Design and concept by Valentin Peter Eisele. Performed at The Lir, Dublin, Ireland, December 2015.
"Wasteland" Collaboration with Valentin Eisele, Ciara Murnane and Bill Woodland
I had the opportunity to collaborate with three of the MFA Theatre Design students on an evening of design showcases inspired by T. S. Eliot's "The Wasteland." It was a different approach to creating performance than I've engaged in previously; using design as the leading element and developing narrative and performance from the visual concept for the piece.
I worked with Valentin Peter Eisele on a piece inspired by this portion of the poem:
If there were water
And no rock
If there were rock
And also water
And water
A spring
A pool among the rock
IF there were the sound of water only
...
But there is no water
I worked with Ciara Murnane and Bill Woodland on a piece inspired by this line:
My feet are at Moorgate, and my heart
Under my feet
More photos and video to follow.
Capricho at Dixon Place
Void Theater Company is so grateful to all who came to see our newest incarnation of Capricho on June 30th at Dixon Place.
Capricho challenges performers to wrestle with their weakest links- their biggest challenges as artists. Individual struggles become group examinations as the women of Void attempt to very publicly do what they don't do best. Capricho is a dance of vulnerability and insecurity and unflattering beauty.
Directed by Leni Mendez
Lights by Robin Dill
Including sound by Emilio Cordero Checa
Performed by:
Julia Cavagna
Clarissa Hoffmann
Rebecca Lloyd Jones
Lauren Sky
Keelie A. Sheridan
Yokko
truthordare In Process/ Void's Farewell Performance
The Void Theater Company is working on a research process in several stages.
We invite you to be a part of it.
Your feedback keeps the work growing and your ticket-by-donation helps to sustain Void- an ensemble of independent artists from NYC.
Directed by: Leni Mendez
Music by Emilio Cordero Checa
Lighting by: Robin Dill
Featuring:
Julia Cavagna
Clarissa Hoffmann
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones
Marie Putko
Lauren Sky
Keelie A. Sheridan
Yokko
Almost everyone has played 'truth or dare.' Most people know its rules and regulations. You have the choice to either answer a question as truthfully as possible or perform a dare, but you are always at the mercy of your fellow players. Even in the most familiar and intimate circles, the game can quickly turn dangerous.
$10 admission- CASH ONLY.
253 W.28th St (black unmarked door west of 253 entrance). RSVP to voidtheatercompany@gmail.com.
Dream Dances Closes.
The Ume Group's Dream Dances began development in October. Through five months of training (butoh, gymnastics, yoga nidra, physical theatre), dream journaling and sketching, the ensemble- Kate Douglas, Fabio Motta, Mike McNulty, Byron Hagan and myself- led by director Jordan Rosin (assisted by Yokko and Christian Leadley) devised what has been one of the greatest sources of pride and growth in my career thusfar. Resisting the urge to be easily classified or marketed as 'all this' or 'all that,' we were led through a process that challenged our limits as performers, building new skills and developing new senses for intimate, authentic and resonant storytelling. I have nothing but gratitude for Jordan, the team and the wildly supportive and enthusiastic audiences that shared this journey with us. On to the next.
Photos by Jorge Luna Photography.
Ren Gyo Soh Fundraiser Performance- April 18th
Save the date- I'll be performing a Butoh piece directed by Yokko at Ren Gyo Soh's 1st Birthday Party Fundraiser at the ABC Sanctuary, along with a bill of other exciting performances.
Void Theater Company's truth or dare
Void Theater Company's Fall Lab performance of truth or dare was a magically explosive and intimate experience shared with a small, invited audience in our private space on December 2nd, 2014. It's an honor and a privilege to collaborate with the lady-powerhouses of Void- voraciously talented dancers, actors and singers. We'll continue to develop this piece in the spring lab with plans for more public sharings in 2015. Void Theater Company is directed by Leni Mendez and consists of Leah Beltran, Julia Cavagna, Clarissa Hoffmann, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Lauren Lamalino, Marie Putko with sound by Emilio Cordero.
Rehearsal shots below by Jorge Luna.
The Ume Group's 'Dream Dances' Sketching Phase
After weeks of butoh, yoga nidra, acrobatics and physical theatre training along with intensive dream journaling, the ensemble has begun to sketch some of our most vivid, poignant, curious or personally stirring dreams using the ensemble to create representations of or responses to elements of within these stories.
