DANCEfirst! Living the Present October 15, 2009

Living the Present: Migrations into and out of Jazz
Three choreographers. Three premieres.
Three deeply-aware, socially-conscious, contemporary choreographers harness their individual movement vocabularies to present work that is as much performance as it is commentary.

$10 adults, $5 students/seniors
Doors/Mingling: 6pm, Performances @ 6:30pm

RAISSA ::: evocative, athletic, reflective
As Eternal As Life (world premiere)

For this never-seen-before piece, Raissa Simpson gently commands the depth of contemporary movement to expertly blend the influences of the African American experience with the traditions of Eastern healing arts.

Pairing with singer/songwriter Valerie Troutt to distill jazz vocals + dance into a sudden tribute, As Eternal As Life is a stirring + uplifting duet on the passing of a mutual friend.

JACINTA ::: political, physical, dynamic
Excerpt from "The Fillmore Project"

Jacinta Vlach joins forces with saxophonist Howard Wiley to explore the call + response relationship of jazz music + dance with a strong emphasis on improvisation.
Addressing the ever-changing identity of Jazz dance, Vlach fuses an array of movement idioms ranging from contemporary to traditional while incorporating urban aesthetics + character dynamics.

In 2008 Jacinta Vlach + Howard Wiley were awarded the SFAC Arts + Communities Innovative Partnerships Exploration Grant to partner with the African American Art & Culture Complex to research the history of San Francisco's Fillmore District. The Fillmore Project will resume in 2010, culminating in performances + community forums celebrating the rich musical + multicultural history of one of the city's most lauded neighborhoods.

SHEENA ::: energetic, grounded, afro-modern
B/t You & Me (premiere)

Sheena Johnson calls forth the physical histories of Black people to express the curiosity and passion of the artist/activist.

In collaboration with percussionist Marshall Trammell, Sheena invokes a deep understanding of the body as instrument to chart the terrain B/t sound and motion.