>>TELLURIC

October 13, 2007 - 4 PM
Rain date, October 14

County Farm Park, Ann Arbor
Meet at Medford Pavilion, off Medford Rd. near Manchester St.

A performance of environmental dance that will include myth-flavored characters created by individual dancers, as well as some elements based in Russian folklore: Vasilisa, retriever of fire; the firebird; an androgynous enchanter; and the mythic sun, moon and stars moving through the forest in the tines of deer-antlers. Group improvisation involving call and response between dancers, live musicians and elements in the environment is interspersed with choreographed segments. The event will conclude with audience participation in a simple earth-based ritual, and in freeform dancing to live percussion. Telluric (the title used in its meaning of "Proceeding from the earth") is the second performance in a series named Rodinia/Mirovia, for the earliest named continent on Earth and its surrounding ocean.

Vasilisa is played by Marina Benson. Cast also includes: Irene Strenski and Carl Benson: Vasilisa's wise-urchin friends. Paula Strenski: Narration, environmental dance. Jennifer Kovach: Jealous stepsister, Stars, environmental dance and Narration. Kevin Coppock: Drumming sprite/goblin. Irena Nagler: Fox spirit, environmental dance, Firebird. Raven (Matt Rogers): Raven. Ed McNew: Baba Yaga. Jill Berkana: environmental dance, Sun. Frank McElhannon: environmental dance, Moon. Roberta Busard: Stickwoman. With guitarist/percussionist Alex Terzian, percussionist Kevin Coppock and hammered dulcimer by Charlene Berry.

Donation

Directions:

From Plymouth Rd. and Broadway St. in Ann Arbor: Take Plymouth to Huron River Parkway; turn right. Right on Washtenaw. Left on Manchester. Take Manchester to Medford. Near their junction is a chiropractor's office on Medford. The entrance drive to the Medford parking area is opposite. A sign will be posted there. Medford Pavilion is noticeable, painted red.

From S. Main St., Ann Arbor: At junction with Saline/Ann Arbor rd., go east on Stadium. Turn right on Washtenaw, right again on Manchester.

Directions from outside of Ann Arbor: From US-23, take Exit 37B, Washtenaw Avenue West. Merge onto Washtenaw Avenue and continue for 1.3 miles. You will pass Arborland Mall on your right, followed by Barnes & Noble (on your right, at Huron Parkway) and Washtenaw County Recreation Building (on your left, at Platt Road). The next traffic light after Platt is Manchester Road. From the left-turn lane, turn left onto Manchester Road. Take Manchester to Medford. Near their junction is a chiropractor's office on Medford. The entrance drive to the Medford parking area is opposite. A sign will be posted there. Medford Pavilion is noticeable, painted red. Park website: Alternative entrance to the park mentioned here is at the far end of it from the workshop meeting point. Website has a trail map with paths leading to Medford Pavilion.

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/parks_recreation/pavilions/cfp/pr_pkcfp.html

Contact: 734 996-1772

August 18 7:30 PM
Rain date: August 19

Bird Hills Nature Area, Ann Arbor
On hillside opposite the parking area on Bird Road

All woods emerge from and lead into the forest eternal. Oneness and
metamorphosis, roots and branches: the forest takes the form of mythic
beings, and returns to itself. And we all take part.

Begins with a reprise of the dance from They Walk at Night (from June 23)
followed by newer work and voluntary audience participation, ending with
freeform dancing to live percussion.

A sweet ephemeral performance, about an hour before dark ...
Catch the wind.

Percussion by Carlos Fierro, Bird Hills Woods, the wind, and dancing feet
and hands.

Nearest parking: Bird Road near Huron River Dr. (limited space) or Barton
Dam, across Huron River Dr. If you know the woods, consider parking at
Newport Road and walking through to Bird Road entrance. This is likely to
enhance the experience of the performance, too. Follow the Raven's call.

