Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Gibney Dance takes action

Gibney Dance to lead community action

for Domestic Violence Awareness Month 

All through October, Gibney Dance will host events designed to provide information and increase awareness around the issue of domestic violence. These events, held at Gibney Dance Center will be free and open to the public. This initiative includes:

-- "I Am Against Violence" photo campaign, in which members of the public can volunteer to be featured.

--  Community Action (CA), a first-of-its-kind program centered on dancer-led workshops using the power of movement and creativity to empower domestic violence survivors living in shelters in New York City and beyond.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time not only to recognize the significant efforts that have been made to reduce domestic violence but also to recommit ourselves to serving the critical needs of survivors and their families. Through our Community Action work, we have learned that there is a powerful synergy between domestic violence and dance that helps survivors take their whole self forward—both body and mind. We look forward to sharing with the broader community the knowledge and expertise we have gained through 12 years of work around the issue of domestic violence.

--Gina Gibney, Artistic and Executive Director of Gibney Dance

--  a discussion with Beth Silverman-Yam, Clinical Director of Sanctuary for Families

--  free yoga classes

--  coaching opportunities on work/life balance

--  a CA Open Studio featuring Gibney Dance Company

All activities will take place at Gibney Dance Center, 890 Broadway, Fifth Floor.

Participants can register for and learn more about October’s events by emailing community@gibneydance.org.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Schedule of Events

Domestic Violence Informational Session
Wednesday, October 3, 2:30–3:30pm (Studio 3)

Dr. Beth Silverman-Yam, Clinical Director of Sanctuary for Families, will lead a discussion on domestic violence and healthy versus unhealthy relationships.


Community Action Open Studio
Wednesday, October 10, 6:30–8:30pm (Studio 5–2)

Artistic and Executive Director Gina Gibney presents an overview of the Community Action model while the Company demonstrates workshop content and performs an excerpt from its repertory.


Body and Wellness Week
October 15–19, 8-10am (Studio 2)

A week of free wellness events

    Monday/Wednesday: Mind Body Dancer
    Led by Liz Montgomery

    90-minute Yoga class followed by 30 minutes of optional guided meditation


    Tuesday/Thursday: Tools for Managing Stress
    Led by Jennifer Edwards, jened.com

    The coaching sessions will guide participants through practical approaches to (1) creating a holistic model for how to manage life, work and their personal brands; and (2) using tools for sleeping better, reducing anxiety and managing stress symptoms.


    Friday: Chi Kung/Qi Gong
    Led by Laura Shapiro

    Chi Kung/Qi Gong is often translated as “life force energy practice.” With roots in Chinese medicine, martial arts, and philosophy, its gentle movements over time restore balance and harmony to body, mind, and spirit.


“I am Against Violence” Campaign Open Photo Shoot
Tuesday, October 23, 12:00 – 4:00 pm / Studio 5

Members of the public are invited to join the Gibney Dance community in taking a stand against domestic violence by having their photos taken for our online and Center-wide advocacy campaign.

Gibney Dance Center celebrates community in dance

Gibney Dance Center Launch Party tonight
by Maura Nguyen Donohue, Culturebot, September 21, 2011

Gibney Dance Center to open September 1

Choreographer Gina Gibney, artistic director of Gina Gibney Dance, today announced plans to greatly expand both her studio space and the range of programs designed to serve the rapidly growing needs of New York's dance and performance community. Her Gibney Dance Center will open on September 1.

Gina Gibney (c)2010, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

For two decades, Gibney has maintained Studio 5-2 at 890 Broadway for company rehearsals and a full roster of professional and specialty classes. Now, with the support of Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech Foundation, Gibney has acquired two more spaces in the building, also known as The Lawrence A. Wien Center for Dance and Theater.

In addition to Studio 5-2 (renamed Studio 3), Gibney Dance Center will be home to two new studios:

Studio 1--a 36' x 36' rehearsal studio and production office designed and equipped for rehearsals and residencies for dance and theater groups

Studio 2--20' x 36' workspace for small group rehearsals, exploratory work and special creative programs; affordable for independent artists and small dance groups

Building on her long track record in community service and innovation, Gibney plans to launch two new programs:

boo-koo--a space grant program that will provide choreographers with rehearsal time and technical assistance in exchange for community give-backs, such as free workshops or performances for audience with limited exposure to the arts

One-Shot--a web-based, solo performance relay curated by Sarah Maxfield. Each participating artist receives six hours of rehearsal time at GDC, during which he or she will create a solo performance specifically for the Internet. Each web-based solo will be premiered online, and remain available in a web-based catalogue for performance viewing at any time.

