Donzii

 

The band I am in, DONZII has been going through a lot of changes the past couple of months... people coming in and out of the band etc. But we are continuing to grow and to do this because we love it. For the first time in a while it feels like we are really back on track with an amazing cast of musician. Dennis Fuller on Bass, Danny Heinze on Guitar, Dion Kerr on Keys, Monroe Getz on Drums and me: Jenna Balfe on vocals. 

Being in a band is like being in a big weird marriage, but without the sex. Making music is such a sensitive and and soul provoking process. Sometimes, when we make something that really relates to us, it feels as though it was sent from another dimension. Or perhaps from a unit of our own dimension where all the thoughts, feelings and nostalgias are together in harmonious field. I think this is where the most moving music comes from. There are moments when I feel so exposed, learning my own voice more, revealing through tone and breath what makes sense to me, or what does not.

A couple months ago we went on a tour, my first tour!!!

Miami> Tampa>Alabama>Gainesville>Tallahassee>Orlando

It was amazing, I learned that there is a whole hearted culture that supports touring musicians. People want to put you up, feed you and learn about you. It kind of blew my mind. It's not anything that I could have learned about unless I experienced it.

At present we are working on our full length album. Huge shout out to A Grey Market for all their support through this journey! You can buy our first ep on their site. You also can listen to us on Spotify.

Check out our music video here in case you have not seen it. 

 

We also have a few shows coming up:

Miami, June 22, 2018, Psych Fest at The Ground. Go to the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/168084753730935/

Orlando, June 23, 2018

Gainesville, June 24, 2018

Miami, Black Market, July 8, 2018

 

 

 

 

IMG_9103.JPG

Photo: Monica Mcgivern  

Flood Relief

Made a site specific dance for Misael Soto's public art piece Flood Relief. Sponsored by Miami Dade Art in Public Places. The piece explored the reality we Miamians face about sea level rise. During the days it was on view, I was operating these huge scary industrial pumps. They were spewing fumes, disturbing the bay and incredibly loud. I was wearing "classy clothing" looking like and art world operative. Misael intentionally was displaying these contradictions, along with the silliness of the band aid approach to this problem that Miami is proposing. Rather than look for ways to change the way we live, we opt to just pump the water that is contaminated by our own septic tanks back into the bay. 

When I performed in the evening, my body was filled with ire. I was upset with the capitalistic nature of everything. I wanted to express the scream of nature that I hear and feel on the daily. As I ride my bike, recycle, ride in a car, work in my garden, by sexy underwear, I cannot deny my time or who I am. In the performance I embodied the socialite, the art world queen, the punk, the dancer, the spirit rider, the homeless person. I moved with all of these people in me. At the end of the piece, when I was out of breath from running through the silly native landscaping "garden area" I felt relieved, but determined to do more.

Looking for way's to express this and create a ripple to move forward some kind of change is my goal.

 

http://misaelsoto.com/Flood-Relief

I AM A DANCER

I grew up with a schizophrenic mother and a father who suffered depression. I often was the sidekick to my mother delusions. That said, school was not easy for me. Let alone outside activity. I was locked in my house for a full year. After that only able to get out for school hours. When I turned 18 I left. When I was 22 I started dancing. It has been a long emotional journey for me. When I was 21 I lost my father. When I was 33 my mother passed away. It was when she passed away that I finally started to see a therapist. My world has been changing.

I am not as technically trained of a dancer as I would dream of being. But am I a dancer? Can I express? FUCK YES. 

I will continue to work and define what it means for me, in this world to be a dancer. I will continue to grow and shape my expression, making it readable, shareable and relatable.

Movement in Context is a series of labs, classes and performances that raise awareness and sensitivity to our interaction with the environment. When I say "environment" I don't just mean what we have categorized as nature or wilderness, but all of the spaces and places that we humans interact with on varying degrees. I am beginning this exploration in the Mangroves to acquaint ourselves with an essential aspect to our South Florida Living. It is the beginning of a story that we are telling through physical exploration. The Mangroves are very specific to our Peninsula living. They act as guardians of our costal land. Their long leg like roots intertwine and grow in all directions creating an organic jungle gym. The features of this forest are perfect to transfer the dance movement style of Contact Improvisation from body to body- to body to tree. In these tight spaces and greater stretches between branches and roots, a mover can utilize the concept of weight sharing to move between or transfer the body slowly from one branch to a distant other. After a while of moving and becoming warmed up the serendipitous flow that occurs with another body in Contact Improvisation begin to occur with the Mangroves. There is a communication that is vibrant and alive between human and plant in this instance.

