"Toward Utopia" is a contemporary dance performance exploring the conflict between my needs and the greater good.
Five performers interrogate the dynamics of individual struggles and attempt to connect across a chasm of miscommunication and animosity with raw emotion and physicality.
The work explores the desire to create a more perfect world, charting the emotional struggles of individualism vs the group dynamic, seeking a common purpose toward an equitable future. What will it take to create systemic change?
Five performers interrogate the dynamics of individual struggles and attempt to connect across a chasm of miscommunication and animosity with raw emotion and physicality.
The work explores the desire to create a more perfect world, charting the emotional struggles of individualism vs the group dynamic, seeking a common purpose toward an equitable future. What will it take to create systemic change?
Performed by: Leila Awadallah, Kendall Kramer, Carmen Lucia Lincoln, Johnathan Surber and Roxanne Wallace
Choreography by Paula Mann
Projection by Steve Paul,
Sound score by Tarek Abdelqader
Costumes by Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone
Lighting Design by Mike Grogan
Choreography by Paula Mann
Projection by Steve Paul,
Sound score by Tarek Abdelqader
Costumes by Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone
Lighting Design by Mike Grogan
The work is comprised of seven sections.
It runs ~1 hour, with no intermission.
It runs ~1 hour, with no intermission.
Short prompts for each scene:
1. Identity (Screened Reflections)
The quiver of self.
2. Toward Utopia (Loops of Desire)
Ties that bind.
independence. community. security. desire.
3. Infinite Irony (Subjective Hubris)
Perception as cudgel.
The “other”. The Them.
4. Isolated Individual (Adrift)
Individualism: yearning.
being and nothingness.
5. Desert: Darkness onto light.
Void. Emptiness.
isolation. stasis
6. Projection: Light into darkness
Transformative illumination
7. Transition (an ending)
Shifting to Flow.
A way through
1. Identity (Screened Reflections)
The quiver of self.
2. Toward Utopia (Loops of Desire)
Ties that bind.
independence. community. security. desire.
3. Infinite Irony (Subjective Hubris)
Perception as cudgel.
The “other”. The Them.
4. Isolated Individual (Adrift)
Individualism: yearning.
being and nothingness.
5. Desert: Darkness onto light.
Void. Emptiness.
isolation. stasis
6. Projection: Light into darkness
Transformative illumination
7. Transition (an ending)
Shifting to Flow.
A way through
We would love to get your feedback!!
There will be a talk-back session after the Friday night performance.
There will be a talk-back session after the Friday night performance.
| toward_utopia_prgm_05c.pdf |
Bios:
Tarek Abdelqader is a Saint Paul-based multi-instrumentalist and composer. He performs and records with local, national, and international artists, and works as an accompanist at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance and Ananya Dance Theater.
Leila Awadallah (she/her) is a Palestinian American dancer, choreographer, and film wanderer based between Minneapolis, Mni Sota and Beirut, Lebanon. She is the founder of the Body Watani Dance project and practice in collaboration with Noelle Awadallah. Leila is a McKnight Dancer Fellow (2022) Jerome Hill Fellow (2021-2023), and previously a Springboard 20/20 and Daring Dances Fellow. Her work has been supported through research residencies and performances at the Hammana Artist House, Amalgam, and Lebanese National Theatre (Lebanon), Camargo Foundation (France), Arab American National Museum (Michigan), and most widely across spaces and places in and around her home in the Twin Cities. Mentored by Ananya Chatterjea, she trained, taught and performed with Ananya Dance Theatre as a company member (2014-2019). Leila has a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota.
Mike Grogan has been active in the Twin Cities arts scene since 1990. In that time he has designed for numerous dance companies including Zorongo Flamenco, James Sewell Ballet, Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum, 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.
Kendall Kramer is dancer, choreographer, and educator who is deeply passionate about creating spaces where creativity can flourish. She trained at Minnetonka Dance Theater and School, where she also taught dance starting at age 14.
Kendall graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) in 2010 with dual degrees in Dance Performance and Spanish Language. She had the great privilege to study with Danny Buraczeski, among others. In Texas, she danced with organizations and individual artists such as Leslie Scates of Lower Left, Frame Dance, and Psophonia Dance Company. Kendall has received reviews for noteworthy performances in the Houston Press; and her work GLOW received the honor of Best New Dance Work of the Houston Fringe Festival in 2016. In TX, Kendall set work on Psophonia Dance Company, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, for 3D film, the Houston Comedy Dance Festival, among others.
Since returning to Minneapolis, she has had the privilege of performing in Future Interstates, The Shed with Hatch Dance and Honeyworks, producing work for the MN Fringe, delving into dance for film, studying voice with Barrett Music Studio, dancing around town in any way she can, and is an incredibly proud winner of Nudie Nubies burlesque competition in April 2022. Kendall currently teaches children’s classes at Zenon, adult Foundation Ballet at Hot House, and ballet at Millenium Dance Company.
