Update Series: Katie Sopoci Drake

Happy Impending Turkey Day, friends!
Since Fall is turning into Winter, for the next few days, each of us will be writing to give you an update on what we have been up to since our summer adventures! Next up is Katie Sopoci Drake!

What has Katie been up to? Take it away, Katie:

Hey y'all! This summer, after all of the dancing died down, I headed out to Yellowstone N.P. to feast my eyes and spirit on all of the fabulous nature. It gives me life, you know. Little personal projects cropped up here and there and I enjoyed dancing with friends in D.C. and trying on other people's dance-visions for a while. 

This Fall has seen me working both in my new position as Executive Assistant at the Maryland Youth Ballet, helping young dancers achieve their dance dreams, and hopping into my well-worn role as an educator at the University of Maryland - College Park, helping college students find their way into their bodies.  

Now that the snowflakes are threatening to fly, I can't wait to dive into a new artistic process with MEPC at the same time I dive into a new project with Rebollar Dance. Dance, dance, everywhere!

Update Series: Barbara Tait

Hi again friends!
Since Fall is turning into Winter, for the next few days, each of us will be writing to give you an update on what we have been up to since our summer adventures! Next up is Barbara Tait!

What has Barbara been up to? Take it away, Barbara:

A very sad library lay-off gifted me with some major free-time to focus on dance this summer. I attended Bates Dance Festival in Maine with Eliza, and to be a full-time student again was both humbling and invigorating. I made two new duets, performed several times in Philly (in my own work and for others), and took an incredible week-long workshop with Luciana Achugar. Teaching a summer dance workshop with Rachel in Virginia spun me into a whirlwind of life changes. I'll spare the gory details, but let's just say this: Virginia is certainly for lovers. I moved to Blacksburg in October. I am settling in and looking forward to new collaborations (both long distance and in person!), and getting better at mountain biking. 

Update Series: Eliza Larson

Hi friends!
Since Fall is turning into Winter, for the next few days, each of us will be writing to give you an update on what we have been up to since our summer adventures! First up is Eliza Larson!

What has Eliza been up to? Take it away, Eliza:

This summer was expansive and exhilarating and exhausting.  After driving 7000 miles, performing 

at PortFringe in Portland, Maine; the Capital Fringe Festival in DC, and the Southern Vermont Dance Festival in Brattleboro, I attended the Bates Dance Festival where I was able to relish being a student again.  Despite some minor injuries, the spring, summer, and fall has had me dancing and teaching constantly.  

The sea of movement  has parted though, and I’ve just come back West, to regain some equilibrium in my former home of Portland, Or.  New projects on the horizon include diving into the dance scene in the Pacific NW, continuing to study Piso Movil with Omar Carrum whenever possible, and exploring the ever growing  physical and creative territory of Mountain Empire as  we expand to be a bi-coastal company.

Eliza (orange) and Rachel (green) dance at the Mascher Co-op for MEPC's  2014 show in Philadelphia
Photo credit: Jen Kertis-Veit