A.I.M 49

A.I.M

Emmett Robinson Theatre at June 1, 7:00pm; June 2, 2:00pm and 7:30pm; College of Charleston June 3, 3:00pm and 8:00pm

Artistic Director Kyle Abraham Executive Director Joe Stackell General Manager Hillary Kooistra Production Manager and Dan Stearns Lighting Supervisor

Dancers Matthew Baker Kayla Farrish Tamisha Guy Keerati Jinakunwiphat Claude “CJ” Johnson Catherine Ellis Kirk Marcella Lewis Jeremy “Jae” Neal

1 hour, 15 minutes | Performed with one intermission

Strict Love (1994)

Choreography Doug Varone Restaging Alex Springer Music Radio broadcast of popular music by various artists* Lighting Design David Ferri Costume Design Lynne Steincamp

Dancers Matthew Baker, Tamisha Guy, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Claude “CJ” Johnson, Catherine Ellis Kirk, Marcella Lewis, Jeremy “Jae” Neal

*Popular Music Credits: “Spirit in the Sky,” written and performed by Norman Greenbaum; “I Want You Back,” written by Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards, performed by Jackson 5; “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, performed by Diana Ross.

Pause

Excerpt from Dearest Home (2017)

Choreography Kyle Abraham in collaboration with A.I.M Lighting Design Dan Scully Costume Design Kyle Abraham

Dancers Tamisha Guy and Jeremy “Jae” Neal

Pause

Program continues on the next page 50 A.I.M

The Quiet Dance (2011)

Choreography Kyle Abraham Music “Some Other Time” by Leonard Bernstein, played by Bill Evans Lighting Design Dan Scully Costume Design Kristi Wood

Dancers Catherine Ellis Kirk (soloist), Matthew Baker, Kayla Farrish, Tamisha Guy, Marcella Lewis

Intermission

Drive (2017)

Choreography Kyle Abraham in collaboration with A.I.M Music Theo Parrish and Mobb Deep, with additional sound editing by Sam Crawford Lighting Design Dan Scully Costume Design Karen Young

Dancers Matthew Baker, Kayla Farrish, Tamisha Guy, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, Claude “CJ” Johnson, Catherine Ellis Kirk, Marcella Lewis, Jeremy “Jae” Neal

Drive was commissioned by New York City Center for the 2017 Fall for Dance Festival with generous support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Special funding for Drive provided by Jay Franke & David Herro, and by Rick Beyer. Drive was developed, in part, through a residency at White Oak Conservation, made possible by the Howard Gilman Foundation.

The 2018 dance series is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

These performances are made possible in part through funds from the Spoleto Festival USA Endowment, generously supported by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. A.I.M 51

