Reach for the Moon

 

"Reach for the Moon...
even if you miss, you'll be among the stars."

Happy September! When was a time that you reached for the Moon? 

Nine months ago, dance artists Sarena Kabakoff and Kalila Kingsford Smith supported me in reaching for the Moon. The pandemic, isolation, and the darkness of winter prompted me to create light in the only way I know how. I needed to create a small community and I needed to create a dance. 

What started as a small, personal prompt has turned into a creative community collaborative experiment. In January, engineer/ psychologist/ poet Dr. Phillip Tietbohl allowed us to use his poem "Full Moon" for inspiration. 

In February, long-time collaborator Paul Fejko granted me permission to use his music for that first dance film which premiered in the Reading Theater Project's 5-Minute Fringe and the Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange's Virtual Dance Exposure. (Thank you, Paul, RTP, and LVDE!).

In March, I reached for the Moon again and approached Jill Haley about creating music for the project. (Thank you Jill!) I dreamed about a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) experiment that became Harvest Moon. Jill, Sarena, Kalila and I dove more deeply into lunar cycles and celestial patterns, Zoom and internet technology, film making, and gravitational forces through movement, music, imagery, and metaphor. 

Reading Musical Foundation provided us with a special projects grant for Jill's music. (Thank you Reading Musical Foundation!)

By April, we had created two dance films and in May, began exploring how to create a digital, immersive audience experience. Dr. Nathan Thomas and Dr. Tietbohl agreed to lead two different audience engagement models as part of the full performance experience. 

In June, I committed Harvest Moon to the FringeArts Fringe Festival. 

July and August continued rehearsals, research, and film making. 

And now it's September. It's time for the lunar and virtual Harvest Moon. 

Please join us for an experimental evening of music, dance, film, and audience engagement. Dr. Tietbolh will lead a Group Poetry Creation after the live-streamed dance films on 9/18, 9/20, and 9/25. Dr. Thomas will lead a more traditional talk-back on 9/19, 9/24, and 9/26. 

Tickets are pay-what-you-wish and are available by clicking here. You'll get links to both the live-stream and the following Zoom experience when you purchase your ticket. 

Thank you for sharing this dream!