Category Archive: Artists

1. newMoves Fast Facts: slowdanger

   April 30, 2015 3:05 pm

   slowdanger is the pseudonym, nom de guerre, and stage moniker of Pittsburgh-based performance artists Anna Thompson and Taylor Knight. Anna and Taylor use their bodies as mediums, creating movement, sound, and visual images that express an energetic and sensual connection to body and spirit. Read about the duo before you see their new work on stage May 7 at the newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival.

   • In addition to making dance, these Point Park alums produce music and released their debut album in March 2015
   • slowdanger’s work has been shown at the Pittsburgh Biennial and The Space Upstairs
   • Outside of Pittsburgh, slowdanger has performed at the Goose Route Dance Festival in Shepardstown, WV
   • Their work for newMoves, memory 3: swimmoon, reflects on the thought “I am what I remember, what I remember is what I am” and explores performance as “a reinterpretation of a memory in the present.”

   Read more about the newMoves Festival and purchase your festival passes today to catch slowdanger’s innovative performance.

   [portfolio_slideshow id=5117]

   
   

   Article by Trevor Miles 

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2. newMoves Fast Facts: Jil Stifel

   April 29, 2015 4:01 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   Next weekend, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9.

   

   Jil Stifel, Performing Artist, Choreographer

    

   • Jil Stifel is a collaborative artist who works in movement, dance and performance
   • She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Highest Honors in dance from Rutgers University
   • Jil recently collaborated with choreographer Ben Sota on a circus/ modern dance hybrid, Waywardland

   

   • She has also worked with Maree ReMalia | merygogo,  Staycee Pearl Dance Project and Dave Bernabo’s MODULES
   • Jil’s newMoves piece is named Knuckle Press
   • Knuckle Press investigates how shared body schema can allow us to work intricately as a single unit, and utilizes discreet movements and gestures

    

   Visit Jil’s page for more of her work and purchase newMoves tickets on our website.

    

    

    

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3. newMoves Fast Facts: Megan Mazarick

   April 28, 2015 2:51 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival. This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th.

   

   Megan Mazarick, Choreographer

    

   • Megan is a Philadelphia-based choreographer, performer and teacher
   • Megan’s work has toured internationally. She considers it to be visceral, humorous and political
   • In some of Megan’s performances, she has danced on the hood of a moving car, swung from the side of a rock cliff, and rolled through the remains of crumbled buildings
   • Her most recent work monster was performed in Cairo, Egypt at the By Chance Contemporary Dance Festival in 2015
   • monster is a solo that faces female identity and being unladylike in new ways
   • The performance presents the idea of women being able to transform into ferocious predators

    

   

    

   Check out Megan’s site for more videos, pictures, and her full biography. You can also grab your festival passes right here to see monster live.

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4. newMoves Fast Facts: Jamie Erin Murphy

   April 27, 2015 3:21 pm

   By Trevor Miles

    

   

   This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival! This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th!

    

   • Jamie is a graduate of Point Park University, and has taught Modern and Contemporary Movement at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for eight years
   • Jamie has presented in PA, OH and NYC
   • Jamie was also a part of the previous Murphy/Smith Collective
   • She also performed in Shana Simmon’s work Passenger and previewed this work at the Alloy Studios
   • Jamie has also worked with Attack Theatre and Xpressions Dance Company
   • She has also danced in I Am Woman, Accidentally, and Much More Than Bones for KST’s Next Stage Residency Program
   • Jamie’s newMoves piece is entitled Makeshift, and is a movement exploration about replacement and support
   • Makeshift will feature music by Olaf Bender and Ben Frost

   

   Teacher and Choreographer, Jamie Erin Murphy

   For more info on Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s newMoves Festival and tickets/passes, visit our website here.

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5. Pittsburgh Changemaker: Mario Quinn

   April 23, 2015 3:52 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   Kelly Strayhorn Theater is presenting local leaders that have been changemakers in Pittsburgh. Mentors, teachers, artists— KST acknowledges these pioneers. This is Our Story: KST Recognizes Pittsburgh Changemakers.

   Mario Quinn, Alloy School Teacher and Choreographer 

    

   1- What do you do for the community now and why is it important?

