Photos by Ballet Zaida

I wish everyone a happy and healthy March newsletter! I have some open classes with NYC Community Ballet coming up, and I hope to see you there: * Friday March 20th 10:30am-12pm $5 with your annual membership card at Battery Dance * Saturday March 28th 2pm-4pm $8 Access8 Class at Gibney Dance

The Emperor's New Clothes Photo by Angelina Bartolozzi and Meg Brusso

Spark Movement Collective was mentioned in The New York Times last week!!! Woohoo!!! I am thrilled to be working with these dancers soon!! Stay tuned for our fall shows which will happen November 6th & 7th at The Mark O'Donnell Theater at The Actors Fund Arts Center. Please consider following Spark on Instagram and/or Facebook to see what the last decade has been, and to witness our growth into the next decade!

Read The New York Times article

One of the great pleasures of teaching at Purchase College is when a student reaches out to me for choreography. I am able to connect and coach them in a very special way. Min Lee has commissioned me to create a contemporary ballet solo, and it has been a pleasure to watch her grow. She will be performing Diverge March 13th & 14th at The Dance Theater Lab.

Photo by Celina Sinko

NuVu Festival April 16th & 17th at La Guardia Performing Arts Center I am thrilled to be on this program alongside such incredible artists. Thank you Miki Orihara for selecting me! Untitled Home was originally curated for Spark Movement Collective, and I am thrilled to be presenting it again. This trio has an original score by Ryan Wolfe. Stay tuned for more details and ticket information.

Photos by Noel Valero

Thank you for supporting me through all the parts of my process. I am grateful for you! Be well!

Much Love,
Michelle

Happy February newsletter! Last month we wrapped on a really incredible film project. I collaborated with Alik Tamar Barsoumian on a film based on the opera Tristan and Isolde. This project was commissioned by the Dilijan Chamber Music Series. The film will be shown in Los Angeles in April with live music accompanying the film. Stay tuned for more info! I choreographed and performed in the film alongside Gregory Dolbashian. Gregory and I last worked together in 2011 while I was with Ballet Austin. It was fun to reconnect and work on this project with him. Some of you might also know that I am Armenian, and it was a special treat to work and connect with other Armenians on set including the director, Alik, and my dance partner, Gregory. Check out a few behind the scenes photos...

Photos by Antreas Hindoyan

The Dilijan Chamber Music Series is dedicated to showcasing traditional pieces of Western classical chamber music, as well as pearls from the treasury of Armenian chamber works. Founded by members of the Lark Musical Society, this concert series is aimed at encouraging new devotees to chamber music, while simultaneously inspiring seasoned concertgoers. In addition, Dilijan endeavors to present to the public a variety of distinguished instrumentalists of an international caliber. Moreover, Dilijan strives to present world premieres of chamber music commissioned by contemporary Armenian composers.

Learn more about this film presentation and other performances

Teaching for NY Community Ballet: * Friday February 7th at 10:30am at Battery Dance ($5 with your membership card) * Saturday February 15th at 2pm at Gibney 280 Access8 Class (Only $8!) * Saturday February 29th at 2pm at Gibney 280 Access8 Class (Only $8!)

Also, I am subbing Yoga at Ballet Arts on Friday February 21st at Noon

Photo by Ma'moon Tebbo

Thank you so much for your continued support! I will begin my new directorship for Spark Movement Collective in April of this year. Click below to learn more and please consider making a donation to help bring accessible dance experiences to all audiences.

Spark Movement Collective

Much love! —Michelle

Happy January newsletter! I am becoming the artistic director of Spark Movement Collective in April 2020!

Photos by Celina Sinko & Alex Knapp

Spark Movement Collective has just celebrated 10 years!! I am thrilled to be leading this company into its next decade. Spark aims to create accessible dance experiences, and I hope to continue this mission! Please consider making a donation to Spark Movement Collective to help cover rehearsal space costs, theater rental fees, and artist stipends. Your gift can go a long way and help Spark continue to create new and exciting work. Plus all donations are tax deductible! Our annual fundraiser ends tonight, December 31st! Happy New Year!

Donate Now

Photo by Ballet Zaida

I am teaching for NYC Community Ballet on January 10th! Class is held at Battery Dance at 10:30am. Hope to see you there!

If you are heading to the Napa Valley be sure to stop by The Christopher Hill Gallery. A small portion of my collaboration with Sam Aslanian is on display until January 3rd. To learn more about this collaboration read and watch this!