For Gibney Dance Center rental inquiries, contact Michele Wilson at 212-677-1818 or michele@ginagibneydance.org.

Lott: not unknown for long

Top 10 Great Unknowns, From Second Stage : NPR Music

A very happy new year and congratulations to composer-musician Ryan Lott (aka Son Lux), a frequent collaborator of choreographer Gina Gibney, for making it to the very top of Robin Hilton's list on NPR! Click here to listen.

And on another NPR show--Bob Boilen's All Songs Considered--Robin Hilton named Lott the Best New Artist of 2008! Listen here.

Lottmusic blog

Son Lux blog

Gina Gibney update: Body and Soul podcast

Choreographer Gina Gibney--who was my guest on "Body and Soul" in January--discusses a significant development for her dance troupe: changing from an all-female company into one that will now include men.

Program notes--http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Guest info at http://www.ginagibneydance.org. (c)2008, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

MP3 File

Program Notes: Upcoming on "Body and Soul"

In the upcoming episode of Body and Soul podcast, choreographer Gina Gibney--who was my guest in January--discusses a significant development for her dance troupe: changing from an all-female company into one that will now include men.  Gibney explained this new initiative in a message recently sent to her company's supporters and posted on the troupe's Web site:

"For the past ten years, our company has been steadfast in its dedication to working as an all-female company.  Our tenth anniversary activities highlighted and celebrated an exciting and productive decade.   I am proud of what we accomplished, how we accomplished it and the support we built along the way.  

 

After much thought about the company’s next chapter, I have made the decision to add the words “and men” to our mission statement.  To accomplish this, we are holding auditions in the next few weeks and will reform the company to include male dancers.  I have come to believe there is now no better way to show the power, compassion and equality of women than in mixed company.  I am excited and energized by the prospect of reframing the issues my work addresses – partnering, communication, complex interaction and internal motivation – in a broader context."

Click to visit Gina Gibney Dance's Web site.

Click to listen to the January 2008 Body and Soul podcast interview.

In good kilter

I've admired Janessa Clark and Courtney Jo Drasner's vibrant and smart performances with Gina Gibney Dance but had never seen Clark's own choreography prior to last night's presentation by Janessa Clark/KILTERBOX, part of the queer-forward HOT! Festival at Dixon Place.

Clark and Drasner--two stunningly beautiful women--performed part of a 2006 duet called (inner)views I–IV, in which they prowled DP's living room space dressed and preening like go-go girls, wriggling their tongues at us, toying with themselves and each other, and embodying the straight-male fantasy of what it means to be a lesbian. Why, they were close enough for a lap dance and, at one point, Clark bent down and gave one woman in a front seat a lingering smooch.

With bodies espressly for display, the two supercharged Barbie dolls engaged in rapidfire sensual interactions that were the rough equivalent of stuffing your mouth with as much candy as possible and downing it in one gulp. While they were at it, a video showed real-life dykes talking about their real lives. (One of them so real, I know her--an old friend I haven't seen in what must be years.) Their remarks about experiences of coming out or being targeted by homophobes, of self-determined identity and assured self-regard are intimate and reveal humanity and vulnerability. Clark's on to something, I think, since she diverts our attention from the hotties with this video and, often--at least for me--the video won.

Ask yourself: What would you rather watch? Yes, the dancers are hot. (And how often does most contemporary dance let itself get away with that without politely covering up the fact that watching any dancer express him/herself via the body is...um...inherently voyeuristic?) But the women in the video are appealing. They're probably more like yourself, even if you're not female. Maybe even if you're a straight male...an honest one. So that's where your eyes go. Funny, isn't it?

Gibney: What a decade!

Last evening, I had the pleasure of attending the gala celebration of Gina Gibney Dance's tenth anniversary in its current form as an all-female ensemble. A reception and silent auction was preceded by an hour-long performance of luminous excerpts from repertory works and a premiere danced with moving sincerity by women from Gibney's program for survivors of domestic violence.

The troupe brings its choreographic retrospective--10 Years/1 Hour--to the Tisch Summer Dance Residency Festival at NYU School of the Arts on Thursday, June 5, at 7:30pm. Admission is $10, and reservations are not required.

Congratulations to Gina, her creative collaborators, and her exceptional performers--Janessa Clark, Courtney Drasner, Jenni Hong, Kristy Kuhn, Mariangela Lopez, Stevie Oakes and Hannah Seidel.

