Wednesday, July 1, 2009
More pics from Eugene Bike Day
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Bike Day was so much fun
As usual, there was a lot to do--many of us competed in the Flat Fixing competition, though none of the Brackettes made the final round.
Watching the track-stand competition inspired Chris & Martha to develop a tandem-trackstand technique!
Lots more photos from the event here. Thanks to all the organizers for an excellent day!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Bike Day 2009--see us perform!
We're performing at Eugene Bike Day on Saturday, June 13! This is a milestone for us, since it was on Bike Day 2008 that the idea for the Bottom Brackettes was first dreamed up. We'll be on at 1:00, doing a lively deconstruction of an 80's pop song.
The fun starts at 10 am at the Science Factory, 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy, Eugene, OR 97401. Read the full details about this fun event at the GEARS website.
We also got a shout-out in the Eugene Weekly's cover story this week. Well, maybe it was two shout-outs: both literally, in the last paragraph that mentions the Bike Day festivities, but also conceptually in the front-page illustration that includes a ballerina doing a fancy arabesque on her bike. Man, we are all about doing the arabesque on bikes!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Spring Roll Ride, Sat May 30
(Lots more logistical details here for those who like to Know The Plan!)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Welcome to our new web niche!
Some of you may be wondering what happened to the previous version of our website. We decided to switch our format to a blog so it was quick and easy for all our members to post updates--seems logical to spend more time rehearsing our dances and less time wandering around in HTML-land, no? The goal is to scoot all that yummy content from the first website over here to the blog, and then add even more announcements of upcoming events, plus photos and videos of all our adventures. Enjoy!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Our past performances
In September of 2008, we joined the rockin’ Brazilian-style marching band, Samba Ja, in the Eugene Celebration Parade.
The Bottom Brackettes performed an elegant “bicycle tango” as part of the annual Pedestrian and Bicycle Summit in January 2009. It was great fun. Congressman Peter DeFazio appeared between our act and the bicycle fashion show, both of which put big grins on his face.
In February '09, we performed the tango again at the Convention and Visitor Association of Lane County’s Tourism Forum, to kick off the new promotional campaign that frames Lane County as a major cycling destination!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
What is bike dancing?
We also dance with our bikes, hopping off the saddles and treating the bike itself as a dance partner.
Our bicycles are not just functional tools for getting to work or getting groceries home from the store; they are also vehicles for creative expression and play! Our performance activism shows off the beauty of bikes as well celebrating their role in sustainable, healthy transit.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Other Bike Dance and Bike Performance Groups
- Sprockettes (Portland, OR)
- B:C:clettes (Vancouver, BC)
- VeloVixens (Victoria, BC)
- Bicycle Belles (Portland, OR)
- Chain Reaction (Portland, OR)
- The Spokes (Manchester, UK)
- Derailleurs (San Francisco, CA)
- Brakes (Vancouver, BC)
- Bicycle Ballet (Manchester, UK)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Bike Dance is Everywhere!
The bicycle is a fundamental tool used around the world. It’s no surprise, then, that they turn up as elements of so many creative endeavors! Though some of these groups might not think of themselves as doing “bike dance,” we nonetheless get a huge kick out of the way they’ve worked bicycles into their performances. Enjoy!
From Canada:
B:C:clettes vs. “Sexy Back”
(Proving that you do look hotter with a helmet!)
From New Zealand:
Flight of the Conchords: “Mutha’uckers”
(Hilarious hip-hop bike moves)
From England:
Bat for Lashes: “What’s a Girl to Do”
(Surreal characters doing BMX tricks)
Peter Gabriel: “Solsbury Hill”
(Wireless mic + folding bike = fun live performance!)
From Mexico:
Cafe Tacuba: “Ingrata”
(Why not pump up bike tires to a polka beat?)
Cafe Tacuba: “El Ave”
(Coolest flying cargo bike ever)
From Columbia:
Andrea Echeverri: “A Eme O”
(A celebration of motherhood–by bike!)
From Japan:
Rip Slyme: “Blow”
(What better place to dance than a bike repair shop?)
From the USA:
Trunk Boiz: “Scraper Bike”
(Low-rider cars have been totally upstaged…)
The Ginger Ninjas: “Pleasant Revolution Tour”
(Who needs gasoline to take a band on the road? Not the Ninjas!)
From China:
“The Lady is the Boss” film clip
(BMX bikes used for marital arts? You bet!)
From France:
Hors Cycles (and a variant on the performance, Les Espoirs du Cirque)
(A fixed-gear bike, a unicycle, a giant trampoline, and an amazing sense of humor)