Study Hall, a new, full-length work choreographed and directed by Emily Hansel, is inspired by a series of community workshops designed to bring Bay Area dancers and choreographers/directors together in discussion about cultivating healthy, equitable workplaces in our contemporary dance field. Study Hall’s four cast members participated in these conversations alongside members of the public and brought their takeaways into the studio for the development of Study Hall. All four of these dancers, Rebecca Fitton, gizeh muñiz vengel, Jocelyn Reyes, and Erin Yen, are self-producing choreographers in their own right and share an interest in forging new models for safety, equity, and sustainability in our field. Theirs and Emily’s shared experiences and common interests allowed for the development of a unique workplace culture grounded in accountability and experimentation.

In its final form, Study Hall can accurately be described as both carefully crafted and highly unplanned. Treading the line between set choreography and improvisational score, Study Hall exemplifies both the world building and dismantling that the artists crave. Study Hall illustrates the relationships formed during the highly collaborative creative process—one that was full of conversation, movement, writing, drawing, laughing, sighing, and bonding over mutual experiences of leadership roles, administrative work, performance practice, and activism. The generous and committed dancing by this powerhouse quartet is complemented by original music from Sophia Cotraccia and lighting design by Thomas Bowersox.

• The Friday 7:30pm performance will have ASL interpretation, no advanced registration required.
• The Saturday 3:00pm performance will include a free, pre-show event for kids ages 7-12 starting at 2:00. Learn more and RSVP.
• The Saturday 7:30pm performance will include live audio description and a pre-show haptic access tour at 6:45pm. Pre-registration is required.

Study Hall is supported in part by the San Francisco Arts Commission and by Steppin’ Out Dance Studio.