TREMBLED TO WALK ON
Alexandria Nunweiler
Photos by Baby Viking Photography
trembled to walk on (formerly known as Reverence for a False History) is a discovery that comes to life.
Blending history and poetry with dance, the project unearths the real and false histories of events, discoveries and reports in New England - specific to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem ‘The Skeleton in Armor’ and the real skeleton in armor found buried in a seated position in Fall River, MA in 1831. Speculation swirled and surrounded this discovery as historians questioned who the person was, how they lived, and where they originated. Today we ask what this discovery can tell us about how we preserve ideas, traditions, and historical perspectives.
As this is a lesser known Longfellow poem and historical discovery, this project seeks to aid new conversations and bring to light more of the intricacies of Massachusetts history, uplifting the voices of those who are often “othered”. It will allow audiences to reflect on their own thinking and possibly peel away their own views of those who came before us. More deeply, this project asks of its creators and viewers: How do we view historical discoveries made in Massachusetts? How are art pieces and writings used to shape our present day view of the past? What is intentionally or accidentally being left out or rewritten in our history?
The project manifests in three parts:
Blending history and poetry with dance, the project unearths the real and false histories of events, discoveries and reports in New England - specific to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem ‘The Skeleton in Armor’ and the real skeleton in armor found buried in a seated position in Fall River, MA in 1831. Speculation swirled and surrounded this discovery as historians questioned who the person was, how they lived, and where they originated. Today we ask what this discovery can tell us about how we preserve ideas, traditions, and historical perspectives.
As this is a lesser known Longfellow poem and historical discovery, this project seeks to aid new conversations and bring to light more of the intricacies of Massachusetts history, uplifting the voices of those who are often “othered”. It will allow audiences to reflect on their own thinking and possibly peel away their own views of those who came before us. More deeply, this project asks of its creators and viewers: How do we view historical discoveries made in Massachusetts? How are art pieces and writings used to shape our present day view of the past? What is intentionally or accidentally being left out or rewritten in our history?
The project manifests in three parts:
- Duet performance (20 minutes). Choreographed by Alexandria Nunweiler in collaboration with Angelina Benitez and Katrina Conte.
- Lecture demonstration (60 minutes). Featuring the duet performance, a presentation of sources, and how historical sources are turning into movement.
- Experiential workshop (60-90 minutes). For dancers and non-dancers, this workshop invites participants to engage with the creative practices used to create the duet performance.
VOICES UNBROKEN
Katrina Conte
Photos by Olivia Moon Photography/@halfasianlens, courtesy of Alive Dance Collective
Voices Unbroken is a multidisciplinary project that seeks to share experiences of, call awareness to, and help heal from emotionally abusive and strained relationships. It includes collaborations among dancers, poets and musicians that will manifest in a series of community-centered workshops, a collection of writings (printed and online), and a culminating cabaret-style performance event featuring dance, spoken word, and live music.
This project is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts' New England Dance Fund, with generous support from the Aliad Fund at the Boston Foundation, and the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
This project is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts' New England Dance Fund, with generous support from the Aliad Fund at the Boston Foundation, and the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.