We finally began a residency at Bedford Hills Correctional Institution (college program) in Bedford Hills, NY in November, 2009.
We started by creating 4 visits with the goal of introducing the women to our work and the artists as well as a way for us to get to know the women and their interests/level of dance exposure and involvement.
Sarah Zitnay visited twice offering beautiful and thoughtful lessons on choreography basics. She was able to lead the women in choreographing a short dance that will be developed further in 2010. Newman Taylor Baker led a wonderful and exciting session that combined movement and sound basics. By the end of the 2 hour session, women were performing - making music and moving at the same time. Regina and I led the last session. Regina led many different storytelling activities that engaged the women in a lively discussion. Then she led excerpts from "The Body Poem" which is a series of movement and image exercises that felt very meditative. The women created drawings after "The Body Poem," which I hope to develop with them further in 2010.
On March 5, 2010, Bedford Hills will offer an academic conference --yes that's right!!- hosted by the correctional institution's college program (Marymount Manhattan College offers a college program at Bedford Hills). Avodah will create and perform a dance with the participating women to be shown at the conference called, "Crossing Borders." We will keep you informed about this project.
To support this project, please send a tax deductible donation to Avodah, Inc. c/o Hebrew Union College-JIR, 1 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10012.
Thank you! Please email avodahdance@gmail.com if you have any other ways you'd like to offer support or inquire about our work.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sharing our work on the INSIDE with people on the OUTSIDE
Avodah has been working on the INSIDE of women’s prisons since 2002. We have all been deeply affected by our work, often having preconceptions shattered, realizing the amazing power of music, movement and the arts, and becoming highly aware of the complexity of the prison experience. People often ask us about our experiences with fascination and curiosity.
In this upcoming performance, we have the opportunity to share
with the public an insight into our work and experience
at women's correctional institutions.
So, if you are one of those people, please mark your calendar for September 23rd at 8pm!
Avodah is part of a showcase concert for DNA's SAS
(Subsidized Administrative
Space) members, and Avodah has been the recipient
of a SAS
grant at DNA since 2006. Avodah dancers Stephanie
Miracle and Sarah Zitnay will perform a duet
choreographed by
Yong Mi Olsen, a woman
resident at York Correctional Institution, the only state
prison in Connecticut, who has
participated in several of Avodah's dance
residencies. The duet explores the experience of
imprisonment, the duality of physical and mental
confinement versus a
spiritual yearning for openness and freedom.
In this upcoming performance, we have the opportunity to share
with the public an insight into our work and experience
at women's correctional institutions.
So, if you are one of those people, please mark your calendar for September 23rd at 8pm!
Avodah is part of a showcase concert for DNA's SAS
(Subsidized Administrative
Space) members, and Avodah has been the recipient
of a SAS
grant at DNA since 2006. Avodah dancers Stephanie
Miracle and Sarah Zitnay will perform a duet
choreographed by
Yong Mi Olsen, a woman
resident at York Correctional Institution, the only state
prison in Connecticut, who has
participated in several of Avodah's dance
residencies. The duet explores the experience of
imprisonment, the duality of physical and mental
confinement versus a
spiritual yearning for openness and freedom.
Anna Halprin--an inspiration!
This past year I attended two seminars in California
led by dance pioneer, Anna Halprin, called "Dance for
Life." Anna Halprin's work has put dance
and movement at the center of community building,
creating rituals of healing and human
expression. I believe that Avodah's
mission of bringing the power of dance to diverse
audiences and communities aligns with Anna's
work.
I look forward to integrating much of what I have
been learning from Anna into Avodah's programs,
services and performances.
There is a new film about
Anna was made by Ruedi Gerber, who has known
Anna for 25 years and also attended the "Dance for
Life" retreat. His film is called "Breath Made Visible,"
and it is
the only documentary about the life and work of
Anna, who at 89 years old is still breaking down
barriers. The website for this film is:
www.breathmadevisible.com
led by dance pioneer, Anna Halprin, called "Dance for
Life." Anna Halprin's work has put dance
and movement at the center of community building,
creating rituals of healing and human
expression. I believe that Avodah's
mission of bringing the power of dance to diverse
audiences and communities aligns with Anna's
work.
I look forward to integrating much of what I have
been learning from Anna into Avodah's programs,
services and performances.
There is a new film about
Anna was made by Ruedi Gerber, who has known
Anna for 25 years and also attended the "Dance for
Life" retreat. His film is called "Breath Made Visible,"
and it is
the only documentary about the life and work of
Anna, who at 89 years old is still breaking down
barriers. The website for this film is:
www.breathmadevisible.com
BAYLOR VISIT July 28th
Avodah Dance Ensemble headed from New York
City
to Delaware one early Tuesday morning to bring a
special program to the women of BWCI. During the
morning class session, we met with Baylor women
who have previously participated in Avodah
residencies and in the afternoon session, the women
offered a short performance for visiting families,
friends and other inmates of Baylor's education
department.
