MARCH 24 & 25, 2022

Runtime: 60 min

Tushrik Fredericks*
-Intermission-
Quaba V. Ernest / Venza Dance**

*Please note this piece contains the use of a hazer and strobe light
**Please note this piece contains the use of a hazer.

Tushrik Fredericks
(territory) of the heart

With choreography and performance by South African performer Tushrik Fredericks, and sound design by US/EU based dj TT, (territory) of the heart is a movement solo that listens to the range of the heart as a muscular organ. The organ being the place that is responsible for the amplification of our feelings in response to stimuli or situations. Listening to the heart can guide one to the discovery of the potential that lies within oneself or within humanity while acknowledging that the (territory) is very sensitive and a vast landscape that encompasses everything around us.

Choreographed + Performed by Tushrik Fredericks
Soundscape by TT
Lighting Design by Conor Mulligan

Tushrik Fredericks, recipient of a Princess Grace Award in 2021 is originally from Johannesburg, South Africa but is currently living in New York City. Growing up he specifically found himself drawn towards the style ‘KRUMP‘. He graduated from the Peridance Capezio Center Certificate Program in NYC in June 2015 where he received most of his training. He has had the opportunity to work with Ate9 dANCEcOMPANY (Danielle Agami, Artistic Director) and Sidra Bell Dance New York. He is now working with TRIBE (artistic director/founder Shamel Pitts). Tushrik was an assistant lecturer to Sidra Bell at The University of the Arts Philadelphia for Sophomore students (2016-2018). In May 2021 Tushrik received 3rd prize for dance at the SoloTanz Festival in Stuttgart for his self choreographed solo (territory) of the heart and in November 2021 Tushrik toured the first rendition of the solo to 7 different cities in Germany as part of the SoloTanz Festival.

TT’s storytelling origins began as a fashion stylist, and in recent years, those narratives have grown to include sonic transmissions as a DJ. The Virginia native is based in New York and draws inspiration from their communities both here and across the globe. Infusing the classic shape-shifting sounds of the Midwest with the paradigm-shifting sounds of Berlin, Copenhagen, Malmö, and beyond. Their sets will take you on a hard-hitting celestial journey through euphoric melodies, spastic synths, and cunty chants. Uniting rhythmic frequencies of opposing forces, TT's singular style is much like that of a "Meditating Gunrunner."

Much love to TRIBE, Princess Grace USA, Shamel Pitts, Ashley Pierre-Louis, Becks and TT.

Quaba V. Ernest / Venza Dance
It's Above Me Now

It's Above Me Now is a movement exploration that looks into being patient with oneself and those who surround us. Examining our personality and nature through introspection or reflexive action. Acknowledging our resistance and difficult feelings with motivation, procrastinating now & then, focusing on the task at hand, and trying to understand myself better.

Directed and Choreographed by Quaba V. Ernest
in collaboration with the performers

Performers
Angel Glasby
Keerati Jinakunwhiphat
Claude Johnson
Maia Schechter

Sound
William Basinski & Mary Lattimore
(Edited by Quaba V. Ernest)

Costumes
Quaba V. Ernest
Dorchel Haqq

Lighting Design
Conor Mulligan

Quaba Venza Ernest, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He began his dance training at Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, Robert Garland, & Ronald Perry. . Continuing at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, and SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. There he was selected as a recipient of an Adopt-A-Dancer Scholarship and was awarded the 2019 Thayer Fellowship in the Arts for Dance & Choreography. He began his career with Ballet BC for their 2019 season. He has studied at Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Jacob’s Pillow, and Springboard Danse Montreal under the direction of Alexandra Wells. Quaba has been featured in the NY Times for performances at BAM Fisher (Watermill by Jerome Robbins) & Jacob’s Pillow (Dance of Ages by Ted Shawn) . He has been featured in the NY Times for performances at BAM Fisher & Jacob’s Pillow. His work titled “Astomi” was selected as a winner in the 27th Quinzena de Dança de Almada – International Dance Festival (2019). In 2021 he was one of The Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellows at Jacob’s Pillow & was selected as an Early Career Artist for the 12th Annual Making Moves Dance Festival. Quaba began working with Doug Varone and Dancers in 2021.

Venza Dance is a series of works directed/created by Quaba V. Ernest. It is a project-based collective with the mission of exploring live/digital creations that invoke the viewer to further questions. Placing an emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration it aims to research the endless possibilities of movement, all the forms it exists in, and the countless perspectives to capture it. Using seemingly abstract interpretations the work seeks to turn focus towards often overlooked or internalized feelings of identity, race, culture, isolation, and crisis. Pulling inspiration from my own experience and that of collaborators it aims to give a new perspective on everyday life, our roles within, and constantly evolving culture.

Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Angel Glasby’s current body of work tackles the significance of the queer experience within marginalized bodies. Their work aims to ignite ideologies that decolonize the psyche. Devoted to examining the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality. You can see this come alive with socially guided groups such as QT art Camp and Whorechata.

Keerati Jinakunwiphat, originally from Chicago, IL., received her BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase and was a recipient of the Adopt-A- Dancer Scholarship. She has additionally studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Springboard Danse Montreal. She has worked with and performed works of artists such as Kyle Abraham, Nicole von Arx, Trisha Brown, Jasmine Ellis, Hannah Garner, Shannon Gillen, Andrea Miller, Kevin Wynn, and Doug Varone. Keerati began working with A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham in 2016. She has additionally assisted Kyle Abraham in new commissioned work for New York City Ballet and Paul Taylor Dance Company. As a freelance choreographer, Keerati has presented her own choreographic works at the American Dance Guild Festival, Triskelion Arts, Dixon Place, Battery Dance Festival, Dance Gallery Festival, the Joyce Theater, New Victory Theater, and New York City Ballet. She has been commissioned to set and create works on the Evanston Dance Ensemble, the Martha Graham School, SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, New England Ballet Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and the New York Choreographic Institute. Keerati has graced the cover of Dance Magazine featured as part of ‘25 to Watch’ for 2021.

Claude “CJ” Johnson hails from Chicago IL, where he began his formal dance training at the Chicago Academy for the Arts under the direction of Randy Duncan. He later on continued his dance training at Suny Purchase College where he received his BFA in theater performance and composition, and awarded the Adopt-A-Dancer Scholarship. Cj is currently a company member of "A.I.M." under the Artistic Directorship of Kyle Abraham as of August of 2017. Cj’s has gotten the opptotunity to perform works by Kyle Abraham, Merce Cunningham, Trisha Brown, Aszure Barton, Johannes Weiland, Doug Varone, Kevin Wynn, Rosalind Newman, Alexandra Beller, and Stuart Loungway. Cj also attended intensive dance programs Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Doug Varone summer intensive, Movement Invention Project, and Springboard Dance Montreal under the direction of Alexandra Wells where he performed work by Shannon Gillen and Elia Mrak. When CJ is not danicng he is dabbling in other art forms(Vocal, Acting, Directing) in hopes to add more to his creative tool box of artisty.

Maia Schechter grew up in Glen Rock, PA, where she began dancing at the age of 3. In 2018, she graduated as a Linehan Artist Scholar from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with the honor of Outstanding Senior in Dance and Choreography. In 2017, she began her professional career dancing for Pacing Bodies Dance Company. She then relocated to New York City in 2018 and was contracted with Peridance Dance Contemporary Dance Company. That year she also debuted her choreography at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Following her time at Peridance, she joined Dance Lab New York as a seasoned dancer working with choreographers to incubate deep and strongly developed movement ideas. She has also appeared in music videos for NZCA Lines and Monotronic Band. She is currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, working as a freelance dancer, and is represented by Clear Talent Group.

Special thanks to my mentor, Annouk Van Djik. And big thanks to Triskelion Arts, Wendy McCain, Lucille Werlinich, Michelle Thompson Ulerich.

Conor Mulligan (Resident Lighting Designer)
Credits include: NEW YORK: The Giant Hoax, (Theatre Row), KonverjdansIII (The Mark O’Donnell Theater), Jumping Mouse (Museum of Jewish Heritage), BalletNEXT (NYLA), National Children’s Chorus (Carnegie Hall), Satellite Collective’s Echo & Narcissus 2018 (BAM Fisher), Adam Minus Josh, (Theatre Lab), Start From Hello A New Musical (Hudson Guild Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Smith Street Stages), Lambs For Slaughter, The Overcoat, The Master and Margarita, Lady With A Lap Dog, The Three Sisters, Crime and Punishment (The Russian Arts Theatre & Studio), The Phillie Trilogy, Do You Dream In Spanish, (Fresh Fruit Festival 2017), The Commuters (Calendar Boys Productions). REGIONAL: PIRIRA, Old Love New Love (Luna Stage, NJ), On Golden Pond (Bristol Riverside Theatre), This Is Our Youth (Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre, MA), E2, The 39 Steps, Sweeney Todd, All She Must Posses, The Other Place (REP Stage, MD), Columbinus, Fly By Night (1st Stage, VA), Manuel Vignoulle – M/Motions (Tulsa Performing Arts Center), The Effects Of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds [Winner of the Craig Noel award for Outstanding Lighting Design 2018], Fool For Love, True West (Cygnet Theatre, CA), Lesson 443 (MOXIE Theatre, CA), Thrill Me (Diversionary Theatre, CA). INTERNATIONAL: Cirio Collective: In the Mind, The Fourth Way, Parting Thoughts (Despertares Impulsa 2019; Guadalajara, MEX). Conor is a proud member of USA 829. More at www.conormulliganld.com

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