"of air and amnion"

Choreographer: Johanna Kirk is an Idaho native. She danced with...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:37:00 -0500

Choreographer: Johanna Kirk is an Idaho native. She danced with Balance Dance Company for eight years before attending Columbia University, from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

After college, she lived and worked in New York City as a free-lance dancer, journalist, and choreographer. Research for her art and writing took her deep into the NYC professional ballet community, the Paris Opera Ballet, the Centre National de la Danse outside of Paris, and to Guinea, Africa.

“of air and amnion” constitutes her Master’s thesis for her gradate degree in Choreography from the University of Iowa. At the University, she teaches Yoga, Modern Dance, and Experiential Anatomy.

Composer: Jason Gregory is in his last semester in the...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:31:48 -0500

Composer: Jason Gregory is in his last semester in the Master’s program in music composition at The University of Iowa. Currently studying with David Gompper, his studies with composers include Lawrence Fritts, David Maki, Robert Fleischer and Ted Hatmaker. On the violin, Jason worked under Matthias Tacke at the University of Northern Illinois, and in his hometown of Virginia Beach with Dora Mullins.

At Iowa, Jason has taught undergraduate musicianship under Dr. Matthew Arndt and Dr. Jennifer Iverson for two semesters. For the last two years, Jason has composed and mixed music for graduate and faculty performances. In addition to collaberation with choreographers with fixed media, Jason also participates in improvisation with dancers on the violin.

Dancer: Hannah Anderson is a junior at the University of Iowa,...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:29:00 -0500

Dancer: Hannah Anderson is a junior at the University of Iowa, pursuing degrees in Dance and English. Hannah began her dance training in Marshfield, WI at the age of three with Main Street Conservatory of Dance where she studied ballet, jazz, and modern, with further dance training from summer intensives with Kansas City Ballet, The Kirov Academy, River North Dance Chicago, Paul Taylor, and the Bates Dance Festival. At University of Iowa Hannah has continued to perform in undergraduate, graduate, and faculty works.

Hannah is incredibly grateful to be a part of “of air and amnion” and feels blessed to work with such talented artists.

Dancer: Sarah Finley is from Delavan, WI and began dancing at...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:20:00 -0500

Dancer: Sarah Finley is from Delavan, WI and began dancing at Dance Factory at the age of two where her training was heavily influenced in the Cechetti method. Throughout highschool Sarah also enjoyed performing in musical theater.

She is currently a sophomore at the University of Iowa where she is pursuing degrees in Dance and Physical Therapy. While at Iowa, Sarah has enjoyed various performing opportunities such as the Collaborative Performance and the Grad/Undergrad Concert this past fall.

Sarah would like to thank Joh for this inspiring opportunity.

Dancer: Melissa Carroll was born and raised in a Chicago...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:12:00 -0500

Dancer: Melissa Carroll was born and raised in a Chicago Northwest suburb, Mount Prospect. Her dance training started at the age of 8 and has continued on at The University of Iowa Department of Dance. In her college career, she has performed in Ana Cortez’s Master’s thesis piece in 2009. She has also previously performed in the Department of Dance’s annual Graduate & Undergraduate Performance.

Melissa is currently in pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and Marketing at The University of Iowa. Her ultimate career goal is to work as a Marketing Director for a professional performing arts organization.

Melissa is grateful for the opportunity to work with such incredible artists in “of air and amnion.”

Dancer: Gisela Baldwin, a Wisconsin native, is currently a...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:09:00 -0500

Dancer: Gisela Baldwin, a Wisconsin native, is currently a senior at the University of Iowa pursuing her degree in dance as well as a Certificate in Performing Arts Business Entrepreneurship. Over the past few years, she has performed in several pieces choreographed by UI faculty and graduate students. In addition, she has spent time volunteering with elementary-aged students in both Iowa and Wisconsin. Upon graduation, Gisela hopes to combine her passion for helping children with her passion for dance. Her goal is to open her own dance studio in which she can continue to share her knowledge and love of dance with others. Gisela has enjoyed experiencing “of air and amnion” with the rest of the cast and it is the second time she has worked with Johanna.

