Perform in English and Hoike in Hawaiian Language. Sit in English and Noho in Hawaiian Language. Release in English and Hookuu in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Haa in Hawaiian Language. Hide in English and Pee in Hawaiian Language. Memorize in English and Hoopaanaau in Hawaiian Language. Touch in English and Hoopa in Hawaiian Language. Sing in English and Mele in Hawaiian Language. Appear in English and Oili in Hawaiian Language. Dive in English and Luu in Hawaiian Language. Crawl in English and Kolo in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Hula in Hawaiian Language. Balance in English and Kaulike in Hawaiian Language. Bellow in English and Kuo in Hawaiian Language. Breathe in English and Hanu in Hawaiian Language. Extend in English and Hoonui in Hawaiian Language. Embrace in English and Puliki in Hawaiian Language. Flinch in English and Kuemi in Hawaiian Language. Sit in English and Noho in Hawaiian Language. Release in English and Hookuu in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Haa in Hawaiian Language.
Hide in English and Pee in Hawaiian Language. Memorize in English and Hoopaanaau in Hawaiian Language. Touch in English and Hoopa in Hawaiian Language. Sing in English and Mele in Hawaiian Language. Appear in English and Oili in Hawaiian Language. Dive in English and Luu in Hawaiian Language. Crawl in English and Kolo in Hawaiian Language. Dance in English and Hula in Hawaiian Language. Balance in English and Kaulike in Hawaiian Language. Bellow in English and Kuo in Hawaiian Language. Breathe in English and Hanu in Hawaiian Language. Extend in English and Hoonui in Hawaiian Language. Embrace in English and Puliki in Hawaiian Language. Flinch in English and Kuemi in Hawaiian Language.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity in Dance

Integral Bodies runs April 5-14, 2019

Cast members in Integral Bodies, a dance-theatre performance

Kennedy Theatre and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance present Integral Bodies on April 5, 6, 12, and 13, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. and April 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. as part of the Mainstage series.  This innovative dance production promotes inclusive dance-making and challenges stereotypes, prejudices, and assumptions about what a body means on both personal and societal levels.  Influenced by postmodern dance and Tanztheater,Integral Bodies is directed by our newest Assistant Professor of Dance, Peiling Kao, in collaboration with DanceAbility artistic director Alito Alessi, a Guggenheim and the American National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship recipient.  With dramaturgy by Professor of Theatre, Dr. Markus Wessendorf, this work of contemporary movement presents well-crafted physicality and choreography that embraces all kinds of bodies in performance.  Free pre-show chats will take place at 6:45 p.m. preceding the performances on April 6 and 13. April 6 is also the “Throwback Saturday” performance featuring prices from the “good old days” of $5-$15. Regularly priced tickets are $8-$25.

Cast members in Integral Bodies, a dance-theatre performance

Kao first began work on this project in fall of 2017 as part of her scholarly research on how to promote inclusivity in performance by showing that “dance” is not limited to a certain body type or image. In 2018, she brought DanceAbility’s leader and co-founder, Alessi, to UHM to lead a five-day intensive DanceAbility Method Training with faculty members and community teachers.  This method uses movement improvisation to help decrease prejudice and misconceptions about disabled people in the field of dance, and by extension, in society.  Now in 2019, Kao is directing her first Kennedy Theatre Mainstage show, Integral Bodies.  “This production is not a presentational showcase of different dance genres,” says director Kao, “it is a step in the direction of making ‘dance’ an inclusive space for every body.” Integral Bodies is a process-oriented and collaborative project with over thirty performers of mixed abilities including UHM students and community members that allows everyone involved to join in on the decision-making process and contribute to the product.  In addition to the performers, Kao has recruited Markus Wessendorf, Alito Alessi, and Gretchen Jude to collaborate on the project.  Dr. Wessendorf will serve as production dramaturg, Alessi as a guest choreographer of one section of the production, and Dr. Jude as a composer.  Jude’s music was recently included in Midnight Traveler, a feature documentary that premiered at the Sundance and Berlinale International Film Festivals.

Integral Bodies aims to deconstruct the traditional images of dance and of the dancer. Kao states, “When people think of a conventional dance production, they tend to think about a wide range of dance styles with thin and flexible dancers who can drop into a split or do a double pirouette.” She continues, “Directors and choreographers tend to neutralize a dancer’s singular traits so they can organize or manipulate the body to fit their visions. As an artist of color, I want to break away from that idea so that I can see each human body as an individual.”  Kao adds, “This production brings people of many different races, ethnicities, abilities, sizes, ages, cultures, genders, and trainings together to challenge the stereotype of ‘dance’.”  Also adding that “This production is by no means a conclusion, but rather a step towards continuing the practice of embracing inclusivity and diversity in dance and in our lives.

Tickets to Integral Bodies are currently on sale online at etickethawaii.com (24/7), by phone at (808) 944-2697 during business hours, and at official outlets. Sales at the Kennedy Theatre Box Office begin on Monday, April 1, 2019.  Ticket sales at the Box Office are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with extended hours on show days.

EVENT:

Integral Bodies

PRESENTED BY:

UHM Department of Theatre + Dance

WHEN:

Cast members in Integral Bodies, a dance-theatre performance

April 5, 6*, 12, and 13*, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinée April 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
*Pre-show chat at 6:45p.m.

WHERE:

Kennedy Theatre Mainstage
1770 East-West Road, 96822

TICKET PRICES:

$25 Regular
$22 Senior, Military, UH Faculty/ Staff
$20 UHAA
$15 Students
$8 UHM Students with Valid ID

Ticket prices include all service fees.

Throwback Saturday is SAT APR 6: Tickets are reduced to $15 Regular Adult and $10 Discount (Seniors/Youth/Students/Military/UH Faculty & Staff)

PURCHASINFO:

Tickets are available online at etickethawaii.com, by phone at (808) 944-2697, and at participating outlets.  The Kennedy Theatre box office window is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday during show weeks, with extended hours on performance dates.

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Dept. of Theatre + Dance
1770 East-West Rd Honolulu HI 96822
Main Office: (808) 956-7677
Box Office: (808) 956-7655