A Cross Country Curation of Minds and Movement

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jacquelyne Jay Boe
perspectiveexchangeco@gmail.com

Choreographers from across the nation will gather in Denver, CO to present the second annual Perspective Exchange at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater.

Perspective Exchange unites a cross-country dance community for a one-time performance nestled in the Rocky Mountains, demonstrating the varied voices of seven strong female choreographers from Denver, Houston, New York, and Miami.

It is a unique showcase sampling of the nation’s current dance voices that inspire dialogue and reflection among artists and audiences alike. Featuring works by Anna Claire Brunelli (Denver), Ali Weeks (Denver), Kimberly Chmielewski (Denver), The JGram Project – Jenny Gram (Denver), jk.co – Kimberly Chmielewski and Jenny Gram (Denver), Jacquelyne Jay Boe (Houston), Emily Jo Haenny (New York), and Brittany Reuss (Miami).

The performance is an opportunity to witness women, unbound by distance or ceiling, exploring a new world as they create it. A series of solos and duets by an all-female cast, there is a focus on storytelling and the human connection with strong feminine undertones.

Brunelli, who has been on an emotional and choreographic journey of Self, has created a solo as an interpretation of a woman’s journey through darkness and loss of self, emerging into the light. Her piece examines finding our truest selves by moving down into the depths of our being, stripping of identity, embracing the darkness, and bravely venture through it.

Brunelli teamed up with Weeks to collaborate on a duet that speaks to the power of embracing female identity: Bare/Face mirrors the experience of recognizing the learned shame of being a woman in our culture. In a rejection of traditional beauty standards and gender roles, they explore how they can declare themselves beautiful through strength, knowledge, and empowerment.

Chmielewski will be premiering a solo that is an investigation of the personal growth within change, how external elements impact events, and influence the progression of a transformation. She believes that dance making is the sharing your entire self, so audiences can expect to see an intimate side of Chmielewski.

Grams solo Recall explores a past that still has presence in the present moment. In recalling memories, one can re-interpret and distort an event to adapt the memory to present circumstance. Gram uses this inspiration to create a rich movement story about how the past can shape the present moment.

Chmielewski and Gram joined forces as jk.co to create UpClose, a duet. Their process is rooted and guided in a thematic research that gives life to movement and understanding to the body as an individual in relation and rebellion to the collective. Their work UpClose explores the depth of trust and vulnerability that lives within personal relationships and the strength and connectivity that it takes to maintain the balance.

With the current divided climate in the United States, Boe is interested in the idea of self-vs. -other in Is It You or Me?. Her solo analyzes what separates and what unites people. She examines splitting the self into parts and then putting the parts back together, to parallel the belief that separateness is an illusion and we are all one.

Interested in sacred connection and story-telling Haennys work explores her experience as an artist and muse with the male gaze. The title is borrowed from the work by Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your gaze hits the side of my face), 1983.

Reuss has always believed in the power of movement, in respect to both the mover and the viewer. In her new solo she explores the depths of movement through the lense of reconnection. Understanding that nothing will ever feel or be the same as it was. Through this work, she explores true womanhood and the power of understanding herself.

Audiences can see this collective’s enriching storytelling in a one-night engagement, taking place on Saturday, September 7th, 2019 located at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets at perspectiveexchangedance.bpt.me

Performance & Ticket Details
Perspective Exchange
Date: Saturday, September 7th, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater
119 Park Ave. West, Denver, CO 80205
Ticket Price: $20 General

Links:

Landing Page: http://jjboe.com/perspectiveexchange
Ticket link:  https://perspectiveexchangedance.bpt.me/
Promo Video : https://vimeo.com/351814604
Gofundme: gofundme.com/f/peex2019

About Anna Claire Brunelli

Anna Claire Brunelli a native of Austin, Tx, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2011 with a BFA in Modern Dance. After graduating she danced with the Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Co and Chaddick Dance Theater before moving to Denver, where she was a member of the Hannah Kahn Dance Company for five seasons. Claire has choreographed for a variety of High Schools in the Denver Metro area, and recently performed a solo for the Athena Projects’ Evening of World Dance. Claire is also the creator and producer of the Choreographers Collective, now in its fifth year. The Collective strives to create a unique platform for choreography and performance for the dance community in Denver.

About Ali Weeks

Ali Weeks is a Midwesterner by birth, a Californian by heart, and a Coloradan by residence. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she had the opportunity to travel to Taipei, Taiwan, and Salvador, Brazil to study and perform. After graduation, she moved to San Francisco where she earned her Pilates certifications and had the pleasure of dancing with Kristin Damrow & Company, ka·nei·see | collective, Bianca Cabrera’s Blind Tiger Society, Alma Esperanza Cunningham Movement, and more. Since moving to Denver, she’s performed with Winifred Harris’ Between Lines, Cindy Brandle Dance Company, and Moraporvida Contemporary Dance. In addition to her dance pursuits, Ali is a freelance writer and editor, specializing in health and wellness.

