:00.001-04:00

Don't Vote

2008-10-01T19:39:00.001-04:00

My American Prayer

2008-09-23T15:11:00.001-04:00

Michael Palin for President

2008-09-11T09:38:00.000-04:00

McCain picked the wrong Palin.

Christian the Lion

2008-07-23T01:22:00.000-04:00

The Landlord

2008-07-21T23:39:00.001-04:00

See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die

This is an older video but its still good.

TED Talks - Jill Bolte Taylor

2008-07-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

Spaghetti

2008-07-16T22:30:00.000-04:00

Love and Art

2008-07-08T11:17:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone!
Jonas and Louis are throwing a party!
More than a party,
it's Love and Art.
It's a potluck.
It's a community gathering.
It's a performance.
It's fun, sweet, and yummy.
There will be great dance music.
There will be performance art.
There will be lots of love.
and art.
Bring wine!
And/or food!
And your friends!
It's free!
Feel free!
Feel free to donate a couple bucks, too!
Want to help out?
We love help.
Let us know.
Saturday, July 19th
Starting at 7.30
Studio Current
10th Ave 1417 10th Ave Seattle, WA.
Located between E Pike Street and E Union Street on Capitol Hill.
It isin the middle of the block in the west side.
Look for a sign that reads,"Sweat Box Yoga."
Walk in through the door and follow the corridorthat veers to the right.
You will find Studio Current at the end of thecorridor on your left hand side.
If you have problem finding us, call.
Why?
Cause we love you
and we love love
and we love art.
Love
and
Art
See
you
there!
Love, love, love,
Louis and Jonas
Jonas and Louis
Jonas 253 226 1298
Louis 207 380 2690

The Story of Stuff

2008-06-29T23:02:00.001-04:00

Click here. This is a wonderful illustration of the unsustainability of our consumer economy. Beautifully done. Clear, sweet and perfect.

For Randy's Birthday

2008-06-27T01:14:00.002-04:00

Randy turns 11 today! Happy Birthday Bud!

Randy does a mean impression of Ms. Swan from Mad TV. In honor of his birthday, here is Ms. Swan in her famous scene. I love you, bud. I miss you. Happy Birthday!

Love, love, love,

Louis

Numb nuts

2008-05-31T18:41:00.001-04:00

2008-04-21T23:18:00.001-04:00

Check out this video by Joseph Hersher. I loved marble games like this one when I was a kid.

Young Me, New Me

2008-04-19T11:33:00.005-04:00

Check_out_this_site! It's very sweet.

41 Hours in an Elevator

2008-04-14T23:02:00.001-04:00

Check out this time-lapse video of Business Week production manager Nicholas White's 41 -hour ordeal in an elevator of the McGraw-Hill Building in Rockefeller Center, which he experienced beginning on a Friday night in 1999 after going outside for a cigarette break:

"When White finished his cigarette, he returned to the lobby and, waved along by a janitor buffing the terrazzo floors, got into Car No. 30 and pressed the button marked 43. The car accelerated. It was an express elevator, with no stops below the thirty-ninth floor, and the building was deserted. But after a moment White felt a jolt. The lights went out and immediately flashed on again. And then the elevator stopped."

Gawker notes, White is unemployed and the experience pretty much altered his life forever.

Sweet Pea Came to Visit

2008-04-09T22:49:00.006-04:00

He loves crab rangoon and we had some. It was beautiful.

Of course, we had to go shopping and visit with Yummy.

In fact, we had to visit with all the friends.

We had a swell time.

Elephant Painting

2008-04-05T17:53:00.002-04:00

Lost Phone Numbers

2008-04-03T12:15:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone,

The Spring quarter has begun and I'm in the thick of research methods and Japanese performance studies. Over the break, while hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, my backpack was stolen with all my electronic gadgets inside. The most irreplaceable piece is the hundred or so telephone numbers that went with my cell phone. Since I'd love to hear from you and replace my cellphone directory, could you give me a call? (207)380-2690 It's a bummer to be robbed but on the bright side, I may get to hear from all of you. Hope to hear from you soon.

Louis

End of the Quarter

2008-03-17T02:40:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone,

It's the end of the quarter! We are now in finals week. I don't have any finals, but I do have to post grades and to prepare for next semester before my Sweet Pea comes to visit.

Check out my ballet blog www.uwdance108.blogspot.com! Read some of the comments and you'll get a pretty good picture of what I've been up to with my ballet students. The beginning level students are known around the department as the lovebugs. I understand why!

People in Order from 1 - 100

2008-03-07T15:50:00.001-05:00

229 Party

2008-03-06T15:54:00.001-05:00

Here's a link to some photos of our 229 party.

http://www.paulmillage.com/pix/gatherings.html

Jill Eng and Friends

2008-03-04T15:02:00.002-05:00

Hey Dance Lovers,

Dig yourselves out and go see some dance!

