The International Festival of Arts & Ideas collaboration with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange continues Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 at the Educational Center for the Arts at 55 Audubon Street in New Haven. Elizabeth Johnson, Associate Artistic Director of the ground-breaking inter-generational dance company, will be continuing work with New Haven community members that began in February. Thousands of people participated in a new series of dance works, “613 Radical Acts of Prayer,” which explored spirituality and social activism during the finale of the 2008 International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Ms. Johnson will be returning to New Haven for two additional visits in the spring of 2009.
The Festival invites all members of the community to participate in these residency activities. All sessions are free and open to public. Programs are as follows:
Saturday, December 6
Choreography Tools Workshop 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
ACES-ECA Arts Hall, 55 Audubon Street
Open to dancers and non-dancers
This workshop will introduce strategies for building dances, from generating creative ideas and collaborating with others to editing and refining choreography.
Advisory Group Meeting 6:15 p.m.–7:15 p.m.
ACES-ECA Writing Studio, 4th Floor, 55 Audubon Street
Open to dancers and non-dancers
Elizabeth Johnson will listen to thoughts about what participants want to learn during the two visits in the spring of 2009. Input is needed to make this collaboration as successful as possible. Refreshments will be served.
Sunday, December 7
Community Building Tools Workshop 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
ACES-ECA Arts Hall, 55 Audubon Street
Open to dancers and non-dancers
This workshop will teach strategies for engaging and building community. These tools have been used in schools, senior centers, hospitals, healthcare facilities, places of worship, prisons, community centers, corporate and government offices; and are widely applicable to numerous fields of work. This process will empower participants to consider developing and executing their own community engagement projects.
If you are interested in attending these residency programs, please contact Andria Matthews, Manager of Community Programs, at AMatthews@ArtIdea.org or 203.498.3723.