The forest in particular that we have been moving in is Kennedy Park- Coconut Grove, FL. This forest has some tree's in it that are 100 yrs. old or more. It is a gem of an example and it is easily accessible.  While in the forest and facing out towards Biscayne Bay it is so dense and thick one could imagine that they are existing in a Florida that is pre-settlement. But then you hear children playing, dog's braking, cars passing, music playing, the occasional death rattle of a car hooked up with sub-woofers, construction, etc. But this does not distract from the point. As a matter of fact it is the point. There is this incredible piece of "nature" right next to all of the "non-nature" speaks to the truth of the matter, which is that we are not separate from our environment and the divisions we create in our mind make the interaction with the "dirtier one" more difficult.

Through holding space in this forest, I attempt to bring light to this division, which touches on other perceived dichotomies such as mind/body, mind/spirit, spirit/body and body/nature. I argue that there is no separation.

Moving in Context means to move with a purpose, moving with another body creates movement that is necessitated by the other body in space. It is the same with the trees.You have to lift your legs and stretch your arms and twist and bend and press your body in ways that are so complex and beautiful. Combining this dance with the tree's with the other people in the tree's is the goal of this project.

The continuation of this project will move out of the forest and into other areas. This will be the continuation of the physical narrative we are creating in our place of Miami.

1513229_10152203859995628_655104197_n

Moving in Context (In the Mangroves)

Movement in Context is a series of labs, classes and performances that raise awareness and sensitivity to our interaction with the environment. When I say "environment" I don't just mean what we have categorized as nature or wilderness, but all of the spaces and places that we humans interact with on varying degrees. I am beginning this exploration in the Mangroves to acquaint ourselves with an essential aspect to our South Florida Living. It is the beginning of a story that we are telling through physical exploration. The Mangroves are very specific to our Peninsula living. They act as guardians of our costal land. Their long leg like roots intertwine and grow in all directions creating an organic jungle gym. The features of this forest are perfect to transfer the dance movement style of Contact Improvisation from body to body- to body to tree. In these tight spaces and greater stretches between branches and roots, a mover can utilize the concept of weight sharing to move between or transfer the body slowly from one branch to a distant other. After a while of moving and becoming warmed up the serendipitous flow that occurs with another body in Contact Improvisation begin to occur with the Mangroves. There is a communication that is vibrant and alive between human and plant in this instance.

The forest in particular that we have been moving in is Kennedy Park- Coconut Grove, FL. This forest has some tree's in it that are 100 yrs. old or more. It is a gem of an example and it is easily accessible.  While in the forest and facing out towards Biscayne Bay it is so dense and thick one could imagine that they are existing in a Florida that is pre-settlement. But then you hear children playing, dog's braking, cars passing, music playing, the occasional death rattle of a car hooked up with sub-woofers, construction, etc. But this does not distract from the point. As a matter of fact it is the point. There is this incredible piece of "nature" right next to all of the "non-nature" speaks to the truth of the matter, which is that we are not separate from our environment and the divisions we create in our mind make the interaction with the "dirtier one" more difficult.

Through holding space in this forest, I attempt to bring light to this division, which touches on other perceived dichotomies such as mind/body, mind/spirit, spirit/body and body/nature. I argue that there is no separation.

Moving in Context means to move with a purpose, moving with another body creates movement that is necessitated by the other body in space. It is the same with the trees.You have to lift your legs and stretch your arms and twist and bend and press your body in ways that are so complex and beautiful. Combining this dance with the tree's with the other people in the tree's is the goal of this project.

The continuation of this project will move out of the forest and into other areas in our "environment". This will be the continuation of the physical narrative we are creating in our place of Miami.

