Performances

The versatility of this research has allowed us to apply the information in various movement outlets. Choreographer and educator Simone Ferro have created a series of dances each tackling a different aspect of social justice specifically in Milwaukee communities. An expansive cast of dancers is selected and rehearsed diligently for months, forming a full-length work that is performed at a formal concert. While the typical proscenium stage is the most common venue for dance to occur, we have expanded past the norm to find other locations where the dance could occur. Site-specific performance is not a new concept but is always a thrilling option when desiring a shift in your work. Many times taking a phrase of choreography to a new location recontextualizes the piece. As a method of research, we often improvise in site-specific locations. Our performance consists of a predetermined score, which acts essentially as a game-plan outlining parameters and rules for our dance. During an improvisation, we take inspiration from the space, molding and shifting our bodies in a response to what we see.

The first wave of the plastic tide (2021)

This work expands on the idea of repurposing and recycling with the aim of reducing our footprint. It traces the effects of plastic in nature and how it impacts the quality of the water we drink. As we look at water as a commodity in many places on this planet, this work navigates between a folk tale and a statement of scarcity, where the fate of human beings is at the mercy of the plastic we eat and drink.

Rippled tides (2020)

This project is fully supported by the recycling efforts of ALL members of the creative team, friends and families. Our commitment to environmental justice has propelled us to recycle more than 1100 bags of 13 gallons each since September 2019.

The Gray Shapes of the wasps’ nests

Inspired by the lives of strong and resilient women, The Gray Shape of Wasp’s Nests (named after Milwaukee Poet Laureate Susan Firer’s poem of the same title) is an exploration of women’s heritage, lineage, power, and legacy. The work displays the struggles and challenges of determined, but often anonymous women, who through their strength and will have reshaped generations after them. Even today these women remain invisible warriors, transcending their own fears and limitations with the delicacy of their actions and their boundless humanity. This work is done in tandem with community engagement.