Below is an image from last night's initial sketch directed by ensemble member Mike McNulty. The process has been challenging, invigorating and extremely fertile for me thusfar. Look out for more updates. Dream Dances will be performed March 5-7th 2015 at Grace & St. Paul's Church- 173 W. 71st St, NY NY.
Void Theater Company- Save the Date
I'm thrilled to have become a member of the Void Theatre Company. I'm humbled to belong to this octet of insanely talented female performance artists, headed by the inspiring Leni Mendez.
Our objective is to represent and promote artistic and cultural interests of a cosmopolitan nature. Theater, cinema, dance, music and plastic arts are utilized through an inclusive and multiethnic lens. We provoke the creation of an open space, a meeting point, exploration, fusion of new artistic languages incited by the cultural exchange fermented in New York City, whose cosmopolitan character makes it the ideal laboratory to create and "believe" art in this manner.
We'll be opening our doors and showing this fall's work on Sunday, November 30th at 8:30p in Manhattan. Details to follow. Please save the date.
The Ume Group's 'Dream Dances'
I'm humbled and thrilled to join The Ume Group as a company and ensemble member for the 2014-2015 season to collaborate on their new piece, 'Dream Dances.' I'll be working closely with a diverse, talented and inspiring team to use butoh, yoga, meditation and gymnastics to create a movement piece that explores the world of sleep and dreams. Performances will be March 5-7, 2015 at Grace & St. Paul's Church on 71st St. Stay tuned for more details.
Chez Bushwick 24 Hour Dance Project
What a beautifully-exhaustingly-glorious weekend participating in Chez Bushwick's 24 Hour Project was. My dance partner Dominique Robinson, choreographer Kyle Marshall and I explored themes of territory and change and gentrification and Puerto Rican/ Irish ritual and tradition in a gravel lot on Harrison Pl in Bushwick in our piece, Isle of Rocks.
We had two days of 12 hour rehearsals to conceptualize, choreograph, rehearse and perform. This format was challenging but also liberating- the time and space constraints pressure-cooked our ideas into something we probably wouldn't have discovered if we were moving at a more leisurely pace. Many thanks to the fine folk at Chez Bushwick for organizing this project and to the inspiring dancers and choreographers in the other three groups.
A Mass for Isis- Butoh Performance
I'll be appearing as a guest artist in this upcoming performance!
__
The Ume Group presents
A MASS FOR ISIS
A site-specific dance ritual, drawing on butoh, yoga, gymnastics and healing movements to celebrate the animating power of the Egyptian mother goddess, Isis.
SCHEDULE
6:45pm A Moving Meditation led by Marie Putko
7:30pm Tea Reception
8:00pm Mass for Isis
featuring performances by The Ume Group Ensemble and special guests!
TICKETS
$25 - $30 at http://massforisis.bpt.me/
Get $15 & $20 tix with Discount Code: "ISIS15"
CREDITS
Choreography by Jordan Rosin
The Ume Group Ensemble: Yokko, Dave Herigstad, Marie Putko, Jordan Rosin
Also featuring Rachel Kodweis, Ilanna Saltzman, Leslie Erin Roth and Keelie A. Sheridan
LOCATION
Grace & St. Paul's Church
123 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023
(72nd Street on the 1, 2, 3, C, & B trains)
ABOUT THE UME GROUP
Since 2011, The Ume Group has been producing live events, marked by "commanding, physically impressive performances" (The Village Voice) and a "risky physical vulnerability" (nytheatre.com). They have been seen at The New York International Fringe Festival, The Hollywood Fringe Festival, The CoolNY Dance Festival, and The Irondale Center (NY). Their major works include BUTOH ELECTRA, FACET, THE ISIS VARIATIONS along with countless short dance works and theatrical collaborations. The Group's core members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but are all highly trained teachers and physical theatre artists, with years of experience in disciplines as far ranging as butoh and gymnastics to yoga and martial arts.
For more information, visit: http://www.theumegroup.org/
Blessed Unrest Ensemble
I'm so incredibly honored to have the opportunity to join the Blessed Unrest Training Ensemble. I look forward to collaborating with this exciting and inspiring group of international talent!