Jill Eng & Friends

Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15, 8:00 p.m.
St. Lawrence Arts Center
76 Congress Street, Munjoy Hill, Portland
Featuring works by Jill Eng, Carol Dilley, Carl
Rudman,
Sarah McCormick and Sara Smith
Tickets $12.00
Reservations at 775-5568 or
www.stlawrencearts.org
more information see www.thecenterformovement.com

David Archuleta "Imagine"

2008-02-27T23:13:00.000-05:00

Star Wars According to a Three Year Old

2008-02-26T10:14:00.001-05:00

I Just Don't Look Good Naked Anymore

2008-02-25T11:29:00.001-05:00

This was sent to me from my friend Captain Janeway. It's pretty cute.
http://heraldnet.com/article/20071221/MULTIMEDIA/283841756

Love, love, love,

2008-02-23T21:20:00.002-05:00

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both
together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the
soul of genius."
-- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE

2008-02-15T10:34:00.002-05:00

Your life is going to change when you have the trust to express and act on your heart's desire, even if it doesn't make much sense at the time;WHEN YOU TAKE RISKS to explore new possibilities,when you jump and go beyond the illusion of your limitations,and breathe fresh air;when you feel insecure but you do it anyway because you want to feel the passion of being alive.

Your life changes when you come home to your soul,BECOME LOVING and accept that you are a wonderful mixture of apparent contradictions -powerful and vulnerable, unsure and inspired,wild and gentle, ordinary and exceptional,occasionally sad and mad, but also a Buddha in the making,that you do your best, and yes, sometimes you really screw things up! That you are loveable anyway and that you really do make a difference to the people around you.

Your life forever changes and expands when you discover and cherish the inner jewel of your awareness,the central intelligence of your being;when, with the honest loving support of friends, you BECOME AWARE of your feelings, attitudes and your needs, and why you act the way you do,and learn from all the blind-spots that they see but you don't.

Your life changes when you learn how to BECOME FRIENDS and appreciate the amazing uniqueness of all the different people in yourlife,when you realize that you are indeed a child of the universe,master of your life, and co-creator of this world... that there is muchto celebrate.Life changes when you discover that whatever the problem,love is always the answer.You can have all this an a whole lot more...by Veeresh, founder of Humaniversity.

Wildlife Photography

2008-02-10T22:51:00.000-05:00

Awesome photos of_dragonflies. Click on the image to make it larger.

A Wrinkle in Time

2008-02-05T01:09:00.000-05:00

Yes We Can

2008-02-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

I'm with these folks http://www.dipdive.com/.

Check out this site

2008-01-26T21:59:00.000-05:00

Don't leave until you come across Barbra Streisand.

http://www.sleeveface.com/

New Blog and Comments

2008-01-13T13:06:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks!

I'm always glad to hear people tell me that they check in with this blog. I don't get to it with any regularity but it's great to know that somehow I am staying connected to those that I love while I'm away at school.

Speaking of school and blogs, I have started a new blog! This one is so that I can communicate with students in my ballet class. The URL for this blog is www.UWDance108.blogspot.com. Please feel free to check it out.

In order to communicate with my students, I enabled the comment link and its great to get comments directly on the blog items. I've enabled the comments link on this blog as well so feel free to respond, even it's just a hello or "hey, that's cool."

Looking forward to blogging with you soon!

Louis

Kiwi Flying

2008-01-12T19:32:00.000-05:00

I don't quite understand this video, but the flying kiwi just filled my heart.

Contained Within

2008-01-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

This bud is on a Night Blooming Cereus. It blooms just once a year for one night only. It is a rare and special event. In Victorian times, people planned parties around the blooming of these plants.

All the design information and geometry in this blossom (as in any blossom) is contained in the seed of the plant. It just takes time and the right conditions for the plant to flower.

What do you think it feels like to be this flower? How do you think the flowering of a plant might connect to the study of ballet?

Flying

2008-01-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Check out this link for an amazing video of flying people.

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=4262

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity

2008-01-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

About this Talk

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it. With ample anecdotes and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant people. "We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson says. The universality of his message is evidenced by its rampant popularity online. A typical review: "If you have not yet seen Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk, please stop whatever you're doing and watch it now."

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T15:08:00.001-05:00

Hey Friends,

It's the start of a new year and life is great. I am loving my life in Seattle and the work I'm doing at the UW. I just finished my first semester and did pretty well. I studied early dance history, dance in higher education, dance composition and danced religions. It was a fascinating combination of courses and at the end of the semester I created a solo that synthesized the whole semester of learning into one artistic expression. I'll try to get that solo on here so you can see it soon.

At the moment, I am nearing the end of my holiday break. I have been home in Maine for a couple of weeks and really working hard at relaxing. I slept 16 hours over New Years Eve. I'm really getting good at it. I fly back to Seattle on Saturday and start the new semester on Monday.

