Tag: dancing

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Rowan University Students Dance To Drown Out Anti-LGBTQ Hate Speech

The students at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, were not having it when demonstrators showed up on their campus holding anti-LGBTQ, anti-women and anti-Muslim signs.
Dancing to drown out the hate at Rowan University (screen capture)

The students at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, were not having it when demonstrators showed up on their campus holding anti-LGBTQ, anti-women and anti-Muslim signs.

According to the university’s online newspaper, The Whit, one of the signed held high read, “Warning: homos, whores, porno freaks…Muslims, drunks…obey Jesus or hellfire.”

Charming.

At the time, a social media post went out among students which claimed the demonstrators make their appearances on college campuses around the country in an attempt to make money.

The social media message implored the students not to engage:

“Dude so just so you know the thing happening is this group of guys who travel across the country to public college campuses and yell controversial things with the signs that they have, they do this to make money by hoping that students will get riled up and physically attack them, and then they can sue the students or even the school. They can also make money if the campus police or Glassboro police kick them off the campus; because this is censorship of freedom of speech of the first amendment, they can sue the school for a lot of [$$$]. They are con artists and scammers, don’t give them the time of day and spread this message.”

Note: There hasn’t been any evidence that confirms the anti-LGBTQ demonstrators were looking to have their appearance escalate to violence for financial gain.

It wasn’t long before hundreds of students showed up with their own signs and Pride flags forming their own, largely peaceful, protest.

One student, Elijah Olumakin, brought a speaker and music to try and distract from the demonstrators.

“I felt as though, to protest the poisonous words they’re trying to infect our minds with, we need to infect the heart with positive messages,” Olumakin told The Whit. “Whether you’re black, white, Spanish, Indian, broke, poor, gay, straight or non-binary, you love good music.”

The music led to dancing, and pretty soon the students turned the incident into a big party drowning out the hate speech.

Student government president Rbrey Singleton got on the mic at one point to congratulate the students for standing up to hate speech.

“I am so proud of everybody – we are stronger together,” Singleton told his peers. “We came out here, we stood up to hate. We’re going to keep turning our backs to hate.”

Later, in a message to the university community via email, Singleton praised the students writing, “You continue to amaze me every day by your strength and resilience.”

“We’ve been standing in the face of hate today, and many in our community have been standing against hate their entire lives,” he continued. “Let’s be bigger and turn our backs on hate. If we don’t give prejudice and bigotry our attention or power, it WILL leave. Let’s continue to spread love, inclusivity and pride everywhere we go, on and off campus.”

Rowan University President Ali Houshmand issued a statement emphasizing that, while freedom of expression is allowed at all times, hate speech has no place on campus.

“Rowan is obligated as a public institution to allow freedom of expression, but we do not endorse or condone hate speech in any form,” wrote Houshmand. “Rowan University is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the community and rejects the abhorrent sentiments expressed by the protesters.”

According to the local ABC News affiliate, two students were arrested for throwing soda at the haters.

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Broadway’s Robert Fairchild Dances “Music And The Mirror” For MISCAST! Gala

Robert Fairchild at the 2018 “Miscast” Gala

MCC Theater’s annual MisCast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in New York City. Broadway’s brightest stars perform songs from roles in which they would never be cast.

At this year’s event, Robert Fairchild, nominated for a Tony Award in his Broadway debut as “Jerry Mulligan” in the musical An American In Paris, took on the challenge of performing “The Music and the Mirror” originally danced by Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie in the groundbreaking A Chorus Line.

I actually have a story to tell in relation to this.

In 1989, I was cast in a national tour of A Chorus Line starring the original Tony Award winner for “Cassie,” Donna McKechnie.

Donna was a hero to me. I didn’t hesitate to say “yes.” No negotiating – just sign me up. I had to share the stage with the incomparable McKechnie.

Not only was Donna still brilliant, if not better than ever, in the role, but she was as wonderful in life as she was illuminating onstage. We became fast friends.

Along the tour, due to my constant curiosity, I asked Donna questions about “Music and the Mirror” (aka “Cassie dance”). Donna was very generous in passing along information about the backstory of the dance, the meaning behind the movement, the storytelling, where steps came from…

Eventually she gave me a “Cassie dance” class and personally taught me the dance. It seemed back then that all then male dancers wanted to know the dance as it was not only dramatic but thrillingly athletic to dance.

Now, when we would arrive at a new city on tour, there would be a sound check at the theater and among other things Donna would sing “Music and the Mirror” so the sound man could get a handle on the new acoustics. The orchestra would play the full dance as it also helped the sound department EQ the band.

Donna didn’t dance the dance in sound check as, well, she didn’t need to. The understudy would take the opportunity to go over the number onstage as me and another dancer in the show would work the dance in a corner of the stage. I mean, the music WAS playing and we stayed out of the way.

At our last stop on the tour, I was uncharacteristically in my dressing room in the basement of the theatre as Donna sound checked the song. As the music kept playing, I heard the cast in the audience start chanting, “Ran-dy! Ran-dy! Ran-dy!”

It took me a second to understand what was going on, but I went flying upstairs.

I hit the empty stage just in time for the first dance break into the mirrors. The cast burst into cheers as I went into full-on “Cassie dance.” Donna had suggested I finally get my “chance to dance.”

For that one time, I had the full stage to take on the whole dance with a full Broadway-size orchestra. The stage manager even had the crew fly in the mirrors in the middle of the dance. Can you imagine?

It was a thrill to be in the moment, in the music and have my friends (and Donna) encourage me. Truly a memory to keep 🙂

The cast used to muse that I could be an understudy as “Casey” in a “non-traditional casting” choice.

I’ve since directed and choreographed A Chorus Line several times always passing on what Donna taught me about the dance.