1606870_10151906770194716_217257192_n1618558_281059032051908_656797634_n

Spinal

IMG_0230 IMG_0231 IMG_0232Magnus Sodamin- Painter David Alexander Bennet- Guitarist

Dennis Brewster Fuller- Organist

Jenna Balfe - Mover

Katie Cora Stirman - Mover

Casey Zap- Lighting Magician

We all brought our skills and dreams together to make this piece happen for a group show titled: Collabo Show- organized by Bhakti Baxter. Participants of the show could contribute in any way they liked, the only rule was that they collaborate.

We all came together and added our idea's to the pot. Magnus painted Katie and I to blend into a psychedelic rorshcach painting he made. David played ambient guitar music that slowly escalated which informed the incredible slow meditative movement's being made by Katie and myself.

We performed this piece at the Collabo Show on August 30, 2013- Curated by Bhakti Baxter

Press: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/2013/09/the_collabo_show.php

http://artisabout.com/2013/09/04/the-collabo-show-2/

We performed it again at the Opening Party for the III Points Music Festival.

Press: http://iiipoints.com/

 

I feel Sexy

My heart full of leaves. I was invited to do a piece at this Bed-In. I thought about the bedroom, and what that place means to me. It is a private space where I am able to indulge in slow and gentle ritual. I often allow myself to feel sexy when I am alone, but not in the "high heels, red lips, perky tit's way", but my way. Feeling sexy for me is about the decaying smell of leaves. It's about my own smell mixing with my environment. Breathing deep and feeling my belly rise with the moment I have inhaled. The day of the performance I went into a hammock down Old Cutler with my friend Mauricio Abascal. He wanted to film me and my presence in this hammock. I used the time to feel sexy and prepare for my performance later that evening. I collected dirt, leaves, smail shells, branches and vines in a bag as I gently moved about the hammock. My movement with and in this place filled my body with a feeling of ripeness and fertility. Once the evening came and it was time to perform, I brought my bag of nature with me to the event. I also brought my journal and an aloe leaf. I sat on the bed and explained my intention to share what makes me feel sexy. I laid down and did some breathing. I then got up, took of my shirt and cut the aloe leaf open. I began to break apart the insides with my fingers and then smear it all over my exposed skin. I smelled my hairy arm pits and then rubbed it into the soft hair. I then read a list out of my journal. Things that hurt me:

nostalgia

hope

fantasy

self doubt

hatred

fear

obsession

I then began to take things out of the bag. I started gently and eventually began to empty the bag with quick excitement. Eventually dumping the contents onto my head, rubbing the dirt in and rolling around on the bed. Completely immersed in enjoying myself, I ended the piece by saying: "I fucking love nature" 1098382_310587259085302_886137507_n 1185022_310587125751982_1224675798_n 1185290_310587225751972_1076297607_n

Here is what the artist organizers had to say about the event:

Jacqueline Falcone and Guru Rugu's Bed-In and Breakfeast

Wednesday, August 14, 2013 — 8pm-1:59am

Streaming Live! http://youtu.be/A6UVBiYUOpA

Hosted by Guru Rugu and Jacqueline Falcone in Guru Rugu's bed at Cannonball 1035 N Miami Ave., Ste 301 Miami, FL 33136

Watch it live from 8pm to 1:59am at http://youtu.be/A6UVBiYUOpA! Visitors will be permitted on-set from 8pm through midnight!

To finish up Guru Rugu’s summer residency at Cannonball, he will team up for one final event with local artist and hospitality-expert, Jacqueline Falcone, to facilitate a BED-IN & BREAKFAST!

Hosted in Guru Rugu’s bed at the experimental meditation center of los angeles (currently centered at Cannonball), and broadcast live on Guru Rugu’s YouTube channel, the 5-hour and 59-minute event will feature cozy, therapeutic performances, panel discussions, music, and more from a variety of local Miami artists. Participants will include Cristy Almaida & Shaun Wright, Kevin Arrow, Jenna Balfe, Domingo Castillo, Christina Pettersson, Liz Ferrer, Amanda Sanfilippo & Cara Despain, Magnus Sigurdarson, and surprise guest appearances!