She is incredibly grateful for the chance to explore Paula Mann’s work, and to dance with an amazing and kind cast of humans/dancers.
Kendall graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) in 2010 with dual degrees in Dance Performance and Spanish Language. She had the great privilege to study with Danny Buraczeski, among others. In Texas, she danced with organizations and individual artists such as Leslie Scates of Lower Left, Frame Dance, and Psophonia Dance Company. Kendall has received reviews for noteworthy performances in the Houston Press; and her work GLOW received the honor of Best New Dance Work of the Houston Fringe Festival in 2016. In TX, Kendall set work on Psophonia Dance Company, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, for 3D film, the Houston Comedy Dance Festival, among others.
Since returning to Minneapolis, she has had the privilege of performing in Future Interstates, The Shed with Hatch Dance and Honeyworks, producing work for the MN Fringe, delving into dance for film, studying voice with Barrett Music Studio, dancing around town in any way she can, and is an incredibly proud winner of Nudie Nubies burlesque competition in April 2022. Kendall currently teaches children’s classes at Zenon, adult Foundation Ballet at Hot House, and ballet at Millenium Dance Company.
She is incredibly grateful for the chance to explore Paula Mann’s work, and to dance with an amazing and kind cast of humans/dancers.
Carmen Lucia Lincoln 'Meli' is a Mexican citizen and USA resident dancer and multidisciplinary artist since 2019 based in Minnesota Mni Sota Makoce, “land where the waters reflect the clouds” land of the Anishinaabe (also known as Chippewa and/or Ojibwe) and the Dakota (also known as Sioux) land. Meli holds a master’s degree from Colorado State University.
Meli explores the movement as a means of connection between the e-motional and physical body to empower and create transformational experiences that open channels of communication and strengthen the sense of belonging within the community and the world. Her research is based on modern, afro-modern, contemporary, jazz and Prehispanic dance techniques to bridge the organicity of the soul with the mind and the body, when possible while in a natural outdoor environment. She seeks intercultural connections while developing projects in the USA and Mexico.
Meli had the Spring Residency 2022 of the Generating Room at The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts where she started the workshop research of her project “Movement As Second Language” in collaboration with her colleague Erika Martin. Meli is part of the dance cast for the company “Time Tracks Productions” directed by Paula Mann with which participates in a residency at The National Choreography Center in Akron Ohio from May 8th through the 12th 2022, Co-directing and participating as a dancer for Liquid Spine Akumal with Katie Pustizzi, Co-Founder of Dance Projects by ME and the founder of Terra Matter Experiences Company.
Meli explores the movement as a means of connection between the e-motional and physical body to empower and create transformational experiences that open channels of communication and strengthen the sense of belonging within the community and the world. Her research is based on modern, afro-modern, contemporary, jazz and Prehispanic dance techniques to bridge the organicity of the soul with the mind and the body, when possible while in a natural outdoor environment. She seeks intercultural connections while developing projects in the USA and Mexico.
Meli had the Spring Residency 2022 of the Generating Room at The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts where she started the workshop research of her project “Movement As Second Language” in collaboration with her colleague Erika Martin. Meli is part of the dance cast for the company “Time Tracks Productions” directed by Paula Mann with which participates in a residency at The National Choreography Center in Akron Ohio from May 8th through the 12th 2022, Co-directing and participating as a dancer for Liquid Spine Akumal with Katie Pustizzi, Co-Founder of Dance Projects by ME and the founder of Terra Matter Experiences Company.
Erika Martin is a Minneapolis based dancer, choreographer, teacher and engaged citizen. Originally from North Carolina, Erika received a BA in Dance and American Studies at Connecticut College. Their research investigates identity performance and how experience is manifested in movement.
Erika has had the privilege to study abroad at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Dance in London and perform works by Kyle Abraham, Ronald K. Brown, David Dorfman, Elm City Dance Collective, Ori Floman, Ohad Naharin, Paula Mann, Doug Varone and Shen Wei. They are the 2015 recipient of the Martha Myers Prize and the 2017 recipient of the Joan Connell Memorial Award.
From 2012-2015, Erika taught Ballroom Dance at Carolina Ballroom of Cary (NC) and from 2017-2019 returned to ballroom as an instructor and then manager for Dance With Me USA (NJ/NY). To date, Erika’s professional works have been shown in museums, theaters, and public spaces in Connecticut, New York, Maine and Minnesota: notably at the Lyman Art Museum (CT), Schaefer Theatre Box, Bates Dance Festival (ME), Melrose Ballroom (NY), Praxis Gallery, the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts, Barbara Barker Center for Dance, and DanceBARN (MN).
Erika currently serves as School Coordinator for Zenon Dance School, is a Company Member at Time Track Productions, and a Teaching Artist with the Cowles Center.