The women shared many of the benefits they feel
from
dancing with Avodah, including the ability to find
expression in a new way that assist them in turning
away from drugs and alcohol. The women continue
to
share how the movement and music they experience
with Avodah help them to develop confidence and a
positive self image.
City
to Delaware one early Tuesday morning to bring a
special program to the women of BWCI. During the
morning class session, we met with Baylor women
who have previously participated in Avodah
residencies and in the afternoon session, the women
offered a short performance for visiting families,
friends and other inmates of Baylor's education
department.
The women shared many of the benefits they feel
from
dancing with Avodah, including the ability to find
expression in a new way that assist them in turning
away from drugs and alcohol. The women continue
to
share how the movement and music they experience
with Avodah help them to develop confidence and a
positive self image.
DANCE YOUR CARES class for women affected by cancer
DANCE YOUR CARES class
For women affected by cancer
After leading “The Body Project” at the 14th Street Y in New York’s East Village, I was approached by a friend and social worker who is healing from cancer. She asked me to teach a class similar to The Body Project for women who have been affected by cancer. We decided that women who have had cancer and women who have had close relationships with people who have had cancer would be our audience. Depending on the group we may offer an informal performance for the group’s friends and family.
The class will take place in the Fall of 2009. (Perhaps starting in late October or beginning of November).
We are currently organizing the class, seeking out the space and getting the logistics worked out. Please contact me if you are interested in this class or if you know someone who is. Also if you have a space or know of one that may be donated, please let me know! avodahdance@gmail.com
For women affected by cancer
After leading “The Body Project” at the 14th Street Y in New York’s East Village, I was approached by a friend and social worker who is healing from cancer. She asked me to teach a class similar to The Body Project for women who have been affected by cancer. We decided that women who have had cancer and women who have had close relationships with people who have had cancer would be our audience. Depending on the group we may offer an informal performance for the group’s friends and family.
The class will take place in the Fall of 2009. (Perhaps starting in late October or beginning of November).
We are currently organizing the class, seeking out the space and getting the logistics worked out. Please contact me if you are interested in this class or if you know someone who is. Also if you have a space or know of one that may be donated, please let me know! avodahdance@gmail.com
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Baylor Residency May 18 -22
What a beautiful, fluid residency at BWCI in Delaware. This was our SIXTH year at BWCI and the groundwork Avodah has been laying for the last few years is really showing up. The women came in ready to dance and with a new level of maturity that allowed for a smooth, deep and light ride through the dance explorations. Avodah has noticed a SIX year mark at both institutions. It seems that after 6 years, the women have been exposed to enough of Avodah's work and the institution's administration and staff seem to grasp the value of what we're doing. Baylor has a newly constructed worship center which gives the entire Education department more space and the whole institution more light.
We worked in the gym for the whole week and the performance took place there as well. The women each interpreted the seasons both individually and as a part of a small group. We learned a dance that was built from their movement gestures that became the finale for the seasons dance. The women also performed their "name dance," warm up , a hip-hop dance and a blessing as part of the final performance on May 22nd. Audience members included other women inmates, BWCI staff, a few family members and friends of the performers, Sally Milbury -Steen and Mary White (from Pacem in Terris), and Warden Ryan.
Avodah performed some of Stephanie Miracle's choreography as part of the performance. The audience was truly responsive to the choreography and the entire event!
Avodah will return for a few visits in the summer. We hope to create some more material with the women so they can perform for more of their family and friends. We also look forward to creating new work collaborating with some of the women at Baylor and York for a showing in September at Dance New Amsterdam in NYC.
We worked in the gym for the whole week and the performance took place there as well. The women each interpreted the seasons both individually and as a part of a small group. We learned a dance that was built from their movement gestures that became the finale for the seasons dance. The women also performed their "name dance," warm up , a hip-hop dance and a blessing as part of the final performance on May 22nd. Audience members included other women inmates, BWCI staff, a few family members and friends of the performers, Sally Milbury -Steen and Mary White (from Pacem in Terris), and Warden Ryan.
Avodah performed some of Stephanie Miracle's choreography as part of the performance. The audience was truly responsive to the choreography and the entire event!
Avodah will return for a few visits in the summer. We hope to create some more material with the women so they can perform for more of their family and friends. We also look forward to creating new work collaborating with some of the women at Baylor and York for a showing in September at Dance New Amsterdam in NYC.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Baylor Residency -- Pre-visits
Pre-visit #1. Stephanie Miracle and I traveled to Baylor in Delaware. We led a warm-up and improvisations based on text from the women at York CI centered around the theme of the seasons. Stephanie led an exercise with drawing and music from Vivaldi. After the drawing, the women tried walking the drawings to see the elaborate pathways they had created. Then the women wrote about a season via a memory, scene or image. We sat in a circle and shared our observations. Then, we began building a phrase based on their spontaneous gestures. We tried the phrase to different music with some women sitting, some standing, and everyone exploring different timings. We finished by sending a blessing in movement across the circle.