Directions from Ann Arbor: Drive north on Main Street. Just before M-14
begins, turn left at sign for Huron River Drive, then immediately right
onto Huron River Drive. Huron River Drive curves past woods on one side,
river on the other. Barton Dam parking is on the right (larger, gated,
second parking area, after small Barton Nature Area). Bird Road is on the
left across from the parking lot. Walk up Bird Rd. to the entrance to Bird
Hills. Enter the park at the Bird Road entrance on the left side, and
gather a little way up the hill (you'll hear raven calls, and someone will
greet you).

Directions from Detroit: Take M-14 West and get off at Exit 3 (Ann Arbor).
At the end of the exit ramp, make a hairpin turn to the right onto Huron
River Drive. From there, follow the above directions.

>>SIRENA (Water Spirit)

July 28, 8 PM

Island Park, Ann Arbor 1450 Island Drive-- at river's edge looking east

Rain date: July 29

A performance by and in the Huron River-- in its honor, and through it all the rivers of earth and sky. "Sirena" begins with a short performance in early evening light, followed by an intermission. Second short performance timed for when the rising full moon is about to become visible above the opposite riverbank. Moonrise begins on July 28 at 7:33 and on July 29 at 8:08.

Sirena is the first in a series of environmental dance performances named "Rodinia/Mirovia (Ancient Earth/Ancient Sea") for the earliest named supercontinent on Earth and the ocean surrounding it. These ancient elements are recycled endlessly, blending and exchanging with substances from elsewhere in the universe. We are always dancing with them and they are always dancing us. These performances will loosely incorporate some elements of Slavic folklore. Sirena is named for the spirit of the waters. Vasilisa, retriever of fire, and the firebird who guards the forest, might make an appearance in one guise or another, and maybe even the mother of all witches and tricksters, Baba Yaga.

Sirena is also danced in honor of Phyllis Jane Porter (6/20/26-7/16/07), one of the greatest hearts on the planet, a pioneer in open classroom education, and a person who always inspired and charged those around her with life-affirming energy.

Contact: birena@umich.edu.

>>DREAMING A PLACE - Environmental dance, story and art
Workshop with Irena

July 15, 2007 - 3:30-5:30 PM

Meet at Bandemer Park shelter, Ann Arbor (at end of drive)

In this workshop, participants will tune in to the elements that compose a place, and allow them to speak through the human body, hands and voice. The emphasis will be on dance and movement, but drawing, voice, music and visual art made from elements of the place, and poetry will also be encouraged. Magical and fun, creativity attuned to environment can be an entrancing journey and a homecoming. Though drawing on inspiration from Australian and Celtic traditions, we will primarily make our own spontaneous connections to place elements: merge, extend and weave; be travelers, without having to go far physically. All living things, all elements directly sprung from earth, are dreamers. Dream precedes and intertwines with action in the outer world. We will begin with attunement to our own breath and rhythms, then merge and interlace our dreams with what is around us, interpreting them through-- and extending-- our own feelings, imaginations and vocabularies. We will dance for as well as with the elements, with honor, love and respect. There will be occasional recorded music, and we will wind up with some freeform dancing to lively, organic music near the river. Option to participate in a dance performance in August or autumn.

Bring: Drinking water and anything you may need for protection from sun, rain, allergens, poison ivy, occasional rough terrain, etc.

And: Optional: Sketchbook/pens/pencils -- Poetry -- Water shoes.

No dance experience necessary! All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

$10 ($5 students/seniors) Alternative trade considered.

Directions:
From downtown Ann Arbor: Take Main St. north, turn right on Lakeshore Drive. Alternative route: From Plymouth Rd. and Broadway: Take Plymouth Rd. to Barton Dr. Turn left and follow it to its junction with Whitmore Lake Rd. Bandemer Park entrance on left. Follow driveway over river bridge; it curves to left and continues to parking area by shelter.

