Human Lauren In India

Lauren Cox is traveling to Hyderabad, India from January 28th to March 6th, 2014. In this month she plans to:

• Teach at a local orphanage.
• Teach a two week workshop for beginners on western dances including strength & flexibility, contemporary, ballet, street jazz and freestyle.
• Learn some of the cultural dances of India including Bharata Natyam (the "fire" dance) & Kathak (an Indian classical dance).
• Choreograph and set a 30 minute showcase, including herself and the Steps Studio director, Prithviraj, for the local community at Ravindhra Bharathi auditorium in Hyderabad.

Human Lauren's Campaign / Fundraiser

The plane ticket has been donated by Steps Dance Studio. The workshop and show is still being conceptualized and the total amount needed to make this happen is $2,000 USD. Your donations will be used to:

• Provide admission for five dancers who will attend her workshop.
• Cover costs of costumes, props and music for the showcase.
• Support the local orphanage.
• Stipend for Lauren's living costs.

Dance is a pure expression of the soul, no matter what the background. This is my gift and I would like to share it with as many people as possible. I hope that in opening my gift I can inspire those that surround me to open theirs. Art and happiness is real when shared.

I recently traveled to Hong Kong to perform at the Hong Kong Coliseum with the beautiful Joey Yung and to teach a few classes at Ones To Watch Dance Studios. There is a demand for versatility in the industry and the dance community worldwide. The more diverse you are in your art the more unique, inspiring and valuable you become. This is my attempt to not only share this philosophy with others but to keep growing myself. I cannot wait to share the result of this trip with you!

-Lauren Cox

You can make your donations here: Indiegogo.com/projects/humanlauren-in-india

Lauren Cox

Lauren Cox was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and competed nationally as a Rhythmic Gymnast with the aid of ballet, modern & pilates for 11 years. She then trained, choreographed and competed with the Hip Hop Troupe Culture Shock Oakland while studying Afro-Haitian and Sociology at San Francisco State University. Lauren then immersed herself into Samba, culture and language in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for one year. She moved to NYC in 2010 in order to converge and elevate and has had the pleasure of dancing with James Koroni, Nappy Tabs, Rhapsody James's "Motivating Excellence" and has appeared in the play “Lemon Meringue” and Saturday Night Live. She is excited to be working with up and coming director Mei Ann Teo for the Dance Theater piece "The Man Who Wasn't There" to be performed at various locations in NYC as well as Canada's Fringe Festival. She continues to develop her own vocal, choreographic and teaching skills in order to bring herself to an international platform.

"By simply living as a consciously healthy mind, body and soul.  I am a strong believer in leading by example and so by feeding myself knowledge, compassion and acceptance I can offer others the same thing.  There are so many issues in today’s world, if we all took full advantage of our time, space and experience our similarities and needs would be more important than our differences.  I choose to act through art by telling a story and being honest and committed." -Lauren Cox

Give Me Some Space

I wanted to share these two websites with the Enforced Arch community. They are very helpful when searching for affordable rehearsal space in these two metropolitan cities.

Paris Journal 2011 Part 4

The Eiffel Tower Freestyle Dance (La Tour l'Eiffel danse main-levée)

Celine Orang, owner of Creadanse in Paris, invited James Koroni, creative director of Enforced Arch to dance under the Eiffel Tower with the students of Creadanse led by Loïc "Speedylegz" a member of Criminalz Crew and one of Madonna's current dancers!

featuring Céline Orang James Koroni Loïc "Speedylegz"

editor James Koroni camera operator Joshua Katcher

brought to you by www.enforcedarch.com special thanks to www.creadanse.net

Paris Journal 2011 Part 1 Paris Journal 2011 Part 2 Paris Journal 2011 Part 3 Paris Journal 2011 Part 4 Paris Journal 2011 Part 5 Paris Journal 2011 Part 6 Paris Journal 2011 Part 7 Paris Journal 2011 Part 8 Paris Journal 2011 Part 9 Paris Journal 2011 Part 10 Paris Journal 2011 Part 11 Paris Journal 2011 Part 12 Paris Journal 2011 Part 13

"So You Think You Can Prance?"

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. Or do you?

