“Everything And Nothing”
This work started development 5 years ago. In the years since, (as with the previous 5 years), our world has changed dramatically. The work, inevitably, has shifted in its growth. Things that were certain are now questioned. Our perceptions of who we are, where we are, and where we’re going often devolve into a cacophony of confusion and chaos. The daily struggle to find our footing, to touch those near us, to work, to create – can be exhausting, overwhelming, and yet, ultimately, the things that we need the most.
To dream a dive in a warm, clear lake. To awaken and rise from the water with the ground beneath our feet. To feel the love of those around us and let the noise of imposition fall like sleep from our eyes.
Part I: “Nothing”
Leila Awadallah,
Sharon Picasso,
Roxane Wallace
Part II: “And”
Paula Mann
Part III: “Everything”
Eliana Durnbaugh,
Kendall Edstrom,
Aneka McMullen,
MiKayla Scherping,
Kayla Scholfield,
Laura Selle Virtucio,
Roxane Wallace
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This work started development 5 years ago. In the years since, (as with the previous 5 years), our world has changed dramatically. The work, inevitably, has shifted in its growth. Things that were certain are now questioned. Our perceptions of who we are, where we are, and where we’re going often devolve into a cacophony of confusion and chaos. The daily struggle to find our footing, to touch those near us, to work, to create – can be exhausting, overwhelming, and yet, ultimately, the things that we need the most.
To dream a dive in a warm, clear lake. To awaken and rise from the water with the ground beneath our feet. To feel the love of those around us and let the noise of imposition fall like sleep from our eyes.
Part I: “Nothing”
Leila Awadallah,
Sharon Picasso,
Roxane Wallace
Part II: “And”
Paula Mann
Part III: “Everything”
Eliana Durnbaugh,
Kendall Edstrom,
Aneka McMullen,
MiKayla Scherping,
Kayla Scholfield,
Laura Selle Virtucio,
Roxane Wallace
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Special Thanks to...
Paul Herwig at Future Projections
Brian Wagner at Archival Works, LLC
MRAC & The State of Minnesota Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment
Jo Kellen and Mark Ruark and The Southern Theater
and especially Leila, Tarek, Eliana, Kendall, Mike, Aneka, Sharon, Mark, MiKayla, Kayla, Laura, and Roxane!
You've all made this a great closing chapter!
THANK YOU!
Brian Wagner at Archival Works, LLC
MRAC & The State of Minnesota Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment
Jo Kellen and Mark Ruark and The Southern Theater
and especially Leila, Tarek, Eliana, Kendall, Mike, Aneka, Sharon, Mark, MiKayla, Kayla, Laura, and Roxane!
You've all made this a great closing chapter!
THANK YOU!
Artist Bios, (EP versions)
“Everything And Nothing”, 2026, Artists Bios
Leila Awadallah is a Palestinian American dancer, choreographer, and community collaborator in Minneapolis and sometimes Beirut. She is the Artistic Director of Body Watani Dance project (bodywatani.com) with her sister-collaborator Noelle Awadallah, and has received multiple fellowships that recognize her ongoing research in Palestinian dance and experimental performance: DanceUSA, McKnight, Jerome Hill, and Daring Dances.
Tarek Abdelqader (he/him)
is a Minnesota-based musician and composer. He has performed and recorded his own work as a 2018 Cedar Commissions artist and 2019 MRAC Next Step recipient, and appears regularly supporting regional and international artists. Abdelqader also works as an accompanist, composer, and sound designer for schools and dance companies based in the Twin Cities and New York, including the Barbara Barker Center for Dance, Ananya Dance Theater, and Limón Dance Company.
Eliana Durnbaugh (she/her) is a Minneapolis-based performer and educator. She holds a BA in Dance from Carleton College, and her most recent credits include dance and puppeteer work with Theater Mu and The Fox and Beggar Theater, and as a collaborator with Or Levinson in DOIKAYT: a velt mit veltlekh as part of Red Eye Theater's Isolated Acts.
Kendall Edstrom is a dance artist and educator from and based in Minnesota. They graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota in 2019, and have since danced professionally with Alternative Motion Project, ARENA Dances and Taja Will, and Christopher Watson Dance Company.