Directions from Detroit: I-96 West to M-14 West. Take exit #3/US-23-BUS onto N. Main St. toward downtown. Turn left on Lakeshore Drive - park will be on the right.

Contact: Before July 13: birena@umich.edu; July 13-15, 734 996-1772

Irena has been performing environmental dance since 2003, dancing and directing with Nightfire for ten years, and facilitating community dance events since 1987. She has taught creative writing for children and improvisational dance with adults.

>>THEY WALK AT NIGHT
June 23, 8:30 PM
Bird Hills Nature Area, Ann Arbor
On forested hillside opposite the parking area on Bird Road

You are in the woods. Dusk is breathing fireflies. White moths alight on bark. The electric trees step out of themselves-- Their song rises from roots to stars. Come and see who walks, made visible tonight by Nightfire Dance Theater and ethereal guests.

Percussion by Carlos Fierro and friends.

A sweet, ephemeral performance, approx. 1 hour before dark ... Catch the wind.

Nearest parking: Bird Road near Huron River Dr. (limited space) or Barton Dam, across Huron River Dr. If you know the woods, consider parking at Newport Road and walking through to Bird Road entrance. This is likely to enhance the experience of the performance, too. Follow the Raven's call.

Directions from Ann Arbor: Drive north on Main Street. Just before M-14 begins, turn left at sign for Huron River Drive, then immediately right onto Huron River Drive. Huron River Drive curves past woods on one side, river on the other. Barton Dam parking is on the right (larger, gated, second parking area, after small Barton Nature Area). Bird Road is on the left across from the parking lot. Walk up Bird Rd. to the entrance to Bird Hills. Enter the park at the Bird Road entrance on the left side, and gather a little way up the hill (you'll hear raven calls, and someone will greet you).

Directions from Detroit: Take M-14 West and get off at Exit 3 (Ann Arbor). At the end of the exit ramp, make a hairpin turn to the right onto Huron River Drive. From there, follow the above directions.

In case of heavy rain this performance will be postponed to June 24.

>>NIGHTFIRE PERFORMANCE:
INTERFAITH CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
JUNE 3, 2007 - 10:45 AM
704 Airport Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI

Map to location: http://www.interfaithspirit.org/704.html

Nightfire will perform at the Sunday morning gathering of Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth in Ann Arbor, MI. There will be opportunity for audience participation in a spiral dance. Refreshments and child care are available. The performance will include a reprise of the children's dance from "Ashen" (with Marina Benson, Carl Benson, Aria Davis, Anna Nagler, Irene Strenski and Owen Strenski; percussion by Chip Lind), and "Solar" by Wendy Longmire-Davis, Jennifer Kovach and Irena Nagler.

>> ASHEN: a collaboration between Beili Liu and Nightfire Dance Theater
March 15, 2007, Thursday, 7:30 PM

Vitosha Guest Haus Concert Hall
1917 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor

Doors open at 6:30 PM
Parking is available at 1833 Washtenaw Ave.

An evening of visual art combined with music, poetry and dance theater, held during the Celtic month of the ash tree. Beili Liu is an installation artist whose works fuse Chinese and Western influences, and often bear witness to how forms evolve in nature. Her video installation, "Ashen", is a tribute to the imperiled ash trees of the Great Lakes, that also examines the unexpected beauty of the ash borers' tracings in wood. A video of tree branches blowing in a storm wind is projected onto translucent white screens traced with borer markings taken directly from trees. Modified for this site, it will resemble a veil between worlds. Nightfire will perform a suite of dances, interacting with the art, cycling through symbolic seasons, inspired by the spirit, natural history and rich mythology of the ash, and the life cycle, patterns and motion of the insects. Ethereal, sensual, mourning, spooky at times, yet also a playful celebration of life on the threshold of springtime, the program encourages reconnection with natural environment and human soul.