   Right now I am focusing on teaching and mentoring the youth in the community by way of Hip Hop Dance. I feel it’s important because not only do I teach them a skill but I have a lasting impact on their lives. In my classes I encourage the students to approach everything they learn with a “can do” attitude, that I feel will transfer over into real life situations. It is easy to learn movement and expression but believing in your own expression is what I find to be the best jewel a student can have. Someone special in my life told me “fortune favors the brave” and in everything I do artistically I want that to be my main message and my goal is to pass that on to the youth. Currently I am a Teaching Artist for Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s Alloy School where I teach hip hop to youth ages 8-12yrs and choreograph for We Rock Workshop, a residency program lead by Liz Berlin of the multi-platinum band Rusted Root. We Rock Workshop guides young adults (ages 14-22) across Allegheny County who are currently involved with the Department of Human Services to open up through the arts by exploring the creation, production and performance of music and dance. The course culminates with the recording of original songs created by the participants and a final performance at Mr. Smalls Theatre. In addition, I am also a Hip-Hop Educator through Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K which is one of Greater Pittsburgh’s premier mentoring and arts education programs. The program shows the ability to identify and connect with youths ages 8-18, and teaches relevant life-long skills such as leadership development, organizational skills, cooperative economics and knowledge of the music business that can be applied to everyday situations as well as math, science and literacy. I hope that moving forward I can continue to do work that matters and reach more youth in the community through the art of expression and dance. I feel that this is what my life purpose is and I must say my journey has been incredibly rewarding so far.

    

   2- What is one defining moment of your life? (When you decided to do what you’re doing now).

   I would say that my defining moment was the first time I saw Michael Jackson, as silly as that may sound. As a child, I was amazed beyond belief at what I was seeing and knew in my heart that dancing and performing was something that I wanted to pursue in life. As far as teaching, that defining moment happened while in college at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I started their very first hip-hop dance club. I was teaching peers and had no idea that it would be something that I actually enjoyed. After college I was recommended by a close friend to teach at a local studio known as Pittsburgh Heat in 2010. Since then I have been teaching and mentoring all over the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

    

   3- What advice do you have for youth that want to become a changemaker in their community?

   Find what it is that you are great at, what is your talent? Take that and figure out a way you can help people in the community with your talent, there you will find your purpose. I’d also say BELIEVE in yourself, follow your hearts desire and don’t be afraid to try new things and open up to opportunities, again, “Fortune Favors the Brave”. Lastly I’d say be prepared, have a way to spread what it is you do. For example have a business card, a website, something that shows what you offer to your community. Remember the five P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents a Poor Performance, and remember that “Luck Favors the Prepared.”

    

   4- What is a song on your playlist? (A song that motivates and drives you).

   That’s a tough one… I have to go with The Man by Aloe Blacc. It’s one of those songs that I play while getting ready for my day—it reminds me that what I think of myself is what is most important. Takes me back to the “belief” thing. It really helps me to focus my mind on the things I want to happen in my life.

    

   Check out Mario’s website here. Visit the KST website to read more about his hip-hop class at the Alloy School!

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6. newMoves Fast Facts: Anthony Williams

   April 22, 2015 4:13 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival! This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th!

   

    Anthony Williams, Choreographer

    

   • Anthony’s exposure to art began when he was 16, after being cast as the Scarecrow in Black Ensemble’s production of The Wiz
   • Anthony graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater from Milikin University
   • Anthony has also worked with Deeply Rooted Productions and Pittsburgh August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble

   

   • KST projects that Anthony has premiered include Identity (newMoves 2013) and Loving Black (Fresh Works, 2014).
   • Anthony’s newMoves piece this year is named beingHUMAN
   • beingHUMAN is influenced by Anthony’s time growing up in Boystown, Chicago, a heavily queer-populated area

   

   Check out Anthony’s site, and read more about the newMoves Dance Festival here.

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7. newMoves Fast Facts: Jean-Paul Weaver

   April 21, 2015 3:15 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival! This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th!