Robert Fairchild does a terrific job here. He has a small space but makes the dance work beautifully.

The guy dancers still love to dance this dance. And I’m proud to say I know why 🙂

Watch below.

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#TBT – My First Bow

Regular readers know I’ve been a professional theater dancer and choreographer since my teens, but I often forget how far back my dancing days go.

This is me (white sweater) leading my kindergarten class out on the floor for a square dance in Fort Worth, Texas. I’m guessing I was age four perhaps?

And to answer the question before it’s asked – no, there was no more square dancing in my future after that auspicious debut LOL

Although, a two-step with a hunky cowboy is always fun 😉

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Sometimes You Get Stuck

 
I’ve been a little lighter with posts on The Randy Report lately as I’m currently directing and choreographing a musical production in Palm Springs for the next few weeks.
I spent yesterday in the dance studio alone prepping for a few numbers. 
Every now and then, I get “stuck” – the next step takes a minute to come.
But eventually, it always does. 

Today will be a full day of rehearsals in the studio.

Happy Sunday everyone!

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Dance Shoes, Dancing and “Showing Up”

Posting was a little light here on The Randy Report yesterday as I was heading up the Los Angeles dance auditions for Sacramento Music Circus’ upcoming summer season.

As regular readers of The Randy Report know, I began my professional life as an actor and dancer in musical theater, working on Broadway and in national touring companies of shows like Hello, Dolly!, A Chorus Line, Chicago, 42nd Street and Follies.

Today I’m fortunate to continue working as a director and choreographer. This summer will mark my 4th season at Sacramento Music Circus where I’ll be choreographing Hello, Dolly!

I really enjoy being at SMC because:

1. The incredibly supportive environment from the producers and artistic director, Glenn Casale

2. The theater is “in the round” so you’re forced to think outside the box of traditional theater and explore more creative ways to tell the story.

3. The talent is absolutely first rate.

Yesterday, I auditioned over 100 super-talented dancers in Los Angeles. What a great experience.

At 52, and as a choreographer, I don’t dance full-out regularly myself. But in audition situations, it’s only fair that the dancers see what it is I want out of the audition combinations. After all, I made this stuff up – I should be able to dance it full out.

I went through three sets of shoes during the day because, as we danced harder and longer, the room got sweatier and sweatier. I had to switch from dance sneakers to hard-soled shoes for one combination. Then from tap shoes back to hard-soled shoes because the room (and effort) made the floor sticky or slick depending on whether we were tapping or not.

So, there I am doing my best “full-out” in front of these terrific dancers. As the primary “music theater” dance combination closed with the “jumps” section from the Waiter’s Gallop in Hello, Dolly!, I promised I would do the section ONCE full out.

ONCE.

It was mainly for comedic effect to put the room at ease.  And, it is fun to find out I can still do this stuff 20 some-odd years after I danced some of this on Broadway. I guess I learned something along the way 🙂

One aspect of the day that I really enjoyed, as I danced groups of four dancers at a time, was the sense of support the dancers had for each other. We’d get to the “jumps” section and the dancers on the edge of the room would start clapping to cheer their fellow dancers on. It is a very athletic, “power” section, and I saved it for the end. I love that part of being an artist that we can cheer each other on.

In the end, while everyone wants a job, folks realize it’s not so much about competing against others as showing up, and “showing off” your best.

Once that’s done – you go home, toss your shoes in the corner, pour a glass of wine, and just know you danced it out and left your best on the floor.

You can’t do better than that. Whether you’re a 52 year old choreographer, or a 20-something young dancer.

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Throwback Thursday: Hello, Dolly! On Broadway

Click on the pic to enlarge

I’m in rehearsals for Hello, Dolly! at  The Wick Theater in Boca Raton, Florida, so I figure it’s time for a little #TBT.

The above pic was from the 1995 Broadway revival of Dolly with Carol Channing (who else?) at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on West 46th Street, taken during the “Hello Dolly” number. I’m far right in the pic closest to Carol (there in the shadows, but happy to be there).

Below is the end of the very athletic “Waiter’s Gallop.” I’m second from the left with the shish kabob in my hand. Please note my pulled up feet 🙂

Staging the show now, and passing on what I learned with such a beautiful, wonderful company on Broadway always makes me smile.

Just to underscore that, I always share that in 22 months, no one left the company. We were all so happy to be there. That sounds so pollyanna, but it’s true. Trust me – that isn’t always the atmosphere backstage on Broadway.

Here’s to every Dolly past and present!

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Dancing Kid Wins The Internet Today: “Cuban Pete”

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Mi sobrino Guillermo Gael Delgado Garcia en algún lugar de Monterrey .jijiPosted by Lazarin Delgado Oviedo on Monday, June 29, 2015

Yes!!!! Go, go, go!

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Promo video: “Dancing Naked”

Promoting the new reality series Dating Naked, VH1 shot this cute video (don’t worry – private bits are blurred) of couples shedding their clothes in downtown Los Angeles and dancing “fancy free” through the streets.

Apparently the new show is about folks who lose their clothes and go on dates naked. Yes, naked I tell you.

Hmm,…. I might have to tune in at least once 🙂

By the way, according to the guys at Queerty, today is National Nude Day. Good timing for a naked video, right?

(h/t Queerty)

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Promo for Ellen Degeneres hosting Oscars – “Here We Go”

New Oscars trailer starring host Ellen DeGeneres and 250 tuxedo-clad men and women dancing to “The Walker” by indie pop band Fitz and The Tantrums.

The choreography is pretty amazing in terms of keeping the kids moving, adding in, and clean with great energy.  Broadway’s Jerry Mitchell would be proud – “Full out!”