Erika has had the privilege to study abroad at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Dance in London and perform works by Kyle Abraham, Ronald K. Brown, David Dorfman, Elm City Dance Collective, Ori Floman, Ohad Naharin, Paula Mann, Doug Varone and Shen Wei. They are the 2015 recipient of the Martha Myers Prize and the 2017 recipient of the Joan Connell Memorial Award.
From 2012-2015, Erika taught Ballroom Dance at Carolina Ballroom of Cary (NC) and from 2017-2019 returned to ballroom as an instructor and then manager for Dance With Me USA (NJ/NY). To date, Erika’s professional works have been shown in museums, theaters, and public spaces in Connecticut, New York, Maine and Minnesota: notably at the Lyman Art Museum (CT), Schaefer Theatre Box, Bates Dance Festival (ME), Melrose Ballroom (NY), Praxis Gallery, the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts, Barbara Barker Center for Dance, and DanceBARN (MN).
Erika currently serves as School Coordinator for Zenon Dance School, is a Company Member at Time Track Productions, and a Teaching Artist with the Cowles Center.
Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone is a movement artist, educator, and costume designer, born and raised in the Midwest. Across all modes of creating, she strives to connect with and listen to people. Laura received her M.F.A. in Choreography & Performance from Smith College and her B.A. in Dance & Fashion Studies from the University of Minnesota. Laura was a member of Zenon Dance Company in Minneapolis 2016-2019 and currently dances for East coast-based choreographers Vanessa Anspaugh and Shakia Barron (Kia the Key & Company). She is also a member of creative trio, Kelvin Wailey, in addition to her on-screen and live performance roles alongside musical artists for John Mark Creative. As the founding artistic director of Slo Dance Company, Laura collaborates with an ever-evolving group of artists to build performance work seeded in slowness–embracing the process of intimate relationship-building and developing collective awareness through listening.
John Surber is a professional dance artist who recently relocated to Aurora, Colorado but has spent many years in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. John graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance from Gustavus Adolphus College (MN). John started dancing in college, training primarily in modern under the tutelage of Melissa Rolnick, Michele Rusinko, Sarah Hauss, and Jill Patterson. But he also dabbles in the areas of jazz, hip hop and theater. John has had the privilege of performing with Rhythmically Speaking, Arbeit Opera Theatre, 16 Feet, Kinetic Evolutions, and the Christopher Watson Dance Company. Creative endeavors have led to co-producing, choreographing, and performing in the MN Fringe Festival in 2018 and 2019 along with 2020's Inbox at Artbox. In 2020, Rushe Dance Project was created, a collaboration between himself and fellow creator/dancer, Samantha Heggem. Dance continues to be John's avenue for exploration into what the mind and body can do both on its own or within a community. John is grateful for all that dance has given him throughout his career and looks forward to what is to come.
Roxane Wallace has been active in the arts as a performer, instructor, choreographer and teaching artist since graduating from UC Berkeley in 1993 where she attained a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She has performed in works by Meredith Monk (Quarry, Mercy), Vincent Mantsoe (Kutu), Marciano Silva Dos Santos (Motiro) and Shawn McConneloug (She Captains) as well as in numerous works by Leah Nelson, Morris Johnson and others. She was seen nationally and internationally as a principal artist with Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater Company for 15 years and has worked with Paula Mann/Time Track Productions since 2012. Mrs. Wallace was voted “Best Dancer” in the City Pages “Best of the Twin Cities”, awarded a Minnesota Sage Award for Outstanding Performer and honored to be named as a 2008 McKnight Artist Fellow in Dance. She also creates original, socially conscious works and she provides inspiration and dance instruction through Zenon Dance Studio and School and as a teaching artist for the VocalEssence WITNESS Program and the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts.
Special Thanks to:
The Center for Performing Arts, Threads Dance Nexus,
Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone,
Christy and Kat at The National Center For Choreography,
Dana Kassel, Sandy Moore,
The Magical Mike Grogan, with Garvin Jellison and Micah Kopecky for their tech heroism,
and David Lincoln for the crucial ladder
Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone,
Christy and Kat at The National Center For Choreography,
Dana Kassel, Sandy Moore,
The Magical Mike Grogan, with Garvin Jellison and Micah Kopecky for their tech heroism,
and David Lincoln for the crucial ladder
Very special thanks to Erika Martin, dancer and rehearsal director extraordinaire, who was with us from the beginning.
Undying gratitude for the amazing performers of Toward Utopia for your love, artistry, commitment and for sticking with me through this circuitous process!
Undying gratitude for the amazing performers of Toward Utopia for your love, artistry, commitment and for sticking with me through this circuitous process!
Finally, the person that I could not do any of this without,
my partner Steve Paul!
my partner Steve Paul!
CFPA is located on ancestral and contemporary Indigenous land, home to the Dakota and other Native tribes. Taken through the Treaty with the Sioux, the land holds great historical, spiritual, and personal significance for its original stewards. We acknowledge Indigenous peoples as the past, present, and future caretakers of this place.
