The Bottom Brackettes

Blackberry Bike Jamboree this weekend

2010-07-25T22:22:00.000-07:00

We are pumped up and excited for the Blackberry Bike Jamboree at the EWEB Plaza in Eugene this Saturday. There's going to be all sorts of fun bike stuff going on from noon to 6 pm, including the debut of our new performance to the classic '80s song, "Safety Dance." Unlike the original video, we've got no trace of mandolins or maypole dances...though April does have secret Morris Dance skills, interestingly enough.

No specific word yet on what time we're on stage, but will post word when we have an approximate time. Our "stage" is the space in front of the community fountain in the plaza, and we were highly entertained during the rehearsal tonight by all the soggy toddlers standing over the fountain jets and deflecting the water by bouncing it off of their soggy soggy diapers. Perhaps we'll have to steal that move!

More pics from Eugene Bike Day

2009-07-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

Some of these pics from our Bike Day performance do a great job of catching details that you can't see on the teeny little video we posted. Thanks to Graham for his keen camera work!

Bike Day was so much fun

2009-06-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Despite the early-morning rain, Bike Day ended up having glorious weather and a wonderful crowd. We had a great time performing to the Go-Gos, and thanks to Hans for getting the dance on video!

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!

Bike Day 2009--see us perform!

2009-06-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

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!

Spring Roll Ride, Sat May 30

2009-05-27T21:16:00.000-07:00

Are you coming to the Spring Roll this Saturday? Not only is it an awesome scavenger hunt on bikes, but you'll be hunting for food that gets donated to the needy via Food For Lane County--an excellent cause! The Bottom Brackettes won't be dancing at this event, but some of our members have been doing some very fancy footwork to help organize the event. We'll see you there!
(Lots more logistical details here for those who like to Know The Plan!)

Welcome to our new web niche!

2009-05-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

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!

Our past performances

2009-05-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

The Bottom Brackettes first came together in the summer of 2008. Our first performance was at the Blackberry Jamboree celebration, at the EWEB plaza in Eugene, OR.

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!

What is bike dancing?

2009-05-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

There are many groups doing bicycle dance, or bicycle-inspired performance art, and everyone has their own unique approach to this fun and funky art form. As the Bottom Brackettes, we dance on our bikes by riding in synchronized patterns with each other.

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.

Other Bike Dance and Bike Performance Groups

2009-05-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

There are many folks out there using their bikes for dynamic, inspring activism and art. Here are some other groups that inspire us in the realm of bicycle-based dance, performance, and play:

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)

Bike Dance is Everywhere!

2009-05-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

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)