They Dance For Rain: Slideshow 12/15
The Whitney Center for the Arts, 46 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield MA announces the presentation of They Dance For Rain: A Slideshow on Sunday December 15th 2013 at 5:30p. The event is open to all ages and there is a suggested donation of $10 which goes directly to the continuation of the project in view.
They Dance For Rain is a dance-making project that works with arts-for-social-change organizations in Nairobi, Kenya. It is created and directed by action-based dance artist and Pittsfield native Stefanie Weber in collaboration with fine art photographer and Pittsfield’s Empty Set Project Space co-owner Monika Pizzichemi. The slideshow coincides with a photo exhibit up until December 21st at The Lichtenstein Center For The Arts at 28 Renne Ave in Pittsfield.
Since January of 2012, They Dance For Rain has brought Tap shoes and the art form of Tap Dance to people with an interest and need for this unique kind of artistic self-expression. They also bring hoops to dance with and teach others the skills of making long-lasting dance hoops. They bring visibility to an otherwise unrepresented population of slum and ghetto dancers and dwellers through photography and film. In this area of the world, Tap Dance is still quite young and the eagerness to learn it is immense. Through this continuing global exchange of artistic dialogue They Dance For Rain inspires a new generation of Tap Dancers. These dancers will innovate the form through use of their own culturally distinctive ideas and styles.
The slideshow will feature select photographs, videos and stories from Weber and Pizzichemi’s 2013 residency in Nairobi working with four organizations that support the performing arts in underserved areas: Shangilia Child Rescue Center, VOCAL (Voices of Change All Over), Banjuka Dance Program and GoDown Arts Center. The artists will take time to answer questions, announce further upcoming plans, promote their active fundraising efforts and explain the artistic expansion of the project.
The Whitney Center for the Arts was established by Pittsfield native Lisa Whitney in 2012, saving and creatively reusing the historic Colt House in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District. Named in honor of her parents, the arts center features changing art shows, intimate theatre and music performances, and other special events, and has upstairs offices and studios for rent.
This newly established arts center aims to provide a platform to established and up and coming visual and performing artists to showcase their talent and promote arts and culture in Pittsfield. For more information contact Ghazi@thewhit.org
They Dance For Rain is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. To learn more about They Dance For Rain, visit www.rockethub.com/projects/34186-they-dance-for-rain-2014 or contact Stefanie@fertileuniverse.com or 413.281.6734
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