Gina Gibney Dance

NYU School of the Arts
111 Second Avenue (5th Floor)
Information: 212-677-8560 or info@ginagibneydance.org

Vanity Fair honors Gina Gibney Dance

Gina Gibney Dance has been named to Vanity Fair's Hall of Fame. Download the article here. (Click on "View the article.")

Congratulations to Gina Gibney, Body and Soul podcast interviewee, and her stellar troupe! Listen to my interview with her here.

Gina Gibney: Body and Soul podcast

Gina Gibney's choreography always reminds me of what's most important to me about art: serious attention to craft and an equally serious concern about human connection and communication. Gina is a thoughtful spokesperson for the art of dance. I've always enjoyed our encounters and usually go away feeling a little more focused and motivated as a result. I hope you'll be similarly inspired by our discussion about her work, including her development of The Distance Between Us, which premiered at the Ailey Citicorp Theater in November 2007.

This year, Gina’s company celebrates its 10th Anniversary as an all-female troupe. See below for updated information on Gibney’s projects.

GUEST BIO

Gina Gibney’s choreography has been widely presented and commissioned in the United States and abroad at such venues as Danspace Project, White Bird Dance, Yale Repertory Theater, The Duke on 42nd Street Theater, WORKS & PROCESS at the Guggenheim Museum and elsewhere. In response to her growing concern about the status of women in the professional dance world, she reorganized her company as an all-female ensemble in 1997. Since that time, she has created six evening-length works exploring the humanity and physicality of women. In 2000, she launched the Domestic Violence Project, a groundbreaking project that offers dance and creative expression to women who are survivors of domestic abuse. She is the founder of Studio 5-2, an officer of Danspace Project's Board of Directors, and a trustee of Dance/USA. Gibney graduated with honors and received an MFA in Dance from Case Western Reserve University.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Catch a sample of Gina Gibney’s work at the dancemOpolitan group show at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, March 14-15, 9:30 pm. For reservations, call 212-967-7555 or visit www.joespub.com.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary as an all-female troupe, Gina Gibney Dance holds its annual Women at Work gala on June 2 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. The gala will feature a mini-retrospective performance, including excerpts from Coming from Quiet (1998), Time Remaining (2002) and unbounded (2005), and a new work developed in collaboration with survivors of domestic violence. This program will be repeated for the public on June 5 (7:30pm) as part of the Tisch Summer Dance Residency Festival.

LINK

Gina Gibney Dance at http://www.ginagibneydance.org/

Body and Soul is the official podcast of InfiniteBody dance blog at http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Subscribe through iTunes or at
http://magickaleva.hipcast.com/rss/bodyandsoul.xml.

(c)2008, Eva Yaa Asantewaa

MP3 File

Gina Gibney Dance: The Distance Between Us

The Distance Between Us--the new piece by Gina Gibney, closing tonight at the Ailey Citigroup Theater--looks very much like a short story filled with characters engaged in shifting relationships. I can't tell you exactly what those relationships are, but this is the sort of work that asks a watcher to tilt forward and read into it whatever is in the watcher's experience and soul. It's a sophisticated, if abstract and tantalizingly enigmatic, tale. It unfolds within an extraordinary environment--one that seems to breathe, pulsate, flush with emotion, harbor haunting memories and even speak like a living being--created by Kathy Kaufmann (lighting), Lex Liang (set) and Ryan Lott (music).

Among Gibney's six women dancers--always a strong, vivid bunch--Courtney Drasner, Janessa Clark and Kristy Kuhn give especially focused, super-energized performances that make them seem larger than life. Naoko Nagata's dizzily constructed black-and-white costumes are the only feature that seems a little off, a little too kicky for the low-key tone of this piece; otherwise, they have and contribute their offbeat appeal to this rich production.

Gibney's initial solo segment for the tall, gorgeous Drasner introduces the tidal flow of so much of the movement: the lush, lashing, twirling and spongey moves, performed with ease and confidence, that appear throughout much of Distance, running through solos, duets and ensemble gatherings in which stuff, whatever it is, happens in privacy or with others. Gibney has given herself a lot of time and space in which to have stuff happen, and sometimes this generosity seems to have worked against the kind of scrupulous decision-making that chooses what's most crucial for us to see and that guarantees variety of texture. There are any number of places at which the dance seems to have reached an end but continues. Still I would much rather sit out a lengthy Gibney dance than many another choreographer's because she has an eye for sensuous beauty and an appetite for feeling.

(c) Eva Yaa Asantewaa, 2007