"BTW US" at ASU Gammage : Jan 25, 2020
photo by Pam Taylor Photography
CAST & CREDITS: Between Underground & Skyworld ASU Gammage Jan 25, 2020
Constellations: A Beam of light enters space, making way for luminous beings. These superheros represent core values of cultural teachings such as bravery, patience, kindness, groundedness, vision for generations ahead. As apparitions of destructive practices of Earth appear, they reach towards makes of animals, so they can take forms to give messages and guidance to humans.
Journey: Then, time speeds forward into the apocalypse of the present, with a new generation struggling for survival, and finding resilience. They crawl and climb a mountain to seek guidance, only to be told the knowledge is in their medicine bundles (their backpacks), as a creation story. Directed to cross the waters, they remember the ways of star navigation. They find humble items in their backpacks, are these the gifts which symbolize qualities and teachings ? Eventually they find that connection, even to what is considered trash as having life force to the considered and appreciated. They move beyond greed and selfishness to share and exchange with each other, before moving into dream realm where they are all connected, in a starlit web of energy and life force.
Dreaming: In a dreamscape of balance and harmony, humans and constellations move together in recognition of their shared heritage.
Being: Arising early, they now remember to give respectful greeting to the morning sun. With guidance from skyworld above and their roots below, they reflect the challenges of current realities, and the humans peel away layers towards understanding the forces and systems that have shaped the present. They dig deeper, to prepare themselves for the deeper meaning of the medicine bundles, and the responsibilities of those gifts. They move into connection with each other, generously embodying the wisdom and qualities, empathy, honesty, courage, gratitude, strength, kindness that are their superpowers . With these powers , they walk in beauty , with each other, with all people, with all forms of life as sacred.
The next step, of the future, is the dance to be made by us all collectively, the energy of
continual renewal... So the open portal of possibility is brought into the audience, for us all to
dream and co-create together ...
DANCING EARTH PERFORMING ARTISTS:
NATALIE ACEVES-GHEZZI
KAYLA BANKS
RAVEN BRIGHT
CIERA BUDGE
OLIVIA CAMFIELD
JUSTIN GIEHM
TREY PICKETT
RULAN TANGEN
FABIOLA TORRAILBA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Rulan Tangen
CONCEPT: Rulan Tangen and Dancing Earth artists, incorporating collaboration and visioning sessions with diasporic community members through lived cultural research and relationship building.
CHOREOGRAPHY BY: Rulan Tangen and Dancing Earth artists.
REHEARSAL ASSISTANTS: Olivia Camfield & Jade Whaanga
TECHNICAL DIRECTION: Deirdre Morris
With additional support from: Natalie Benally, Esme Olivia & Deollo Johnson
PROJECTION: Marion Claire Wasserman of Elemental Designs, cinematography of Moon dance/lullaby by Louis Leray. Drone camera work with Luke Fitch and Cedar Jocks. Artists and community members in projection imagery include Ciera Budge, Deollo Johnson, Anne Pesata, Elijah Kennar , Justin Giehm, Melanie Pesata, Hyda Maria, Talavai Denipah-Cook.
SOUND DESIGN: Original compositions commissioned from: Dakota Alcatrara-Camacho, Ehren Kee Natay, Esme Olivia, Randy Barton.
Sound Design created by: Dakota Camacho, with additional support from Marc Mr. Boogie Gonzalez, John Rangel and Esme Olivia in sound design, Randy Baryons The BlessingWay, Ras K’Dee , Bernadette Smith , Desirae Harjo , Kanyon Sayers Roods , and John Coltrane’s Naima (JowCol Music) as arranged by John Carlos Perea (Aerep Music) with rapping in Matao by Dakota Alcantara-Camacho, vocals by Esme Olivia and Natalie Benally, and additional spoken word and rapping by Deollo Johnson, Esme Olivia, Kayla Banks, Trey Pickett, Olivia Camfield. Sampling tracks which may include from esteemed artists such as Robert Mirabal with Aspen Mirabal, Kona Mirabal, Masa Mirabal; Saami singers Ethel Marja Mortensson, Elina Mikalsen, Katarina Barrruk; Tanya Tagaq Gills and Bjork; Beastie Boys; DJ Teao Sense; Tribe Called Red with John Trudell; Keith Secola, Pura Fe; Kanyon Sayers Roods; Bernadette Smith; Grace Nono; Ciera Budge; Ras K. Dee; Nina Simone; Lauryn Hill; Climbing Poetree; environmental sounds; “Wee Totaa” - Lyrics in Tongva & English by L. Frank Manriquez, music composed by L. Frank & Esme Olivia; Rainbow Bridge story of people of Tonga and uncle Sione, Incorporating voices, poems, and words by Dancing Earth artists and community members.
