photo credit: Nicholas Burnham
Ripen: Forbidden Truth Pt. 2 – In The Flesh
Ripen: Forbidden Truth Pt. 2 – In the Flesh, choreographed by Parker and performed in collaboration with dancers Kei Phillip and Camilla Maria Davis is inspired by passion and possession. The movement is a melding of the sacred with the secular, referencing ancient sacred codes/symbols derived from West Africa (and later coopted by Christianity) that represent fertility, rebirth, and the balance of masculinity and femininity. Parker explores the traverses of femininity, spirituality and identity in motion while asking questions to advocate health, balance and feminine empowerment.
Ripen: Forbidden Truth was originally choreographed as a solo work commissioned by the Fresh Tracks program of New York Live Arts 2013-14, and was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
CREDITS
Soundscape
3bean Stew
Music mixed by Leslie Parker
Live music by Taji Hill and DJ Don Cuco
Dancers
Camilla Maria Davis
Leslie Parker
Kei Phillip
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
A St. Paul, MN, native based in Brooklyn, NY, Leslie Parker is a contemporary independent dance artist, choreographer, improviser, performer and educator. As an MFA in Dance candidate at Hollins University, Parker expands on her research encompassing forms derived of the African Diaspora from an African American and female perspective. She has performed works by the late Professor Nii Yartey of Ghana University, Patricia Brown, Morris Johnson, Chris Walker, Dr. Kariamu Welsh, Keith Thompson, Ronald K. Brown, Tania Isaac and apprenticed with Urban Bush Women. As an Independent artist, a few credits include the Soaking WET series, Center for Performance Research, Performance Mix29, New York Live Arts Fresh Tracks 2013-14 Artist in Residence, BAAD! Ass Women’s festival, Nia Love’s “Let The Eagles Scream”, Harlem Stage’s EMoves13, Movement Research at Judson Church, THPAC’s 38th annual “Souls of our Feet: People of Color” festival, The Painted Bride Arts Center, and Women’s Roseville Correctional Facility. Parker has led dance classes and dance workshops nationally including Penumbra Theatre’s Summer Institute, Temple University, Carlton College, Queens College as well as various institutions, communities and programs widely for our youth. Parker initiated and designed “Moving Dialogue for Non-Violence” – as a catalyst for integrating movement & dialogue to facilitate social change at Broadway Women’s House Shelter in Brooklyn, NY.
Kei Phillip is an Antiguan-American, Bronx based improv dancer and self-care advocate. She earned a B.A. in Dance and Psychology from Barnard College where she developed a passion for African-diasporic dance fusion, holistic movement research, and community-arts engagement. Kei is excited to continue her exploration with Leslie Parker.
Camilla Maria Davis is a NYC based artist and graduate from Hunter College. Her background in dance includes salsa, hip-hop, and contemporary. Davis is currently dancing project-based work with independent choreographers. She is interested in researching and exploring ideas of religion, culture, social justice, and ancestry through the vehicle of dance.
Tickets: Buy tickets online or call 612-825-0459.
Pay-What-You-Want. Pick your own price for every performance, every night.
(Regular price is $15. Anything above $15 is considered a donation.)