Choreographed and Performed by: Deborah Jackson Sound Design: Quentin Chiappetta at MediaNoise
This dance project is an opportunity to share the path from intellect to wisdom.
When we are younger we are rewarded for acquiring skills and knowledge, cataloging it, bragging about it, exploiting it. If we are not careful, this path can lead to vanity, carelessness, delusions, poor choices and suffering – even if you are loving and kind. Only later did this dancer realize that awakening was meant to be my path all along. The opportunity to face the shadow side, delusion -maya. Knowledge is not wisdom. It requires a lot of letting go, compassion and love lifetime after lifetime until the moment comes when you finally escape samsara – the wheel of birth and death and birth and death. So for the brief moments we are together, I do not want to just entertain the audience, I want to inspire them to reconnect to Self, their true nature, innate happiness and real power. Through the ancient gateways of Qigong and dance, I believe and practice Movement as Medicine.
“The point is not to take the world’s opinion as a guiding star but to go one’s way in life and working unerringly, neither depressed by failure not seduced by applause.”
– Gustav Mahler
Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend. All staff are vaccinated, and all staff with the exception of the performer will be masked during the event.
Union Street Dances’ Artist in Residence and Underground Movement, Vol. 5 performances were made possible by Union Street Dance home of Eva Dean Dance with funding from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Dance Studio Alliance, an unprecedented collective of diverse dance organizations reimagining the tapestry of the NYC dance community, will present Moving Forward Together, an evening of performances from seven studios represented in the alliance. The showcase will spotlight the initiation of DSA’s mission to transform NYC’s dance culture and community through accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. Net profits from the evening will be re-invested towards the creation of DSA programs aimed to strengthen the infrastructure of the NYC dance community.
In this production, we will be performing two pieces.
Pearl is a deep underwater piece influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon. Performed by Katherine Moncebaiz and Rebecca Light.
Evening Samba,performed by Katherine Moncebaiz. A balmy tropical night as the sun sets, a dancer gently sambas with her shadow. (Formerly known as Elizabeth’s Solo)
-Who-
Performances will include the work of professional and dancers from diverse backgrounds and genres from the following NYC studios:
The KnJ Theater at Peridance is located on the ground floor of the Center, 126 East 13th Street, New York, NY, 10003. Peridance is located in Union Square and easily accessible by the 4,5,6,N,R,Q,W and L subway lines.
ABOUT DANCE STUDIO ALLIANCE
Dance Studio Alliance NYC (DSA) was initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting closures of dance studios across the city. DSA is a coalition of dance leaders who work to inform, lobby, unite, and empower the community and dance leaders to better the dance community. Through their collaboration, DSA created a comprehensive health guidance handbook for industry professionals to utilize to limit the spread of COVID-19 in reopening, which has been used as a model nationally. With participating members from 16 influential dance organizations, DSA inspires the dance sector to reimagine the impact of dance studios in their communities and create a tapestry of dance culture in New York City.
We are proud to bring back our Fall 2021 Mertz-Gilmore Creative Stipend Artists in Residence: Debbie Mausner, Joyce King, and Kristen Klein to talk about their site-specific performances for Union Street Dance’s Underground Movement, Vol. 5.
Underground Movement,
Vol 5.
Virtual Screening
April 3rd 5pm EST
Dancers (L to R) Eleanor Altholz, Carolyn Silverman, Nadia Halim; Photo by SD Diamond
Program
together, apart – working title – an excerpt
JKing Dance Company Choreography: Joyce King Dancers: Kat Bark, Maggie Fischer, Kelly Hogan
Music: Savfk
Videographer: Debbie Mausner
“together, apart” is a new work-in-progress born out of Artistic Director Kings’ questions on health and well-being. Which dominates? Our mental, physical, or emotional health. Portrayed by three female dancers as ‘roommates,’ we explore the impact and challenges when one aspect is faltering or leading, dormant, even complacent. What will it take to create a sense of life balance?
Union Street Dance’s Underground Movement, Vol. 5
October 2 & 3, 2021
LOCATION Whitwell Pl between 1st and Carroll St, Brooklyn, NY.
Union Street Dances’ Artist in Residence and Underground Movement, Vol. 5 performances were made possible by Union Street Dance home of Eva Dean Dance with funding from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
groupthink
Inclined Dance Project Choreography: Kristen Klein Dancers: Sara Erikson, Maria Gardner, Kristen Klein, Shannon McGee
Music: Soundscore featuring music by Mika Vainio, Cicada Duo, Byetone, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Videographer: Debbie Mausner
“groupthink” explores how group dynamics influence identity, individual thought processes, and emotional responses. Development of the work began in 2019 through a series of discussions with the performers ranging in topics from how we identify as artists, how societal standards direct decision making, to personal encounters with friends, family, or strangers. These reflections from the performers were then translated into choreographed phrases, movement patterns, and interactions to mimic either specific events described by the dancers or to evoke particular feelings. “groupthink” is currently a series of multiple short sections pasted together, creating a broad narrative of dancer interactions. For Underground Movement we are focusing on specific sections of the work to expand and re-develop, specifically focusing on one-on-one dynamics between the performers. The work will feature 4 dancers and is set to a compiled sound score of various artists designed to enhance the mood and tone of the work.
Union Street Dance’s Underground Movement, Vol. 5
October 2 & 3, 2021
LOCATION Whitwell Pl between 1st and Carroll St, Brooklyn, NY.
Union Street Dances’ Artist in Residence and Underground Movement, Vol. 5 performances were made possible by Union Street Dance home of Eva Dean Dance with funding from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Relay is a study of the process of transference — of how movements and ideas are transferred across space, time, and bodies, and of what is gained, lost, or altered in the process. It is also an exploration of repetition and disruption. How do we return to something known, and yet find new ways of approaching it that keep it moving forward? What happens when those repetitions are interrupted, and how can those moments of disruption repurpose the process? A reimagining of a quintet created in the tennis courts of South Oxford Park, Fort Greene, this trio adaptation for [Whitwell Pl] will approach this new site with curiosity, play, and rigor.
Union Street Dance’s Underground Movement, Vol. 5
October 2 & 3, 2021
LOCATION Whitwell Pl between 1st and Carroll St, Brooklyn, NY.
Union Street Dances’ Artist in Residence and Underground Movement, Vol. 5 performances were made possible by Union Street Dance home of Eva Dean Dance with funding from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Photo 1: Debbie Mausner photos, PC: Adisa Duke; Photo 2: JKing Dance Company, PCL Eric Bandiero; Photo 3: Inclined Dance Project, PC: Andrew J. Mauney
Eva Dean Dance has a long history granting Brooklyn dance artists an opportunity to develop and present new work at our home studio, Union Street Dance. Our Union Street Dance Artist in Residence programing is made possible by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation Late-Stage Creative Stipend. This RFP is Mertz Gilmore Foundation’s effort to address the insufficiency of resources available to dance-makers in the later stages of their development process. The award comes with monetary support for the project, a space grant at Union Street Dance to rehearse and develop the work, and a public performance presented by Union Street Dance.