SCRIPT CONSULTANT: Ty Dafoe of Indigenous Directions
TEXT CONSULTANTS : Kalani Queypo and Michael Rohd
TECH DIRECTOR/STAGE MANAGER: Deirdre Morris for Dancing Earth, with ASU Gammage’s Lisa Adamsen & ASU Gammage crew
Special thanks to Peter Holt for additional technical support.
MANAGEMENT: Tiśina T. Parker
COSTUME, ACCESSORIES, AND MASKS: Connie WindWalker for animal masks, shadow puppets, accessories and costumes with additional costume items by Rulan Tangen. Randolph Duke for solar discs.
SET DESIGN: Kayo Muller and Drew VahnBruhn
MOON HEADDRESS: Susan Baker-Dillingham
SET AND PROP MAINTENANCE: Olivia Camfield
DRAMATURGICAL SUPPORT: Deirdre Morris, with additional support from John Flax of Theater Grottesco, Michael Rohd, and Liz Lerman
OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
This creative work arises from responses and reflections from community conversations about climate change, commodification, and colonization, and the importance of cultivating hope to mobilize body, mind, spirit and emotions at this time, individually and communally. What is the collective futurity we are making? What is renewable and what is energy; what are a myriad of ways to renew eco-cultural sustainability that embraces relevant the cultural teachings of the past from elders as well as the great imagining of the future by the younger generation? This performance work of BTW US is part of a larger Indigenous Futurities multi-faceted project that includes all of us in every way!
We also want to acknowledge every Dancing Earth summer guest artist and company members who have been exploring these questions with deep conversations and creativity, as well as countless cultural advisors who include: Tony Skrelunas, Camilla Trujillo, Lupita Salazar, Natalie Benally, Molly Pesata, Anne Pesata, Talavai Denipah Cook, Randle Charles, Maria Firmino Castillo, Fidel Tohil Bernal, Dr Kina Murphy, Dr Yolanda Teran Maigua, Jorge Males, Norma Diala, Leny Strobel, Marion Wasserman, Alicia Rencountre Da Silva, Valeria Alarcon, Hazel James, Teahonna James and Kevin Belin, Jonathan Sims, Jon Ray, Ibrahim Loeks, Roxanne Swentzel, Ciera Budge and many other powerful visionaries (some of these who gathered with Dancing Earth with support from Invoking the Pause for Climate Change Trailblazers).
Dancing Earth is respectfully based in Ogaa Po Ogeh – occupied Tewa territory known as Santa Fe, NM and Yelamu – occupied Ohlone territory known as San Francisco, CA: we are honored that this new work in progress emerges from land and sky that has been danced and sung into renewal by First Nations of the Southwest since the beginning of time, and this vision includes contributions of respected and beloved cultural community members .
OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS:
TEMPE/PHOENIX: L.C. Banks, Liz Lerman, Alex Meraz, Desiree Ong, Michael Reed, Michael Rohd, Pam Taylor, Henry A. Terrazas III, Dr David Martinez
SANTA FE: Natalie Benally, Stephanie Camfield, Norma Diala, Mitra Lujan, Cheryl Odom, Veena Vasista, Ibrahim Loeks, Peter Holt , Esme Olivia , Deollo Johnson , and Julia Miller Vasquez
FUNDING MADE POSSIBLE BY:
BTW US was made possible with funding by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Theater Project, with lead funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and additional support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
We extend our appreciation to the following funders whose embracing vision makes possible this San Francisco preview of BTW US: The Zellerbach Family Foundation, The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation, The Kenneth Rainin Foundation.
