2014 Featured Artists
Flyaway Productions
Flyaway Productions, directed by Jo Kreiter, performs off-the-ground dances that expose the range and power of female physicality. They experiment with height, speed and gravity, dancing on steel objects that are both architectural and fabricated. They dance at the intersection of social justice and acrobatic spectacle. They offer performance as a medium for social commentary and choose projects that advance female empowerment in the public realm. At its core, their work explores the female body– its tumultuous expressions of strength and fragility.
Bandaloop
A pioneer in vertical dance performance, BANDALOOP seamlessly weaves dynamic physicality, intricate choreography and the art of climbing to turn the dance floor on its side. Founded by choreographer and artistic director Amelia Rudolph, BANDALOOP’s work has been presented in theaters and museums, on skyscrapers, bridges, billboards and historical sites, in atriums and convention halls, in nature on cliffs, and on screen. BANDALOOP honors nature, community and the human spirit by bringing dance to new audiences, activating public and natural spaces, and re-imagining what dance can be.
Zaccho Dance Theatre
Zaccho Dance Theatre is best known for its site specific performances that investigate dance as it relates to place. Using innovative aerial techniques to create a dynamic and more dimensional performance space, the company has made large scale works for many extraordinary landmarks, including Popes’ Palace in France, the San Francisco International Airport, Fort Point National Monument, and Port Authority Grain Terminal in Brooklyn. Under the direction of Joanna Haigood, Zaccho has been making history since 1980.
Karl Gillick
Karl Gillick, a former tree canopy biologist and rock climbing guide, began producing his own aerial dance work in 1998. The creativity and dexterity required to traverse delicately among the crowns of ancient trees inspired him to share his tactile sense of movement and love of nature with an audience. With his penchant for large, interactive, site-specific work and inclusive, collaborative processes, Karl rethinks commonplace environments to enrich audience/performer shared experiences. As a master rigger, accomplished visual designer, artistic director and performer, Karl’s bold, emotional imagery engages with art as primary research into the human condition.
Danielle Sandia Sexton
Danielle Sandia Sexton is a San Francisco based aerial artist and instructor. An alumnus of the Circus Center’s Professional Aerial Program, Sandia uses her conservatory training as a foundation for exploring acrobatic and aerial techniques in immersive theater and traditional vaudeville performance, and as a platform for social commentary. Sandia choreographs solo performance as well as collaborates with Bay Area innovators of aerial dance, walking the line between stuntwoman, fine artist, and circus performer. She has performed for Zaccho Dance Theatre, Vau De Vire Society, Flyaway Productions, Treat Social Club, Cielo Vertical Arts, Capacitor Dance, Extra Action Marching Band as well as in festivals and supper clubs locally and internationally.
Shannon Gray
SHANNON GRAY has a strong foundation of international performance and teaching experience through a wide variety of festival and music shows, corporate events, and five consecutive years touring with the New Old Time Chautauqua. She currently resides in San Francisco, CA furthering her studies and artistic projects. No matter the context, Shannon has a deep passion for integrating various art forms into her work, opting for live music and improvisation whenever possible. With a degree in Psychology and Sociology and a passion for these studies, she is often engaged in shows that highlight deeper expression, connection, and story-telling.
Chelsea O Riley
CHELSEA O RILEY founded Chelsea O Productions in 2009. Her works have been supported by the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, Conseil des Arts et lettres de Quebec, Adesam, and the City of Vancouver public art program. Chelsea combines aerial acrobatics with dance and theatre to create poetic shows about the human experience. Currently based in San Francisco, Chelsea O Productions has produced work in Canada, the US, Iceland and the UK, and was most recently featured in New York for SummerStage Festival.