In Dance

Audiences are invited to witness Mann’s choreographic process via open rehearsals and have opportunities to participate in Mann’s Chi Cultivation practice, her Movement Alchemy physical training, and a writing and movement workshop. These rehearsals begin with the Chi Cultivation Series which is open to the public. This is Qigong and consists of exercises that are good for the body and the consciousness — developing both physical and energetic muscles. Chi Cultivation occurs with Mann’s performance ensemble.

Audiences are invited to witness Mann’s choreographic process via open rehearsals and have opportunities to participate in Mann’s Chi Cultivation practice, her Movement Alchemy physical training, and a writing and movement workshop. These rehearsals begin with the Chi Cultivation Series which is open to the public. This is Qigong and consists of exercises that are good for the body and the consciousness — developing both physical and energetic muscles. Chi Cultivation occurs with Mann’s performance ensemble.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 3rd, 2022 – Embodiment Project and Dance Mission Theater present GET FREE Weekender. GET FREE is a *free* Hip Hop Dance Festival rooted in the artistry of free-styling, battling, and healing through community practices. At the core of GET FREE is Hip Hop theater, battle culture, experimentation, and love for our Bay Area street dance community. Attendees will be able to experience a performance showcase, experimental battle, workshops, and cyphers featuring fierce dance artists that push the form of Hip Hop dance-theater.. 

This marks Embodiment Project’s (EP) third multi-city hip hop dance festival and EP and Dance Mission’s second GET FREE festival. This three-day festival offers something for everyone.  The electrifying showcase and battle at Dance Mission Theater bring Hip Hop dance visionaries together including LA’s best kept secret K’niin Abbrey to the stage, and includes a sneak peak of excerpts of Embodiment Project’s new work.

“We bring a rare opportunity to witness an experimental Battle of live music and poetry. This is our love offering to the Bay Area street dance community, to lift up and unite poets and freestyle artists while dipping into the magic of live art and improvisation inherent in Black Social dance traditions and the ancient continuum of African Diasporic Storytelling and art”. -Rama Hall, co-producer

Get Free will kick off with an opening showcase, Sacred Rowdiness at 8 pm Friday, June 3rd at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco. The showcase features renowned Hip Hop dance innovators from across the country as well as local emerging artists including: The Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble, Embodiment Project, Rama & Michaela, Khissa, Lisa Frias, Mark Sanchez, Terrence Paschal, Fredrika Keefer and Jaylen Pea Collaboration, and K’niin Abbrey.

Timing is Synchronicity, an Experimental Battle Experience/Performance Art will take place at 8 pm Saturday, June 4th at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco. Expanding the edges of multi-dimensional storytelling, this event taps into the unlimited potentiality of battle culture through the call and response between LIVE visionary spoken word artists, freestyle dancers, vocalists, and music producers. 

This event will feature street dancers from across the country including Krow, Maya, K’niin Abbrey, Jin Lee Baobei, and Rama Mahesh Hall. Join us as we immerse ourselves in interdisciplinary magic, where live concert dance and battle traditions coalesce. Featuring visionary poets Tongo Eisen-Martin, Audacious I Am, and Nicole Klaymoon; acclaimed vocalists, Amie Cota and Tiffany Austin; multi-hyphenated musician Xoa, and beat producer CoFlo.  

This transformative weekend ends with Get Free Dance Workshops at Dance Mission Theater from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. 

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Warm Up Session

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Nicole Klaymoon and Rama Hall

2:45 pm – 4:15 pm K’niin Abbrey

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Yeni Lucero

 

FRE!HEIT is a solo presentation; a treatise on different manifestations of freedom (democratic and otherwise) and various methodologies for exercising these concepts. David Brandstätter’s work is rooted in cross disciplinary performance (circus, dance, physical theatre and music). The piece is engaging as a virtuosic and carefully contrived work of art. It is also highly instructive as an exercise in taking pragmatic activist actions and blending them with abstract motions to make multiple socio-political points.