'364 The Series' wittingly addresses ecological and social issues while poking fun at popular culture. I find charisma in its playful approach. With a sense of humor they speak to somewhat unreachable ears. People often want to mourn in what ignorance is dwelling. It is our responsibility to tackle current issues and make it known that we are enraged. Until we make society realize that artists are not only talents but also 'Movers', we will continue to live in delusion or live without a voice. In order to make this shift we must do our research and make our medium carry a message.

James Manzello, the writer of '364 The Series' carries the leading role of Donner, a reindeer with good intention, although seemingly disheartened by the worlds current state, finds himself excitable at moments of truth. By alluding to certain topics, Manzello offers a platform of discussion influenced not only with his vegan lifestyle but by having a sense of humor. His performance will inspire others to develop opinions and hopefully make for a more informed society. Fortunately, compassion is found in many forms, and James' seems to find his voice within a chuckle.

While we thought reindeer only had one simple job of pulling Santa's sleigh - the other 364 days of the year they have lives just like you and me.

All styling for '364 the Series' done by cruelty free vegan Marlena Pavich, also featuring vegan recording artist Mandy Duffy in episode 4!

'So You Think You Can Dance' occasionally brings our attention to issues of grave importance. Pieces such as Addiction by Mia Michaels and 'This Woman's work' about a woman with Breast Cancer, by Tyce Diorio are a few I will never forget. With Diorio's message brought to the forefront of the dance community I would like to continue addressing the issue.

Looking back to April of this year, I recall Kentucky Fried Chicken making efforts to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation.

50 cents per bucket of deep fried, "chickens, breasts."

How Ironic, this irresponsible fast food chain not only serves food that is breast cancer causing but also perpetuates diabetes, heart attacks and a slue of other health problems! Not to mention it's a bucket full of CHOPPED OFF CHICKENS BREASTS!

Fortunately the Breast Cancer foundation involved pulled out of this fundraiser. These fast food companies are a disgrace to life, compassion and welfare. Not only are they death to small business, they cause health issues in all those who consume their products and get their food through the inhumane practices of factory farming.

A moving quote from Nigel Lythgoe, a judge on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' "I don't know as a choreographer, where you get the strength from... to do a piece like this."  Issues such as these often haunt us, hearing about it day to day almost makes us want to avoid it. Unfortunately being ignorant is more popular these days than ever. We can only make change for those suffering if we as choreographers, "find the strength" to be moved by such issues.

Why do you dance?

Please leave a comment, let everyone in the Enforced Arch community know.

Calling All Carolers

Carolers are a charming tradition every year around the holidays. What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight! Unfortunately it isn't so fun for those who painstakingly pull jolly carolers through the snow. Not this time!

Horse Drawn Carriages are cruel.

I'd like to inspire artists to rally up their vocal chords. New York City, it's about time you sing a different tune. We've invited talented writers to put new words to familiar jingles. We provide the words and you make the music. Try to sway as many riders as you can to use Pedicabs instead of Horse Drawn Carriages. We will provide literature to pass out and songbooks for you to sing from. Simply wear over the top holiday outfits and show up! What do you say?

Thursday, December 23 7:00pm- 9:00pm

Meet at the central fountain area of Columbus Circle!

According to the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, carriage horses in New York City work 9 hours a day, 7 days a week, sometimes in bitter cold and oppressive heat. Around the country, horses pull carriages through traffic on pavement and sometimes cobblestone, which is hard on their joints. The horses also constantly breathe in car exhaust which leads to respiratory problems. Collisions between horses and vehicles are a threat to both people and horses.

Although there are laws to protect the horses, enforcement is not perfect. In December of 2008, activists recorded video of horses being forced to work through a snowstorm in New York City, despite a law that prohibits working the horses during “adverse weather conditions.” The law required the horses to be recalled if the weather turned bad, but it took nearly two hours to recall the horses after the snowstorm started and authorities did not have the power to recall the horses any earlier.

When not working, the horses are confined in tiny stalls in indoor stables with substandard conditions, such as a lack of water, bedding, air conditioning and fire sprinklers. Some horses are tethered, and are unable to turn around in their stalls, which frustrates their nature as highly social herd animals.

HDC Flash Carolers is collaboration between http://www.ourhenhouse.org/ & www.EnforcedArch.com!