festival

Spring Festival 2017: surprise! surprise(!) surprise/! surprise

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May 31 – June 6, 2017

The Movement Research Festival Spring 2017: surprise! surprise(!) surprise/! surprise is curated by Laurie Berg, Monstah Black, and Amy Khoshbin. 

In the middle of the intersection we met, simultaneously. Riding on a wave, each of us gravitating toward the unknown, disregarding boundaries that were no longer needed. This place where movement blends with humor, sound paints the landscape and visuals twist the mind into… surprise!

Click here to RSVP for festival events!
Reservations are required for workshops.
Reservations for all other free events are highly encouraged.

Click here to view/download a PDF of the festival brochure!

Venue Partners

Basically we're all geniuses, end of story.

Narcissister, Lucy Sexton
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June 6

6:00pm – 9:00pm
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Hail the New Puritan: Costume-Making Workshops

Carlos J Soto, Michael DiPietro
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June 2

1:00pm – 6:00pm
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Hail the New Puritan: Screening and Q&A

Charles Atlas, Lucy Sexton
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June 2

7:00pm – 12:00am
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Inside Out Upside Down

Paul Alexander, Johnny Dynell, Larissa Velez-Jackson, Richard Kennedy, Tendayi Kuumba, Adam Rhodes, Chi Chi Valenti
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June 1

7:00pm – 2:00am
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Interiority Complex XVII

Jibz Cameron (Dynasty Handbag), Deville Cohen, Doreen Garner, Raja Kelly, Erica Magrey, Sophia Peer, Kenya (Robinson), Jennifer Sullivan, Yozmit
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June 1 – June 6

11:00am – 6:00pm
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Pull It Sur Prize

Greer Dworman, Michael Clemow, Miguel Gutierrez, Madison Krekel, Jennifer Sullivan
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June 5

6:00pm – 9:00pm
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Reza Abdoh: Theater Visionary

Anne Hamburger, Adam Soch
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June 4

6:00pm – 9:00pm
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Vertigo

Dai Burger, LSDXOXO, Tyler Ashley, C∆N-D, Brother(hood) Dance!, BS Movement, Michael DiPietro, Jasmine Hearn, The Illustrious Blacks, Manchildblack, Lizz McAuliffe, Bessie McDonough-Thayer, Slim Ninja
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June 3

7:00pm – 12:00am
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What's Now, What's Next (Opening Night, It's a Surprise)

Kembra Pfahler
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May 31

6:00pm – 9:00pm
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In the middle of the intersection we met, simultaneously. Riding on a wave, each of us gravitating toward the unknown, disregarding boundaries that were no longer needed. This place where movement blends with humor, sound paints the landscape and visuals twist the mind into… surprise!

Overcome by the political landscape, here we are with our feelings. FUCKING FEELINGS (!) - yell and scream - catharsis - emotional outbursts - dance party - sweat - bodies close together - humor - collaborations with other artists/people who aren’t artists (civilians) - widen your dirty sphere - dance - music - visual art - all in one space - productive political dialogues - conversation - think tank - make fun - make serious - make art - surprise(!)

How can we surprise one another with the unexpected alliances that are made by cross-pollinating our communities and revolutionizing the intended uses of the venues and institutions we’re used to? It’s time to deframe or reframe the suddenly static definitions of what performance, art, and creative expression can be. Does it need the validation of the institution that it is assigned or can it be validated by the diverse communities that support and create it? surprise/!, the “high” and the “low” are not so different from one another.

Let’s overcome the divisiveness of current politics and culture and pay homage to our roots, subverting boundaries through showing up and coming together. surprise. It’s a festival duh, we’re doing this.