UPDATED: A long time back right here on the Omnibus, to introduce Kadambari Baxi’s feature about the parallel and mutually misunderstood languages designers and users often use to describe contemporary architecture, I quoted Steve Martin and opined that he “may have been on to something when he said that ‘talking about music is like dancing about architecture.’ Well, even if we still haven’t found the best ways to describe music verbally, Dancing in the Streets and Joanna Haigood are here to show you that not only can we dance about architecture, we can use the composition of movement to explore both the physical form and the history of our built environment. Whether you’re a designer, dancer, choreographer or an urban enthusiast ready and eager to show your love for New York’s architectural fabric by busting a move, then be sure to sign up for this one-of-a-kind public charrette.

Choreography by Larry Keigwin for Breaking Ground – A Dance Charrette. Photo © Julie Lemberger

DANCING IN THE STREETS invites Architects, Choreographers, and Dancers to take part in Breaking Ground – A Public Charrette

Led by
Joanna Haigood
Federal Hall National Memorial
Thursday, November 12, 10 am – 2 pm or Friday, November 13, 10 am – 2 pm

Breaking Ground – A Public Charrette is a site-specific choreography workshop that will be held in one of New York City’s most intriguing sites. Led by nationally acclaimed choreographer Joanna Haigood, the workshop offers participants a unique opportunity to work across disciplines to explore movement composition within the context of architecture, history, and public spaces. Haigood offers tools to interact with this historic landmark and guides participants to create short studies in response to Federal Hall’s history and architecture. Participants will discuss architecture as object, its function and design, and its role as metaphor, as a stage, and as container of history. The 4-hour workshop is modeled after the 5-day dance charrette process, which Joanna Haigood developed for Breaking Ground – A Dance Charrette, Dancing in the Streets’ critically acclaimed series that “raised the bar for site-specific dance in this city” (Gay City News).

THE WORKSHOP

• A guided tour of Federal Hall with focus on its history and architecture
• An overview of site-specific work
• Choreographers, dancers, and architects work together in small teams to create short movement studies in response to the site

TO REGISTER:

The workshop is free, but advance registration is required.

• Each workshop is limited to 25 participants
• Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis
• The Friday, 11/13 workshop is SOLD OUT.
• Register here for the Thursday, 11/12 workshop (deadline has been extended)
• There are 5 spots open for Thursday’s workshop. Upon registration, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from the registration service provider, NYCharites.org. Shortly after this confirmation, you will receive detailed information from Dancing in the Streets, including travel directions.

If registration for your preferred day is sold out, you can join the waiting list by emailing: events@dancinginthestreets.org

Please include the following information with your email

• First & Last Name
•  Email Address
•  Home/Cell phone
•  Which workshop you would like to attend—Thursday, Nov. 12 or Friday, Nov. 13.

Dancing in the Streets will notify you if and when a slot becomes available.

Registration begins October 15^th and ends November 5^th November 12th. Upon registration, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from the registration service provider, NYCharites.org. Shortly after this confirmation, you will receive detailed information from Dancing in the Streets, including travel directions.

Joanna Haigood is widely recognized for her site-specific and aerial choreography that uses natural, architectural and cultural environments as points of departure for movement exploration and narrative.  She is the Founding Artistic Director of Zaccho Dance Theatre.  Her work has been commissioned by the Joffrey Ballet, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Festival d’Avignon, and Dancing in the Streets, among others.

Federal Hall National Memorial: the Greek Revival building, designed by Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis, was erected in 1842 on the site where George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the USA.

Dancing in the Streets has a 25-year legacy as a premiere producer of site-specific work.  It has commissioned, produced and presented more than 500 performances and installations by over 300 contemporary artists. Breaking Ground is one of the organization’s two signature series.  The other is Hip Hop Generation Next, a series of performances, films, and panel discussions that explore the local, national and international evolution of hip hop dance.

Presented in partnership with openhousenewyork

Choreography by Ann Carlson for Breaking Ground – A Dance Charrette. Photo © Julie Lemberger