A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

First full company rehearsal tonight after a 5 week break for Christmas - everyone feeling a bit creaky!
Jan (our beloved Director) had instructed us all to 'keep fit' over the holidays. Having spent the best part of a month doing very little exercise I panicked last week and searched around for something suitably energetic to get me moving again. A lifestyle supplement in the Dom. had extolled the virtues of 'hot yoga', so with some trepidation I went along to a class. After the initial panic of feeling unable to breathe, I found my muscles relaxing and stretching. A start, but not enough! So, I visited my Pilates instructor for a 1-to-1 on the aptly named 'reformer' (looks like a bed but is more akin to the medieval rack).
However, any fear of overstretched or sore muscles was allayed by Tania, who brought her balls (tennis balls that is) to class tonight, and instructed us in the art of deep pressure massage. Thanks Tania.
I'm off for a hot bath now!

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

It's the end of the holidays, tomorrow it's back to school and work. I work in the same school my children are attending. I work with one boy who has learning difficulties; a rewarding but sometimes tiresome job.

We love rehearsing in Vivek Kinra's studios. Here the Crows listen to Jan's directions. Eeek! It's getting urgent: only two weeks before the first performance of Choros! Can we do it? Yes we can.

Vivek Kinra's Mudra Dance Company are the guest artists performing with the Crows in our Fringe Festival show this year. Glorious Indian classical dance. I can't wait to see them.

It was time to get out on the waterfront and let people know about Choros.   On a hot Saturday afternoon recently, Elizabeth and I donned bits of costume (love those long red gloves) and set about handing out fliers.  We got a great response, lots of people know Jan already and recognise the 'Crows' performances.   Many people were interested in Crows as a group and wanted to know more about the diverse group of women that we are.   Looking forward to now seeing them all in the audience at one of the performances!

Thank goodness -- Katrina Chandra has arrived from Auckland! She's our lighting genius who turns a dance into a show. This year Katrina has an apprentice, Ben Isaacs, aged -- 8?? Together they give us a great confidence boost and some useful feedback.

 Rehearsing the  Maenad section of Choros. A leisurely caravan crosses the stage before we fling ourselves into the full bacchanalia!!

So glad I'm dancing not triathaloning this weekend.  See the smile on my face, I save that just for the end.  Not to say I'm not pretty ecstatic that it is the end!  On the other hand I find mysely smiling throughout Choros - except when I'm being furious of course.  First performance was last night & I really enjoyed it.  So did my friends in the audience which is a real bonus.  When I tell my friends that I have discovered I really love performance, they say things like, really, what a surprise!!  I can't think what they mean.  Anyhow, enough ab

We've started adding photos to the Crows Feet Dance Collective set on Flickr, starting with some super ones by Penny Towns, our official photographer. Check them out by visiting:

http://flickr.com/photos/rmca/ - find "Crows Feet Dance Collective". Enjoy.

InspirePhotography.co.nz is Penny's business web site.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

We had a lovely time with our photographer Penny Towns in Liz Melchior's kitchen taking publicity shots for our next show.

Tania bought some suitably garish looking cup cakes at the supermarket which gradually got demolished throughout the shoot.

Jan is now busy researching pearls of wisdom from the lips of the gorgeous Nigella Lawson for the script we will use during the show.

Time to think about the cossies now - need to find some sexy stockings!    

What a night!! Nigella was her fabulous self as usual & did such a fantastic job of showing our audience how to be domestic goddesses that I'm sure even some of the blokes would have gone home, donned their gingham pinnies & performed culinary miracles.  Of course, she couldn't have done it without all our hard work with spoons, trays, pastry & various other kitchen essentials.

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Last night we got our first glimpse of the costumes for our new show, How to be a Domestic Goddess. 

This is always a scary moment! They are not usually designed to make us look beautiful, after all -- that's not the point. Dancers have their say, and changes are inevitably made. Sometimes huge changes!

But we've now got a pretty good idea of what we'll be wearing on stage in 4 weeks time... It's appropriate and fun.

On Valentine's day. i.e. yesterday, Jenny Cossey did some brilliant advertising for our Domestic Goddess show.

Frocks on Bikes is a fantastic group of women (and men!) who periodically hop on their bikes and spread the word. And the word is: No need to be ugly when cycling — wear a beautiful dress! Cycling doesn't need to be a life-or-death vein-popping exercise — have fun and make the world more beautiful at the same time!

