Did you make your way to Door County this July for the return of Death's Door Dance Festival? Tell us a little about you...this FREE public event could use some support- the more we know about you, the more likely the tradition will continue!
We hope you enjoyed the 2023 Death's Door Dance Festival...see you next July!
We hope you enjoyed the 2023 Death's Door Dance Festival...see you next July!
“Like a fierce squall that blurs the line between sea and sky,
the potent legacy of Death’s Door obscures the line between fact and fancy.”
-Conan Bryant Eaton,
Death’s Door: The pursuit of a legend
the potent legacy of Death’s Door obscures the line between fact and fancy.”
-Conan Bryant Eaton,
Death’s Door: The pursuit of a legend
Living Traditions @Trueblood
PROGRAM
Thursday, July 27th 2023- 4pm & 7pm
Isla de Gloria
Performance: Kerensa DeMars
Music: Kina Mendez Traditional Sevillanas adapted by Kerensa DeMars
Ardhang
Choreography: MBE Sujatha Banerjee
Performance: Cyenthia Vijayakumar
Music: Pandit Birju Maharaj
In Conversation
Performance & Choreography: Kerensa DeMars and Cyenthia Vijayakumar,
Music: Anoushka Shankar and Pepe Habichuela
Layla
Performance & Choreography: by Andria Nikoupolis Weliky
Music: Shahryar Layla Mix by Al Conti Album Scheherazade 2008 & Mogador Band
Teentaal
Performance: Cyenthia Vijayakumar
Music and Choreography: Guru Hari and Chetana
Alegrías
Performance & Choreography: Kerensa DeMars
Music: David Palomar, Pedro Sierra, El Junco
Performance: Kerensa DeMars
Music: Kina Mendez Traditional Sevillanas adapted by Kerensa DeMars
Ardhang
Choreography: MBE Sujatha Banerjee
Performance: Cyenthia Vijayakumar
Music: Pandit Birju Maharaj
In Conversation
Performance & Choreography: Kerensa DeMars and Cyenthia Vijayakumar,
Music: Anoushka Shankar and Pepe Habichuela
Layla
Performance & Choreography: by Andria Nikoupolis Weliky
Music: Shahryar Layla Mix by Al Conti Album Scheherazade 2008 & Mogador Band
Teentaal
Performance: Cyenthia Vijayakumar
Music and Choreography: Guru Hari and Chetana
Alegrías
Performance & Choreography: Kerensa DeMars
Music: David Palomar, Pedro Sierra, El Junco
Wickman House Pop-up
PROGRAM
Friday, July 28th 2023 @6pm
Weight of Skin
Choreography: Janet Lilly
Performance: Kelly Anderson
Music: John Tavener; Poetry: Susan Firer; Sound Design: Dan Gnader & Janet Lilly
Program Note: The Weight of Skin was commissioned by Kelly Anderson and has been performed nationally at venues in Milwaukee, Chicago and New York City. Set to the poetry of former Milwaukee Poet Laureate, Susan Firer, the work celebrates her evocative imagery and Kelly's nuanced performance.
We invite you to read:The Beautiful Pain of Too Much by Susan Firer
strange but familiar (2019)
Choreography: Li Chiao-Ping/Li Chiao-Ping Dance
Performance by: Katelyn Altmann and Elisa Hildner
Music: Iwakichi, Yann Tiersen; Talking About Music Videos, Marissa Nadler; Emptiness, Alex Mason; In a Rumenisher Shenk, traditional; and Denmark, Portland Cello Project; edited by Li Chiao-Ping
Support the artist: Venmo- @lichiaoping
Obscured Graphite
Choreography & Performance: Emma Draves
Music: Bob Garrett
Support the artist: Venmo- @Emma-Draves
Teentaal - A 16 beat rhythm
Choreography: Guru Hari and Chetna
Performance: Cyenthia Vijayakumar
Program Note: This is a technical piece that focuses on rhythmic footwork, graceful movements, elegant stances and swift pirouettes.
Support the artist: Zelle - cyenthia.vijay@gmail.com, Venmo - @cyenthia-vijayakumar
Set
Choreography: Wild Space Dance Company
Performance by: Katelyn Altmann, Ashley Ray Garcia, Gina Laurenzi
Program Note: "Set" was devised using simple games and playful strategies to instigate the choreography and small improvisational matches within. Performed in silence, the musicality of the actions is allowed to pace the dance as a visual melody.