LYNNE STEINCAMP (costume designer, Strict Love) has About the Company worked with numerous choreographers over the course of her long association with dance, including Gina Gibney, Shapiro & The mission of A.I.M is to create an evocative interdisciplinary Smith Dance, Susan Marshall, and Alyson Pou. She was costume body of work. Born into hip-hop culture in the late 1970s and consultant for the Trisha Brown Dance Company for more than grounded in an artistic upbringing of classical cello, piano, and a decade. Her association with Doug Varone began in 1990; she the visual arts, Kyle Abraham creates movement with a goal of designed many company works, including Force Majeure, Rise, exploring identity in relation to a personal history. The work Possession, and Bel Canto. She now lives on a horse farm in entwines a sensual and provocative vocabulary with a strong Connecticut with her husband, artist Power Boothe. emphasis on sound, human behavior, and all things visual in an effort to create an avenue for personal investigation and KRISTI WOOD (costume designer, The Quiet Dance) has exposing that on stage. A.I.M is a representation of dancers designed for David Dorfman Dance’s Come and Back Again, Kyle from various disciplines and diverse personal backgrounds. Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion’s Live! The Realest MC, How We Combined together, these individualities create movement that Process with Camille A. Brown, August Wilson Center Dance is manipulated and molded into something fresh and unique. Ensemble’s Time Stands Still (concert), The Way of Water For more information, to get involved, or purchase your A.I.M (film), andPeel (film). Her costume production credits include: merchandise, please visit abrahaminmotion.org. the Metropolitan Opera (current assistant costume production supervisor for new operas); on Broadway, War Horse (original Broadway cast principal dresser) and A Chorus Line (Broadway Artistic Team revival production wardrobe supervisor); in dance, Jacob’s Pillow (wardrobe supervisor) and Les Ballets Trockadero de KYLE ABRAHAM (artistic director Monte Carlo (wardrobe supervisor and diva specialist); and and choreographer), from Pittsburgh, in television: America’s Next Top Model (set dresser), All My Pennsylvania, is a 2016 Doris Duke Children (set continuity), and Damages (set continuity). Wood Artist Award recipient, a 2015 City also designs and tailors couture gowns for elite drag queens. She Center Choreography Fellow, and a 2013 would like to dedicate her work to her father, Joseph Earnest MacArthur Fellow. Previous awards Wood (1956 – 2007). include being named a 2012 United States Artists Ford Fellow, a Creative Capital KAREN YOUNG (costume designer, Drive) creates costumes Fellow, and receiving a 2012 Jacob’s for dance, performance, and contemporary art that have been Pillow Dance Award. In 2010, he received a prestigious Bessie seen in theaters and museums internationally. Recent projects Award for Outstanding Performance in Dance for his work in include Wendy Whelan’s Restless Creature, Third Rail Projects’s The Radio Show, which was presented at Spoleto Festival USA highly acclaimed immersive show Then She Fell, and teaching in 2012, and a Princess Grace Award for Choreography. The at the Rhode Island School of Design. Design work for dance previous year, he was selected as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to includes: the Martha Graham Dance Company, Brian Brooks, Watch.” Over the past several years, Abraham has created works Armitage Gone! Dance, American Ballet Theatre, Morphoses, for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Wendy Whelan’s Restless Dusan Tynek, Pam Tanowitz, and Keigwin + Company, among Creature, and three works for Alvin Ailey American Dance many others. Design for video art includes: David Michalek’s Theater. In 2011, OUT magazine labeled Abraham as the “best Slow Dancing, Matthew Barney’s Cremaster 5 and Cremaster 1, and brightest creative talent to emerge in New York City in the Toni Dove’s Lucid Possession, and Eve Sussman’s 89 Seconds at age of Obama.” Alcazar. Karenyoungcostume.com DOUG VARONE (choreographer, Strict Love) is an award- DAVID FERRI (lighting designer, Strict Love) has worked with winning choreographer and director working in dance, theater, such prominent choreographers and companies as Pina Bausch, opera, film, and fashion. His New York City-based Doug Varone Shen Wei, Doug Varone, Yin Mei, Eiko and Koma, Jane Comfort, and Dancers has been commissioned and presented to critical David Rousseve, Jody Sperling, and Ballet Preljocaj. He has been acclaim by leading international venues for close to three the production manager for the prestigious American Dance decades. On tour, the company has performed in more than 125 Festival since 1996, training upcoming designers in America. cities in 45 states across the US, and in Europe, Asia, Canada, He is the recipient of a 1987 – 88 Bessie Award for his design and South America. In the concert dance world, Varone has of Doug Varone’s Straits, and a 2000 – 01 Bessie Award for created a body of works globally. Commissions include the Paul Sustained Achievement in Lighting Design. Ferri is the resident Taylor Dance Company, Limón Company, Hubbard Street Dance lighting designer and technical director for The Vassar College Chicago, Rambert Dance Company (London), Martha Graham dance department, and was also resident lighting designer and Dance Company, Dancemakers (Canada), Batsheva Dance technical director at PS 122 from 1985 – 91. Ferri lives in New Company (Israel), Bern Ballet (Switzerland), and An Creative York between his travels and projects. (Japan). Numerous honors and awards include a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, an OBIE Award (Lincoln Center’s Orpheus and Euridice), the Jerome Robbins Fellowship at the Boglaisco Institute in Italy, and a Doris Duke Artist Award. In 2015 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Dance Guild. 52 A.I.M

