INDWELLING, an evening length dance theater piece presented by Zen Monkey Project (ZMP) is rolling along and picking up speed! After successfully rocking their first residency in Athens,GA, they have also been invited to participate in two more residencies. One in Mexico at the Universidad de las Americas Pueblo (UDLAP) in December and one at Dog Town Dance Theater (DTDT) in Richmond, Virginia this January.
Here is a brief update on all the ways INDWELLING is making connections across communities:
ZMP is continuing to establish a huge mutually empowering international exchange with UDLAP's school of dance and Ground Zero, the Richmond based Dance Company that is the source of DTDT. Ray Elliot Schwartz, the coordinator of UDLAP's dance department is a founding member of ZMP and has choreographed a solo to be featured in INDWELLING on graduate Denisse Cardenes. Zap Mcconnell (Director of INDWELLING), Julie Rothchild and Allison Waddell (dancers/creators) have all taught and created work on UDLAP students in the past 3 years and will continue in this winter's residency. Original music will be created by UDLAP graduate, Diego Martinez Lanz. Almost all INDWELLING dancers (and many Charlottesville dancers) have performed in Performatica, an international dance festival born at UDLAP with Ground Zero as its fiscal sponsor. INDWELLING strives to continue to connect locally as much as possible, which is why its own Russell Richards will be designing the poster. Rehearsals are being housed by Studio 11 at the Mcguffey Art Center. Look3 has donated a lot of theater grade fire proof cloth for the set/props/costumes. Also, an incredibly exciting local Charlottesville venue is on the horizon. And that is just a taste!
Just as exciting is the sudden support of an anonymous Charlottesville donor in a matching funds grant of $5,000. Now ZMP needs to find matching donations (and soon!) to help INDWELLING continue to bridge gaps, draw together people of all kinds and create a inspirational, unique and super hot performance. This will help round out the already full to bursting support of in kind donations of rehearsal/performance space, ad space, design help and costume work. Contact Zap McConnell at zzzzaapp@hotmail.com or 434-963-4099 for more information.