Schedule

8:00 PM — Jacqueline & Guru Rugu 8:30 PM — Kevin Arrow 9:00 PM — Jacqueline & Guests — hospitality panel discussion 9:30 PM — Magnus Sigurdarson 10:00 PM — Amanda Sanfilippo & Cara Despain — Scat Bath 10:30 PM — Domingo Castillo — UNKNOWN 11:00 PM — Cristy Almaida & Shaun Wright — Phantasmagoria 11:30 PM — Jenna Balfe — I feel sexy 12:00 AM — Liz Ferrer — ni se 12:30 AM — Christina Pettersson 1:00 AM — SPECIAL GUESTS! 1:30 AM — Guru Rugu & friends — Foot Massage Cuddle Puddle Summit-a-thon

** A Letter from the Presenters **

Dear Friends,

In 2013, Guru Rugu and I were so naïve to think that doing the BED-IN & BREAKFAST would help change the world. Well, it could. But at the time, we didn't know.

It was good that we filmed it, though, and broadcast it live on YouTube. It will be a very long and powerful film someday. What we say then could have been said long ago, or even now.

In fact, there are things that we and our many Miami artist-friends will say in the film, which may give some encouragement and inspiration to the artists and activists of today. Good luck to us all. And bon appétit.

Let's remember WAR AND DINNER AND SUMMER AND RESIDENCIES IS OVER if we want it. It's up to us, and nobody else. Guru Rugu would have wanted to say that.

Love, Jacqueline & Guru Rugu Miami, FL August 2013

Dance Non Fiction

A movement dialogue by: Jenna Balfe

In collaboration with: Natasha Lopez DeVictoria, Mauricio Abascal, Cassie Mills, Olivia Ramos Herrera, Dylan Romer, Daliahah Danielle Koller, Ganesha Michael Shapiro

Music by: Marcel McVay

Occurred on: June 30, 2013 at 5:30pm

Where: The Miami Performance Festival at The Miami Beach Botanical Gardens- 2000 Convention Center Dr Miami Beach, FL 33139

Press: Miami Art Zine, Editors Picks, http://www.miamiartzine.com/latest-features/editors-picks/1569-dancer-jenna-balfe-at-the-miami-beach-botanical-garden

Relationships between people are containers of the ephemeral richness of a moment. This celebration of life is passing. It builds. It develops it's own language and way of being in the world. A relationship is a practice of getting to know the world and yourself through developing a way of communicating with what seems to be "other".

Dance Non-Fiction is focused on a body-centered language development between COMPANY members. As the piece develops, cross-pollination between the movers builds a nonverbal narrative. The emphasis is to use dance/movement in a practical manner, one that supports human community and expression beyond words. By moving beyond words the discovery of a new kind of truth between the movers will beexpressed.

The language of Dance Non-Fiction is generated through the combination of practiced movement forms such as contact improvisation, modern dance, yoga and capoeiraas with therapeutic forms such as Ritual Dance, Authentic Movement and Meditation. The movers/participants are go deep into an interior space while remaining objective and non-emotional, favoring no one form but instead moving and mutating between all forms. Created is a vulnerable space, where real feeling, desires and actions are played out. It is not a "safe space" necessarily but more a hyper-real one.

Energy is essential to this work. It takes precedence over the movement itself. Conscious attention to energy guides Dance-Non-Fiction. This is further achieved in two unique ways. First, Dance-Non-Fiction calls for the audience to be witness to the relationships occurring before them. The audience is asked to put all of their opinions and criticisms to the forefront, essentially becoming a non-passive observer. Through this process of directing their energy at the movers/participants, the movers/participants use their attention to affect the piece in real time. Secondly, there is also is a non-real-time/ in-person element to the piece as well. Since some of the movers/participants in the piece live far their participation happens digitally (ie video chat, speaker phone). The movers/ participants in the piece become mediums between the energy that surrounds us all, the audience and their own personal stories.

See a video clip- click here

Dance Non-Fiction focuses on energy process and is never “finished.” The aim is to deepen and spread the message of a focused physical communication. It is valid and it feels good.