A Harlem Based Modern Dance Company
March 31, 2023 Collective Thread Dance Festival Program
Collective Thread provides a voice and a platform for artistic self-impression to those women identifying artists of underrepresented ethnic groups within the medium of dance. ***PLEASE NOTE: MADC uses the term “women” to encompass all those that self-identify as women including cisgender and transgender femmes. We honor and respect all identities.*** The goal of Collective Thread is to instill artists with the necessary tools to take on leadership roles in an effort to increase diversity, inclusion, and gender equality in the dance field.
MADC’s Collective Thread Dance Festival is made possible in part with funding from the West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC) Community Board Grant and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Center (LMCC) Creative Engagement Grant.
Genus
Choreographed by: Carolina Rivera / SUR Dance
Performed by: Fiona Oba, Sadiya Ramos, Sharon Moreno and Carolina Rivera
Music: Kuruf Tayul / Cancion Sagrada del Viento - Beatriz Pichi Malen
IG: @sur.dance
Born in Santiago (Chile). Carolina Rivera began training at Teatro Municipal de Santiago, then majored in dance at the University of Chile with High Honors and the Excellence Award. She received a scholarship from the Martha Graham School and joined Graham II. Former founding member of Alison Cook Beatty Dance and a recurrent collaborator with Buglisi Dance Theater. Her image was projected in Times Square. Her work has been presented in Chile, Mexico, and New York, receiving commissions from Harlem Stage and NY City Artist Corps. Rehearsal Assistant for "Table of Silence" 2022 at Lincoln Center. Founded SUR Dance in 2023.
Hot Lips
Choreographed by: Kayla Yee
Collaborators: Devisers, Gabriella Loo, & Na'imah Ray
Performed by: Sasha Smith & Kayla Yee
Music: Hot Lips, Henry Busse
IG: @kaylayee_ig
Kayla Yee practices dance-theatre, fitness motivation, and environmental activism. She earned a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with minors in dance & producing.
Her original choreography, “In 50 Years,” examines the intersection of climate change and collective social trauma. The piece was presented in the festivals Move to Change, Nasty Women Unite, and is currently being expanded for a performance this June 28 at Dixon Place. Other performance and choreography credits include: "Crossing Nature" (Move to Change Festival), “We’re All Immigrants” (Reaction Dance Company), “Tanya’s Lit Clit” (Experimental Bitch Presents), and “Check All That Apply” (WestFest Dance Festival).
("Soka") Grief through dance (Soka is Sanskrit for grief)
Choreographed & Performed by: Sloka Iyengar
Music: Aasai mukham (Singer: Sri. Jayan Nair)
IG: @bnatyam_on_the_brain
Facebook: Sloka Iyengar
Sloka Iyengar is a dancer and neuroscientist, passionate about relieving suffering through the sciences and the arts. Sloka practices Bharatanatyam, a traditional Indian dance that consists of a vocabulary of movements to tell stories.Sloka is creating the foundation for the use of Bharatanatyam for creative aging, and has developed productions that explore the intersections between the arts and neuroscience. Sloka Iyengar is also an Aseemkala choreography fellow.
It’s CarNYval
Choreographed by: Kiara Paige/CarNYvalDancers
Performed by: Kiara Paige, Nyree Binns, Tatiana Turnage, Makayla Peterson, Cyntavia Howell, Darren Eveillard, Angeline Peart, Kadijah Sutton, Nadine Calixte, Nerissa McCollin, & Fatou Diouf
Music: Mix of various artists
IG: @Born2PerformKi @CarNYvalDancers
Kiara Paige is a Professional Dancer, Dance Educator and Choreographer with over ten years of experience in performing professionally. Kiara’s passion lies in dances from the Afro-Caribbean diaspora.
She is the Founder and Artistic Director of her dance company, CarNYval Dancers as well as the Founder for her newest passion project, Kulture Kave LLC.
Kiara has performed and worked with artists such as D’banj, Davido, Rihanna, Machel Montano and many more. She also choreographed the World’s largest soca Flashmob. She has been able to take her talents and work internationally in Japan and Trinidad.
Kiara is a passionate and powerful artist that uses her positive attitude and platform to encourage others to tap into their passion for dance.