Frockers and Crows are a natural combination.

We were in saucy mode for "How to be a Domestic Goddess" — very appropriate for the chefs' assistants.  And as this photo and the career of Marlene Dietrich show, age is no barrier to having truly impressive legs.

Dancing helps. A lot.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Requiem celebrates the memory of Jan Bolwell’s sister Fiona, who died of cancer in 2006.

The emotional power of this dance was obvious during its first season in September 2007, at Wellington Fringe performances in February-March 2008, and in Dunedin Fringe Festival in April 2008.

Does this inspire you to take up dancing? Hope so! There's nothing more exhilarating than dancing with friends, and public performances add a certain danger and excitement. In 2008, Crows Feet included six grandmothers. Here we are in costume for Requiem.

Left to right: Sally Latham, Liz Melchior, Meg Bailey, Rachel McAlpine, Lynne Klap and Jo Thorpe.

Crows are back at work this week.  After a short recess over Christmas and New Year it was back into rehearsals this week for 'Revue de Cuisine' with Jan giving us a sneak preview of some 'Nigella insights'.  Jan assures us that we only have 'a few more things to learn' before we've got the whole show together and we're into it!   It was a warm night and the body sure knew it had been working - but it's great to get back into the routine and see the show coming together..now about those aches and pains the morning after a class.....

"This show is about one of New Zealand women's most important and enduring icons, the New Zealand Woman's Weekly. I picked up the 70th anniversary publication on the magazine and I thought - what a great idea for a dance show. Meg Bailey, a member of the dance group who works at the National Library, took us into the bowels of the building where we spent hours pouring over old copies of the Woman's Weekly."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

First full company rehearsal tonight after a 5 week break for Christmas - everyone feeling a bit creaky!
Jan (our beloved Director) had instructed us all to 'keep fit' over the holidays. Having spent the best part of a month doing very little exercise I panicked last week and searched around for something suitably energetic to get me moving again. A lifestyle supplement in the Dom. had extolled the virtues of 'hot yoga', so with some trepidation I went along to a class. After the initial panic of feeling unable to breathe, I found my muscles relaxing and stretching. A start, but not enough! So, I visited my Pilates instructor for a 1-to-1 on the aptly named 'reformer' (looks like a bed but is more akin to the medieval rack).
However, any fear of overstretched or sore muscles was allayed by Tania, who brought her balls (tennis balls that is) to class tonight, and instructed us in the art of deep pressure massage. Thanks Tania.
I'm off for a hot bath now!

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

It's the end of the holidays, tomorrow it's back to school and work. I work in the same school my children are attending. I work with one boy who has learning difficulties; a rewarding but sometimes tiresome job.

We love rehearsing in Vivek Kinra's studios. Here the Crows listen to Jan's directions. Eeek! It's getting urgent: only two weeks before the first performance of Choros! Can we do it? Yes we can.

Vivek Kinra's Mudra Dance Company are the guest artists performing with the Crows in our Fringe Festival show this year. Glorious Indian classical dance. I can't wait to see them.

It was time to get out on the waterfront and let people know about Choros.   On a hot Saturday afternoon recently, Elizabeth and I donned bits of costume (love those long red gloves) and set about handing out fliers.  We got a great response, lots of people know Jan already and recognise the 'Crows' performances.   Many people were interested in Crows as a group and wanted to know more about the diverse group of women that we are.   Looking forward to now seeing them all in the audience at one of the performances!

Thank goodness -- Katrina Chandra has arrived from Auckland! She's our lighting genius who turns a dance into a show. This year Katrina has an apprentice, Ben Isaacs, aged -- 8?? Together they give us a great confidence boost and some useful feedback.

 Rehearsing the  Maenad section of Choros. A leisurely caravan crosses the stage before we fling ourselves into the full bacchanalia!!

So glad I'm dancing not triathaloning this weekend.  See the smile on my face, I save that just for the end.  Not to say I'm not pretty ecstatic that it is the end!  On the other hand I find mysely smiling throughout Choros - except when I'm being furious of course.  First performance was last night & I really enjoyed it.  So did my friends in the audience which is a real bonus.  When I tell my friends that I have discovered I really love performance, they say things like, really, what a surprise!!  I can't think what they mean.  Anyhow, enough ab

We've started adding photos to the Crows Feet Dance Collective set on Flickr, starting with some super ones by Penny Towns, our official photographer. Check them out by visiting:

http://flickr.com/photos/rmca/ - find "Crows Feet Dance Collective". Enjoy.

