FACT/SF in "Diffusion." Erin Yen and Emily Hansel (background), Samuel Melecio-Zambrano and Katherine Neumann (foreground). Photo by Robbie Sweeny. Image description: Four dancers perform in a park. In this image two are in the foreground moving in unison, arms wide to their sides. Two are in the far background running away. The costume is a red t-shirt with a black long sleeve underneath, black cap and shorts, and high red sports socks.
Looking Back and Celebrating: Dance Performances in and from the SF Bay Area in 2021
By Jill Randall, Blog Director
It is December 18th; I scroll back through the blog to remember and revisit the dances we covered over the past 12 months. Some writing was a preview, and many were reviews and reflections post-experience. Performances took place: live and online, streamed on your laptop at a time of your choosing, outdoors, and indoors. My heart feels fuller today remembering that good art did make many appearances in 2021, and that format and scale were wonderfully re-imagined by many.
Today I reshare the 12 projects highlighted on Life as a Modern Dancer throughout 2021. Thank you for revisiting them with me and allowing them to linger and be savored a bit more. Thank you artists for these gifts!
This is just a modest slice of Bay Area modern and contemporary work. Thinking of many other performances in 2021 as well that we did not get to cover on the blog, including: Flyaway Productions, AXIS Dance Company, Joe Goode Performance Group, Margaret Jenkins, and Molly Rose-Williams + Randee Paufve, to name a few.
Shout outs to the wonderful writers who covered these projects throughout 2021, including: Sarah JG Chenoweth, Garth Grimball, and Molly Rose-Williams.
January: RAWdance
“Still Dancing”: The Dancers of RAWdance on Working on “The Healer” in the Age of Quarantine
One Good Quote: "The Healer" with RAWdance
Virtual Healing with RAWdance – by Garth Grimball
April/May: Jennifer Perfilio Movement Works
One Good Quote: "As Is" with Jennifer Perfilio Movement Works (April 2021)
May: FACT/SF
An Afternoon Walk and Dance Through Glen Canyon Park: FACT/SF’s "Diffusion" – by Molly Rose-Williams
September: RAWdance
RAWdance’s Portal into (Un)familiar Space – by Garth Grimball
October: Hope Mohr Dance
In Bacchae Before the Reveal is in the Subtext – by Garth Grimball
October: Queering Dance Festival
Gestures and Dreams at Queer Date Night – by Garth Grimball
October: FACT/SF
Wholeness in Split – by Sarah JG Chenoweth
October: Funsch Dance Experience
Modern Dance Fan Club: Funsch Dance Experience in "EPOCH" – by Jill Randall
November: Kristin Damrow & Company
November: Paufve Dance
Paufve Dance Remembers and Looks Forward – by Garth Grimball
December: Megan Lowe Dances
The Weight of Shadows with Megan Lowe Dances – by Garth Grimball
One Good Quote: "Tangram" with Megan Lowe Dances
December: Gerald Casel Dances
Reflections on Gerald Casel’s "Not About Race Dance" – by Molly Rose-Williams
One Good Quote: "Not About Race Dance" with Gerald Casel Dance
Gerald Casel’s Not About Race Dance Residency at MANCC (Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography). Photo by Chris Cameron. Image description: Cauveri Suresh and Gerald Casel dance together. Gerald, sideways to the camera, folds his arms over his chest and looks down over his shoulder. Cauveri stands close behind him with their right arm extended upwards, palm-out.
Life as a Modern Dancer 
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