Second Movement Dancer: Sophie Trentin III. Loko Musicians: Joel Augustin (percussion), Steve Desrosiers (guitar), Claudia Eliaza (voice) Dancers: Jennifer Passios, Meghan Riling Papa Loko ou se van Papa Loko* you are the wind In partnership with the Pouse n ale Push us BCA Dance Residency program Nou se papiyon We are butterflies Plaza Theatre at Boston Center for the Arts Na pote nouvel bay Agwe We’ll bring the news to Agwe* March 27 and 28, 2015 8pm E tout sa ki byen And all those who are well Je m la ye My eyes are open Choreography: Jean Appolon E tout sa ki di mal And all those who speak Je m la ye of the bad Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, My eyes are open Cha-Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse, Jennifer Passios, Meghan Riling and Sophie Trentin IV. Payette Percussionists: Joel Augustin, Juju, Emmanuel Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, Cha- “Q” Lerbout and Jean Marseille Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse Guest Artists: Claudia Eliaza (voice) and Steve Mete m nan folklo Put me in the folklore Desrosiers (guitar) Set design: Anya Smolnikova Costumes: Jean Appolon INTERMISSION Lighting: Paul Marr I. Edem Sound: Fritz Jean Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, Cha-Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse, Jennifer Music: recorded music and voice by Toto Passios, Meghan Riling, Sophie Trentin Bissainthe, with the exception of “Edem Chante” by the Creole Choir of Cuba; live Gen lontan n’ap cheche We’ve been searching for Yon kote pou n viv ages music based on interpretations and recordings Yon kote pou nou tout ka A place to live by Toto Bissainthe viv an pe vre A place where we can all W’a ede m chante chante really live in peace I. Ayizan sa a Help me sing this song Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, Cha-Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse, Jennifer Se chita n chita n ap gade We’re sitting, watching Passios, Meghan Riling Nou we se tout bon lavi n We see our lives are menase vre threatened Ayizan voye rele lwa yo pou Ayizan* call the spirits for me Fo n ede m chante chante sa You must help me sing mwen I need help (I’m stuck) this song M’angaje-o I need help (I’m stuck) M’angaje-o For a year and six months Twop pwoblem nan peyi Too many problems in my Depi en an si mwa mwen I’ve been out at sea mwen country sou lanme a They can’t do anything Anyen pasa fe mwen for me Fe nou pa ka jwenn yon Making it hard for us kote pou nou tout ka viv an to find a place to live II. Yanvalou pe vre peacefully First Movement M’oblije chante chante sa a I have to sing this song Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, Monkonpe mwen, awoulo My brother, awoulo woulu Cha-Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse, Jennifer woulo woule woule Passios, Meghan Riling Monkonpe mwen My brother II. Fòs About Angaje Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, In Haitian Creole, “Angaje” means “committed” Cha-Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse or “engaged,” with the implied meaning of political engagement. “Angaje” also describes III. Lamize Pa Dous a strand of protest music rooted in Vodou Musicians: Joel Augustin (percussion), Steve rhythms that lie at the heart of Haiti’s culture Desrosiers (guitar), Claudia Eliaza (voice) and its founding as the first black republic in the Dancers: Melissa Alexis and Cha-Cha Epps world. Haitian folkloric music or “mizik rasin” Mwen malad, m kouche, I’m sick, I’m lying down, I has historically played an important role in pasa leve can’t get up Haitian identity politics. Beginning in the 1940s, Palmannan ou, m pa moun Palmannan*, I’m not from the “mouvement folklorique” marked a major isit o around here turning point in the recognition of the Haitian Bondye rele m, m prale God called me, I’m leaving folkloric tradition as an artistic force, as well as Osanyo lamize pa dous o Osanyo*, misery isn’t the revaluing of the traditional arts and practices agoye. sweet alas of the Haitian culture. Agoye m pral chache lavi Alas I’m going to find a yon lot kote woy. better life some place else Angaje is a meditation on the realities of post-quake Haiti, where social, economic and IV. Dèy political injustice persists despite promises and reconstruction efforts of Haitian and First Movement foreign leaders and institutions alike. Among Dancers: Isabelle Morse, Jennifer Passios, the many forms of social oppression, violence Meghan Riling against homosexuals is on the rise, as young Second Movement men are sought out, maimed and sometimes Dancers: Eboni Baptiste, Isabelle Morse killed by mobs of anti-gay protestors. This Jennifer Passios, Meghan Riling, Sophie issue touches close to JAE’s