Mike Grogan has been active in the Twin Cities arts scene since 1990. In that time he has designed for numerous dance companies including Black Label Movement, The Mixtape Collective, Ananya Dance Theater, Contempo Physical Dance and many others. Mike was a 2012 and 2014 SAGE Dance Award recipient for outstanding design. Mike is currently a freelance lighting designer in the Twin Cities.
Aneka McMullen - Dancer and Choreographer Aneka McMullen is an independent performing and teaching artist. She hails from Minneapolis and holds a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University.
Aneka has been awarded the Silver String Award from A Very Small Arts Fund, the Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board & the Momentum New Dance Works grant from the Jerome Foundation.
She is honored to be dancing in Paula Mann's final work!
Sharon Picasso (she/her) is a Minneapolis, Mni Sota Makoce based movement, performance and transdisciplinary creative Artist and Founder/Artistic Director of Picasso Projects and Lupa Studio on the ancestral lands of the Dakota and Anishinaabe. Her work as a freelance performance and dance artist lives parallel to her work as a choreographer since 1995. Sharon’s creative and collaborative practice has expanded into design including sound, light and installation.
Paramount in Sharon's collaborative process is cultivating an inclusive, respectful and sustaining creative environment where value is placed on the wholeness of an individual. She considers her long-time collaborative relationships and community as the greatest rewards of her craft.
Sharon Picasso is a 2022 McKnight Dance Artist Fellow. She was awarded a 2019 Artist Initiative Grant from Minnesota Regional Arts Council and Picasso Projects a 2018 Minnesota Regional Arts Council Community Arts Grant, a 2017 Artist in Residence at Chulitna Artist Retreat in the wilderness of Alaska and a 2025 Tofte Lake Center Individual Artist Residency.
Mark Ruark is a theatre artist who learned his craft at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Since 2001, he has worked professionally in many capacities, including: stage, costume, lighting, and sound design; stage management; technician; musician, singer, dancer, and actor with such groups as Kaleena Miller Dance, Twin Cities Tap Festival, Rhythmic Circus, Picasso Projects, Deborah Jinza Thayer's Movement Architecture, Live Action Set, Xelias Aerial Arts, and many others. When he is not out on tour, you can find him creating sound and music at home in Minneapolis. You can find some of his work online at www.liarsconspiracy.com.
(Pronouns: he/his)
MiKayla Scherping is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in the Twin Cities. She is passionate about her love for performing and choreographing contemporary dance.
Kayla Scholfield is a performer and choreographer based in the Midwest. She received her BFA in dance at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kayla has recently been seen dancing with Joanna Lees, Contempo Physical Dance, and with the 612 Crew, performing at Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx games.
Laura Selle Virtucio has maintained a vibrant 25+ year performance career in the Twin Cities, working with numerous companies and choreographers. Paula Mann was one of Laura’s college instructors at the University of Minnesota while she was pursuing her degree in dance, and Laura is honored to work with her again on this project. Laura is currently a Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota and Director of University Dance Theatre. She also serves as Rehearsal Director for ARENA Dances and Artistic Associate for Shapiro & Smith Dance, staging their repertory across the country. Additionally, Laura received a 2007 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers and a Minnesota SAGE Award for Performance.
Roxane Wallace has been active in the Twin Cities arts community as a performer, choreographer and teaching artist for many years and has worked with directors and choreographers of both regional and international acclaim. She has performed with Paula Mann/Time Track Productions in various projects since 2012.
Leila Awadallah is a Palestinian American dancer, choreographer, and community collaborator in Minneapolis and sometimes Beirut. She is the Artistic Director of Body Watani Dance project (bodywatani.com) with her sister-collaborator Noelle Awadallah, and has received multiple fellowships that recognize her ongoing research in Palestinian dance and experimental performance: DanceUSA, McKnight, Jerome Hill, and Daring Dances.
Tarek Abdelqader (he/him)
is a Minnesota-based musician and composer. He has performed and recorded his own work as a 2018 Cedar Commissions artist and 2019 MRAC Next Step recipient, and appears regularly supporting regional and international artists. Abdelqader also works as an accompanist, composer, and sound designer for schools and dance companies based in the Twin Cities and New York, including the Barbara Barker Center for Dance, Ananya Dance Theater, and Limón Dance Company.