The performance concludes with an invitation to audience to dance freely to live percussion. Includes percussion by Chip Lind, Andrew F. Anderson performing Poems for Piano by Soong Fu Yuan, cello improvisation by Abigail Alwin, and poetry/spoken word by Esther Hurwitz. Dancers: Irena Nagler, Jennifer Kovach, Paula Strenski, Stefanie Cohen, Patrick Soule, Katharina, Wendy Longmire-Davis, Sarah Misenheimer, Anna Nagler, Aria Davis, Irene Strenski, Owen Strenski, Marina Benson, Carl Benson.

All ages welcome. Suggested donation $3-15, children free.

Contact: 734 996-1772
www.beililiu.com
http://web.mac.com/estherhurwitz/iWeb/EstherHurwitz/Welcome.html

>>NIGHTFIRE PERFORMANCE:
INTERFAITH CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
NOVEMBER 19, 2006 10:45 AM
704 Airport Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI

Map to location: http://www.interfaithspirit.org/704.html

Nightfire will perform at the Sunday morning gathering of Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth in Ann Arbor, MI. There will be opportunity for audience participation in a spiral dance, as well as freeform dancing to live percussion by Chip Lind. Refreshments and child care are available.

>>LAND

Sunday, Oct. 29
Beginning circa 3 PM, University of Michigan Diag near Natural Science Bldg.

"When will you be landing?"

This performance piece begins with a structured improvisation on the Diag near the Natural Science Bldg. at the University of Michigan Central Campus; then proceeds from State St., to E. Liberty, to Main St., to E. Washington and Fletcher, and ends in the grove of trees by the Power Center.
Look for a group of people carrying, well, mobile phones.
Feel free to bring your own phone-- (Land line only-- Real appliance or toy!)-- and to join us anywhere along the route-- with or without a phone-- in walking the city streets.
The event finishes with live percussion and freeform dancing, divested of phones and fully present on the land among the trees.
Percussion by Chip Lind.
Music technician, Daniel Sheehan.
Dancers: Christina Guldi, Kim Brown, Irena, Jennifer Kovach, and anyone else who cares to join us.
Rain alternative: ALLEYCATS: masked drumming and dance in Nickel's Arcade by the State St. entrance. Possible rain date, Nov. 5; check back for information.

>>BRIDGE

7 PM Sundays, August 27 and Sept. 10

Bandemer Park, M-14 overpass bridge, on west bank of Huron River, Ann Arbor

A HUMAN INVASION AND HOMECOMING
DNA TIME TRAVEL
EVOLUTION IN TIMELESS MOTION

Spoken Word and Dancing with Fire Performance followed by freeform dancing for all.
Percussion by Kevin Coppock.

Some seating provided; feel free to bring a chair.

Directions:
From downtown Ann Arbor: Take Main St. north, turn right on Lakeshore Drive.
From Plymouth Rd. and Broadway: Take Plymouth Rd. to Barton Dr. Turn left and follow it to its junction with Whitmore Lake Rd. Bandemer Park entrance on left.

Directions from Detroit: I-96 West to M-14 West
Take exit #3/US-23-BUS onto N. Main St. toward downtown
Turn left on Lakeshore Drive - park will be on the right

>>GreenBreathing

4:30 PM Sunday, July 23

Eberwhite Woods and Zion Community Garden, Ann Arbor

From Main Street: take Liberty St. west. A few blocks past Seventh Ave., turn left on Soule, then right on Lutz, which ends in a parking area.

Gather by the Project Grow Zion Community Garden visible across the field.

The first performance of an ongoing work to be presented in wooded areas in July of any given year.

Dance that flows from the devic underpinning of what's visible to us in the green realm.

An intimately near and alien world, interpenetrating with ours; slow-moving, turning time to honey. Reaching for sunlight, drinking rain, and sharing breath with us.

Join us on a brief yet eternal journey into the halls of the green realm.

Then, infused with the sense of connection, return to the animal and human world, with its quicker heartbeat and red pulsing through veins-- for freeform dancing to world rhythms!