DAN SCULLY (lighting designer, Dearest Home and The Quiet Dance/lighting and scenic designer, Drive) is a New York-based Dancers lighting and projection designer, and has been designing for Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion for more than 10 years, including MATTHEW BAKER (choreographic the full-length evening works Pavement, Live! The Realest M.C., associate/dancer) hails from Ann Arbor, and the Bessie Award-winning The Radio Show. Recent work Michigan. He received his BFA (’08) in includes Rocky (Broadway), Jedermann (Salzburger Festspeile), dance from Western Michigan University. The Orchestra Rocks! (Carnegie Hall), and Another Night (Alvin In New York City, he worked with such Ailey American Dance Theater). In the New York region, his choreographers as Mark Dendy and work has been seen at Trinity Rep, Geva Theatre Center, Asolo Keith Thompson before joining Keigwin Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Hudson Valley + Company, under the artistic direction Shakespeare Festival, and Two River Theater Company. MFA- of Larry Keigwin and co-founder Nicole NYU/Tisch. Wolcott, from 2009 – 14. As choreographic associate for A.I.M, Baker works with the artistic director and his colleagues to ALEX SPRINGER (restaging, Strict Love) is a Brooklyn- maintain and develop the company’s repertory. Baker was the based performer, choreographer, teacher, and video artist. He recipient of a distinguished alumni award from his alma mater has had the pleasure of working with Alexandra Beller, Heidi in 2014. He joined Abraham.In.Motion in 2011. Henderson, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, among others, and was a member of Doug Varone and Dancers from 2007 KAYLA FARRISH (dancer) was born – 17. During his tenure with Varone, he acted as the rehearsal and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. director, company manager, and still serves as the company’s She graduated from the University of archival manager. Springer has staged Varone’s work for various Arizona in 2013 summa cum laude, and companies and universities, and has taught at the Bates Dance was granted the Gertrude Shurr Award Festival, Gibney Dance Center, Mark Morris Dance Center, for excellence in modern dance and and the 92Y. Additionally, he creates work with Xan Burley, passionate dancing. Since moving to and their collaborative choreography has been presented at New York, she has had the opportunity Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out (2017 Research Fellows), Center for to work with wonderful choreographers Performance Research (2016 technical residency), Danspace and companies including Punchdrunk Sleep No More, Helen Project’s DraftWork, Movement Research at the Judson Simoneau Danse, Kate Weare Company, Nicole von Arx and Church, University Settlement (2013 – 14 AIR), Brooklyn Artists, Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener, Aszure Barton Arts Exchange (2011 Space Grant), DanceNOW (2011 Encore and Artists, Gallim Dance, Chris Masters Dance, and others. Challenge winners), and the 92Y, among others. He also works She has also premiered her own photography, film, and dance as a freelance video consultant, filming and editing content for work through various opportunities, including her work as a many artists. themedianmovement.com Chez Bushwick artist in residence. Farrish joined Abraham. In.Motion in 2017. DAN STEARNS (production manager/lighting supervisor) is TAMISHA GUY a lighting designer, scenic designer, and production manager (rehearsal director/ interested in the intersections of dance, theater, music, and dancer), a native of Trinidad and Tobago, video. In addition to Abraham.In.Motion, recent collaborations began her formal dance training at Ballet include Jane Comfort and Company, Pavel Zuštiak/Palissimo, Tech, the New York City Public School for LeeSaar The Company, Scott Ebersold, Paul H. Bedard/Theater Dance under the direction of Eliot Feld. in Asylum, Tara Ahmadinejad/Piehole, and Tami Stronach. He Later she attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia has worked in such venues as BAM, The Joyce, New York Live High School, and SUNY Purchase College Arts, La MaMa, Abrons Arts Center, HERE, Dixon Place, and as a double major in dance and arts 3LD in New York; and internationally from France to Korea and management. She has completed summer many places in between. He is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School programs with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Springboard of the Arts. Danse Montreal, and Nathan Trice, and performed works by William Forsythe, Pam Tanowitz, Loni Landon, Mark Morris, and Martha Graham. In 2013, Guy graduated with honors from SUNY Purchase College and joined the Martha Graham Dance Company shortly after. In 2016, Guy was selected as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” and received the 2016 Princess Grace Award. Guy joined Abraham.In.Motion in 2014. A.I.M 53