Dancer: Bianca Medina began her dance training at Legere Dance...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:06:00 -0500

Dancer: Bianca Medina began her dance training at Legere Dance Centre in River Forest, Illinois. For 9 years, she performed in various lead and core roles in Ballet Legere’s annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet. Other training includes Interlochen Center for Performing Arts Camp, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and Lou Conte Dance Studio. She has also enjoyed choreographing and performing for her high school musical theatre productions.

Bianca is currently a sophomore at the University of Iowa pursuing a major in Dance with a minor in Health Promotions. She has performed in 6 works so far and is beyond excited for what else is in store for her in the upcoming 2 years. She’d like to give a shout out to Joh and the cast for being so inspiring and supportive during this “developmental series.”

Dancer: Erica Bohac is a senior at the University of Iowa...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:05:00 -0500

Dancer: Erica Bohac is a senior at the University of Iowa pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, the certificate for Performing Arts Entrepreneurship, and a minor in history. She is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, where she trained since the age of 11 in dance at the Anderson-Hoxie Dance Project. Throughout college, she has performed in several concerts, including Dance Gala 2010 and 2011. She is currently an instructor at Debut Dance in North Liberty, Iowa teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and choreographing for the studio’s performance company and competition ensemble.

Dancer: Lizzy Mello is a sophomore at the University of Iowa...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:00:00 -0500

Dancer: Lizzy Mello is a sophomore at the University of Iowa double majoring in Dance and International Studies with an emphasis area in Global Health. Prior to coming to Iowa, Lizzy, a Massachusetts native, attended the School of the New Bedford Ballet for fourteen years. While attending UI she has performed with the Department of Dance, studied dance abroad in India, and participated in organizations such as the Undergraduate Dance Organization, the UI Honors Program, and the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee. This is Lizzy’s second time working with Johanna and is thrilled to be part of the cast of “of air and amnion.”

Dancer: Ann Duffy is a senior at the University of Iowa double...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:59:00 -0500

Dancer: Ann Duffy is a senior at the University of Iowa double majoring in Dance and Health and Human Physiology. Growing up in Orland Park, Illinois she began dancing at the age of three and received training from Elite Dance Academy as well at intensives with Joel Hall, the Joffrey Ballet school in New York, Lar Lubvoitch Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Inaside Dance Chicago, and the American Dance Festival. At the University of Iowa Ann has had the opportunity to pursue her love of performing through being a member of the department’s repertory company, “Dancer’s In Company” as well as performing in 21+ works for faculty, guest artists, grad, and undergrad students; her most memorable experience being apart of the re-creation and premier of Trisha Brown’s “ Set and Reset- Reset” directed by Melinda Myers in this year’s fall Gala. Ann is grateful to be apart of “Of Air and Amnion” with such a wonderful cast, and wants to thank Joh, friends, family, and professors who have supported her in this dance journey thus far.

Please RSVP!

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:57:26 -0500

Please send your RSVP to the following email address with the time you will be attending and number of people in your party: RSVP.ofairandamnion@gmail.com

Remember the show is Saturday March 10th, with shows at 11am, 2pm, and 7pm.

Less than 3 weeks until we perform!

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:50:00 -0500

Less than 3 weeks until we perform!

More rehearsal photos taken by Lizzy Mello

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:26:54 -0500

More rehearsal photos taken by Lizzy Mello

Rehearsal Photos taken by Lizzy Mello

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:23:02 -0500

Rehearsal Photos taken by Lizzy Mello

Bittersweet symphony of babies =]

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:26:36 -0500

Bittersweet symphony of babies =]

