KST X NYC: STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos
KST Presents
CIRCLES: going in
Saturday & Sunday, January 13 – 14, 2024
6:00pm
The Flea Theater | 20 Thomas Street, NYC
Pay What Moves You: $20 – $35
As part of Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s (KST) ongoing Owning Our Future, Thriving Where We Live strategic direction, KST is thrilled to announce the second year of KST X NYC, a special initiative to share new works commissioned and developed in Pittsburgh by KST in collaboration with national partners. This year, KST is proud to announce the New York City premieres of two new dance works from Pittsburgh-based artists, slowdanger’s SUPERCELL and STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos’s (SPdp&SS) CIRCLES: going in from Thursday, January 11 to Sunday, January 14, 2024 in New York City.
Black Joy. Femme. Cycles of Life and Love. CIRCLES: going in is a full-length dance work celebrating #BlackGirlMagic. Layering dance, visual arts, with pulsing beats and bass lines, the work presents snapshots of popular culture through choreographer Staycee Pearl’s lens as a Black woman. With an ensemble of five dancers, CIRCLES: going in is a colorful, unapologetic, and daring path to self-reclamation. Central to the work is an original sound score of hip-hop, house, techno and ballroom music samples mixed live throughout the performance – bringing the joy, spontaneity and uncensored freedom of self-expression from the club to the stage.
Join KST before and after each performance for light refreshments in The Flea Theater’s lobby. You’re also invited to a special reception on Friday, January 12 at 12:30pm with the artists.
The Flea Theater is ADA-accessible and Kelly Strayhorn Theater is happy to further address any accommodations that will enrich your visit. Please reach out to KST’s Box Office team at 412.363.3000 x213 or boxoffice@kelly-strayhorn.org to let the team know in advance.
Photo Credit: Heather Mull
This presentation of CIRCLES: going in is supported by The New England Foundation for the Arts’s National Dance Project additional support from the Ford Foundation and The Heinz Endowments America’s Cultural Treasures initiative.
CIRCLES: going in is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Joyce Theater, and NPN. CIRCLES: going in was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Co-commissioning Partners are Kelly Strayhorn Theater, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and The Joyce Theater. The development of CIRCLES: going in is made possible in part by the National Center for Choreography at The University of Akron (NCCAkron). CIRCLES: going in is supported in part by The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Fund, Heinz Endowments, and The Opportunity Fund.
AND DON’T MISS…
slowdanger
SUPERCELL
Thursday, January 11
6:00pm
Friday, January 12
2:00pm
The Flea Theater | 20 Thomas Street, NYC
Pay What Moves You: $20 – $35
- ABOUT THE ARTISTS
- CREDITS
Staycee Pearl, Executive/Co-Artistic Director Staycee Pearl is the 
co-artistic director of PearlArts Studios and STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos, where she creates artful experiences through dance-centered multimedia works in collaboration with her husband and artistic collaborator, Herman Pearl. In 2009, STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos (SPdp&SS) debuted at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Since then the duo has produced several works including …on being…, OCTAVIA, and FLOWERZ, and has recently premiered their National Dance Project supported CIRCLES: going in, presented by the Kelly Strayhorn Theater and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. Staycee is passionate about sharing resources and creating opportunities for the arts community by initiating project-generating programs including the Charrette Series, the In The Studio Series, and the PearlDiving Movement Residency.
Herman Pearl, Co-Artistic Director Herman Pearl (Soy Sos) is the head engineer and 
owner of Tuff Sound Recording, as well as the sound designer and co-artistic director of PearlArts Studios. Through PearlArts, Herman creates soundscapes to serve as a component to contemporary dance. As a sound designer, Herman’s repertoire includes a wide variety of projects and collaborators. His work has been featured in various independent films and documentaries, video games, and advertising. He has designed soundscapes for numerous choreographers. He has collaborated with many visual artists to create installations and touring exhibits. He has recorded and produced work for a plethora of recording artists across genres and techniques. Herman has performed, created, and recorded his own music for over 25 years.
LaTrea Derome Rembert, Rehearsal Assistant and Senior Dance Artist LaTrea Derome Rembert is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Pittsburgh, PA. From Cincinnati, OH LaTrea obtained his B.A. in Theater Arts from Point Park University (2014). His work has been seen with The Pittsburgh CLO, The CLO Cabaret Theater, the REP, and Pittsburgh Musical Theater. Additionally, LaTrea has been a dancer with SPdp&SS for 9 seasons. In 2020, LaTrea premiered a solo work entitled _lostncompleX as a part of the insideTRACK residency with PearlArts.
Chandler Bingham, Dance Artist Chandler Bingham was accepted into the Dance Program at Point Park University and graduated with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in History. She has performed choreography by; Staycee Pearl, Daniel Karasik, Kiki Lucas and many others. Chandler has also performed with Bricolage, Rashaad Newsome, and Allana Clarke as well as in several Netflix movies and series productions. Chandler has been a Dance Artist with SPdp&SS since 2019.
Nia Goodman, Dance Artist Nia Goodman is a Charlotte, NC native and currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA. Goodman studied at Point Park University (’22) receiving a Bachelor’s degrees in dance and accounting. She has performed in various works with choreographers such as: Al Blackstone, Camille A. Brown, Rennie Harris, Jason McDole, etc. As well as being founder of Valentines Productions LLC, a production company that hosts the annual Queen City Fest, Ms. Goodman has choreographed several projects for the showcase ranging from Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, contemporary and Heels.
Joy Holder, Dance Artist Joy Holder is a dancer, creator and food enthusiast based on the East Coast. While studying a variety of dance techniques, Joy received a BFA from Columbia College Chicago and has performed on stages across the country, including Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. They are tremendously excited to join SPdp to continue exploring movement and share their passion for dance and collaboration.
Cameron Waters, Dance Artist Cameron J. Waters is from New Castle, PA, and graduated from SRU in 2021. Cameron has choreographed works Contention, CAMouflaged Agenda, and Akin Chaka. Cameron was featured in the Netflix film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He is the head choreographer of his church, Jubilee Ministries International. He has been a company dancer with the STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos since February 2022.
Choreography: Staycee Pearl
Sound Designer/Engineer: Herman B. Pearl
Music Collaborators: DJ Haram, DOTGOV, Geña, Ixa, Kha’DJ, Kilamanzego, Madame Dolores, Meejah, Queen Jo, Yah Lioness
Visual Collaborations: Bekezela Mguni, Kitoko Chargois and sarah huny young
Lighting Design: Scott Nelson
Costume Design: S. Ruth
Set Design: Rob Hackett
Dancers: LaTrea Derome Rembert, Chandler Bingham, Cameron Waters, Nia Goodman, Joy Holder
Tour Coordinator Joanna Futral
Exclusive USA Tour Representation: Pentacle, Sandy Garcia
Running Time: 60 minutes, no intermission.