KEERATI JINAKUNWIPHAT (dancer), MARCELLA LEWIS (dancer) hails from originally from Chicago, received her BFA Los Angeles, where she began her dance from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY training at the Lula Washington Dance Purchase College and was a recipient Theatre at age 3. She then continued her of the adopt-a-dancer scholarship. She studies at the Los Angeles County High has additionally studied at the Western School for the Arts. She later received her Australian Academy of Performing Arts, BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, SUNY Purchase College, where she was and Springboard Danse Montreal. She awarded the adopt-a-dancer scholarship. has worked with such artists as Nicole von Arx, Shannon Gillen, While at Purchase, Lewis performed works by Doug Varone, Kevin Wynn, and Doug Varone. Jinakunwiphat is eager to be Gregory Dolbashian, Madboots Dance, Kevin Wynn, and Ori working with Abraham.In.Motion, where she began working as Flooman. Lewis has completed summer programs at the San an apprentice in 2016. Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, where she was CLAUDE “CJ” JOHNSON (dancer) awarded the Homer Avila Scholarship. She joined Abraham. hails from Chicago, where he began his In.Motion in 2016. formal dance training at the Chicago Academy for the Arts under the direction JEREMY “JAE” NEAL (dancer) was of Randy Duncan. He later continued his born and raised in Michigan and received dance training at SUNY Purchase College, his training from Western Michigan where he was awarded the adopt-a-dancer University. There, he performed in scholarship. During Johnson’s studies, professional works such as Strict Love by he performed works by choreographers Doug Varone, Temporal Trance by Frank Johannes Weiland, Aszure Barton, Doug Varone, Kevin Wynn, Chavez, and Harrison McEldowney’s Rosalind Newman, Alexandra Beller, and Stuart Loungway. Dance Sport. Since relocating to New Johnson also attended summer intensives with Hubbard Street York, Neal has had the privilege of Dance Chicago; Doug Varone and Dancers; Movement Invention working with SYREN Modern Dance, Christina Noel Reaves, Project; and Springboard Dance Montreal under the direction of Catapult Entertainment, Katherine Helen Fisher Dance, and Alexandra Wells, where he performed work by Shannon Gillen Nathan Trice. Neal joined Abraham.In.Motion in 2011. and Elia Mrak. Johnson joined Abraham.In.Motion in 2017.

CATHERINE ELLIS KIRK (dancer) is originally from Dallas, Texas. After attending Booker T. Washington High Generous support for Abraham.In.Motion provided by: Engaging Dance Audiences, administered by Dance/USA and made possible with generous School for the Performing and Visual funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; The Fan Fox & Arts, Kirk graduated with a BFA from Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; The Harkness Foundation for Dance, New York University Tisch School of the Howard Gilman Foundation; The JKW Foundation; Joyce Theater the Arts and holds a yoga certification Foundation; Mertz-Gilmore Foundation; New England Foundation through Mind Body Dancer®. Kirk has for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with funding from the Doris Duke completed programs with San Francisco Charitable Foundation; New York Community Trust; O’donnell-Greene Conservatory of Dance, Gaga Intensive in Tel Aviv, and Music & Dance Foundation; Princess Grace Foundation-USA; The Springboard Danse Montreal, and had the opportunity to Rockefeller Brothers Fund; The Samuel H. Scripps Foundation; Emma A. perform works by Fernando Melo, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Sheafer Charitable Trust; and The Shubert Foundation. Public funding Peter Chu, Andrea Miller, Robert Battle, and Alex Ketley. Upon provided by The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State graduating, Kirk has had the pleasure of working with Danaka Council on the Arts with support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS Dance, Chihiro Shimizu and Artists, and apprenticing for Legislature; and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Sidra Bell Dance New York. Kirk is currently dancing for UNA- Projects, Helen Simoneau Danse, and is thrilled to continue A.I.M is a proud supporter of Dancers Responding to AIDS, which helps with Abraham.In.Motion, which she joined in 2013. ensure that those most in need receive the care and comfort they would otherwise do without. Founded in 1991 by former Paul Taylor Dance Company members Denise Roberts Hurlin and Hernando Cortez, DRA relies on the extraordinary compassion and efforts of the performing arts community to fund a safety net of social services for those in need. Together, we can make a difference for those less fortunate than us. Donate at www.dradance.org/donate.

For booking information, contact Lotus Arts Management, Sophie Myrtil-McCourty, President, at 72-11 Austin Street, Suite 371, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Tel: 347.721.8724; email: [email protected] website: lotusartsmgmt.com