(Note: Dance performance will be near edge of the woods in an area with no vegetation except trees on the ground. If exploring Eberwhite Woods beyond this point, please stay on the trails; it is home to rare plant communities)

Rain date: August 6

Possible second performance August 6: check back here in late July for info

SOLSTICE
Sun., June 25 8:30 PM
Island Park
1450 Island Drive, Ann Arbor
by the river (look for colorful fabric in trees)
Dancers: Irena, Jennifer Kovach
Percussion by Carlos Fierro
Poetry/Spoken word by Laurel Reynolds
Tech/sound by Raven (Matt Rogers)
Rain date: Saturday, July 1st

Performance Schedule 2005

September 2005

June 2005

>>HELIX: SPIRAL TO THE STARS
Sundays, June 19 and 26, 2005 8 PM
Island Park, 1450 Island Drive, Ann Arbor

A dance theater performance, followed by open dancing. Nightfire weaves eclectic and gypsy-inspired dance, improvisational ceremony, live and recorded music, poetry, costuming, masks, and lighting in a tribal, dreamlike fusion. The title for this performance conjoins imagery of DNA, galaxies and stars. Two opposing tribes have a common origin, linked by a mercurial young girl. They perform dances of dissonance and harmony among peoples, nature, technology and art: integrating shadows, shapeshifting, and spiraling to reconciliation.

The African-percussion ensemble Solemnity I provide rhythms for dance theater, then for open dancing. With guitarist Geoffrey Esty, Native American flute by Gae Winn and compositions by Cassandra Stevens. The dance party is preceded by a simple group dance with audience participation.

Meet near the bridge entrance at Island Drive. All performance sites will be near the entrance and the Greek revival gazebo. Parking available near entrance, and at end of Island Drive by Cedar Bend Nature Area. In case of rain, gather inside Greek revival structure.

All ages welcome; costumes and masks encouraged.

Nightfire performers: Raven/Matt, Christina Guldi, Kiaura Clark, Sara Holwerda, Irena, Katharina, Chelsea Slagle, Cassandra Stevens (dance); Daniel Sheehan, Catharine Stevens, Gae Winn (Spoken word). Percussionists in Solemnity One: Richard Perry, Maggie Batts, Frank English, Penny Griffin, Xavier Moore, River.

Free admission; donations accepted.

Contact: 734 996-1772

Performance Schedule 2004

December 2004

>>INTERFAITH CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
DECEMBER 12, 2004 10:45 AM
Allen Elementary School, 2560 Towner St., Ann Arbor, MI

Nightfire will perform a suite of three dances at the Sunday morning gathering of Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth in Ann Arbor, MI. There will be opportunity for audience participation in a spiral dance. Refreshments and child care are available.

See map to the location at: http://www.interfaithspirit.org/map.htm

Contact: 734 996-1772 birena@umich.edu

October 2004

>>Liminal: Nightfire
Sundays, Oct. 3 and 17, 2004 4 PM
Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor

A dance theater performance, followed by open dancing. Nightfire weaves eclectic and gypsy-inspired dance, improvisational ceremony, live and recorded music, poetry, costuming, masks, and lighting in a tribal, dreamlike fusion. The title for this performance stems from a Latin word for "threshold". The performers dance in doorways between nature and art, the urban and the wild, direct experience and human imagination. They draw on themes of interspecies shapeshifting, and of the mingled fear of nature and longing for a golden age in our relationship with the earth.
The West African percussion ensembles Sambani and Solemnity I provide rhythms for dance theater, then for open dancing. With guitarist Geoffrey Esty and poet/musician Cassandra Stevens. The dance party is preceded by a simple group dance with audience participation.

Meet near the smaller of two ponds near the entrance driveway, where a sign will be posted. All performance sites will be near the entrance, ending in the walled garden.

Open dancing 5:30 PM behind the walled garden near the main building.