Eliana Durnbaugh (she/her) is a Minneapolis-based performer and educator. She holds a BA in Dance from Carleton College, and her most recent credits include dance and puppeteer work with Theater Mu and The Fox and Beggar Theater, and as a collaborator with Or Levinson in DOIKAYT: a velt mit veltlekh as part of Red Eye Theater's Isolated Acts.
Kendall Edstrom is a dance artist and educator from and based in Minnesota. They graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota in 2019, and have since danced professionally with Alternative Motion Project, ARENA Dances and Taja Will, and Christopher Watson Dance Company.
Mike Grogan has been active in the Twin Cities arts scene since 1990. In that time he has designed for numerous dance companies including Black Label Movement, The Mixtape Collective, Ananya Dance Theater, Contempo Physical Dance and many others. Mike was a 2012 and 2014 SAGE Dance Award recipient for outstanding design. Mike is currently a freelance lighting designer in the Twin Cities.
Aneka McMullen - Dancer and Choreographer Aneka McMullen is an independent performing and teaching artist. She hails from Minneapolis and holds a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University.
Aneka has been awarded the Silver String Award from A Very Small Arts Fund, the Cultural Community Partnership grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board & the Momentum New Dance Works grant from the Jerome Foundation.
She is honored to be dancing in Paula Mann's final work!
Sharon Picasso (she/her) is a Minneapolis, Mni Sota Makoce based movement, performance and transdisciplinary creative Artist and Founder/Artistic Director of Picasso Projects and Lupa Studio on the ancestral lands of the Dakota and Anishinaabe. Her work as a freelance performance and dance artist lives parallel to her work as a choreographer since 1995. Sharon’s creative and collaborative practice has expanded into design including sound, light and installation.
Paramount in Sharon's collaborative process is cultivating an inclusive, respectful and sustaining creative environment where value is placed on the wholeness of an individual. She considers her long-time collaborative relationships and community as the greatest rewards of her craft.
Sharon Picasso is a 2022 McKnight Dance Artist Fellow. She was awarded a 2019 Artist Initiative Grant from Minnesota Regional Arts Council and Picasso Projects a 2018 Minnesota Regional Arts Council Community Arts Grant, a 2017 Artist in Residence at Chulitna Artist Retreat in the wilderness of Alaska and a 2025 Tofte Lake Center Individual Artist Residency.
Mark Ruark is a theatre artist who learned his craft at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Since 2001, he has worked professionally in many capacities, including: stage, costume, lighting, and sound design; stage management; technician; musician, singer, dancer, and actor with such groups as Kaleena Miller Dance, Twin Cities Tap Festival, Rhythmic Circus, Picasso Projects, Deborah Jinza Thayer's Movement Architecture, Live Action Set, Xelias Aerial Arts, and many others. When he is not out on tour, you can find him creating sound and music at home in Minneapolis. You can find some of his work online at www.liarsconspiracy.com.
(Pronouns: he/his)
MiKayla Scherping is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in the Twin Cities. She is passionate about her love for performing and choreographing contemporary dance.
Kayla Scholfield is a performer and choreographer based in the Midwest. She received her BFA in dance at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kayla has recently been seen dancing with Joanna Lees, Contempo Physical Dance, and with the 612 Crew, performing at Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx games.
Laura Selle Virtucio has maintained a vibrant 25+ year performance career in the Twin Cities, working with numerous companies and choreographers. Paula Mann was one of Laura’s college instructors at the University of Minnesota while she was pursuing her degree in dance, and Laura is honored to work with her again on this project. Laura is currently a Teaching Specialist at the University of Minnesota and Director of University Dance Theatre. She also serves as Rehearsal Director for ARENA Dances and Artistic Associate for Shapiro & Smith Dance, staging their repertory across the country. Additionally, Laura received a 2007 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers and a Minnesota SAGE Award for Performance.
Roxane Wallace has been active in the Twin Cities arts community as a performer, choreographer and teaching artist for many years and has worked with directors and choreographers of both regional and international acclaim. She has performed with Paula Mann/Time Track Productions in various projects since 2012.
