(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Freespace Dance and Donna Scro-Samori returns to Merseles Studios when Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) presents A Woman's Movement, a multimedia performance celebrating women, femininity, and the strength and connection of women. Performances take place Friday, May 18th and Saturday, May 19th at 8:00pm.
JCTC presents arts programming at Merseles Studios and the adjacent White Eagle Hall. Its thematic series explore – through visual arts, theatre, readings, dance, music and other performances – topics global in scope but relevant to the community. A Woman’s Movement is being presented as part of this thematic series focused on social change, protest and individual responsivity.
“A key component of JCTC’s mission is to tackle the important issues of our times,” said Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC. “Donna’s exploration of feminism and the role of women in today’s society speaks directly to what is going on in the U.S. and globally. Women are speaking up and being heard and this extraordinary dance piece fits perfectly into the questions we’re exploring with the Resistance series.”
Conceived in the Spring of 2017 – after the Woman's March and Women's International Day, but prior to the MeToo Movement – A Woman's Movement is an artistic expression of the importance of women's voices during this particular time in history. A Woman's Movement combats stereotypes about women, aging and dance. All of the dancers except for one are over the age of 40, reflecting not only Donna's interest as a choreographer in mature dancers, but as a way to critique cultural biases against middle-aged women.
" A Woman's Movement is one of the most significant works I have made to date,” said Scro-Samori, Artistic Director of Freespace Dance. “In this particular time in history with the rise in awareness of women's issues, it is extremely important that artistic works of this nature are presented. I am grateful to be returning to Merseles Studios in Jersey City where my work was so well received during their Borderless Series (2016) and to share this new and important piece.”
Scro-Samori has collaborated with singer song writer, Katherine Oakes, photographer Grace Brown, composer Amanda Harberg, composer Sharon Freedman, film maker Kayla Affrunti, and visual artist Jessica Sporn to create a performance that explores the many facets of feminism, empowerment and sisterhood. A Woman's Movement dancers include: Stephanie Beauchamp, Stephanie Nerback, Hannah Castoro, Leslie Smolen Wuebben, and Melissa Wolfe Rosebro. In addition, there will be a pre-performance reception at 7:00, which features the work of visual artist Donna Conklin King, as well as the Resistance Art Show in the art gallery at Merseles Studios.
Collaborating with other artists is central to the Freespace mission. Past collaborations include the use of live music and guest performers such as Brian Sanders of JUNK and Gaspard Louis of Pilobolus Dance Theatre. With the support of New Music USA, the company has partnered with violist Brett Duebner, pianist Amanda Harberg and most recently, Grammy Nominee 13Hands/Daniel McBride along with singer Katherine Oakes. Throughout a long-standing partnership, Freespace has staged works with Peter Kalivas of the PGK Dance Project in San Diego.
Freespace Dance is a contemporary modern dance company renowned for creating emotionally driven work with a bold, athletic signature style. In her two decade plus experience as a dancer and choreographer, Scro-Samori has performed at The Paris Opera House, Theatre de la Ville, the American Dance Festival (Korea and North Carolina), Spoleto Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, The Egg, the Joyce Theater, The New Victory Theater, Central Park Summer Stage, Symphony Space, Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Prior to establishing Freespace Dance, Scro-Samori was a principal dancer with the Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Company. She received a 2008 Fellowship from New Jersey State Council on the Arts, for excellence in choreography. In 2016, the company appeared as the sole modern dance company in the Triple Threat Showcase at the South Orange Performing Arts Center and was featured in the renowned Brooklyn Dance Festival at BAM.
Tickets are $13.50 - $15 (Student & Senior Citizens discounts available with valid ID) and are available at jctcenter.org. Merseles Studios is located at 339 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey.