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Variations of theME
Choreography: Kelly Anderson
Performance: Cheryl Cornacchione & Danielle Gilmore
Music: Glass Candy
Support the artist:
Something Great
Choreography: Project Bound Dance
Performance by: Juli Farley, Haley Marcin, Sarah Morimoto
Music: Nicolas Jaar, North Americans
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Perfect Storm
Performance: Sixto Franco and Rachel Slater
Music: Perfect Storm performed by Sixto Franco, composed by Shulamit Ran
Program Note: Rachel Slater and Sixto Franco team up to bring to life "Perfect Storm", a collaboration that finds links between live music, dance, space and story telling. Emanating from diverse sources of inspiration, both the music and the choreography intentionally draw elements from other artists and use them as seedlings for this project, drawing together in a perfect happenstance to create an unexpected whirlwind. This allows to create an artistic thread that can potentially connect many other artists through separate creative processes. "Perfect Storm" is colorful, thought-provoking, gentle and vicious at times, with an unresolved characteristic that is reminiscent of life-altering journeys. We ask: How did we get here? Where do we go next?
Support the artist: Venmo- @sixto-franco
Panorama
Choreography & Performance: Nekea Leon
Music: Tim Rush and The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Pan Orchestra
Program Note: This is a resetting of a piece I created for Danceworks Performance Company. It originally had 11 dancers and a live steel pan drum ensemble.
Support the artist: Venmo-@Nekea-Leon, Paypal-@NekeaLeon, Cashapp-$NekeaLeon
Material (work-in-progress)
Choreography: Gerald Casel
Performance: Gerald Casel and Tim Russell
Music: Sound design performed live by Tim Russell
Support the artist: Venmo- @geraldcasel @avoidancepolicy
Descalsa (barefoot)
Choreography & Performance: Simone Ferro
Music: Sivuca
Program Note: This project was made possible with the support by Cisne Negro Cia de Dança and UW-Milwaukee Department of Dance who provided space for development and rehearsal. Bows of gratitude also to Meredith W. Watts and Debra Loewen for their invaluable feedback.
Choreography: Janet Lilly
Performance: Kelly Anderson
Music: John Tavener; Poetry: Susan Firer; Sound Design: Dan Gnader & Janet Lilly
Program Note: The Weight of Skin was commissioned by Kelly Anderson and has been performed nationally at venues in Milwaukee, Chicago and New York City. Set to the poetry of former Milwaukee Poet Laureate, Susan Firer, the work celebrates her evocative imagery and Kelly's nuanced performance.
We invite you to read:The Beautiful Pain of Too Much by Susan Firer
strange but familiar (2019)
Choreography: Li Chiao-Ping/Li Chiao-Ping Dance
Performance by: Katelyn Altmann and Elisa Hildner
Music: Iwakichi, Yann Tiersen; Talking About Music Videos, Marissa Nadler; Emptiness, Alex Mason; In a Rumenisher Shenk, traditional; and Denmark, Portland Cello Project; edited by Li Chiao-Ping
Support the artist: Venmo- @lichiaoping
Obscured Graphite
Choreography & Performance: Emma Draves
Music: Bob Garrett
Support the artist: Venmo- @Emma-Draves
Teentaal - A 16 beat rhythm
Choreography: Guru Hari and Chetna
Performance: Cyenthia Vijayakumar
Program Note: This is a technical piece that focuses on rhythmic footwork, graceful movements, elegant stances and swift pirouettes.
Support the artist: Zelle - cyenthia.vijay@gmail.com, Venmo - @cyenthia-vijayakumar
Set
Choreography: Wild Space Dance Company
Performance by: Katelyn Altmann, Ashley Ray Garcia, Gina Laurenzi
Program Note: "Set" was devised using simple games and playful strategies to instigate the choreography and small improvisational matches within. Performed in silence, the musicality of the actions is allowed to pace the dance as a visual melody.
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Variations of theME
Choreography: Kelly Anderson
Performance: Cheryl Cornacchione & Danielle Gilmore
Music: Glass Candy
Support the artist:
Something Great
Choreography: Project Bound Dance
Performance by: Juli Farley, Haley Marcin, Sarah Morimoto
Music: Nicolas Jaar, North Americans
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Perfect Storm
Performance: Sixto Franco and Rachel Slater
Music: Perfect Storm performed by Sixto Franco, composed by Shulamit Ran
Program Note: Rachel Slater and Sixto Franco team up to bring to life "Perfect Storm", a collaboration that finds links between live music, dance, space and story telling. Emanating from diverse sources of inspiration, both the music and the choreography intentionally draw elements from other artists and use them as seedlings for this project, drawing together in a perfect happenstance to create an unexpected whirlwind. This allows to create an artistic thread that can potentially connect many other artists through separate creative processes. "Perfect Storm" is colorful, thought-provoking, gentle and vicious at times, with an unresolved characteristic that is reminiscent of life-altering journeys. We ask: How did we get here? Where do we go next?
Support the artist: Venmo- @sixto-franco
Panorama
Choreography & Performance: Nekea Leon
Music: Tim Rush and The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Pan Orchestra
Program Note: This is a resetting of a piece I created for Danceworks Performance Company. It originally had 11 dancers and a live steel pan drum ensemble.
