Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers

Contemporary Dance Company Based in Philadelphia
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Faith Project Blog (2).png

Faith Project Blog

Faith Project Blog

  • What's Happening
  • Where is my B-O-D-Y
  • Faith Project
  • Faith Project Blog
  • HOME/ S. 9th St. Blog
  • Past Events
Photo: Chowmoto

Photo: Chowmoto

Comparison of HOME/S. 9th St. and Faith Project

Jessica Warchal-King November 9, 2017

How does your religion inform your sense of identity and community?

Welcome to November! For the past two years, November has meant a performance of KYL/D’s HOME/S. 9th St - the world premiere at FringeArts in 2015 and at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in 2016. As my mind drifts through the memories of the process and performances of HOME, I’m reminded that KYL/D discovered through exploring the stories of immigrants that a common theme for their sense of identity and community was their religion. This through-line became an impetus for more deeply exploring the role of our religious orientations in the Faith Project. I’m recognizing other similarities between the process of HOME and Faith Project as the company and community come together to share their stories:

Similarities

  • Community participants report seeing themselves and their story in the dance. One community member from HOME responded to the performance (translated from Spanish): “THANK YOU. I loved seeing the completed work and above all you made me feel very emotional. I don’t know if it's for having participated in the (story) circle or for the subject matter but I liked it. Many thanks for daring to take on these kinds of issues and for sharing in such a nice way our feelings.”

  • Community members and dance artists share deeply personal experiences.

  • Dance artists continue exploring elements of the community members stories in each rehearsal.

  • Community members reported feeling safe, comfortable, and welcomed to share their stories. Community member and Santeria priestess, Carolyn, reflected on the third Faith Project Story Circle, “As leaders of our faith, we’re often defending our religion. It was really wonderful to come together in the Story Circle, celebrate our faith, and share some of the things that are so important to us.”

Photo from a 2014 Story Circle for HOME/S. 9th St. which only included verbal communication

Photo from a 2014 Story Circle for HOME/S. 9th St. which only included verbal communication

Differences

  • The story circles for HOME were more based in verbal conversation. Faith Project incorporates movement and conversation by both dance artists and community members during the Story Circle.

  • HOME incorporated elements of theater in the process. We had workshops with Cornerstone Theater Company and Philadelphia director, David O’Connor. With Faith Project Kun-Yang is collaborating with multimedia designer Jared Mezzocchi and thought partner Kimerer LaMothe.

KYL/D Artist Evalina “Wally” Carbonell has been involved in both the process of HOME and Faith Project. In comparing the two, she reflected, “From both of these story circles, I have learned that through witnessing and experiencing movement, we can learn more about ourselves and each other, which results in empathy for one another's experiences. Through awareness that each performance has this potential for affecting our audiences, we can approach the presentation of our movement from a more giving and selfless perspective, taking the viewer on an experience through the specificity of our movements and the fearless delivery of ourselves.”

Kimerer starts the story circle with simple movement exercises
Kimerer starts the story circle with simple movement exercises

Photo: Chowmoto

Next, community members of various faiths share something they connect with- song, prayer, story, etc.
Next, community members of various faiths share something they connect with- song, prayer, story, etc.

Photo: Mike Hurwitz

After hearing these sharings, the dance artists take turns responding through improvisation
After hearing these sharings, the dance artists take turns responding through improvisation

Photo: Chowmoto

All participants reflect on what they saw and felt through the dances they experienced
All participants reflect on what they saw and felt through the dances they experienced

Photo: Chowmoto

Kimerer closes the story circle with a final gesture sequence
Kimerer closes the story circle with a final gesture sequence

Photo: Mike Hurwitz

Kimerer starts the story circle with simple movement exercises Next, community members of various faiths share something they connect with- song, prayer, story, etc. After hearing these sharings, the dance artists take turns responding through improvisation All participants reflect on what they saw and felt through the dances they experienced Kimerer closes the story circle with a final gesture sequence

Readers, how does your religion inform your sense of identity and community?

 

~ Jessica Warchal-King

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Major support for the Faith project has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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KUN-YANG LIN/DANCERS | 1316 S. 9TH ST. PHILADELPHIA PA 19147 | 267-687-3739

 

Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers

Contemporary Dance Company Based in Philadelphia

Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit modern dance company located in South Philadelphia. 

Chi Movement Arts Center | 1316 South 9th Street, Philadelphia PA 19147

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