CORE Performance Company returns to Chiapas, Mexico
for work on Corazon Abierto: Heart Open,
and “blogs” about the experience

Houston—November 1, 2005 —Led by choreographer, Sue Schroeder, Founder and Artistic Director of Several Dancers Core and CORE Performance Company, the artists of CORE Performance Company will return to the highland area of Chiapas, Mexico in early November. In Chiapas, CORE will continue work on a new multimedia dance piece, Corazon Abierto: Heart Open. A new section of the piece that will arise from this residency, Woven Clouds, will be performed at “Mix it Up,” part of the Jewish Community Center of Houston’s Dance Month on January 28-29, 2006 at 8:00 p.m.

Beginning with a journey to Chiapas in January 2005, CORE Performance Company collaborated with artists, writers and anthropologists in Chiapas on the new work. During the upcoming visit they will continue to work on the choreography and fine tune other aspects of the work-in-progress such as the interactive set design and video components of the piece. They will also be “blogging” at coreperformanceco.blogspot.com about their experiences, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how a cultural immersion evolves into an evening-length dance piece.

Corazon Abierto began with conversations between two choreographers, Sue Schroeder of CORE Performance Company and Susan Mendez Prins, who is based in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. An introductory journey by Sue Schroeder to Chiapas to make community connections and to experience the sights and sounds of the rainforest took place in October 2003. The next step was an “immersion” residency in Chiapas with Schroeder, CORE Performance Company, and composer, Terrance Karn in January 2005 organized by Susan Mendez Prins and led by Alonso Mendez and Walter Morris. Mr. Mendez is of Mayan heritage and his work in painting, pottery, ceramics, architectural drawings and as a native guide to the archeological sites has informed the costumes for the performance which are based on ancient and authentic designs. Mr. Morris is an anthropologist, visual artist and Coordinator of the Mexican Initiative for Aid to Artisans. His relationships with local artists continue to shape the project, especially his work with the weaver’s society, Sna Jolobil, whose members teach the visiting artists traditional Mayan weaving. Mr. Morris will also create mobile set pieces for the performance onto which video will be projected.

CORE Performance Company, the musicians and artisans are committed to exploring the contemporary and ancient Mayan culture and how it intersects with and/or diverges from American culture. Through this dance work, urban artists were immersed in an isolated environment, working with local artists to weave a tale which expresses the struggles and triumphs of the Mayan people. The theme of weaving, its movements and sounds, its significance historically and spiritually, as well as its new resurgence as a part of the local economy give the work its shape. A good weaver not only demonstrates technical ability, but also expresses her connection to and understanding of her people and their spiritual heritage. The dance will similarly weave together layers of visual imagery, cultural memory, personal expression, innovation, physical rhythm and color to create a richly textured multimedia piece. The Chiapas Rainforest is ancient and beautiful, but it is facing enculturation by Western society which has lead to poverty, social unrest and racial tensions. Video captured during this visit by video artist, Maya Ciarrocchi, will serve as a documentary of the project and will be incorporated into the performance to enhance the multimedia texture of the overall piece.

Several Dancers Core achieves its highest artistic synergy when it collaborates with other artists, from working with other groups within the United States to creating works in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and Germany. The most recent production, a collaboration with CORE Performance Company and artists in Germany, resulted in a compelling multimedia production entitled America! question. It was a dance that probed questions of cultural and political attitudes arising after 9-11, with interviews sharing the thoughts of American citizens and opening communication between cultures.

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CORE Performance Company, the professional touring company of Several Dancers Core, focuses on the ongoing development of the artistic “process” through the creation of new work. Made up of individual artists, the company performs new choreography that evolves through an intentional collaboration of experimentation and improvisation with artists from different mediums.

Committed for 25 years to innovation, risk and collaboration, Several Dancers Core (SDC), a nonprofit dance organization, creates, performs, and presents contemporary dance. SDC promotes dance awareness and education through performances, presentations, workshops, and classes in contemporary approaches to movement and is dedicated to opening new channels of communication between artists and the community. For more information about Several Dancers Core, please call 713-862-5530 or visit www.severaldancerscore.org.

Several Dancers Core’s 25th Anniversary Season is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County, the Pattillo Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, Houston Endowment Inc., and AirTran Airways.

Photo URL: http://www.severaldancerscore.org/press/photos/corazonkim.jpg

Note: For interview requests, contact Susan Schmaeling at 713-349-0780 or saspr at swbell.net.