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Photo by Ian Douglas Shape Shifting: A conversation with Dana Michel about Yellow Towel with Rob Avila Yellow Towel, the much lauded solo by Montreal-based choreographer-performer Dana Michel, makes its San Francisco debut this weekend. Riffing on a blurred range of black stereotypes, the piece has the effect of unsettling the specific in favor of an investigation of the condition of otherness—a two-way street in which the audience can find itself squirming under the burden of its reflex

Photo by Robbie Sweeny.Below is some of our writing about Snake Talk, which is in part inspired by Sianne Ngai's book Our Aesthetic Categories. Specifically, we are investigating what she calls the "zany" aesthetic, allowing it to permeate the structure and physicality of our work. For a more in depth conversation regarding Ngai's research on contemporary aesthetics, read this interview with her in Cabinet magazine. * * * * * Snake Talk is a third-wave feminist proposal nestled within an extreme and often uncomfortable aesthetic

Salinas workshop participants (photo Zen Cohen) Perhaps it is right to begin our blog by positing ourselves this way: Like with much in our contemporary lives, The 35th Floor / Another Stor(e)y Above and Beyond Her Fall (35F) is largely informed by our necessity to face the violence that surrounds our bodies, and that other one in need of so much healing, the earthbody of which we are an extension. Perhaps the brutal notion that we are indeed

Catching up with former Development & Special Events Fellow, Melissa Lewis For the month of May, we’re catching up with some of our past fellows and highlighting what they’ve been up to since their time at CounterPulse. Sound like something you're interested in? We're currently accepting fellowship applications for the Fall 2016 session, learn more >> Melissa Lewis - [detour dance] 2014 Fellowship: Development & Special Events, Fall 2014 School and major: University of San Francisco, BA in Performing Arts &

Catching up with former Community Engagement Fellow, Ali Maricich For the month of May, we’re catching up with some of our past fellows and highlighting what they’ve been up to since their time at CounterPulse. Sound like something you're interested in? We're currently accepting fellowship applications for the Fall 2016 session, learn more >> Ali during her time at CounterPulse Fellowship: Community Engagement Fellowship, Fall 2015 School and major: Cornish College of the Arts, BFA in Dance What are you

I think a lot about the detrimental effects of colonization through an international adoption perspective.  For me, international adoption in the U.S. sometimes mimics an historical pattern of cultural domination.  There are unstated power dynamics between 1st world and 3rd world countries that get glazed over by the pressures to solve poverty or to solve 1st world country desperation for a nuclear family.  I think that international and transracial adoption (where family members are of different races) is an issue

I have been reading a few books that inspire me to create dance about my adoption experience.  It has been really helpful to free write in rehearsals in order to generate images that I can translate into my group work.  I have been reading these books in particular: “The Primal Wound” by Nancy Newton Verrier “Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption” edited by Jane Jeong Trenka, Julia Chinyere Oparah and Sun Yung Shin. “Parenting as Adoptees” edited by Adam Chau

As I continue to embark on the adventure of being human and making art, I am always considering where and what are my value's. I use this curiosity as a measure for being fully human and present in body, mind and spirit. So I decided to embark in the art making process based on my life to illuminate theme's of resiliency and strength I'm a good case study in the sense that I am very strong physically, mentally and spiritually

Do I trust what I see? Do I trust myself? Am I perfect? Am I disabled or mislabeled? VULNERABILITY/ STRENGTH poem by Valerie Burton STRONG Resilience is better than strength Vulnerability is the portal to liberation and enlightenment STOP and notice the fear in the body. STOP and PAUSE Notes on vulnerability and resiliency as metaphor: FLAGS of Dragon scales- Armour style Habits of denying vulnerability- (Physical) TUMBLING is my way out and through Pressing Down, push under- DE pression