October & December, 2020
December, 2020
My Nourish Project not just creates meaning in our pandemic world without live dance, but builds new communities, engages in racial justice, and fosters better mental and physical health. I’m producing a remote dance/sound work, interviewing Black mothers on their most powerful and memorable experiences of well being. I'm sending written questionnaires, then recording Zoom calls with Black moms, asking meditative questions like:
How are you feeling right now?
What soothes you?
What makes you feel fully engaged in the present?
Can you remember a time when you belly laughed?
Describe a the sensation of when you felt joy in your entire being.
What do you sense in your body to know that you are in a good place?
What are your favorite childhood comforts?
How can you support your self to increase self kindness this week?
We’ll share movement prompts together, and then record a discussion about their questionnaire responses. Immediately post interview, I will guide each mother to make a custom movement phrase centering on their individual answers.
The collection of interviews and personalized dances will form the content for an illustrated body map and a performance. A graphic map of the body and our findings will also be made, shareable for download.
I’m applying for Local Cultural grants, and making partnerships with neighborhood organizations to bring Nourish to fruition for 2021. I’m so thankful for the advisory and financial support I’ve received from Monkeyhouse, Amy Smith, Sunlight Tax, Assets 4 Artists, Grace Mi-He Lee, Lisa Schapfel, Toni Jackson, Vanja Pejik, Marilynne Smith Quarcoo, Jay Cradle, Hannah Cole, and Clementine Cummer.
More exciting announcements to come!
October - The pandemic has closed my usual avenues towards choreographing and creative community building. I’m virtually attending the International Embodiment Conference, and continue to research and develop my Pleasure Project, in which I interview Black mothers on their self care practices and memories of feeling good. I’m meeting regularly with Karen Krolak and Nicole Harris of Monkeyhouse for creative support, and Amy Smith has been a fantastic financial consultant. I also participated in Christal Brown’s monthlong coaching course, Steps and Stages.