An Expectation of Violence Performers: Jaamil Kosoko,
Kristen Shahverdian, Shannon Murphy, and Zachary Svoboda.
The Community Education Center (CEC) and Meeting House Theatre proudly will present the final performance of its 25th Anniversary Season, the New Edge Mix Performance Series. The event features four dance artists/groups in a evening of inspired dance works. Dancers/choreographers included are: Jaamil Kosoko/Kosoko Performance Group, Shannon Murphy, react/dance and Charles Tyson, Jr./Underground DanceWorks. This diverse evening of dance will move you with work that ranges from abstract to activism!
In the 2007/’08 season Jaamil Kosoko was the CEC’s New Edge Resident Artist in dance. He presented an evening length work entitled Wet.Purple.Love.Affair. a cage of misfit doves…, a rather humorous work that was inspired in part by the music of Prince. For the New Edge Mix Jaamil’s Kosoko Performance Group will present an excerpt from An Expectation of Violence. While inspired by his personal experiences, the work goes further delving into the intricacies of personal and public violence. Jaamil’s latest performance exstravaganza was created in collaboration with dramaturg and composer Mikaal Sulaiman.
Charles Tyson’s Underground DanceWorks (UDW) is a fixture at the CEC. His company has performed numerous times in the Etc. Performance Series (the bi-month performance series presented in collaboration with his company and CEC). The company has also performed at every one of the CEC’s Annual Open House and Outdoors Arts Festival which will be going into its 9th year. For the New Edge Mix, his company will perform a work aptly entitled “Transitional Period.” Charles takes his inspiration from his “mid career crisis.” (This is the ten year anniversary of his dance company.) A multi-faceted artist, an actor, writer, and film maker, where does he go from here? Performing in “Transitional Period” are: Jennifer Cybulski, Melanie Haber, Eisa Jackson, Crystal Taylor, and Charles Tyson.
Shannon Murphy and Steven Surgalski
The two other dancers/ensembles performing in the Mix, Shannon Murphy and react/dance (co-directors Kristen Shahverdian and Jacelyn Biondo) have both been inspired by aspects of the mind-body connection.
Shannon’s fascination with the trapezius muscle and how it is hardwired to the brain is the jumping-off point for her multidisciplinary work, AQUAsions. What emerges is a dance that personifies the notion of “embodiment” and possesses a dynamic range of physical virtuosity. AQUAsions was created in collaboration with musician and filmmaker Steve Surgalski of the band Controlled Storms. He created the original sound score and is the co-director and editor of the film for the work. The two have worked together since 2005, AQUAsions is the result of a deeper collaborative process and has resulted in this ground breaking work, their most expansive to date.
react/dance’s piece body/speak, (performed by Kristen, Jacelyn and dancer David Konyk), moves through memories that react/dance, Photo by Deborah Boardmanthey reveal to the audience onstage to the music of Amy Kesslick. body/speak is inspired by Action/Thought and Authentic Movement, two movement practices that are about moving first, then analyzing and adding content as a result of what the movement provides. In the hands of three such skilled movers the work is sure to reveal compelling dance.
Dance From Abstract to Activism!
CEC Meeting House Theatre
3500 Lancaster Avenue,Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: 215-378-1911
www.cecarts.org
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