ONSITE: AXIS Dance Company
Occupy
A site-specific journey through an urban garden
Choreographed by renowned site artist Stephan Koplowitz
With an original score by Pamela Z
AXIS Dance Company, Dancers’ Group and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presented Occupy – A site-specific journey through an urban garden, July 1-2, 2017. Occupy was inspired by the history, design and architecture of Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco and the unique movement capabilities of AXIS Dance Company and their extended cast of performers. It featured twenty disabled and non-disabled performers, Occupy offers both an immersive and expansive experience.
Saturday and Sunday, July 1 & 2, 2017
Guided Promenade Performances at 12pm & 2:30pm
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
760 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103
FREE
Press for Occupy:
“‘Occupy’ Is Not Your Average Site-Specific Work”
by Rodney Hamilton in Dance Magazine
“In Practice: Stephan Koplowitz on Making Site Work”
By Sima Belmar in In Dance
“Artistry, Engagement and Advocacy with AXIS Dance Company”
By Rita Felciano in In Dance
“AXIS gets site-specific for 30th anniversary show”
San Francisco Chronicle
Occupy was the first event in a series of programs commemorating AXIS Dance Company’s 30th Anniversary. It also marked AXIS Founder and longtime Artistic Director Judith Smith’s final commission. Smith passed the torch to AXIS’ new Artistic Director Marc Brew after nearly 20 years at the helm, and moved into a multi-faceted advocacy role as Founder & Director.
photo by Robbie Sweeny
About AXIS Dance Company
AXIS Dance Company changes the face of dance and disability through Artistry, Engagement and Advocacy. Based in Oakland since 1987, AXIS is the nation’s most acclaimed ensemble of performers with and without disabilities. Nearing its 30th year, AXIS is thrilled to announce the appointment of internationally renowned choreographer Marc Brew as its new Artistic Director. Under the Artistic Direction of Judith Smith from 1997-2016, AXIS’ list of collaborators included Bill T. Jones, Stephen Petronio, Yvonne Rainer, Ann Carlson, David Dorfman, Marc Brew, Meredith Monk, Joan Jeanrenaud and Fred Frith. AXIS has toured to over 100 cities in US, Europe and Russia. The Company has received seven Isadora Duncan Dance Awards and has appeared twice on FOX TV’s So You Think You Can Dance, exposing their innovative and relevant work of physically integrated dance to millions. Through education and outreach programs thousands of children and adults of all ages and abilities are inspired to dance each year.
About Stephan Koplowitz
Stephan Koplowitz is an award winning director/choreographer/media artist known for his work on stage, film and site. His site work aims to alter people’s perspectives of place, site, and scale, all infused with a sense of the human condition and is concerned with the intersection of natural, social and cultural ecologies within urban and natural environments. Since 1984 he has created 87 works (60 commissions) performed in the US, Europe and Asia. He is the recipient of an Alpert Award in the Arts, Guggenheim Fellowship, “Bessie Award” for “Sustained Achievement” and six NEA Choreography Fellowships. Recent works include commissions from La Mama Umbria International, The Ohio State University, San Diego Trolley Dances, to name a few. In August, 2017, he will premiere a multi-media site based work for over 50 performers in an historic mill factory for the Bates Dance Festival’s 35th anniversary.
