Hollow is a transformative binding ritual for five women that explores the ideas of spell-casting and sacred geometry as frameworks for the creative choreographic process. It evokes the element of air. The first half (Invocation of Air) is a binding ritual for 5 women, and the second half of the ballet (STUDYOFLIGHT) is based upon the flight patterns of birds. Performed @ (In Hale Performing Arts (Philadelphia), Etc. Performance Series (Philadelphia), HATCH Presenting Series (NYC), Small Plates Choreography Festival (Washington DC), The Queens Outdoor Dance Festival (NYC), Southern Vermont Dance Festival (Brattleboro, VT).

Ras Tonem Berakah: E=MC2 is a minimalist movement study in 4 sections for 4 dancers that embodies the classical earth element in structure and form. A meditation upon the spark of creation, the dance begins with a simple gestural evocation of cubic or rectangular geometry, unfolding gradually into a warm dance that exudes robust, vibrating energy. As the basest of the five elements of life, earth is associated with heaviness and the root chakra, it is cold, dry and solid. This dance uses a simple movement vocabulary drawn from ballet to evoke these qualities in aesthetic style as well as in mathematic patterning and choreographic structures like accumulation, inversion and retrograde. These patterns are drawn from ideas abstracted from the ideas of the chromatic scale and the hypercube, or a cube as it exists in five dimensions. As the dance unfolds, the performers create a five dimensional space, in which the kaleidoscopic choreography constructs a multidimensional topography. The dancers generate simple patterns based upon flat planes, then developing and amplifying these patterns, allowing them to spin out into fractal-like designs which are also echoed in the music.  Performed @ (Faculty Concert Philadelphia, PA and Inhale/ExHale Performance Series, C3 Choreography Project (Ailey Studios, NYC, Peridance Fall Series, NYC).

Tetrahedra premiered September 5/6, 2019 at Conwell Theatre in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Tetrahedra is based upon the tetrahedron, or the possible geometric patterns made by 2 triangles- composed of 6 points in space. The motif of the spark runs through the movement vocabulary and they dance increases in speed and intensity like a fire igniting, blazing and then smoldering. The dance builds heat and fire in the bodies of the dancers as this heat then radiates out into the space around them creating a red and orange auric cloud vibrating with the intensity of red-hot coals.  Tetrahedra represents the fire element, utilizing the architectural framework of the tetrahedron and expressing the essence of Tejas, or all transformative heat and light energy. The dance evokes warmth, drive and the power of transformation.

The universal water element is embodied i\ The Triskele Path, which takes inspiration from the motif of the triskelion, also known as the tri-spiral or Spiral of Life. The three spirals represent balance, harmony and continual motion indicative of the flow of life. The formal architecture of The Triskele Path reflects water’s flexible and response nature, and embodies water’s flow, fluidity and balance in asymmetry.

Ionic Resonance is a short dance film that captures the responsive currents of water’s flow, as well as the tranquil beauty of Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, a green oasis within the city of Philadelphia, PA . A cast of 8 dancers in white costumes conjures spiritual imagery as they swirl, glide and ripple in the rose gold light of sunset. The choreography, animations and sound score work together to create an immersive experience that brings to life the reflective and conductive properties of water.

A duet for mother and daughter using minimalist ballet vocabulary as a starting point for embodying the torus shaped electromagnetic field that surrounds everything on the planet. This toroidal field, composed of a single axis and two vortices, is found around each living organism such as people and plants. The Earth’s Torus runs through the center of the planet and creates our atmosphere.  This duet is the final piece in a suite of five tone poems exploring the universal/classical elements (earth, air, fire, water and aether) through dance. Evoking the rhythm, vibration, frequency, speed and shape of each element, these dances embody the complex textures and patterns that exist within multidimensional space. This dance evokes the ineffable element of aether, a concept that exists across several spiritual cosmologies and scientific theories as a sort of web connecting everything in the universe. Beginning patterns or motifs used for structuring the choreography were drawn from the Golden Ratio, the Fibonacci Spiral, the dodecahedron, and the Torus. 

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite. , From The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo.  

In process study of three coherent waveforms as they interfere with one another. The trio investigates these patterns and, particularly the phenomenon of diffraction, as a source of iridescence and chaotic brilliance.  (One dancer was missing from performance because of illness.)

 