We are also grateful to for additional production development for our work from the original seed conversations with community all the way towards touring through 2021! Dance Brigade’s Dance Mission, MAP Fund, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, Invoking the Pause: For Climate Change Trailblazers.
As well as heartfelt thanks support of Dancing Earth from: The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, NoVo Foundation, McCune Charitable Foundation of New Mexico.
And, we are grateful for additional support including in kind support from: Honor The Earth, Patagonia Environmental Grant and Action Works Match Fund , Institute of American Indian Arts, New Mexico Dance Coalition, Pomegranate Dance Studio, Railyard Performance Center, Dance Space Santa Fe, Wise Fool New Mexico, Kerr Center for the Arts for recording studios for Opening Groundworks local Phoenix Native Community Soundscape, Cleo Parker Robinson for allowing the availability of Kayla Banks, and the amazing support from Michael Reed , Desiree Ong , Anna Needham , Liz Lerman , Jacoh Moore, Bryan Brayboy, Michael Rohd and students, faculty, and staff of ASU and ASU Gammage.
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THE OPENING: GROUNDWORKS PRESENTED BY ASU GAMMAGE & DANCING EARTH:
PRE-SHOW - JANUARY 25, 2020 ASU GAMMAGE LOBBY 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Arizona host First Nation Cultural Protocol: Janet Johnson, Teya Johnson, Jeva James Uqualla and Akimel Oodham local host first nations representatives. Dancing Earth respectfully acknowledges the support of Bryan Brayboy - President’s Professor of Indigenous Education and Justice, Director of Indian Education, Senior Advisor to ASU President and Jacob Moore - Associate Vice President Tribal Relations
Event Curation & Coordination: Anna Needham & Desiree Ong
Opening Soundscape of Native Community Members: Rosetta Badhand-Walker, Adrian D. Thomas, Randy Kemp, Patrick Needham, Maria Chavez, Nora Cherry, Teya Johnson-Tiger, Claude A. Jackson, Jr., Anna Needham
Groundworks Event MC: Claude A. Jackson, Jr.
Native Community Soundscape Design: Randy Barton
Sound Design Engineer: Jarrod T. Barger
Spoken Word Poetry: Dominique Daye Hunter
Art Installations: Xico Inc. Community Artists - Curated by Donna Valdes & Janet Diaz
Screen Printing: Janet Diaz & Xico Inc. Community Artists
Native Art Market Vendors:
INDIGENOUS FASHION SHOW:
Direction & Curation: Loren Aragon & Wanesia Misquadace
Designers: Loren Aragon/Aconav & fashion/jewelry students from the ASU School of Art. - Fashion Show with designs by Assistant Professor of Metals & Indigenous Arts, Fond Du Lac Minnesota Wanesia Misquadace Birchbark Biting, Birchbark Fine Arts & Jeweler & ASU Student Designers: Fritz Casuse,Tyson Powless, Matagi Sorensen, Andrew Wipple, Joesph Bent, Shannon Hack, Douglas Bailey, Cynthia Milberger, Macey Kravitz.
Model Casting: Anna Needham & Casey Rapacki
Models: Students from the ASU School of Sustainability Gillian Lauter, Myra Khan, Emma Zuber, Kaylynn Bahe, Zamara Angelyn M. Reyes, Rebecca Jo Acero
Water Dancers: Randall Morin, Yolanda Tsosie, Jeva James Uqualla, Shaleigh Yazzie, Nora Cherry, Elizabeth Annie Napa Torrey.
Dancing Earth Manager: Tisina T. Parker
VIRTUAL REALITY GROUNDWORKS MEDIA PRESENTED BY TOASTERLAB:
Content created & edited by Ian Garrett, Justine Garrett, Andrew Sempere. Presented at ASU by Ryan Joyner.
Groundworks Media: Toasterlab has had media and technology support from: Tenhikie Brant, Keep Ya Joy, Elly Jessop Nattinger, Jacob Niedzweicki, Sophie Traub.
Toasterlab is supported through: Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, US Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), York University.
AFTER PARTY CATERING: Urban Rez Eatery