About Kimberly Chmielewski

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Kimberly Chmielewski is a working professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher in Denver, CO. Graduating magna cum laude from The University of Iowa with her BFA and Honors in Dance and Sociology, Ms. Chmielewski was also a member of Iowa’s elite touring company, Dancers in Company, for three consecutive years, and had the privilege of working with all members of the prestigious faculty and guest choreographers.  Professionally, Kimberly has danced for Hannah Kahn Dance Company, Nu-World Contemporary Danse Theatre, Maureen Breeze Dance Theatre, Moraporvida Contemporary Dance, Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, APEX Dance, and Kim Robards Dance, as well as multiple freelance projects and was the co-founder of BaiKo. Kimberly Chmielewski is a highly sought after choreographer and teacher and has had the privilege of setting work and presenting work nationally and internationally. She received the “Outstanding Choreographer” at the prestigious international Youth American Grand Prix Competition. In 2018, Kimberly Chmielewski was sent to choreograph and teach in Russia. Ms. Chmielewski began her training under the direction of Greg Begley, Judith Svalander, Altin Naska, George de la Peña, Lawrence Pech, and Christine Spizzo and at prestigious programs as The Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, American Ballet Theatre, and many others.

About The JGram Project – Jenny Gram

Jenny Gram, originally from Santa Clara, California, is a performer, educator and dance-maker working under The JGram Project. She has performed with such artists as Jennifer Archibald, Mark Dendy, The Moving Architects, Racoco Productions, and Larry Keigwin for musical artist Kimbra in New York City and Shen Wei Dance Arts at the North Carolina Museum of Art during the American Dance Festival. Jenny has also worked with Jon Lehrer Dance in Europe for a two-month tour in Germany, Luxembourg, and Austria. Since moving to Denver, Jenny has worked with New Breed Dance Company, Nu-World Contemporary Danse Theatre, and Moraporvida Contemporary Dance. Jenny is currently dancing for Hannah Kahn Dance Company. For more information on Jenny, check out: www.thejgramproject.com.

About jk.co – Kimberly Chmielewski and Jenny Gram

After extensive professional careers in Denver and New York City, respectively, Kimberly and Jenny rekindled their artistic connection in creating jk.co.

About Jacquelyne Boe

Jacquelyne is Houston based professional dancer, choreographer, and educator interested in activism, collaboration, and experimentation.

A graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, she received a BFA from the University of Oklahoma, where she graduated as the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Graduate of the Year. She is currently a company member of Erick Hawkins Dance, Frame Dance, and Hopestone Dance. Boe has also worked with organizations and individual artist such as Erin Reck, Houston Grand Opera, Open Dance Project, Noble Motion Dance, Sean Curran, Teresa Chapman, and Rob Ashford.

Boe is a critically acclaimed dance maker that has been creating original works since 2014. She was named Houston Press’ 100 Creatives and was a recipient of Dance Source Houston’s Artist in Residence Program. She has recently received the honor of being a participant in the 2019-2020 Lawndale Studio Artist Program.

Jacquelyne teaches a wide range of technical levels and ages for organizations such as Frame Dance, The Hope Project and the Houston Ballet. Connect with Jacquelyne @jackiejayboe and jjboe.com

About Emily Jo Haenny

Emily Jo is a contemporary dancer and choreographer, hailing from New York City. It is such an honor to be performing in her home state of Colorado! After earning her BFA in Modern Dance Performance from the University of Oklahoma, she attended the José Limón Professional Studies Program in New York City. She has had the pleasure of performing internationally, in NYC and throughout New England with JKing Dance Company, Caitlin Cullen Dance Company, and as an independent and collaborative artist. Her work is based on bringing inward emotion outward through sensation and connection. She enjoys focusing on collaboration with multidisciplinary artists and musicians; recently creating and performing in Cantata Profana’s production of Lucretia, Idgy Dean and DMC, and ongoing collaborations with musician/songwriter, SEARCY.

About Brittany Reuss

Brittany Reuss, originally from Lake Geneva, WI, is currently a dancer, choreographer and fitness instructor in the Miami area. She graduated from The University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. While at the University, Brittany performed in the annual Dance Gala, choreographed for several Undergraduate concerts and was a core member of the department’s touring company, Dancers in Company. She moved to Chicago after accepting a position with NoMi Dance Company. During her four seasons with the company, she performed in works by some of Chicago’s finest choreographers, as well as created two profound works on the company. Brittany has been in the Miami area for two years and continues to share her passion for dance with the aspiring artists at BBharts Performing Academy. She most recently performed in a full-length work by one of Miami’s most well renowned choreographers, Sandra Portal-Andreu. Brittany also shares her passion for movement as a Pure Barre instructor and works full-time in management with lululemon athletica. Overall, Brittany strives to pursue a life full of love, movement, music, choreography, happiness, passion and adventure. https://www.brittanyreuss.com