PERFORMANCES OF MY WORK

  • May 2024, InHale Performing Arts Series, CHI Movement Arts Center, Philadelphia, Performance of Interference is Coherence.
  • February 2024 Faculty Dance Concert, Temple University, Performance of Interference is Coherence
  • February 2023 Faculty Dance Concert, Temple University, Performance of Dismantle Civilization and Kinetic Sinterphase
  • February 2023, Solo Duo Festival at Dixon Place, NYC, Performance of Kinetic Sinterphase
    November 2022, An Evening of Contemporary Dance, Baruch College, NYC, Performance of Dismantle Civilization
  • October 2022, ESTIA FEST, Queens New York, Performance of Kinetic Sinterphase
  • July 2022, Jersey City, NJ: Mana Contemporary Armitage Studio Artist-in-Residence, created and performed Kinetic Sinterphase
  • February 4/5, 2022, toroidal vortices and the isotropic vector matrix: an embodied meditation on aether. Temple University Faculty Dance Concert, Conwell Dance Theater, Philadelphia, PA
  • April 20, 2020, The Triskele Path, World Water Day, Conwell Dance Theater, Temple University, Philadelphia PA (cancelled because of Coronavirus)
  • Saturday, March 28th and 29th, 2020, The Triskele Path, 18th Annual Mid-Atlantic Choreographers Showcase, Grace Street Theater, Richmond, Virginia (cancelled/Postponed because of Coronavirus)
    January 31, February 1, 2020, Tetrahedra, The Triskele Path, Faculty Dance Concert, Conwell Dance Theater, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
  • November 10, 2019, Ras Tonem Berakah, Selected contributor to the Artists in Motion Fall Season, Salvatore Capezio Theater at Peridance Center, NYC.
  • October 24, 25, Ras Tonem Berakah, Selected contributor to Fall Immersive Dance Festival, Triskelion Arts, Brooklyn, NY
  • September 5 & 6, 2019. States of Matter, (self produced evening length concert), Conwell Dance Theatre, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Philadelphia, PA.
  • July 18,19, 2019, Hollow, Ras Tonem Berakah, Southern Vermont Dance Festival, Brattleboro, VT.
  • June 29, 2019, Ras Tonem Berakah, June 29, 2019, C3 Core Choreography Competition: Finalist Showing, Alvin Ailey Dance Center, NYC.
  • June 9, 2019, Queens Outdoor Day of Dance, Middle Village, Queens, NY
  • May 10, 2019, Ras Tonem Berakah, InHale Performing Arts Series, CHI Movement Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA.
  • February 1 & 2, 2019, Ras Tonem Berakah, Faculty Dance Concert, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. February 9, 2019. Hollow, Small Plates Choreography Festival, Lorton, VA.
  • February 1 & 2, 2019. Ras Tonem Beraka,: E= MC2 Faculty Dance Concert, Conwell Dance Theatre, Philadelphia, PA.
  • November 2018, "Hollow", HATCH Presenting Series, The Jennifer Muller/The Works Studio , NYC
  • September 30, 2018 "Takako Vs 9 Lives" screening at 40 North Dance Film Festival, San Diego, CA
  • September 15, 2018 "Takako Vs. 9 Lives" premiere at Frame Light Film Festival, London
  • May 2018, "Hollow", Etc. Performance Series, Community Education Center, Philadelphia
  • April 2018, "Hollow", InHale Performance Series, CHI Movement Arts, Philadelphia
  • February 2018, "Hollow", Temple University Faculty Concert
  • February 2017, "Samskara II," Temple University, Faculty Concert
  • October 2016, "Samskara,"collaboration with Sculptor Robert Lowe, creator of "da vinci's knot," and Isabella Rizzo,  Outlet Dance Project at the Grounds for Sculpture in Trenton, NJ.
  • June 2016, Live performance with Chamber Orchestra at Port City Music Festival.  Oliver Messaien's, "Quartet for the End of Time," and Richard Tavener's "Akmatova Songs."
  • May 2015, “Tangled Formulations,” Collaboration between Dick Oatts and his five person jazz quintet and 8 dancers
  • February 2015: “Icarus Vs. Ancaru", Temple University Faculty Dance Concert
  • December 2014, “We Are Waking Up,” Repertory II performance in Endings, Temple University
  • October 2014: “Paths”, Grounds For Sculpture, Trenton, New Jersey, Collaboration with sculptor Sarah Haviland, creator of the piece “Trio,” and dancers Jillian Harris and Rhonda Moore performed for the “Outlet Dance Project,” annual event at the Grounds for Sculpture
  • September 2014: Paths, Informal Showing in Progress of dance to be performed later in the season at a national festival
  • February 2014:”Porcelain Metamorphosis”, Solo Work with a quintet for the Faculty Dance Concert, https://vimeo.com/87957356 
  • March 2014: Selected Exhibition of the National Association of Schools of Dance, Excerpts from Raymonda
  • December 2013: ”Phoebus and Pan”, The Baptist Temple Performing Arts Center, Temple University, Collaboration with the Temple University Concert Choir and Baroque Orchestra.  https://vimeo.com/87969597
  • May 2013: Endings, Excerpt from Phoebus and Pan https://vimeo.com/64271820 February 2013, Faculty Dance Concert, Excerpts from Phoebus and Pan
  • January 2013: “Statuaries: Morning in the Burned House,” Choreoplan 2013, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Carslisle, PA, One of four choreographers chosen from an international pool of applicants to set a new work on students during a 10 day long winter intensive. Work also performed during the intensive and again in June at the Whittaker Center for the Performing Arts. https://vimeo.com/58676796
  • September 2012: Global Dance and Music, “Wondrous Integers,” (contemporary ballet choreography to the English Suite #3 by Bach, in collaboration with Harpsichordist Dr. Joyce Lindorff), https://vimeo.com/49769232
  • February 2012:  "A Wild Patience" (contemporary ballet choreography to the Goldberg Variations by Bach], TU Faculty Concert https://vimeo.com/40302123
  • January 2012: "A Wild Patience" (contemporary ballet choreography to Goldberg Variations by Bach), TU Arts Lunchtime Series
  • September 2011: Global Music and Dance, Grand Pas Hongrois from Raymonda (original choreography in the style of Marius Petipa)
  • February 2011:Temple University Faculty Dance Concert, “Game and Round of the Princesses,” from L’Oiseau de Feu (based upon the original by Michel Fokine), https://vimeo.com/33788701
  • December 2010:Endings, Excerpts from Raymonda, Swan Lake and Giselle 
  • February 2010: Temple University Faculty Dance Concert, “NoStalgia,” (original choreography for 8 dancers)
  • September 2010 : Global Music and Dance, Excerpts from Raymonda
  • February 2006: Bryn Mawr College Faculty Dance Concert, Excerpts from Paquita
  • February 2005:Bryn Mawr College Faculty Dance Concert, Excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty
  • May 2004: Drexel Dance Ensemble Concert, Excerpts from Raymonda
  • May 1999: Five College End-of-Year Showcase. Garland Waltz from The Sleeping Beauty