What's this?
Another show?  On the same day as the Hollidazzle Parade?  Sure!  Why not? :D

A few hours after the parade, be sure to stop on by the 6th Annual CalAve Holiday Stroll!

When: Saturday, Nov. 28th, with shows at 3:20pm and 4:20pm.
Where: California Avenue, Reno, Nevada 89509
More details at: 6th Annual CalAve Holiday Stroll

Hosted By:
C o n t r o l l e d B u r n

When:
Saturday, November 28, 2009

Where:
Reno

Description:
The holidays are fast approaching, and it’s getting COLD outside! But we’re suckers for fun and festivities, enter: The Hollidazzle Parade! That’s right, a lovely holiday themed parade will be marching it’s way through downtown Reno, and Controlled Burn’s going to be there! It’s open to everyone of all ages, and…get this….FREE! So come to downtown Reno, see some floats, marching bands, and us!

Click Here To View Event

Well hello there everyone!

We're back in action, after what looks to be a few months of quiet hibernating here on Myspace!  What happened, do you ask?  Well.....I think it had something to do with us unclogging all the Playa dust from our ears.

But never fear, we're back to keep you updated on all our latest gigs, events, and general happenings!

Speaking of keeping everyone updated, we've now moved classes inside to the North Valley's High School.  Classes are on Wednesdays, from 6pm until 7pm.  We request a donation of what-ever you can provide, but we won't turn you away if you can't. :)  For map directions (sorry, I can't beat Google when it comes to map directions), check out our website:  www.controlledburnreno.com!

So if you're curious to learn the whole fire-spinning thing, or just want to ask us questions in person, don't delay...come on down...Wednesday?  Wow...that was a cheesy line.

Hope to hear from you all, and see you all, soon!

-U.S.S. Matt
-Controlled Burn

A Celebration of Fire and Performance Art

Recently, Controlled Burn sent a willing member out into the community to discover what it wants from us, and what its current perceptions of Controlled Burn are. We thought it important to lay out here, on our public face, what we learned, invite additional feedback, to let you know that we talked about what we learned, and have made some decisions collectively based on the feedback received. Below you will see a statement/concern, then Controlled Burn’s response:

C: Controlled Burn is “rudderless” and will fall apart without an Executive Director.

CB: At our board meeting last week, the board voted to suspend the office of Executive Director, and each of the managing directors to take a more active, collective portion of the responsibility for the operation of Controlled Burn. This decision will be revisited at the end of the current calendar year, prior to initiating elections for 2010. We are excited to try this new experiment, and hope you will stick with us through what is sure to be an exciting year! We appreciate and thank Howard Chen for taking on the Executive Director role during the last couple of years; he was instrumental in helping with the organizational process that has gotten us here where we are. Controlled Burn is committed to staying a viable educational and public service to our community…bringing fire performance art to the forefront of our community and sharing those skills with anyone willing to take the time to learn them.

C: Retention/Recruitment: Controlled Burn is exclusionary because of the cost involved with requiring insurance and fire marshal’s cards for performing members.

CB: We acknowledge that this is an expense and one that can appear daunting to some. The board voted last week to make a concerted effort to make participation in Controlled Burn “free” except for tool and costuming needs. To this end, we have developed a program where 50% of revenue from Controlled Burn shows will be set aside to reimburse members for fire marshal card and insurance expenses. Initial reimbursement will be $50 upon CB’s receipt of documentation that insurance has been paid for the year (a receipt, insurance certificate, or copies of check and insurance renewal/application). Subsequent payments will be made on a gig-by-gig basis, distributed monthly at members meetings up to the cost of insurance and fire marshal card, currently $227.50. This on-going tally is performer/performance specific. If the member wishes not to take their reimbursement, this will be considered a donation back to Controlled Burn, for which a tax-deductible donation receipt will be provided to the individual.

C: Controlled Burn’s musical choices are not edgy enough, like they used to be.