Pre -visit #2. Today Newman Taylor Baker and I traveled to Baylor Correctional in Delaware. I led an improvisation based on text they had written during my last visit with Stephanie Miracle. The women created trees from different seasons as well as "Tree-o's" a trio representing a tree. Then we sat and were led by Newman on an extraordinary journey through his instruments and the lesson of sound and feeling. We explored how the quality of touch influences the sound of an instrument. The women got a chance to play the instruments with different qualities. Afterwards, the women worked with their writing and began creating movements that will be a part of our culminating performance on May 22nd, 2009. We finished with a review of our gesture phrase and a seated blessing "wave."
Pre -visit #2. Today Newman Taylor Baker and I traveled to Baylor Correctional in Delaware. I led an improvisation based on text they had written during my last visit with Stephanie Miracle. The women created trees from different seasons as well as "Tree-o's" a trio representing a tree. Then we sat and were led by Newman on an extraordinary journey through his instruments and the lesson of sound and feeling. We explored how the quality of touch influences the sound of an instrument. The women got a chance to play the instruments with different qualities. Afterwards, the women worked with their writing and began creating movements that will be a part of our culminating performance on May 22nd, 2009. We finished with a review of our gesture phrase and a seated blessing "wave."
Monday, April 6, 2009
Seasons at York II
Avodah's EIGHTH residency at York was very beautiful this year. Connie Procopio led the residency with thoughtfulness and artistry. The team was Newman Taylor Baker, Julie Gayer Kris, Connie Procopio, Stephanie Miracle, and Sarah Zitnay. The women responded deeply to the theme of Seasons and performed a finale dance (choreographed by Connie) to Beyonce's "Ave Maria" that was stunning and emotional. The Young Adults performed a Hip Hop dance that they created themselves with passion and talent, and the women responded to the "youngens" with admiration and words of encouragement such as "Follow your dreams, you have a bright future in front of you. You can go for it!"
For more information, please email avodahdance@gmail.com and we'll send you a copy of our newsletter!!
For more information, please email avodahdance@gmail.com and we'll send you a copy of our newsletter!!
The Body Project - LABA festival
The Body Project is an intergenerational dance piece to be performed as part of the LABA festival (a festival of arts birthed from LABA the National Laboratory for New Jewish Culture). www.labafestival.com
The festival will include works of art based on the theme of the body by visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, choreographers and will be exhibited at the 14th Street Sol Goldman Y (344 East 14th Street between 1st and 2nd Aves in the East village).
The Body Project was choreographed by me (Julie Gayer Kris) in collaboration with 16 beautiful women (some professionally trained dancers, most not) ages 24 - 83! The piece responds to the Biblical text about humankind being created in a divine image with our own reflections about our bodies and body image and questions about finding that divine quality within.
The piece asks the audience to think about body image by confronting our assumptions about who gets to dance.
THE BODY PROJECT WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:
Friday, May 1, 92nd Street Y 12pm
Fridays at Noon
LABA FESTIVAL performances at the 14th Street Y
Sunday, May 3rd, 3pm
Wednesday, May 6, 6pm
AVODAH COLLABORATES WITH MARK LAMB DANCE
AT Hebrew Union College
Thursday June 4, 7pm
1 West 4th Street
between Mercer and Broadway
WWW.LABAFESTIVAL.COM
WWW.AVODAHDANCE.ORG
AVODAHDANCE@GMAIL.COM
The festival will include works of art based on the theme of the body by visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, choreographers and will be exhibited at the 14th Street Sol Goldman Y (344 East 14th Street between 1st and 2nd Aves in the East village).
The Body Project was choreographed by me (Julie Gayer Kris) in collaboration with 16 beautiful women (some professionally trained dancers, most not) ages 24 - 83! The piece responds to the Biblical text about humankind being created in a divine image with our own reflections about our bodies and body image and questions about finding that divine quality within.
The piece asks the audience to think about body image by confronting our assumptions about who gets to dance.
THE BODY PROJECT WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:
Friday, May 1, 92nd Street Y 12pm
Fridays at Noon
LABA FESTIVAL performances at the 14th Street Y
Sunday, May 3rd, 3pm
Wednesday, May 6, 6pm
AVODAH COLLABORATES WITH MARK LAMB DANCE
AT Hebrew Union College
Thursday June 4, 7pm
1 West 4th Street
between Mercer and Broadway
WWW.LABAFESTIVAL.COM
WWW.AVODAHDANCE.ORG
AVODAHDANCE@GMAIL.COM
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