Recent Dance Programs at Antioch College

Antioch: It's a-Happening!!

This show took place on October 1, 2007 in the Antioch College South Gym. Dancers from Antioch College, under the direction of Jill Becker, performed improvisational pieces in collaboration with New York City based composer, director, and producer Peter Zummo,  to benefit the Antioch College Revival Fund.

Butoh Dance Presentation and Workshop

Kayo Mikami presented a Lecture/Demonstration about Butoh, on February 23, 2007, as well as a weekend workshop on February 24 & 25.  More information can be found at the website of TORIFUNE BUTOH SHA.

Silent Men Speaking

Carl Thomsen presented his one man theater/dance piece SILENT MEN SPEAKING on November 15, 2006  at the Antioch College South Gym. SILENT MEN SPEAKING is a one-man show based on an oral history of three veterans before during and after the Vietnam War. Written, directed, and performed by Carl Thomsen, SILENT MEN SPEAKING compiles acting, storytelling, music, dance, and poetry to take the audience on a journey through hell to healing. Hard-hitting, honest, and very topical, SILENT MEN SPEAKING neither condemns nor condones war. It simply puts a human face on war, and reminds us of its long term human costs. Information about the show can be found at www.silentmenspeaking.com.

Inside the Dancers Studio

Artistic director & choreographer, Rennie Harris was featured in this event, presented on November 7, 2006 at the Antioch College Dance Space in the South Gym. His appearance was hosted by Kelsa “KSoul” Rieger, instructor of Hip Hop Dance & Culture at Antioch College.

Rennie Harris, Native of North Philadelphia, is known for his riveting works bringing the vernacular of hip-hop to the concert stage. Through the various techniques of hip hop, including B-boy –breakdancing, house dancing, stepping and other styles that have emerged spontaneously from the urban, inner cities of America, Harris has led the creation of a cogent voice for hip hop in the theater.

Harris founded Rennie Harris Puremovement in 1992. RHPM’s most widely acclaimed work “Rome & Jewels” premiered in 2000. “Rome & Jewels” uses Shakespeare's text in addition to original material contributed by the cast and retells the tragic love story of “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story” through the eyes of a hip-hop poet.  “Rome and Jewels” won the Bessie Award for Choreography in 2001 and has been performed in nearly fifty cities worldwide and continues to receive highly favorable critical and popular response.  More information about Rennie Harris is available at this website.

The Dance Program, which is housed in the South Gym at Antioch College, is a program for students who are interested in developing a distinctive personal voice as a dancer, choreographer and improviser. Each fall and spring the Dance Program offers an evening length dance concert featuring works by students, faculty and guest artists. The concert is well attended by the college and the larger Yellow Springs community.

The program also presents additional concerts by guest choreographers. The Dance Program regularly includes course offerings in Modern Dance Techniques, Improvisation, Composition, West African Drum and Dance, Hip Hop Dance and Culture and Body Knowledge: Alternative Approaches. Jill Becker, Associate Professor of Dance, heads the Dance Program. You can reach Jill at phone: 769-1026 email: jbecker at antioch-college.edu .