InspirePhotography.co.nz is Penny's business web site.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

We had a lovely time with our photographer Penny Towns in Liz Melchior's kitchen taking publicity shots for our next show.

Tania bought some suitably garish looking cup cakes at the supermarket which gradually got demolished throughout the shoot.

Jan is now busy researching pearls of wisdom from the lips of the gorgeous Nigella Lawson for the script we will use during the show.

Time to think about the cossies now - need to find some sexy stockings!    

What a night!! Nigella was her fabulous self as usual & did such a fantastic job of showing our audience how to be domestic goddesses that I'm sure even some of the blokes would have gone home, donned their gingham pinnies & performed culinary miracles.  Of course, she couldn't have done it without all our hard work with spoons, trays, pastry & various other kitchen essentials.

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Last night we got our first glimpse of the costumes for our new show, How to be a Domestic Goddess. 

This is always a scary moment! They are not usually designed to make us look beautiful, after all -- that's not the point. Dancers have their say, and changes are inevitably made. Sometimes huge changes!

But we've now got a pretty good idea of what we'll be wearing on stage in 4 weeks time... It's appropriate and fun.

On Valentine's day. i.e. yesterday, Jenny Cossey did some brilliant advertising for our Domestic Goddess show.

Frocks on Bikes is a fantastic group of women (and men!) who periodically hop on their bikes and spread the word. And the word is: No need to be ugly when cycling — wear a beautiful dress! Cycling doesn't need to be a life-or-death vein-popping exercise — have fun and make the world more beautiful at the same time!

Frockers and Crows are a natural combination.

We were in saucy mode for "How to be a Domestic Goddess" — very appropriate for the chefs' assistants.  And as this photo and the career of Marlene Dietrich show, age is no barrier to having truly impressive legs.

Dancing helps. A lot.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Requiem celebrates the memory of Jan Bolwell’s sister Fiona, who died of cancer in 2006.

The emotional power of this dance was obvious during its first season in September 2007, at Wellington Fringe performances in February-March 2008, and in Dunedin Fringe Festival in April 2008.

Does this inspire you to take up dancing? Hope so! There's nothing more exhilarating than dancing with friends, and public performances add a certain danger and excitement. In 2008, Crows Feet included six grandmothers. Here we are in costume for Requiem.

Left to right: Sally Latham, Liz Melchior, Meg Bailey, Rachel McAlpine, Lynne Klap and Jo Thorpe.

Crows are back at work this week.  After a short recess over Christmas and New Year it was back into rehearsals this week for 'Revue de Cuisine' with Jan giving us a sneak preview of some 'Nigella insights'.  Jan assures us that we only have 'a few more things to learn' before we've got the whole show together and we're into it!   It was a warm night and the body sure knew it had been working - but it's great to get back into the routine and see the show coming together..now about those aches and pains the morning after a class.....

"This show is about one of New Zealand women's most important and enduring icons, the New Zealand Woman's Weekly. I picked up the 70th anniversary publication on the magazine and I thought - what a great idea for a dance show. Meg Bailey, a member of the dance group who works at the National Library, took us into the bowels of the building where we spent hours pouring over old copies of the Woman's Weekly."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

First full company rehearsal tonight after a 5 week break for Christmas - everyone feeling a bit creaky!
Jan (our beloved Director) had instructed us all to 'keep fit' over the holidays. Having spent the best part of a month doing very little exercise I panicked last week and searched around for something suitably energetic to get me moving again. A lifestyle supplement in the Dom. had extolled the virtues of 'hot yoga', so with some trepidation I went along to a class. After the initial panic of feeling unable to breathe, I found my muscles relaxing and stretching. A start, but not enough! So, I visited my Pilates instructor for a 1-to-1 on the aptly named 'reformer' (looks like a bed but is more akin to the medieval rack).
However, any fear of overstretched or sore muscles was allayed by Tania, who brought her balls (tennis balls that is) to class tonight, and instructed us in the art of deep pressure massage. Thanks Tania.
I'm off for a hot bath now!

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

It's the end of the holidays, tomorrow it's back to school and work. I work in the same school my children are attending. I work with one boy who has learning difficulties; a rewarding but sometimes tiresome job.