heart as two young Trentin men participating in the annual Jean Appolon Summer Dance Institute in Port-au-Prince Dèy o, m rele dèy o (I’m) mourning oh, I’m Ayiti woy calling out, mourning oh were beat up so badly that they were not able Ayiti cheri men pitit ou Haiti oh to complete the Institute. Angaje gives voice mouri Beloved Haiti, your to this interlocking set of issues through a Men lòt yo toutouni children are dead narrative choreographic arc rooted in Haitian Sa ka pote dèy la pou ou There are others (lying) dance tradition and set to music of equal woy naked Ayiti Toma men san-ou lan Who is going to mourn for artistic, cultural and political importance. diaspora Haiti? Haiti’s Vodou religion—practiced by the Men peyi-a ap kaba “Ayiti Toma” your blood is Sa ka pote dèy la pou ou O! in the Diaspora majority of Haitians—is considered a “safe The country is going down space” for gays. Haitian folkloric dance and Who is going to carry and music are drawn from Vodou—secularized and mourn for you? adapted for the stage like many other sacred arts forms around the world. Toto Bissainthe’s V. Aranye folkloric music references Vodou as a source of Dancers: Melissa Alexis, Eboni Baptiste, Cha- strength and inspiration. Cha Epps, Isabelle Morse, Jennifer Passios, Meghan Riling, Sophie Trentin Meanwhile, many gay young people in Haiti, especially those living in the urban slums *Ayizan, Papa Loko, Palmannan and Osanyo are of Port-au-Prince, are not only hungry, references to deities in the pantheon of Vodou. unemployed and uneducated but also mentally and emotionally lost, alienated from their own Haitian cultural identity. In Angaje, Jean Appolon juxtaposes the struggle of young gays in Haiti with the power, beauty and of a return to help rebuild her motherland. rootedness that all Haitians, but especially the Saddened by Haiti’s social and political marginalized, can find if they just look inside degradation, Toto Bissainthe’s health would their own culture. enter a downward spiral ending with her death from liver damage on June 4, 1994. Recommended reading: “Haiti’s Fight for Gay Rights” By Allyn Gaestel for Al Jazeera America, About Jean Appolon http://projects.aljazeera.com/2014/haiti-lgbt/ Expressions (JAE) About Toto Bissainthe JAE’s mission is twofold: to enrich our local and global communities by preserving and (adapted from Wikipedia) advancing Haitian folkloric dance as one of the world’s precious cultural resources; and to develop youth, especially young Haitians without financial resources, as contributing citizens through high quality dance programs. Since 2006 Jean Appolon has conducted a successful annual Summer Dance Institute in Port-au- Prince. The Institute targets young Haitians who lack financial resources and have limited access to dance education. In addition to the annual Summer Dance Institute, JAE aspires to develop DANCE HAITI! as an intensive, daily after- Drawing by Anya Smolnikova school dance program, which includes wrap- Marie Clotilde “Toto” Bissainthe (1934–1994) around services in academic tutoring and health was a Haitian actress and singer known for her education, for young Haitians without financial innovative blend of traditional Vodou and rural resources. JAE also conducts performances, and themes and music with contemporary lyricism community and youth classes and workshops and arrangements. Born in Cap-Haïtien in in the Boston area and beyond, with the goal to 1934, she left Haiti at an early age to pursue use to dance to promote healthy communities her studies abroad. Her career started in through authentic cultural events and theatre with the company Griots, of which she educational programming. was a founding member in 1956. Griots was at the vanguard of négritude-inspired cultural About JAE’s Boston-Based institutions in France, and was the first African Haitian Contemporary theatre company in Paris. Dance Company With a groundbreaking performance in 1973 at Based in Boston and directed by Jean Appolon, La vieille grille in Paris, Toto Bissainthe established JAE’s Haitian contemporary dance company herself as singer-songwriter-composer, stunning combines Modern technique, Haitian folkloric the audience with her soul-stirring renditions dance and live traditional drumming, bringing of original compositions that paid homage to a new artistic vernacular to its audiences. the lives, struggles, miseries and spirituality of With its dynamic repertoire, JAE educates working class and rural Haitians. audiences about Haitian culture, traditions, history and current issues. The company has An artist in exile, Toto Bissainthe was unable performed both at major venues such as to return to the Haiti that so inspired her Boston’s Paramount Center, and in