   

   Jean Paul Weaver

   – Jean-Paul’s newMoves piece is entitled Lalin 

   – Lalin is a piece about navigating the subconscious and the workings of  his own  inner desires and dreams

   – Lalin was inspired by the Rorschach ink blot test

   – In addition to dancing, Jean-Paul enjoys drawing. He showcases his art on his Tumblr Selki-Dimanche

   – Jean-Paul has trained at Casper College and Alozo King’s Lines Ballet Training Program, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Lou Conte Dance Centre and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Summer Intensive

   – Jean-Paul has also presented work with Texture Ballet Theater and Ruth Page Center in Chicago

   

   You can check out Jean-Paul’s Vimeo before you see Lalin at newMoves! Get your tickets here!

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8. newMoves Fast Facts: Brady Sanders

   April 20, 2015 4:31 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   This spring, KST is presenting its sixth annual newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival! This festival brings young local and national choreographers to the stage to present a medley of four to five short works each night. Read more about the newMoves participants here before you see their new works on stage, May 7-9th!

   Brady Sanders, Pittsburgh Choreographer

    
   

   – Brady Sanders has studied at Point Park University, Illinois State University, Joel Hall Studio, and School of DanceWest Ballet

   

   – Brady had even toured internationally with The Cavaliers World Champion Drum and Bugle Corps

   

   – Brady also served as the Artistic Director of the Pride of Cincinnati Dance Ensemble for one year

   – His newMoves piece is titled The Screen Between Us

   – The Screen Between Us explores our love affair with technology, and will use modern dance techniques and pose the question, “Are we designing technologies that give us the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship?

   – The Screen Between Us features Vic Damone’s rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Connected, but alone? from Sherry Turkle’s TED Talk.

    

    

   You can watch Brady’s work, Something Unknown on his Vimeo, and get tickets to experience his team live here!

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9. Pittsburgh Changemaker: Mat Docktor

   April 16, 2015 4:29 pm

   By Trevor Miles

   Kelly Strayhorn Theater is presenting local leaders that have been changemakers in Pittsburgh. Mentors, teachers, artists— KST acknowledges these pioneers. This is Our Story: KST Recognizes Pittsburgh Changemakers.

     Mat Docktor, Soundwaves Steelband Director 

    

   1. What do you do for the community now and why is it important?

   I engage youth in music! As a resident artist at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, I direct the student ensemble Soundwaves Steelband. This dedicated group of students range in age from 13 to 19 and commute from area high schools for rehearsal at the Alloy Studios on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

   Learning to practice, perform, and understand music has so many benefits — all the skills used to figure out a new song, how to play a song and how that relates to affecting an audience. That’s the deeper level of what I’m trying to accomplish. I want to engage people’s consciousness through music. That’s why Soundwaves is important.

    

   2. What is one defining moment of your life? (When you decided to do what you’re doing now).

   My development as an artist was more of a progression than any one defining moment. I went on a visitation day to Mott Middle College High School in Flint, Michigan and I saw my first Steelband. There was a bunch of people playing steelpan and having fun — I knew I wanted to go to that school. Then, when I first tried the steelpan, the magical sound made me want to play it again. My first performance gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment. Playing steelpan started enriching my life in so many positive ways. I truly enjoy playing it.

   Developing my skills as a teacher grew out of my love for playing the instrument and performing. It came about because there was someone there who wanted to learn. Even as a young teenager I liked showing people things that I just learned. And people would show me things they learned, so that’s how being a teacher came about. It’s really about sharing knowledge and experience.

   

   3. What advice do you want to share with the youth that want to become a changemaker in their community?

   Figure out who you are and be yourself. Do something you love! Pursue your passions. Collaborate. Accomplishing goals takes teamwork, persistence, patience and perseverance. Believe in yourself. You can do it!

    

   

   4. What is a song on your playlist? (A song that motivates and drives you?)

   Jammin by Bob Marley. I like his music because he was a changemaker. His music transcends time through its message of peace and love. Most people think this song is about jamming on an instrument, but what he really meant was more along the lines of hanging out together and feeling “so good in my neighborhood”. My favorite line in the song is, “Jah children must unite: Your life is worth much more than gold.”

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