Bay Area singer and composer, Michelle Jacques will collaborate with David Brandstätter to create a new musical score for the US Premiere of FRE!HEIT. The score will be performed live by Ms. Jacques.

Post-Performance
Friday: Artist Reception
Saturday: Artist Discussion

FRE!HEIT is a solo presentation; a treatise on different manifestations of freedom (democratic and otherwise) and various methodologies for exercising these concepts. David Brandstätter’s work is rooted in cross disciplinary performance (circus, dance, physical theatre and music). The piece is engaging as a virtuosic and carefully contrived work of art. It is also highly instructive as an exercise in taking pragmatic activist actions and blending them with abstract motions to make multiple socio-political points.

Bay Area singer and composer, Michelle Jacques will collaborate with David Brandstätter to create a new musical score for the US Premiere of FRE!HEIT. The score will be performed live by Ms. Jacques.

Post-Performance
Friday: Artist Reception
Saturday: Artist Discussion

VANTAGE, a highly anticipated, high energy cross-cultural celebration through dance, diversity, and positive dialog debuts at the OCD Theater in San Francisco, California, April 7 – 10. Presented by ZiRu Dance — a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) non-profit dance company founded by Philein Wang — VANTAGE was created as a catalyst for social justice, inclusion, and community.

An acclaimed dancer choreographer, Wang, Artistic Director at ZiRu Dance, describes VANTAGE as sitting at the intersection of movement, technology, cultural identity and most importantly — social justice. “VANTAGE is a vibrant collaborative effort from four distinct cultural vantage points, including Asian American, African American, Mixed Race, and LatinX,” she points out.

Nearly a year in the making, VANTAGE features the soaring artistry of four top choreographers, each one depicting their cultural heritage, including Wang, representing Chinese/Taiwanese Americans, Christian Burns, European Caucasian/mixed race (HAPA), Winifred Harris, African Americans, and Alejandro Perez, LatinX. “They’re not only gifted artists, but they believe deeply in our overarching vision for VANTAGE, having either experienced racial injustice, or known somebody who has,” she added. “I love that they’re optimistic about their lives, their communities, and the future!”

VANTAGE was conceived during the pandemic when Wang, who was born in Michigan to Taiwanese and Chinese parents, became alarmed by the dramatic upswing in Xenophic slurs, assaults and hate crimes on individuals of Asian descent. “Most Asian Americans are encouraged to remain silent about such incidents, myself included. But as hatred and violent behavior spread during the pandemic, I became frightened for my children’s future,” explains Wang, a former dancer at the renowned Cloudgate Dance Theater of Taiwan.

She says a pivotal moment occurred when a neighbor visiting Napa with his family was “flipped off” by a white couple for no reason. “I was shocked, especially given the area,” she said. “Here we were locked down, no way to travel to another country, and social injustices were occurring all over. I needed to do something, so I reached out to my network encouraging people to share their stories and report any issues to authorities. And that was the start of VANTAGE.”

Wang, who’s innovative artform combines modern dance, ballet, Chinese martial arts (wushu) and Tai Chi, says VANTAGE is a joyful labor of love. “It’s only when we share our stories, and advocate for change peacefully, can we end the cycle of silence and injustice,” concluded Wang, who studied at the famous Beijing Ballet Academy and has performed/choreographed worldwide.

She added that each dance performance will be followed by a moderated panel discussion with all four cultures represented by their respective choreographers, along with several special guests. “There will also be a Q&A session for the audience and information about advocacy groups in hopes of building a significant grassroots coalition through the arts.”

Discounted Tickets available Here.

[ID: Montage photo of ZiRu Dance/Sharon Kung & Fabiana Santiago. Header text says Vantage , presented by ZiRu Dance. Centered underneath the images reads the dates and times of performances. Left side reads choreography by Philein Wang, Christian Burns, Winifred Harris, Alejandro Perez. Right side reads ODC Theater address]