(not a performance) Movement Diary
Choreographed & Performed by: Allyson Ross/SouthernBelleStories
Music: Brander Younger and Dezron Douglas
IG: @southernbellestories
Allyson Ross is an artist, educator and creative based in New York City. She is a graduate of Harvard University and The College of William and Mary and received professional training in dance at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the LINES Ballet School. She has centered her creative platform on storytelling through dance performance and choreography, film and writing. As an educator, she has worked in many settings across the US teaching students K-12 with a focus on Dance, American Studies, Literacy and General Education(K-5). As a dancer, she has performed with General Mischief Dance Theater, Leah Glenn Dance Theater, Angel Kaba, Bobby Morgan, Tamika Daniels, Stacie Cannon, The Francesca Harper Project and has presented her own choreography and film through MODArts Dance Collective.
Undrowned
Choreographed by: Andrea Vazquez-Aguirre, Elley White and Olivia Bullock/Another River Interdisciplinary
Performed by: Elley White and Olivia Bullock
Music: La Malquerida by Natalia Lafourcade
IG: @anotheriver_interdisciplinary @travelingkinesphere
Another River's work aims to build bridges among disciplines and, above all, to communicate to a wide audience without compromising artistic honesty. Under the artistic direction of James J. Kaufmann and Andrea Vazquez, the ensemble is comprised of core members, with guest collaborators added when our vision requires them. The core ensemble is a diverse group of artists committed to take their practice to great depth, sharing it with others through creation, performance, and teaching.
Dinolates (excerpt)
Choreographed & Performed by: Joan Liu/Axons Dance Theatre
Music: Sonata No. 6 in F Major Op. 10 No. 2 by Beethoven
IG: @axonsdancetheatre
Facebook: Another River Interdisciplinary
Joan Liu was trained in multiple genres before starting her performing career with Taipei Royal Ballet. She later pursued academics accumulating a MS in biology from New York University and MA in Dance Education through the collaborated program between NYU and American Ballet Theatre. Her work, including a full evening length ballet, has been showcased in various historic venues including New York City Center, Dixon Place, Mark O’Donnell Theatre, Abrons Arts Center, Players Theatre, Frederick Loewe Theater…etc. In 2019, Liu launched Axons Dance Theatre to focus on the creative process and to encourage communication through the art of dance.
143, Sections 3-4
Choreographed by: Leah Tubbs/MODArts Dance Collective (MADC)
Performed by: Veronica Cheeseboro, Shoshana Mozlin, Sharayah Spruill, Courtney Stewart, & Leah Tubbs
Music: Faith Evans & Chrisette Michele
IG: @modarts_dance
Facebook: MODArts Dance Collective
Birmingham, AL native & Harlem resident Leah Tubbs studied dance at Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) and the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She has had the great opportunity to work as a professional artist with numerous dance companies, as well as currently holding the roles of teaching artist and arts educator. Leah and her husband, Shaun, established MODArts Dance Collective, Inc. (MADC) in 2011 to hold space for Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) artists and communities through its choreographic work, festivals, concerts, workshops, and residencies.
Gratitude and Thanks
MADC would like to thank its 2023 donors: Dr. & Mrs. Amamoo, Sharon Banks, William-Michael Cooper, Lauren DeGeorge, Sherema Fleming, Malaika Holder, Rev. & Mrs. Lee, Karen & Brian Lowy, Tanya Patton, Adriana Ray, Nathaniel Rutledge, Brittany Wilson, & Harriette Smiley. We are grateful to have received funding this year from IABD COHI | MOVE Collective Cohort (2021-24), West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC), Lower Manhattan Cultural Center (LMCC) Creative Engagement Grant, & 2022/23 The Performance Project @ University Settlement Artist-in-Residence. We are thankful to be receiving subsidized studio rates as a company-in-residence at Hi-ARTS.
Support
The goal for our 2023 fundraising campaign is to raise 20K through individual donations that will go towards our operating costs which includes staffing (Leadership Team) and consultant costs (Marketing, Grant Writer, and Accounting/Bookkeeping) to continue to expand and amplify the reach of MADC. MODArts Dance Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible; EIN: 87-2210130. Please consider contributing to MADC here.