This semester I will be teaching Ballet! I've never really taught ballet, but I'm actually looking forward to it. Of course, I will have to do some original spin on it but it will be an adventure for all 36 students and myself.

I will also be taking a class called Myth, Ritual and Media, which sounds interesting. Dance Administration (which sounds kinda boring) and Teaching Methods (which sounds, again, kinda fun). And I'll be creating a dance with some digital arts undergrads and teaching another Dance 101, which I've taught 3 times now. So, I will be plenty busy. I am also really committed to the improv scene in Seattle which has become my spiritual connection to a wonderful community of artists.

My time home has been wonderful. I've really rested! And I've spent time with family and friends and Don and Randy. Every departure is difficult, but leaving this time seems really long. I won't be back until May. Randy is growing so much so fast. It's hard to miss these precious years away from him.

I hope you all had some great holiday time. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year!

Love, love, love,

Louis

Lars and the Real Girl

2007-12-27T11:15:00.000-05:00

Don and I went to see this movie last night and had a great time! I haven't laughed and cried this much at a movie in a long time. I totally recommend it.

Super Cool

2007-12-22T13:11:00.000-05:00

Quotes

2007-12-19T19:49:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who puts great quotes at the end of his emails. Here's one that I like alot:

"If a person wants to be healed, he has to come to a community to livethere, because a person is not a person - he is a member. He is alwaysalive whenever he is related in a group. The bigger the group, the morelife, and more true." Osho

Home for the Holidays

2007-12-16T14:20:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks,

I am back in Maine for the holidays. Once I wake up, I will put together a schedule for my visit and let you all know where I'll be when. I'm hoping to put together a get together in Portland so I can see my lovely friends. More info to follow!

Louis

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T18:35:00.000-05:00

Great video

2007-11-22T18:25:00.000-05:00

Check out this great video! Evil_Bee

11:11

2007-11-12T13:02:00.000-05:00

To my 11:11 pals around the world, click here for some interesting ideas to think about.

Streaker

2007-11-10T15:52:00.000-05:00

Yes, of course, I remember that the US was founded by Puritans a few hundred years ago, but why does a naked human being create such a commotion?

Gel light

2007-11-04T01:03:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Johnny!

2007-10-27T10:28:00.000-04:00

Here's John Cronin! Or Johnny Angel as he is called because he truly is an angel. It's Johnny's birthday today so go ahead...jump on him. Johnny is just simply one of the most wonderful people you can meet in a lifetime. He's wonderfully friendly and fun. He's a warm open-hearted man. It's probably impossible not to love him.

For those of you that know Johnny, send him a happy birthday email at jccronin@hotmail.com . Even if you don't know him, send him one anyway!

Johnny likes cake!

Love you Johnny! Happy Birthday!

Chamber Dance Company

2007-10-14T01:22:00.000-04:00

Here's some photos of the Chamber Dance Company performance that happened this weekend. We worked hard and had a wonderful time together. This is wonderful group of lovely people and we had some fun and put on a great show!
This is the lovely Leah, my dancing partner. It was her birthday. We celebrated her well!

Leah and Cindy...Sweethearts!
Me and my love Jaime. I pronounce her name Yummy. I was supposed to look hot with the headset on. I'm not sure how successful that was.

Our back stage crew...totally on the job. Sarah Rose ladies and gentlemen.

Isn't she lovely! Then she dons her blacks and turns into the sweat monster and attacks pooling sweat on the stage. Don't ask!
The irrespressible Tomas!

Catherine Cabbeen in Tango, choreographed by Michio Ito. There are good dancers and then there is Catherine. She is that rare performer who has everything. Beauty, strength, grace, and artistry.

Kory helping out Christine, our intrepid costume designer, with the laundry.

Here I am in my Warrior costume. I am super powerful. Look out! I might...clap my hands real loud.

Here are the men of Five Dance Poems, choreographed by Michio Ito. David Lorence, Me, Kent Lindemer and John Dixon.

The gel change girls!

And finally, the women of Skylight, choreographed by Laura Dean. Divas one and all.

Right Brain vs. Left Brain

2007-10-13T01:41:00.000-04:00

Check out this test! It's really interesting...here.

Bunnies are here!

2007-10-07T13:42:00.000-04:00

A Moment of Randy

2007-10-06T12:51:00.000-04:00

I've been working on school work and going from the grad office to the library to home. I have a memory stick that I haven't used in awhile and when I first attached it to a computer, I found these pics of Randy. I love them so much I left them on there and carry them around with me. So, in the middle of writing some academic paper about education history, I'll pull up one of these pics and it makes me smile.

Randy is clearly in touch with both his masculine and feminine sides. He is the best kid. Miss you bud!