city parks until the departure of Jean-Claude Duvalier in and community spaces in free performances 1986. However, the multiple disappointments accessible to the public. JAE also has of the unending democratic transition and performed at many schools and colleges, political infighting would forever embitter including American University, Harvard the outspoken artist, who had long dreamed University, Lesley College and Wheaton College. JAE has been fortunate to share the Boston and Haiti. JAE has been recognized as stage with celebrities such as Danny Glover, exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and monetary Henry Louis Gates and Edwidge Danticat, contributions to JAE are tax-deductible. There are and to collaborate with community partners two ways to make a gift: 1) write a check made such as Central Square Theater. payable to Jean Appolon Expressions and send to: Jean Appolon Expressions, 9 Hanson Street Suite For more information about JAE, please visit 2, Boston, MA 02118, 2) contribute online via www.jeanappolonexpressions.org or contact us at JAE’s website: www.jeanappolonexpressions.org. [email protected]. JAE can also be found If you would like to support JAE in other ways, on Facebook, Youtube and at @JAEBostonHaiti please contact us at [email protected]. on Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for your support! About The Dance Residency Check out JAE’s new online boutique at Program www.jeanappolonexpressions.org Dance Residency at the BCA allows choreographers to create new work by JAE Company Dancers providing free rehearsal and performance MELISSA ALEXIS is a dancer/choreographer, space, technical and administrative support, educator, and facilitator. Recent performance and direct financial assistance to be used at the credits include work with Rujeko Dumbutshena artist’s discretion. These resources enable the in the production, Jenaguru, presented at artist to focus completely on the creation of the Smithsonian and Brooklyn Museums. work and immersion into the process, adding She has been a guest faculty in Dance and to a supportive system for dance in Boston. Dance/Movement Therapy at Sarah Lawrence College. Melissa is passionate about making Jean Appolon the inherent therapeutic properties of dance The Artistic Director and Co-founder of Jean visible—dance heals! She received her Appolon Expressions, JEAN APPOLON is training in the Five College Dance Department also a successful choreographer and teacher (Amherst College), Summer Leadership based in Boston and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He Institute with Urban Bush Women, Alvin Ailey, received his earliest training and performance and under the tutelage of choreographer/ opportunities in Port-au-Prince with the Viviane teachers Ronald K. Brown, Lamine Thiam, Gauthier Dance Company, and the Folkloric Yvonne Daniel, and Roseângela Silvestre. Ballet of Haiti. Appolon continued his dance education in the U.S. with Alvin Ailey American EBONI BAPTISTE is an enthusiastic dancer/ Dance Theater and the Joffrey American Ballet actress/choreographer with a passion for School, graduating with a BA in 2003 from the Arts. Her devotion to the art of dance a joint degree program at The New School. contributed to her success in obtaining her Appolon teaches regularly at Boston Ballet, Bachelor of Arts from Dean College. Two of The Dance Complex (Cambridge, MA), and her greatest achievements have been the the University of Massachusetts Boston, choreographed productions of “Once on this among other locations. Appolon was recently Island ” and the play, “Xerona @ Wheelock inducted to the 1804 List of Haitian American College.” Eboni’s talents are multidisciplinary. Changemakers in the U.S. She has performed with many dance troupes and theater companies within the Boston Area. How to Get Involved Her love for the stage was witnessed playing Jean Appolon Expressions is working hard to the leading role of Zora Neale Hurston in the become a sustainable non-profit organization Jacqui Parker play “Feathers On My Arm.” that delivers on our mission to enrich and SENORA “CHA-CHA” EPPS, a native of empower our communities through the art form Baltimore, MD, came to Boston to turn her love of dance. As such, contributions in many forms for dance, teaching, creating, and performing are essential to propelling JAE’s vital work in into a reality. She graduated from the Boston at Mount Holyoke College, graduating magna Conservatory of Music and has danced with cum laude in 2013 with a BA in dance and Prometheus, Dance Collective, and the Boston biology. While in college, she performed works Liturgical Dance Ensemble at Boston College. by choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Teaching