Friends of Iowa Midwives

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:07:40 -0500

Friends of Iowa Midwives is a statewide grassroots organization working to: promote access to midwifery and out-of-hospital birth in Iowa; protect the rights of Iowa women to choose their place of birth and birth attendant; provide education about childbirth options; and create supportive community for birthing women and families. FOIM has chapters in Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Central Iowa, the Quad Cities, and Northwest Iowa. FOIM’s current legislative campaign aims to license Certified Professional Midwives in Iowa, so that families choosing out-of-hospital birth have access to licensed health care providers trained in this type of evidence-based, family-centered maternity care. Donations to Friends of Iowa Midwives help fund this campaign, as well as numerous outreach, community building, and educational events, such as Iowa City’s Conscious Birth Summit, which brings together stakeholders from multiple backgrounds across the state to dialogue productively about expanding birth options and improving maternal-child health in Iowa.

Vision and Artist's Statement

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:07:22 -0500

Collaborating on this project with Joh has afforded me a rare opportunity to combine my expertise and passion as a birth worker with my delight in artistic exploration. My painting is inspired by the universal aesthetic of natural forms, and the recurring, echoing patterns of seemingly discrete formations, such as tree branches, blood vessels, coastlines, and clouds. Thematically, for this project, I am interested in these organic forms as visual representations of the elemental rhythms of gestation, labor, and birth, as well as the connections between ecosystems, biological systems, and human social systems. My approach to painting is dynamic, emergent, and process-oriented; I prefer to let an image emerge intuitively, rather than adhering to a preconceived idea of what the finished product will look like. For this project, I am painting on large, unframed panels of silk cloth. These semi-translucent lengths of silk, like the human body, are malleable, not rigid. As such, they enable fluidity and interaction between the dancers’ bodies and the painted fabric. They invite conceptual and visual explorations of inner and outer space, permeability of membranes, lightness and dark, the hidden and the visible.

Kirk's Abstract

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:06:34 -0500

My thesis will explore the choreographies of pregnancy. I am interested in these “dances” as they manifest at both macro- and micro-scopic levels. I will study the patterns that women’s bodies perform, both physiologically and behaviorally, in the process of generating life. My dancers and I will explore the inevitable, intricate, and private biological dances encoded in our female DNA by tuning into subtle felt experiences. We will also study and rehearse movements and practices that are outwardly expressed by pregnant women personally and collectively, respecting both those grounded in women’s intuition and those influenced by cultural context. Through the study of these specific stylized sequences that women’s bodies enact in the process of manifesting, housing, nurturing, and bringing forth new life, I hope that my cast and I will gain greater and deeper connection to our dancing bodies as well as trust and wonderment in our sense of ourselves as women. We will explore how these forms of consciousness can be somatically cultivated and communicated. We will take our time and be highly creative and varied in how we locate, learn, and share the embodied processes of this great and complicated creative act.

Save the date!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:06:05 -0500

Performances will take place at Old Brick (26 East Market, Iowa City, IA) repeatedly throughout the day of March 10th, 2012. There will be a talk-back following the afternoon performance. There will be related dance events throughout the Iowa City community during the week of March 5-10.

A recommended $5 donation will be collected at the door and proceeds will go to support the Friends of Iowa Midwives in their efforts to promote safe natural birthing options for women. Tickets may be reserved Online nearer the date, and may also be acquired at the door.

Monica Brasile

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:06:00 -0500

Monica Brasile is a PhD Candidate and Graduate Instructor in the department of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Iowa. Her doctoral research examines the politics of childbirth and childbirth advocacy in the U.S., focusing particularly on emerging trends in the politics of doula care and the roles of doulas as women’s health and reproductive justice advocates. She has been involved in women’s health activism since the early 1990s and has been a certified childbirth educator and doula since 1996. She is passionate about education for social change, and is a recipient of the Outstanding T.A. award and 2011 fellow of the Obermann Graduate Institute on Civic Engagement and the Academy. Her areas of interest include reproduction, childbirth, motherhood, the history of medicine, medical anthropology, and feminist theory. Monica is also a visual artist. She studied Fine Arts (painting and book arts) as an undergraduate at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and has taught courses in bookbinding and zine making. She remains active in comic art, bookmaking, drawing, and painting.