CB: Last year, Controlled Burn tried an experiment with two separate “themed” shows. Because our “themes” were “The Spans of Time” and “Controlled Burn Cabaret”, the musical choices for last year were not what would be considered “normal” for Controlled Burn. We hope to get back to that driving, jump-in-your-seat music you have come to know and love us for. Stay tuned!

C: Community upset that Shiva Vista did not burn last year. Community upset that they haven’t heard anything so far this year about Shiva Vista.

CB: Controlled Burn applied for an art grant from the Burning Man organization to help fund the final EVOLUTION of the “TOWERS OF SHIVA” this year. We were required to wait until we were given the okay that said funding had been secured before we could begin planning. However, we haven’t been sleeping on the job! Meetings have been held, designs created, and this year THE SHIVA VISTA STAGE WILL BURN!! We are very excited about this, and hope to make this an opportunity for anyone who’s had a meaningful experience on the Shiva Vista to come and say goodbye to it, burn there one more time, then join us to send off Shiva into the ashes to be born again to something new…what, we aren’t sure yet =) The website design has been redone, the information has been updated and continues to be so. Check it out at http://shivavista.com. Controlled Burn is proud to present this project. Check out the website for more information or to volunteer!

Our Fundraising Gala at Amendment 21 was AWESOME!

We want to thank everyone who came out for it. Controlled Burn appreciates your support! If you missed it, you really missed out, we showcased many of our brand new pieces for the year in a preview of our fire arts festival, to be held July 19, 2008.

This has been a crazy busy year, and I am sorry that there isn't more here to document what we've been up to, you'll just have to come see a show =)

Tonight we are doing a Diabetes benefit at the Kawasaki dealership.

Peace!

To check out some video of our recent UNR "Night of All Nations" show, click here.

It was very fun!

Gemini

I can't believe that February was the last time I posted.

We had an awesome time at the Shiva Vista Fundraiser on March 31st, which was followed by another great time celebrating Yuri's Night on April 14, and just this last Friday, on April 20, we did an awesome show at UNR's Night of All Nations.

The other exciting news is that we got our outdoor permit for the season! We are now at Horseman's Park off of Skyline Blvd in Reno for classes, and we are beginning Community Burns there again THIS WEEK!

Come out and spin with us, and keep checking back, there's more fun stuff to talk about and share!

Gemini

sorry i haven't posted more frequently in here.

man, did we have a blast at the zephyr!

thanks to anyone who came out and know that we are going to do it again, soon!

we have fundraisers and fun stuff coming up.

right now....preparation for the coming season.

learning new choreography....developing new choreography....decided what we can spend....all fun stuff....NOT! it isn't the funnest part about being a member of this group, but i am constantly amazed at how awesome it all works and how proud i am to be a part of it all.

been doing a bunch of stuff for drum, dance, and didgeridoo festival recently. more about that to come.

chat soon!
gemini

oh my....controlled burn has been so busy, i don't even know where to start! seriously.....

first of all, some of the members of controlled burn are working on a project for burning man 2007....the shiva vista project. it's going to be way cool! their website is up and running and can be found here:

  The Shiva Vista Project

their first fundraiser is this weekend, try to make it if you can, it will be FUN!

then, a really cool pal and fellow fire safety, stu, helped me install and get working a new photo gallery for controlled burn on the website. i have added a bunch of pictures and there's more to come, so check it out at:

  Controlled Burn's Web Page

and finally, i saw some very, very cool fire fans that shoot propane. i have endeavored to make some, and am trying to get that done....also, the sirens of the fire, the fans, fingers and bellydancing group, are getting our choreography figured out and it's pretty cool....i am having a blast with it.

that's about it for now.

will report more back later, as it happens.

oh, hey, i almost forgot, we taped a spot for channel 4 that they are going to run sometimes in february during sweeps week. stay tuned to see when you can see controlled burn on tv!

gemini