dance at Boston University, and Adrienne Hawkins, Terese Freedman, and choreographing musicals for middle and high Billbob Brown. She has had the privilege of school students has been a great gift. Cha- studying and performing at the Radio City Cha’s spirit is always driven to affect people Rockette Summer Intensive (New York, NY), in a positive way to create joy and unity. Jazz Dance World Congress (Pittsburgh, She also takes great pride in being a singer, PA), Dance For World Community Festival songwriter, published poet, and Director and (Cambridge, MA), CheckUsOut Dance Festival Choreographer of the TBC Liturgical Dance (New York, NY), the ICA/Louis Boston First Ministry in Roxbury, MA. Fridays Fashion Show (Boston, MA),the Giordano Dance School Advanced Month SOPHIE TRENTIN grew up in Newcastle, Scholarship Intensive (Chicago, IL), and the Australia. She received her training at the 2014 Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, ME) National College of Dance, where she received as a scholarship recipient. Jen has danced her Diploma in Dance Performance before for Boston based companies Tribe the Dance moving to New York City to study at the Company and Hyperbole Dance. Presently, prestigious Joffrey Ballet School. She has she performs with Urbanity Underground in danced numerous principal roles at locations addition to teaching jazz at the Northeast such as The Sydney Opera House, and has School of Ballet in Reading, MA, and substitute been coached by Davis Robertson, Francesca teaching elementary school. Corkle, Andrea Schermoly & Darcey Bussell. In her time as a student, Sophie has danced MEGHAN RILING grew up dancing in with the Australian Ballet and Sydney Dance Connecticut and moved to Boston to study Company under secondments. She has at Boston University, where she joined the also become the face of the internationally Dance Theatre Group and got very interested acclaimed exercise DVD program, ‘Progressing in choreography and improv dance. Since Ballet Technique’. Sophie has recently moved to graduation, she has performed and/or Boston to start working with JAE. choreographed for the Harvard-Radcliffe Modern Dance Company, the CRLS Modern JAE Apprentice Dancers Dance Company, and Luminarium Dance ISABELLE MORSE was born and raised in Company. She now co-directs Calamity Port-au-Prince, Haiti. From age six through Co Dance, which performs goofy modern junior high, she took classes with the Artcho dance pieces, produces casual modern Dance Company. In high school, she studied and pop art variety shows, and maintains with the choreographer Jean Rene Delsoin, and an art-centric lifestyle blog. She is also the also took classes at Institute de Danse Lynn dance coordinator of Art City Cambridge. Williams Rouzier. She participated as a special Outside of dance, she was one third of the guest in The Jean Appolon Summer Dance indie pop group One Happy Island and Institute in Port-au-Prince in July 2013 and July currently teaches math and programming at 2014. She grew up immersed in Haitian music Watertown High School. and folkloric dance through her parents’ rasin (roots) band, RAM. She also works for JAE as a JAE Percussionists teaching artist at the Community Art Center in JOEL AUGUSTIN, JEAN MARSEILLE, JUJU Cambridge, MA. and EMMANUEL Q LERBOUT are master percussionists who were born in Haiti where JENNIFER PASSIOS began dancing at age they were immersed in the tradition of Haitian five at Michelle Goodwin’s School of Dance folkloric music and dance and studied with in Townsend, MA. She continued her training Haiti’s most well-known percussionists. Each of them has performed with various performing JAE Co-founder & Executive Director: groups in Haiti and the U.S. Stephanie Scherpf JAE Advisors: Melissa Alexis, Michel DeGraff, Steve Guest Artists Desrosiers, Anaise Fabius and Romel Joseph CLAUDIA ELIAZA is an established jazz vocalist of Haitian descent who performs regularly in Acknowledgements Boston and internationally. She has performed Angaje was created, in part, during Jean with some of the jazz world’s biggest stars Appolon’s 2014 Boston Center for the Arts including Nancy King, Barbara Morrison, Frank Dance Residency. JAE would like to thank all Foster, and Roy Haynes. Claudia has toured of the BCA Staff, and especially Andrea Blesso within the US, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Albuquerque, Senior Program Manager, for England, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, their care and expertise leading up to the and continues to tour throughout Russia. She premiere of Angaje. graduated from Berklee College of Music. This program is supported in part by a grant Haiti-born guitarist/composer/writer STEVE from the Boston Cultural