All ages welcome; costumes and masks encouraged.

Free admission; donations accepted.

Contact: 734 996-1772 birena@umich.edu

June 2004

>>NIGHTFIRE PERFORMANCE
AT INTERFAITH CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
JUNE 6, 2004 10:45 AM
Allen Elementary School, 2560 Towner St., Ann Arbor, MI

Nightfire will perform two works at the Sunday morning gathering of Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth in Ann Arbor, MI. There will be opportunity for audience participation in a spiral dance. Refreshments and child care are available.

See map to the location at: http://www.interfaithspirit.org/map.htm

February 2004

>>Shapeshifting: Nightfire and Rhythm Family
Saturday, February 7, 2004 8:30 PM
Dance Gallery Studio, 815 Wildt St., Ann Arbor
A dance theater performance, followed by open dancing. Nightfire weaves eclectic and gypsy-inspired dance, improvisational ceremony, live and recorded music, poetry, costuming, masks, and lighting in a tribal, dreamlike fusion. This performance draws on eclectic themes of interspecies shapeshifting, linkage with ancestors, and timeless love. The percussion ensemble Rhythm Family provides rhythms for dance theater, then for open dancing and a drum circle.
With special guests Michael Gould, playing shakuhachi, and guitarist Geoffrey Esty.
The dance party is preceded by a simple group dance with audience participation.
Open drum circle at 10 PM.
All ages welcome; costumes and masks encouraged.
$5-20 sliding scale, at the door only. 12 and under and and volunteers free.
Contact: 734 996-1772

October 2003

WEND

Sunday, October 12 4:00 PM Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor, MI
A dance theater performance moving on a thread through the northwest area of the Nichols Arboretum, from the riverside to Heathdale and the peony garden. The audience will journey on a thread through the Arboretum's river walk, Heathdale and peony garden, following dancers, musicians and unwinding yarn. This is an exploration of life cycles and the timeless webs on which they're woven; of eclectic myth and legend in which humans, animals and other beings merge.
The performance includes a spiral dance with audience participation.

Meet at the Nichols Dr. entrance leading from the M-29 parking lot below the UM Hospital; proceed along the Huron River.
Maps available at entrance.
Free admission.
Rain date: Oct. 19, same time.
Contact: 734 996-1772

April 2003

>>DanceFire, a Dance and Rhythm Jam: Nightfire
Saturday, April 5, 8:30 PM
AACT Studio, 111 Third St. at Huron, Ann Arbor
A dance theater performance, followed by open dancing in celebration of the season of seed-planting and beginnings. Nightfire weaves eclectic and gypsy-inspired dance, improvisational ceremony, live and recorded music, poetry, costuming, masks, and lighting in a tribal, dreamlike fusion. Spirit Rising, a Metro Detroit area percussion ensemble, provides rhythms for dance theater, then for open dancing and a drum circle. With special guests Gae Winn, playing Native American flutes, and guitarist Geoffrey Esty.
The dance party is preceded by a simple group dance with audience participation. Open drum circle at 10 PM. All ages welcome; costumes and masks encouraged. The audience is invited to energize heartfelt wishes and dreams through their presence and participation at this community-building event.
Nightfire performers: Irena, Kalaea, Nirupama, Jeannie Ballew, Jenneva Scholz, Anita Lee, Stephanie Mackres, Ben Rous (dance), Clifford Scholz, Gae Winn (spoken word). Percussionists in Spirit Rising: Maurice Evans, Frank English, Penny Griffin, Xavier Moore.

>>DANCE JAM
Friday, April 11, 9 PM
AACT Studio, 111 Third St. at Huron
$3-5 at door
Dancing to an eclectic mix of world music, techno, rock, soul and funk from all decades, and more. Smoke-free; all ages welcome. An alternative to the bar scene for people who love to dance. People are welcome to bring CDs and tapes with music requests. Open percussion jam at midnight.
734 996-1772