Support the artist: Venmo-@Nekea-Leon, Paypal-@NekeaLeon, Cashapp-$NekeaLeon
Material (work-in-progress)
Choreography: Gerald Casel
Performance: Gerald Casel and Tim Russell
Music: Sound design performed live by Tim Russell
Support the artist: Venmo- @geraldcasel @avoidancepolicy
Descalsa (barefoot)
Choreography & Performance: Simone Ferro
Music: Sivuca
Program Note: This project was made possible with the support by Cisne Negro Cia de Dança and UW-Milwaukee Department of Dance who provided space for development and rehearsal. Bows of gratitude also to Meredith W. Watts and Debra Loewen for their invaluable feedback.
Beach Pavilion Performance
PROGRAM
Saturday, July 29th 2023 @6pm
It’s Hot. Not Cool.
Choreography: Kelly Anderson
Performance: Cheryl Cornacchione, Danielle Gilmore, Michael O’Neill, and Stacy DeMorrow
Music: Vermillion Lies
Program Note: This is an excerpt from the evening-length work: VAUDEVILLE! It’s Hot. Not Cool. is a tribute to satire and a hopeful invitation for us to finally give a shit.
“Ellas y Yo Mexicanas: Frida”
Choreography: Silvita Diaz Brown
Performace by: Ileana Nadine Mauricio, Juan Enrique Irizarry and Silvita Diaz Brown
Original Music by: Chromabeats
Costumes: Elizabeth Collins and Silvita
Support the artist: Zelle/Venmo via 773-896-4094
Off balance
Choreography: Rachel Molinaro
Performance: Rachel Molinaro and Maria Theodore
Music: “Joro Boro” by Balkan Beat Box
Support the artist: Venmo- @Rachel-L-Molinaro
Marginal
Choreography: Arinze Okammor / Water Street Dance Milwaukee
Performance by: Morgan Williams, Allison Slamann, Freddy Aguirre, Teresa Noonan, Morgan Pinkham, Karsyn Schrag, Pierce Pennington, Dani Rink
Music: Arinze Okammor
Support the artists: Donate HERE
Layla
Choreoraphy & Performance: Andria Nikoupolis Weliky
Music: Shahryar Layla Mix by Al Conti Album Scheherazade 2008 & Mogador Band
Support the artist: Venmo- @Andria-NikoupolisWeliky
On the Edge of the Fault Line-Excerpt
Choreography: Michael Estanich/RE|dance group
Performance: Cheryl Cornacchione, Stacy DeMorrow and Lucy Vurusic-Riner
Music: One Fine Morning by Bill Callahan and Chaconne in G by Moondog
Program Note: This is an excerpt from Michael Estanich's 30 minute piece that examines the precarious connection between past and future, memory and imagination, and reality and possibility. This work furthers Estanich's fascination with place, how we construct a sense of home, and metaphysical possibilities of relying on, defining, and choosing our present.
Support the artist: Donate HERE
To: and From:
Choreography: Danielle Gilmore, Melissa Pillarella in collaboration with Shirley Mordine
Performance by: Danielle Gilmore and Melissa Pillarella
Music: Sea Image by The Chieftains
Program Note: To: and From:” is a duet created by using the original source material of Shirley Mordine solo“ Letters to my Son”, 1979.
Support the artist- Donate HERE
Rhapsody
Choreography: Frederick Ashton - Restaged for Milwaukee Ballet by Calvin Hilpert, Mireille Favarel and dancers
Performance: Jacqueline Bertault and Logan O’Neal
Music: M Sergei Rachmaninov (Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, opus 43, 1934)
Herencias (Heirlooms)
Choreography & Performance by: Kerensa DeMars
Music: 'Gelem-Gelem' vocals Esperanza Fernández, piano David Peña Dorantes
Program Note: In ‘Herencias’ the dancer recalls the stories of displacement and genocide told by her Romani grandmother and sets out to weave the broken threads of this painful and secretive past into a bold and promising future. The accompaniment is the unofficial Romani anthem ‘Gelem-Gelem’ performed by Flamenco artists. The lyrics bear a message of hope for future generations while acknowledging the atrocities committed against the Roma.
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Whisper Gallery
Choreography & Performance: Chloe Grace Michels & Enid Smith
Music: Cream "White Room”
Program Note: Special thanks to Dance Center Evanston
Los de que me acuerdo
Choreography & Performance: Maria Gillespie
Music: Music: "Tango Negro" sang by Chole Gillespie, "Fallaste Corazón" by Cuco Sánchez, Sound Design: Maria Gillespie.
Program Note: This work explores embodied memory and ancestral knowledge as translation practice to enliven kineticism as a kind of pre and post lingual resource. It honors my grandmother Chole's imprint and traces the erasure and restoration of my Chicanx lineage. This solo developed out of the larger performance installation work, 'to get there from here' made with collaborators Kevin Williamson and Nguyễn Nguyên. Their voices are in here too.