Council, a local DESROSIERS has an extensive history as both agency which is funded by the Massachusetts a session and live musician in the Boston Cultural Council, administrated by the Mayor’s and New York area. He honed his skills as a Office of Arts and Culture. guitarist in Boston’s world music scene with JAE would like to thank all of the volunteers who top local groups like Racine bands Batwèl assisted with the production and performance Rada, which explored a fusion of Jazz and of Angaje, including Rocco Ricci who made Haitian roots music. Presently Steve is the studio space available for the creation of the set lead guitarist for Boston based Afro-Pop for Angaje by Anya Smolnikova. ensemble Federator No. 1 and lead guitarist in the Reggae and Jazz-fusion ensemble Liquid Jean Appolon Expressions would like to Revolution, led by Berklee professor Matt express our sincere gratitude to the many Jenson. Steve also serves as lead guitarist for institutions and individuals who are making singer, songwriter, poet and Ted Fellow Iyeoka our vital work in Boston and Haiti possible Okowao and is a founding member of her band during our 2014–2015 season. The Rock By Funk Tribe. A Soviet by birth and Belarusian by upbringing, ANYA SMOLNIKOVA has lived in the U.S. Institutional Support since 1999. As an artist and teacher sheis The W.K. Kellogg Foundation primarily interested in the relationship between FOKAL visual arts, healing and mythology. In her Hotel Oloffson personal and creative research Anya has National Performance Network traveled extensively throughout the Balkans, Boston Center for the Arts the Middle East, Eastern and West Europe Choreart and the Caribbean. She lives and works in Boston Cultural Council Boston, following a calling in art education and Cambridge Cultural Council interdisciplinary arts practices. Massachusetts Cultural Council Haiti’s Ministry of Culture JAE Leadership & Staff Haiti’s Office of Ethnology Board President: Marie Racine Montilla Eastern Bank Board Treasurer: Gardiner Hartmann Board Secretary: Stephanie Scherpf Individuals Contributing Creative Board Members: Jean Appolon, Francie Latour and Professional Services and Emie Weinstock Camila Afandaor, JAE graphic design JAE Co-founder & Artistic Director: Jean Appolon Eboni Baptiste, wardrobe supervisor Daniel Morel, photography JAE Sponsors JAE Supporters Essence McGill Azru, legal counsel ($100–$499) ($25–$99) Felipe Berho, photography Isabelle Morse, Haiti liaison and Angeline Uyham Accordare, Inc Anne Erde Alia L. Toran-Burrell communications Basil & Chava Chapman Andrea Worthington James Grady, photography Christelle Ahyee Barbara McGrath Meghan Riling, social media Christina & James Grady D. Bellane Nadia Todres, photography David Alexander Danielle Cincotti Venice Touze, accounting Diana Steinberg Danielle Georges E. Avery Rimer David Arnold Wayne Lake, photography Elena Geretti David Silberg Ellis Gaskel Deenie Wallace In-Kind Contributions from Francie Latour Gabriela Caraveo Businesses and Individuals Gardiner Hartmann George Jagoe Boston Ballet Gina Desir Guy Telemaque Colette Bresilla Greta Viddal Harold Reddicliffe Harvey Gedeon Irina Frumes Craigie on Main Ingrid Hresko Iva Fabrikant Foodie’s Markets J. Brooks Watt Ivy Jean Baptiste Harvest Markets Jason Jacob Jalene Tamerat Flour Bakery Jean Pillard Jean’s Saturday Afro- Life Alive Jean-Marc Dykes Haitian Students Joel Dreyfuss Jeanette Guillemin Moksa Juanita & Lee Kelly Jeannie Parkus The Museum of Modern Art Judith & Douglas Jennifer Gaugler Orinoco Weinstock Johanne Jeanty Toscanini’s Justin King Julie Martz Vejigantes Kate Quarfordt Karen Weintraub Katia Appolon Katia Hollant Laura Grego Kelly Walsh JAE Choreographer’s Circle Libbie Shufro KeyFrame Editing Services ($2,500 and above) Louise Hoffman Kristal Tillman In Memory of Sylvere Marie Hyacinthe, Esq. Lynn Potts Kristina Johnson Cindy & Joseph Scherpf Madelyn Bonnot Griffin Lavina & Rick Ellis Maria & Raymond Lydia Eccles JAE Benefactors ($1,000–$2,499) Villanueva Margaret Steere Marie Latour Marie St.Fleur Anonymous (1) Maureen Ryan Marilyn Burnett Elizabeth Cannon Michael Tracy Marine Accary Vyvyane Loh Nadia Chamblin Martha McFadden Nicholas Kilmer Matthew Shufro JAE Patrons ($500–$999) Queen Designs Mauricio Berho Anne Hoffman Wen Chai Chang Michelle Coleman Claire Corcoran Nadia Taylor Nicole Stern Dmitriy Smelyanskiy Pam Waterman Emie & Daniel Weinstock Roberto Lim Gershon Gerchikov Roseann Ridings Jill Goldman & Madhava Setty Stephanie Procopis Laura Wyckoff Thomas Howe Valeria Espinosa Rebecca & Jean Paul Valette Victoria Mata Yolanda Neville

BCA Institutional Supporters

Klarman Family Foundation in collaboration with the Barr-Klarman Arts Capacity Building Initiative