OUR BODIES ARE VESSELS. HOW DO WE CONVERSE WITH OUR BODIES? HOW DOES THAT NURTURE US?
VESSEL is an evening length work produced and choreographed by Olivia Emert; to spread conversation and awareness on mental health highlighting body dysmorphia.
Movement Artists: Anna Boehm, Troy Gardner, & Tessa McNeil
Mesh Garments: Sarah Watts & Olivia Emert
Hosted: Rochester Brewing Company
Supported: KCTherapy, Research Psychiatric Center, PsychPros Kansas City, Ed Care, City in Motion, Fractured Atlas
VESSEL
The battle of calming your anxieties versus feeding into them, and how to find an equilibrium to survive.
Commissioned for Creative Intersections in Hyde Park 2023
In partnership with Kansas City Ballet and Owen Cox Dance Group
Founded and Curated by Cameron Thomas
Performed by Georgia Fuller, Isaac Allen, Charlie Cronenwett
Photos Captured by Ryan Andrew Bruce
leeches
‘CLAY’ is a work expressing the pursuit as humans to search for intentional connections. The work begins with a commentary on self awareness to present how knowing and sense of self affects our relationships. We then dive into the process of getting to know someone, opening up to vulnerability, and letting people see the depth and complexities of inner self through partnership. 'CLAY' finds both parallels and juxtapositions of intersecting relationships. Vulnerability is the intimacy of genuine human connection.
Performed by Anna Boehm, Ashleah England, Troy Gardner, Max Nelson Steinhoff, Lauren Thompson
presented at Making Moves Festival 2023, funded by Charlotte Street Foundation, Curated by Jeramy Zimmerman
CLAY
An evening length work produced, choreographed, and directed by Olivia Emert, supported and funded by Charlotte Street Foundation. In this new work, Emert explores conceptions of comfortability and challenge through sanctuaries of womb, dirt, and sky. The performance took place June, 2022 Charlotte Street Foundation’s Stern Theater.
Lighting Design: Austin VanWinkle
Photos Captured: Ian VanDusen
WOMB.Dirt.SKY.
ever | lost is an observation on romantic relationships, containing two juxtaposing pas de deuxs that overlap both presenting different textures and commentary on love/lust and falling out of love. The intention was to research and explore partner work and proximity. As well as make observations somatically and cognitively on personal relationships and the loss in relationships.
presented at Modern Night at the GEM 2023
ever | lost
A commentary on loneliness and absence.
Created 2022 for Creative Intersections in Hyde Park
In partnership with Kansas City Ballet and Owen Cox Dance Group
Founded and Curated by Cameron Thomas
Performed by Roma Catania, Georgia Fuller, Naomi Tanioka, and Ashlan Zay
Photo Captured by Ryan Andrew Bruce
Intangible…
RuMINATING SPASMS
An anxiety disorder has a deep effect on the brain and the cognition that occurs. These movers represent what the cognition feels like within panic attacks and the attempts to use coping mechanisms. Highlighting a dissociative anxiety attack, a 4-7-8 breathing coping mechanism, overstimulating panic attack, a 5 sense check and lastly a panic attack where no control is able to be obtained, the stage is presented as the amygdala and the dancers as overwhelming and constant anxiety.
Featured at Modern Night at GEM 2022
Original Composition: Tim J. Harte
Lighting Design: Ian VanDusen
An observation on relationships: romance, heartbreak, structuring a conversation, struggling with self, dealing and healing with the trauma left from a past relation, and overall understanding when walking down the street everyone you pass has their own relationships and can be impacted by a simple glance.
Costume Construction by Sarah Watts and Olivia Emert
Lighting Designer: Austin VanWinkle
Photos Captured by Ryan Andrew Bruce
I SEE YOU.
The piece visually encompasses denial that may come before the acceptance of one's own sexuality. It highlights a struggle with vulnerability and comfort in queer relationships, the movers ponder if queer yearning is acceptable within a primary heterosexual community. VENN A expresses the desire and hesitation that comes with that acceptance. Internalized homophobia results in the refusal to love and be loved the way everyone deserves, even with a conflicted desire to understand and accept.
Dancers Captured: Victoria Knox and Simone Davis
Lighting Design & Cinematography: Ian VanDusen
VENN.A
UN | HINGED
Numb, and yet…
Some times you are stuck on the cusp.
Dancer: Anna Boehm
Lighting Design: Austin VanWinkle
Cinematography: Ian VanDusen