We love rehearsing in Vivek Kinra's studios. Here the Crows listen to Jan's directions. Eeek! It's getting urgent: only two weeks before the first performance of Choros! Can we do it? Yes we can.

Vivek Kinra's Mudra Dance Company are the guest artists performing with the Crows in our Fringe Festival show this year. Glorious Indian classical dance. I can't wait to see them.

It was time to get out on the waterfront and let people know about Choros.   On a hot Saturday afternoon recently, Elizabeth and I donned bits of costume (love those long red gloves) and set about handing out fliers.  We got a great response, lots of people know Jan already and recognise the 'Crows' performances.   Many people were interested in Crows as a group and wanted to know more about the diverse group of women that we are.   Looking forward to now seeing them all in the audience at one of the performances!

Thank goodness -- Katrina Chandra has arrived from Auckland! She's our lighting genius who turns a dance into a show. This year Katrina has an apprentice, Ben Isaacs, aged -- 8?? Together they give us a great confidence boost and some useful feedback.

 Rehearsing the  Maenad section of Choros. A leisurely caravan crosses the stage before we fling ourselves into the full bacchanalia!!

So glad I'm dancing not triathaloning this weekend.  See the smile on my face, I save that just for the end.  Not to say I'm not pretty ecstatic that it is the end!  On the other hand I find mysely smiling throughout Choros - except when I'm being furious of course.  First performance was last night & I really enjoyed it.  So did my friends in the audience which is a real bonus.  When I tell my friends that I have discovered I really love performance, they say things like, really, what a surprise!!  I can't think what they mean.  Anyhow, enough ab

We've started adding photos to the Crows Feet Dance Collective set on Flickr, starting with some super ones by Penny Towns, our official photographer. Check them out by visiting:

http://flickr.com/photos/rmca/ - find "Crows Feet Dance Collective". Enjoy.

InspirePhotography.co.nz is Penny's business web site.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

We had a lovely time with our photographer Penny Towns in Liz Melchior's kitchen taking publicity shots for our next show.

Tania bought some suitably garish looking cup cakes at the supermarket which gradually got demolished throughout the shoot.

Jan is now busy researching pearls of wisdom from the lips of the gorgeous Nigella Lawson for the script we will use during the show.

Time to think about the cossies now - need to find some sexy stockings!    

What a night!! Nigella was her fabulous self as usual & did such a fantastic job of showing our audience how to be domestic goddesses that I'm sure even some of the blokes would have gone home, donned their gingham pinnies & performed culinary miracles.  Of course, she couldn't have done it without all our hard work with spoons, trays, pastry & various other kitchen essentials.

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Last night we got our first glimpse of the costumes for our new show, How to be a Domestic Goddess. 

This is always a scary moment! They are not usually designed to make us look beautiful, after all -- that's not the point. Dancers have their say, and changes are inevitably made. Sometimes huge changes!

But we've now got a pretty good idea of what we'll be wearing on stage in 4 weeks time... It's appropriate and fun.

On Valentine's day. i.e. yesterday, Jenny Cossey did some brilliant advertising for our Domestic Goddess show.

Frocks on Bikes is a fantastic group of women (and men!) who periodically hop on their bikes and spread the word. And the word is: No need to be ugly when cycling — wear a beautiful dress! Cycling doesn't need to be a life-or-death vein-popping exercise — have fun and make the world more beautiful at the same time!

Frockers and Crows are a natural combination.

We were in saucy mode for "How to be a Domestic Goddess" — very appropriate for the chefs' assistants.  And as this photo and the career of Marlene Dietrich show, age is no barrier to having truly impressive legs.

Dancing helps. A lot.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Requiem celebrates the memory of Jan Bolwell’s sister Fiona, who died of cancer in 2006.

The emotional power of this dance was obvious during its first season in September 2007, at Wellington Fringe performances in February-March 2008, and in Dunedin Fringe Festival in April 2008.

Does this inspire you to take up dancing? Hope so! There's nothing more exhilarating than dancing with friends, and public performances add a certain danger and excitement. In 2008, Crows Feet included six grandmothers. Here we are in costume for Requiem.

Left to right: Sally Latham, Liz Melchior, Meg Bailey, Rachel McAlpine, Lynne Klap and Jo Thorpe.