Synapse
Choreography: Visceral Dance Chicago
Performance by: Braeden Barnes, Meredith Harrill, Michelle Meltzer, Morgan Williams
Music: Darryl Hoffman
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Choreography: Kelly Anderson
Performance: Cheryl Cornacchione, Danielle Gilmore, Michael O’Neill, and Stacy DeMorrow
Music: Vermillion Lies
Program Note: This is an excerpt from the evening-length work: VAUDEVILLE! It’s Hot. Not Cool. is a tribute to satire and a hopeful invitation for us to finally give a shit.
“Ellas y Yo Mexicanas: Frida”
Choreography: Silvita Diaz Brown
Performace by: Ileana Nadine Mauricio, Juan Enrique Irizarry and Silvita Diaz Brown
Original Music by: Chromabeats
Costumes: Elizabeth Collins and Silvita
Support the artist: Zelle/Venmo via 773-896-4094
Off balance
Choreography: Rachel Molinaro
Performance: Rachel Molinaro and Maria Theodore
Music: “Joro Boro” by Balkan Beat Box
Support the artist: Venmo- @Rachel-L-Molinaro
Marginal
Choreography: Arinze Okammor / Water Street Dance Milwaukee
Performance by: Morgan Williams, Allison Slamann, Freddy Aguirre, Teresa Noonan, Morgan Pinkham, Karsyn Schrag, Pierce Pennington, Dani Rink
Music: Arinze Okammor
Support the artists: Donate HERE
Layla
Choreoraphy & Performance: Andria Nikoupolis Weliky
Music: Shahryar Layla Mix by Al Conti Album Scheherazade 2008 & Mogador Band
Support the artist: Venmo- @Andria-NikoupolisWeliky
On the Edge of the Fault Line-Excerpt
Choreography: Michael Estanich/RE|dance group
Performance: Cheryl Cornacchione, Stacy DeMorrow and Lucy Vurusic-Riner
Music: One Fine Morning by Bill Callahan and Chaconne in G by Moondog
Program Note: This is an excerpt from Michael Estanich's 30 minute piece that examines the precarious connection between past and future, memory and imagination, and reality and possibility. This work furthers Estanich's fascination with place, how we construct a sense of home, and metaphysical possibilities of relying on, defining, and choosing our present.
Support the artist: Donate HERE
To: and From:
Choreography: Danielle Gilmore, Melissa Pillarella in collaboration with Shirley Mordine
Performance by: Danielle Gilmore and Melissa Pillarella
Music: Sea Image by The Chieftains
Program Note: To: and From:” is a duet created by using the original source material of Shirley Mordine solo“ Letters to my Son”, 1979.
Support the artist- Donate HERE
Rhapsody
Choreography: Frederick Ashton - Restaged for Milwaukee Ballet by Calvin Hilpert, Mireille Favarel and dancers
Performance: Jacqueline Bertault and Logan O’Neal
Music: M Sergei Rachmaninov (Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, opus 43, 1934)
Herencias (Heirlooms)
Choreography & Performance by: Kerensa DeMars
Music: 'Gelem-Gelem' vocals Esperanza Fernández, piano David Peña Dorantes
Program Note: In ‘Herencias’ the dancer recalls the stories of displacement and genocide told by her Romani grandmother and sets out to weave the broken threads of this painful and secretive past into a bold and promising future. The accompaniment is the unofficial Romani anthem ‘Gelem-Gelem’ performed by Flamenco artists. The lyrics bear a message of hope for future generations while acknowledging the atrocities committed against the Roma.
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Whisper Gallery
Choreography & Performance: Chloe Grace Michels & Enid Smith
Music: Cream "White Room”
Program Note: Special thanks to Dance Center Evanston
Los de que me acuerdo
Choreography & Performance: Maria Gillespie
Music: Music: "Tango Negro" sang by Chole Gillespie, "Fallaste Corazón" by Cuco Sánchez, Sound Design: Maria Gillespie.
Program Note: This work explores embodied memory and ancestral knowledge as translation practice to enliven kineticism as a kind of pre and post lingual resource. It honors my grandmother Chole's imprint and traces the erasure and restoration of my Chicanx lineage. This solo developed out of the larger performance installation work, 'to get there from here' made with collaborators Kevin Williamson and Nguyễn Nguyên. Their voices are in here too.
Synapse
Choreography: Visceral Dance Chicago
Performance by: Braeden Barnes, Meredith Harrill, Michelle Meltzer, Morgan Williams
Music: Darryl Hoffman
Support the artist: Donate HERE
Header Design: Charlie Stephens
Photography: Allison Evans at Wild Nest Photography
Photography: Allison Evans at Wild Nest Photography