trailer for the seven chapter dance for film: the owl of Minerva arrives only at dusk

the time has arrived for my next immersive residency

Every few years I create a large multimedia performance experience framed inside a residency. The backbone of the work usually revolves around finding unusual spaces to gather and/or create an installation in. I collaborate with visual artists and local volunteers from all walks of life to flesh out the production. A dance performance happens within the site specific installation, with the audience led or allowed to wander, depending on how I direct. All of this occurs inside a residency that includes free classes to the public, free group tea where the challenging subjects of the project are discussed, outreach to organizations that serve children, connection to local nonprofits that tie into the work, as well as the immersive rehearsal process with local/international movement artists.

I am currently continuing my research and development of an upcoming immersive performance event, “all things discarded: an indwelling”, which will weave site-specific Dance, screenings of Dance for Film and installations that curate learning experiences. “all things discarded: an indwelling” will be choreographed in collaboration with local dancers, performed within residencies that invite audience participation, and tour in NC and VA. This project investigates the legacy of structural white supremacy and its current effects in the USA. Dancers will embody “The Hidden Wound”, as Wendell Berry writes about; connecting invisible trauma from the formation of this country with the root of our society’s addictions, and dysfunctional and destructive life ways. This work ties seemingly disparate subjects such as chattel slavery and native genocide to environmental racism and the opiate epidemic, through the lens of dance. 

The seven chapter dance for film: the owl of Minerva arrives only at dusk is part of this endeavor, as well as a stand alone film. It is currently in the final phase of editing and will be viewable in the spring.

program for showing at Hollins University July 2019:

 all things discarded:an indwelling

a three chambered experience involving live performance, film and radical care inside an environment created by Instant Installation Choreography (I.I.C.). 

director: zap:::mcconnell

live performance: 

co-created/choreographed by: Cinthia Pérez Navarro, Opal Lechmanski, Demetrius Burns, Liz Simmons,Taryn Griggs, Chris Yon, Beatrix Yon, Ali Cheff, Mikeala Deihgan, Gabriela Bosquenegro, zap

With additional artists: Sean Nguyen-Hilton, Erica Gionfriddo, Taylor Schmuelgen, Eliot Fisher

Consult: Sean Nguyen-Hilton

sound design by zap:::mcconnell 

Art direction: CrystalClaw (Liz Simmons and zap:::mcconnell)

Tea:

Mikeala Deihgan, who is practicing Japanese Tea Ceremony, is a graduate of the Midorikai program at Urasenke Gakuen, Kyoto. Ali Cheff is performing a hybrid gung-fu style based from The Twisted Tea House tea slingers. 

Concept of 1000 cups: Daniel Overstreet

Tea cups made by Mikaela Deighan, fired in the kiln of Masahiro Nagakui.

Special Thanks:

to mentor Martha Mendenhall, crucial to all parts

to Rachel Miller, who went to bat for this work

to the cast who joyously unknotted this many threaded weaving and joyously created a tapestry

to those who came before, the Tuetlo and Africans, whos forces are still felt 

to my cohort: Brynne, Sean, Penny, Jennifer, Kara, Erica, Elizabeth, Helen

film:

the owl of Minerva arrives only at dusk:

a dance for film in seven chapters

director/producer:

zap mcconnell

filmed by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

Liz Simmons

Corbett Smithson

Matteus Frankovich /Skyclad Aerial

special assistance: Samb Hicks, Chip Staples, Karl Pfefferkorn

edited by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

Marco Duran

zap mcconnell

photographed by:

Liz Simmons

Gabriela Bosquenegro

Will May

Will Kerner

Corbett Smithson

all installations at CABIN created by CrystalClaw (Liz Simmons and zap mcconnell)

special assistance : Tessa Eve Everton (Night & Day Design), Matteson Haglund

music:

Amy Fitzgerald (Damiyana)

Jared Draughon

Paola de la Conche (Suculima)

Blakeney Bullock

all recorded improvised sessions based on the content of the material. These sessions they generously allowed zap mcconnell and Gabriela Bosquenegro to edit.

this is a hugely collaborative process, in all ways.