Crows are back at work this week.  After a short recess over Christmas and New Year it was back into rehearsals this week for 'Revue de Cuisine' with Jan giving us a sneak preview of some 'Nigella insights'.  Jan assures us that we only have 'a few more things to learn' before we've got the whole show together and we're into it!   It was a warm night and the body sure knew it had been working - but it's great to get back into the routine and see the show coming together..now about those aches and pains the morning after a class.....

"This show is about one of New Zealand women's most important and enduring icons, the New Zealand Woman's Weekly. I picked up the 70th anniversary publication on the magazine and I thought - what a great idea for a dance show. Meg Bailey, a member of the dance group who works at the National Library, took us into the bowels of the building where we spent hours pouring over old copies of the Woman's Weekly."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

 A dance about the life of Isadora Duncan. 

Jan Bolwell said of the dance:

"I am indebted to the work of American solo dancer Annabelle Gamson, who has spent a lifetime studying the dances of Isadora Duncan."

First full company rehearsal tonight after a 5 week break for Christmas - everyone feeling a bit creaky!
Jan (our beloved Director) had instructed us all to 'keep fit' over the holidays. Having spent the best part of a month doing very little exercise I panicked last week and searched around for something suitably energetic to get me moving again. A lifestyle supplement in the Dom. had extolled the virtues of 'hot yoga', so with some trepidation I went along to a class. After the initial panic of feeling unable to breathe, I found my muscles relaxing and stretching. A start, but not enough! So, I visited my Pilates instructor for a 1-to-1 on the aptly named 'reformer' (looks like a bed but is more akin to the medieval rack).
However, any fear of overstretched or sore muscles was allayed by Tania, who brought her balls (tennis balls that is) to class tonight, and instructed us in the art of deep pressure massage. Thanks Tania.
I'm off for a hot bath now!

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

Choros was the main dance in our tenth anniversary show, performed at the 2009 Wellington Fringe Festival. audience dazed, delighted and disconcerted. Choros is a sensuous Bacchanalian revel danced to View From Olympus by acclaimed New Zealand composer, John Psathas.

Leaving Home was the other work in four performances at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre from 27 February to 1 March 2009.

It's the end of the holidays, tomorrow it's back to school and work. I work in the same school my children are attending. I work with one boy who has learning difficulties; a rewarding but sometimes tiresome job.

We love rehearsing in Vivek Kinra's studios. Here the Crows listen to Jan's directions. Eeek! It's getting urgent: only two weeks before the first performance of Choros! Can we do it? Yes we can.

Vivek Kinra's Mudra Dance Company are the guest artists performing with the Crows in our Fringe Festival show this year. Glorious Indian classical dance. I can't wait to see them.

It was time to get out on the waterfront and let people know about Choros.   On a hot Saturday afternoon recently, Elizabeth and I donned bits of costume (love those long red gloves) and set about handing out fliers.  We got a great response, lots of people know Jan already and recognise the 'Crows' performances.   Many people were interested in Crows as a group and wanted to know more about the diverse group of women that we are.   Looking forward to now seeing them all in the audience at one of the performances!

Thank goodness -- Katrina Chandra has arrived from Auckland! She's our lighting genius who turns a dance into a show. This year Katrina has an apprentice, Ben Isaacs, aged -- 8?? Together they give us a great confidence boost and some useful feedback.

 Rehearsing the  Maenad section of Choros. A leisurely caravan crosses the stage before we fling ourselves into the full bacchanalia!!

So glad I'm dancing not triathaloning this weekend.  See the smile on my face, I save that just for the end.  Not to say I'm not pretty ecstatic that it is the end!  On the other hand I find mysely smiling throughout Choros - except when I'm being furious of course.  First performance was last night & I really enjoyed it.  So did my friends in the audience which is a real bonus.  When I tell my friends that I have discovered I really love performance, they say things like, really, what a surprise!!  I can't think what they mean.  Anyhow, enough ab

We've started adding photos to the Crows Feet Dance Collective set on Flickr, starting with some super ones by Penny Towns, our official photographer. Check them out by visiting:

http://flickr.com/photos/rmca/ - find "Crows Feet Dance Collective". Enjoy.

InspirePhotography.co.nz is Penny's business web site.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Who says middle aged women can't be ballerinas?

Dear God Degas is based upon the famous ballet paintings of Degas performed to the music of Ligeti. The Crows had particular delight in dressing as nineteenth century ballerinas, and there was some disappointment when others were cast instead as the mothers of the ballerinas.