Photo by Kyle Netzeband

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement! Hope to see you in 2020! Much Love! —Michelle

Photos by Vanessa Gonzalez-Bunster

Happy Holiday Newsletter! There are so many things to be grateful for this season and I am excited to share them with you! Thank you for your continued support!

My new work for J Chen Project was well received at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in November. Click the link below to read the review!!! J Chen Project will be performing the piece again tonight in New Hampshire at the Kimball Union Academy.

Read the Review

Photo by Mira Cook

[NYC $5 Community Ballet](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215337421921131/). I am teaching on Tuesday 12/10 at 10:30am at [Battery Dance](https://batterydance.org/)

Photo by Ty Lyons Graynor

I am teaching on Wednesday 12/11 at 10am at [Ailey Extension](https://www.aileyextension.com/class-schedule?gclid=CjwKCAiAlajvBRB_EiwA4vAqiC1QQiE2KHyfxFyoyd5ihyoMMm_HFTtPusGa9mv7c_bB22ukFJ3W3xoCzFQQAvD_BwE)

I am thrilled to present a new trio at 30/30/30 on December 30th at [Dixon Place](http://dixonplace.org/)! I am also excited to be partnering with [Mary Esther Carter](https://maryesthercarter.bandcamp.com/releases) and her incredible music again! Check out her new album! Mary will be performing live with the dancers. Early bird tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. Buy tickets to 30/30/30

Photo by Celina Sinko

[Spark Movement Collective](https://www.sparkmovementcollective.org/) has been an incredible avenue for me to create, dance, and connect since 2017. Last month, Spark celebrated 10 years! A DECADE OF SPARK! I have some very exciting things on the horizon with Spark and I am looking forward to sharing them with you in the coming months. Please consider making a Tax Deductible Donation to Spark to help us with our next decade! Donate to Spark Movement Collective

Photo by Anne Marie Bloodgood

It's a pretty exciting thing when your former boss emails you and asks you to dance for him again! I learned so much and I continue to learn so much from [Stephen Mills](https://stephen-mills.com/). I am honored to be dancing for him at [The Park Avenue Armory](http://www.armoryonpark.org/about_us/staff) on December 15th at the DANCE SALON. The roster of people involved sounds pretty incredible, and I think it will be a fantastic afternoon of exploration. The event is presented in partnership with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and starts at 3pm. Check out the [Facebook invitation](https://www.facebook.com/events/1385662818262280/) for a full schedule of the day. Participating choreographers include Virginia Johnson, Silas Farley, Francesca Harper, Jessica Lang, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Thomas F. DeFrantz, Joselli Audain Dean, Dwight Rhoden, Kevin Thomas and Wendy Whelan among others. Dance Salon 12/15

Photo by Ballet Zaida

Thank you for your continued support! Cheers to 2020!

Happy November newsletter! I was named the J Chen Project 2019 CORE Choreography Competition Winner and now I get to present my choreography at the Ailey Citigroup Theater!!! It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this company and Jessica Chen. I have collaborated with composer Grace Villamil on this work entitled Woven Ritual. I hope to see you tonight!

J Chen Project 11/2 at 8 PM

I will be teaching for NYC Community Ballet on November 8th at noon at Battery Dance. Only $5! Hope to see you there!

Photo by Celena Sinko

Spark Movement Collective is celebrating 10 years and I am so happy to be a part of it. I will be dancing in this diverse program and also presenting Untitled Home with new music by Ryan Wolfe. This new work explores aspects of home, how we construct sensations about the homes we grew up in, and how those memories are distilled in our minds as individuals and as a collective.The dancers are in a place of recollecting and revisiting and in some cases the dancers are physical parts, artifacts, or people from the past. These elements are pushing in and almost feel as if they are interjecting or imploding on the dancers and in other instances they are whispering and distant. Sometimes these memories are potent, sometimes slippery, and in some cases we construct a bit of fantasy or imagination around them. I am super excited to share this with you!

Spark 11/8 & 11/9 in Brooklyn!

Photo by Kyle Netzeband

Happy to go back to Arts On Site November 16th!!! It is always a pleasure to dance, present, and connect at this wonderful place. Come join the Arts On Site Performance Party on November 16th. Doors at 7pm & Show begins at 8pm.

Photos courtesy of New England Ballet Collective

I am thrilled to be creating for New England Ballet Collective. This company will perform my work through out the New England Area and I am very much looking forward to showing it November 22nd at The Wadsworth Atheneum. I will also be performing at this show with a special guest.

New England Ballet Collective 11/22

Thank you for reading and supporting! I hope to see you soon at a show, a class, or somewhere in between. Much Love. —Michelle