BOOTS TRAP:

edited by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

musicians:

Amy Fitzgerald (Damiyana)

Blakeney Bullock

co-created/performed by:

Cinthia Perez Narravo

Jennifer Tweel Kelly

THE LOSS OF INNOCENCE:

edited by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

musicians:

Amy Fitzgerald (Damiyana)

Blakeney Bullock

costumes by:

miss lizziepants

co-created/performed by:

Cinthia Perez Narravo

Opal Lechmanski

Demetrius Burns

THE STICK HUT OF GIRL PROBLEMS:

edited by:

zap mcconnell

stick hut:

CrystalClaw

musicians:

Amy Fitzgerald (Damiyana)

Blakeney Bullock

Jared Draughon

all movers volunteered to be in a timed, three minute authentic performative ritual in response to #metoo

movers:

Jessie Laurita-Spanglet, Jennifer Tweel Kelly, Liz Simmons, Gabriela Bosquenegro, Cara Hagan, Opal Lechmanski, Demetrius Burns, Blakeney Bullock, Caitlyn Swett, Cinthia Perez Navarro, Julie Rothschild, Heather Hutton, Lisa Eller, Katharine Birdsall, Rahimah von Brieson, Katie Schetlick, Tevyn East, Paola de la Conche, Janice Lancaster

THE CLOAK OF WHITENESS:

edited by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

co-created/performed by:

Cinthia Perez Navarro

Paola de la Concha

Liz Simmons

Katharine Birdsall

Julie Rothschild

Caitlyn Swett

Cara Hagan

Demetrius Burns

Opal Lechmanski

Jennifer Tweel Kelly

Blakeney Bullock

Jessie Laurita-Spanglet

Janice Lancaster

LEGACY:

edited by:

Marco Duran

musicians:

Jared Draughon

Blakeney Bullock

co-created/performed by:

Jennifer Stone

Julie Rothschild

Janice Lancaster

Caitlyn Swett

Katharine Birdsall

Jennifer Tweel Kelly

Demetrius Burns

Katie Schetlick

Lydia von Brieson

Rahimah von Brieson

Paola de la Concha

Jessie Laurita-Spanglet

Blakeney Bullock

Cara Hagan

Katharine Birdsall

Opal Lechmanski

Heather Hutton

Jodie Plaisance

Tevyn East

Lisa Eller

Opal Lechmanski

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF TUNNEL:

edited by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

musicians:

Amy Fitzgerald (Damiyana)

Jared Draughon

Blakeney Bullock

special choreography by: Taryn Giggs and Chris Yon

co-created/performed by:

Liz Simmons

Cara Hagan

Janice Lancaster

Caitlyn Swett

Jennifer Tweel Kelly

Demetrius Burns

Blakeney Bullock

zap mcconnell

GRASSROOTS:

edited by:

Gabriela Bosquenegro

musicians:

Jared Draughon

Paola de la Concha

co-created/performed by:

Paola de la Concha

Cinthia Perez Navarro

Jodie Plaisance

Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell

Tevyn East

Jennifer Stone

Julie Rothschild

Cara Hagan

Janice Lancaster

Caitlyn Swett

Lisa Eller

Jennifer Tweel Kelly

Demetrius Burns

Katie Schetlick

Opal Lechmanski

Rahimah von Brieson

Lydia von Brieson

Blakeney Bullock

Heather Hutton

Lea Marshall

Katharine Birdsall

an @hand production (zapmcconnell.com), in association with chicken bank collective (chickenbankcollective.com), BosgueNegro, and miss lizziepants. introducing CrystalClaw and red curtain productions. a dream of zen monkey project.

Supported by: 

The Market Street Wine Shop, Sundog Builders, CABIN, Hunting Ridge, chicken bank collective, Skyclad Aerial, Corbett Smithson Photography, Will May Photography, Drew Gerstmyer, The Twisted Branch Tea House, Chad Haddix, Mary Haglund, Betty McConnell, Chuck McConnell, and the Cville Community.

Special Thanks to:

Chad Haddix, Katharine Birdsall, Karl Pfefferkorn, Eva Pfefferkorn, Sian Richards, Mark Perry, Hegel, Lunday and Fred Riggsbee

may the broken be mended; together.