Ethnodanceology Art

SECRETOS DE LA RAIZ 

(Secrets of the Roots)

Hola!  My name is Kathleen Gonzalez, and I am a professional dancer and choreographer.

I am launching this Pozible campaign to help fund the development and performance of an original dance work named ‘Secretos de la Raiz’ (Secrets of the Roots) to be premiered in Melbourne in March 2018.

Following the Melbourne premiere, we will approach Australian and international community, cultural and arts festivals to re-stage the work.

WHAT ARE 'THE SECRETS OF THE ROOTS'?

The concept of 'Secretos de la Raiz’ is to bring seven dancers from diverse cultural backgrounds together to create a dance work that explores common values and the spiritual and physical connections with Mother Nature that are shared across cultures and continents through generations.

The project goal is to create a contemporary community ritual experience that welcomes all participants, both artists and audience members to harmoniously share space, time, knowledge and a journey of discovery.

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT & REHEARSAL PERIOD - 10 WEEKS

Led by Kathleen Gonzalez, in collaboration with the dancers and artists involved, the creative process will explore concepts of:

• Inter-connectedness: between humanity, nature and the universe in both the physical and spiritual realms
• Reflection on past events/experiences & how they have shaped the present, to promote awareness for future.
• Ancestral themes of spirituality, ritual & shared cultural values, uniting communities to inspire growth & positive transformation.

DANCERS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO:

• Explore their unique natural & technical body
• Connect with movement qualities & culturally inherited dance experiences, beyond learned dance backgrounds
• Develop their sense of authentic individual & collective movement, incorporating evolving sensations, emotions & feelings in a corporeal way
• Examine ritual practices embodying soul & spirit behavior & contemporary dance manifestations.

Individually, the artists involved in this project are passionate cultural artists each in our own right, and as a group we are very excited by the potential for contemporary cultural exchange and collaboration that this project presents, and will allow us to create and share with you together in performance!

PERFORMANCE 

From the experimental development process, a 60 minute dance work will be created, to be premiered with a matinee and evening performance on March 24th 2018, at the Norla Dome, Mission to Seafarers, Melbourne.

The Norla Dome is a circular venue with a domed ceiling that focuses the audience’s attention and energy to create a sacred ceremonial space with a ritualistic feel. 

The performance will incorporate music, lighting, projection, costuming and props, collaboratively designed and curated with the traditional heritage of each of the dancers in mind, with the aim to create an authentic, multi-dimensional and immersive cultural performance experience. 

ARTISTS 

Kathleen Gonzalez - Project Director & Performer

Colombian experimental performance artist, Ethnodance writer, contemporary dancer, cultural producer, artistic director and founder of Tunjos y Cantaros Ethnologic Dance Co.

Kathleen has 24+ years of professional experience as a dancer, choreographer, musician and performance artist in both Colombia and Australia, creating and performing in high-quality professional dance performances that contributed to the local and national cultural and artistic sectors in both countries.

Kathleen’s practice combines multi-cultural, multi-spiritual and global ancestral origins, investigated through dance laboratories and ritualistic experiences with the aim to connect the inner and outer self, and create new dialogues, opportunities for cultural development and diversity of expression.  Kathleen has named this process “Ethnodanceology”.

Kathleen’s creative works explore the space between the rationality of the physical senses and the mystery of psychic and mythical lands, combining unusual, experimental, creative and inspirational new performance processes.

Collaborating performers, artists & production crew:

• Elnaz Sheshgelani, Iranian Theatre Maker & Performer
• Sermsah Pepi Bin Saad, Australian Indigenous Contemporary Dancer
• Shirow Kaze Dama, Japanese Darkness Dancer & Ankoku Butoh Dancer
• Luna Quattrocchi, Zimbabwean & Italian Dancer
• Kwame Tosuma, African Contemporary Dancer
• Fernando Itzcoalt, Mexican Ancestral Dancer
• Sebastian Avila, Colombian Filmmaker, Photographer & Sound Engineer
• Tamara Leacock, North American Costume Designer
• Ivan Masic, Australian Music & Lighting Designer
• Megan Catchlove – Production Manager

HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED

The funds raised in this campaign will assist with covering the costs of studio space for a 10 week development period in early 2018, and contribute towards the venue, production, artist fees and marketing costs for the performance of the finished piece in Melbourne, in March 2018.

BUDGET (AU$)

• Norla Dome venue hire $1530 
• Rehearsal space hire (10 X 3 hrs) $600
• Sound Audio equipment hire (mixer, speakers and cabling) $120
• Projection lighting hire $350                                              
• Key artists performance fee (7 dancers /3 designers/ MP) $2750
• Costume meterials, design and construction $700
• Props materials, construction $580
• Publicity, flyer design and print $173
• Travel and transport cost $340
• Pozible campaign fees (5% of budget) $357

TOTAL: $7500

WHY THIS PROJECT? 

In today’s political and social environment, creating meaningful connections and opportunities for cultural exchange are more important than ever.  By connecting artists from a range of backgrounds, and exploring ancestral themes of spirituality, ritual and shared cultural values in this piece, we believe we can encourage and unite communities to inspire growth and positive transformation.

WHY CROWDFUNDING, AND WHY NOW?

Funding for the arts is very limited, and there is a lot of competition for grants.  We have planned this project in detail and co-ordinated our artistic team and worked hard to try to source funding through these avenues, however are yet to achieve success. 

We are really passionate about this project however, and have decided that we want to keep the momentum and will just have to raise the money ourselves!

THE CHALLENGES

• It can be challenging to get such a group of professional independent artists in the same place at the same time, and we have been lucky enough to coordinate our schedules and availability for the development period and performance in early 2018!  If we do not receive sufficient funding in time we may not have the same opportunity to make this piece together in the future.
• Finding and creating opportunities for work as an independent artist is challenging, as is having sufficient funds to be paid adequately in recognition for the level of skill and time invested. The considerable challenge of this project is to pay each of the artists and collaborators what they deserve, and deliver a high-quality production within the budget restraints.

SUPPORT US AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED!

We really believe this project is worth supporting, and hope you do too!

In addition to the satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting independent arts and artists, with each contribution you can choose from a range of exciting rewards we have personally curated to allow you to engage with the project in a way that interests and inspires you.

EVERY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

PLEASE PLEDGE NOW AND SUPPORT US IN REALISING THIS EXCITING PROJECT TO IT'S FULL POTENTIAL!

With your help and support the creation of this work will contribute to the quality, sustainability, vitality and relevance of the Australian arts sector by supporting Melbourne-based and emerging artists from a range of cultural backgrounds in a contemporary artistic practice and outcome that is meaningful to a broad and diverse audience, and is responsive to cultural and social needs in the community.

MUCHAS GRACIAS!