Movement Research Studies Project, "Passage a dialogue with doulas, dancers, and caregivers" - June 7, 2016


Moderated by Risa Shoup with panelists Anna Carapetyan, devynn emory, Robert Kocik, and iele paloumpis.

This Studies Project will bring together dance artists who also work in the field of care-giving: end-of-life, beginning-of-life, navigators of illness and wellness. Why do many dancers become doulas? What is the overlap between guiding bodies through the cycles of life, and guiding bodies through space? What is it that draws dance artists to this profession? How do we acknowledge the specific needs of different communities and that all care is not equal/universal?

Movement Research Studies Project, "Diversity and Accountability: A conversation with the MR Artists of Color Council" - November 2, 2016


With Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, Alicia Ohs, Lisa Parra, Marýa Wethers and Tara Aisha Willis.

The artists driving this new Movement Research initiative open their current conversations to a wider audience, sharing thoughts on the Council’s mission and their experiences as artists of color within Movement Research’s programs. In support of accountability efforts underway within Movement Research and working towards two-way transparency, the Council invites the concerns of the community around cultural diversity, equity, and sustainable structural integration into the space.

Movement Research Studies Project, "Back to School with Teaching Artists" - October 11, 2016


Initiated and Hosted by Diana Crum, Director of MR's Dance Makers in the Schools Program.

Using the context of the Movement Research lineage and community as a base to move out from, this roundtable discussion is an opportunity for teaching artists to gather and share their current ideas, inspirations, and practices. We'll kick off the conversation with invited guest speakers Mariangela Lopez, Jules Skloot and Adrienne Westwood. 

Movement Research Studies Project, "Does the Dance Field Make Room for Parenting" - October 11, 2016
Initiated and moderated by Nami Yamamoto and Netta Yerushalmy 

With Yanira Castro, Rebecca Davis, Ursula Eagly, Shannon Hummel, Craig Peterson, Stacy Spence and Donna Uchizono.

We discussed and examined the culture around child-rearing in our field - in what ways do structures and attitudes in the field integrate and invite this choice and in what ways do they, often unconsciously, ignore or discourage this reality? How are artists who are also parents perceived? What are some of the concrete decisions and conditions individuals in the field employ to make it work? 


Movement Research Studies Project, "Body Disrupt" - May 18, 2016
Initiated and moderated by Kathy Westwater 

With Mat Fraser, Petra Kuppers, Marissa Perel, Cathy Weis, and Wendy Whelan

Artists with disabilities and artists whose work disrupts normative notions of what constitutes a dancing body will come together in conversation. We will consider the artistic work of the panelists and how it opens up possibilities for dance to move beyond narrow historical paradigms to include a more expansive range of physical experience and formal content. 


Movement Research Studies Project, "Puppetry and Dance" - April 5, 2016
Conceived by Nami Yamamoto

With Patti Bradshaw, Chris Green, Dan Hurlin, Christopher Williams, Nami Yamamoto

Panelists will discuss their various perspectives on the integration of puppetry and dance in live performance. Like dance, puppetry is a hands-on, physical art form. What happens when the puppet appears onstage? This conversation will explore how artists are bringing these two forms together in unique ways and how they complement and inform one another. 


Movement Research Studies Project, "Band of Outsiders Women" - March 1, 2016
Organized and Moderated by Sam Kim With Lorene Boubshian,  Moria Brennan, Shelia Lewandoski, Noopur Singa, Adrienne Truscott

Women dominate the dance and performance field in numbers, but not in visibility, ‘success,’ or positions of power. Let’s keep the issue at the forefront and explore how to rectify this. One of the biggest untapped resources is women helping and supporting other women more vocally and consciously—as the majority, our collective efforts would have a massive impact on leveling the field. In this panel, we’ll discuss how to effect change and meaningfully support the majority of our fellow practitioners. Any gender expression is welcome and all are encouraged to participate.