Director Jan Bolwell danced to role of the ballet master, who can be seen standing in the wings, or conducting class in the studio in the Degas paintings.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

 Going for Baroque performed to Handel's Water Music. Living on the edge of Wellington's beautiful harbour, the Crows have taken images from their immediate surroundings and transformed them into a series of dances. You may catch the odd glimpse of a traditional dance step, but mostly it is a witty, irreverant interpretation of Handel's famous score by sprightly dancers of a certain age. In the hands of guest percussionist Andreas Lepper, water coolers and running taps are also given a starring role.

We had a lovely time with our photographer Penny Towns in Liz Melchior's kitchen taking publicity shots for our next show.

Tania bought some suitably garish looking cup cakes at the supermarket which gradually got demolished throughout the shoot.

Jan is now busy researching pearls of wisdom from the lips of the gorgeous Nigella Lawson for the script we will use during the show.

Time to think about the cossies now - need to find some sexy stockings!    

What a night!! Nigella was her fabulous self as usual & did such a fantastic job of showing our audience how to be domestic goddesses that I'm sure even some of the blokes would have gone home, donned their gingham pinnies & performed culinary miracles.  Of course, she couldn't have done it without all our hard work with spoons, trays, pastry & various other kitchen essentials.

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Crows Feet Dance Collective attacks the culinary arts in a hilarious new dance work. Be amazed and delighted as the Crows dance their way from pastry to cupcakes, inspired by words of wisdom from "Nigella" who expects that by the end you will be weeping with gratitude.

Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive Upper Hutt

Friday 26 February 8pm Saturday 27 February 3pm Sunday 28 February 3pm

Bookings: 04 527 2168 or www.expressions.org.nz  (open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday)

Last night we got our first glimpse of the costumes for our new show, How to be a Domestic Goddess. 

This is always a scary moment! They are not usually designed to make us look beautiful, after all -- that's not the point. Dancers have their say, and changes are inevitably made. Sometimes huge changes!

But we've now got a pretty good idea of what we'll be wearing on stage in 4 weeks time... It's appropriate and fun.

On Valentine's day. i.e. yesterday, Jenny Cossey did some brilliant advertising for our Domestic Goddess show.

Frocks on Bikes is a fantastic group of women (and men!) who periodically hop on their bikes and spread the word. And the word is: No need to be ugly when cycling — wear a beautiful dress! Cycling doesn't need to be a life-or-death vein-popping exercise — have fun and make the world more beautiful at the same time!

Frockers and Crows are a natural combination.

We were in saucy mode for "How to be a Domestic Goddess" — very appropriate for the chefs' assistants.  And as this photo and the career of Marlene Dietrich show, age is no barrier to having truly impressive legs.

Dancing helps. A lot.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Leaving Home is a narrative dance that explores the pain, effort and ultimately the freedom of emigration. It is Jan Bolwell’s tribute to her great, great, great grandmother Jane Broadfoot, who left Scotland as a young bride in 1843.

Requiem celebrates the memory of Jan Bolwell’s sister Fiona, who died of cancer in 2006.

The emotional power of this dance was obvious during its first season in September 2007, at Wellington Fringe performances in February-March 2008, and in Dunedin Fringe Festival in April 2008.

Does this inspire you to take up dancing? Hope so! There's nothing more exhilarating than dancing with friends, and public performances add a certain danger and excitement. In 2008, Crows Feet included six grandmothers. Here we are in costume for Requiem.

Left to right: Sally Latham, Liz Melchior, Meg Bailey, Rachel McAlpine, Lynne Klap and Jo Thorpe.

Crows are back at work this week.  After a short recess over Christmas and New Year it was back into rehearsals this week for 'Revue de Cuisine' with Jan giving us a sneak preview of some 'Nigella insights'.  Jan assures us that we only have 'a few more things to learn' before we've got the whole show together and we're into it!   It was a warm night and the body sure knew it had been working - but it's great to get back into the routine and see the show coming together..now about those aches and pains the morning after a class.....

"This show is about one of New Zealand women's most important and enduring icons, the New Zealand Woman's Weekly. I picked up the 70th anniversary publication on the magazine and I thought - what a great idea for a dance show. Meg Bailey, a member of the dance group who works at the National Library, took us into the bowels of the building where we spent hours pouring over old copies of the Woman's Weekly."