April 2018 | REDWOOD CIRCLE LAFAYETTE
about encased: in exploration
Encased was inspired by Heather Ferguson and is brought to life by KAMBARA + DANCERS directed by Yayoi Kambara in collaboration with musician Marquisse Moore and architects Zoë Prillinger and Luke Ogrydziak. This work asks: “What Surrounds Us?” “What Surrounds You?”
Encased studies and explores our experiences as individuals as well as our sense of place and displacement through a combination of movement, sound and material objects. Encased also includes an audience writing element to capture our individual and collective voices, leaving behind a physical, literary footprint that belongs to the community and yet at the same time becomes part of the performance art installation.
about the artists
Yayoi Kambara, Choreographer
Yayoi, a Bay Area artist since 2000, was a company member with ODC/Dance from 2003-2015 under the direction of Brenda Way and KT Nelson until she founded KAMBARA + DANCERS in 2015. Yayoi has produced and presented collaborative work at ZSpace, the Asian Art Museum, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Choreofest, and co-produced SEAM (Support and Elevate Artist Mothers). She also was awarded the 2016 Kenneth Rainin Foundation honor for Self Producing Artists, the Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts Grant, and 2016 and 2017 CA$H Grants.
Marquisse Moore, Musician and Sound Artist
Oakland native Marquisse is the son of Michael “Clip” Payne, member of Parliament- Funkadelic, and grandson of George Clinton, whose Parliament-Funkadelic collective contributed to the creation of funk music. He received his education in music theory from Grady Harris Music Academy. As a musician and producer, Marquisse has worked with Grammy nominated Producer G Koop and also worked with Regina Bell, Boney James, and numerous rap and hip hop artists. He currently serves as the Music and Media Director for the Boys & Girls Club in Oakland.
Leesha Zieber and Aaron Perlstein, Dancers
Leesha is a trans* dance artist and Rhythm & Motion instructor based in San Francisco. They currently work with KAMBARA+DANCERS, Dance Brigade and ayanadancearts. They also have danced as a guest artist with ODC/Dance and Robert Moses’ Kin. Aaron is a San Francisco native that trained with Alvin Ailey in NYC and LINES Ballet in San Francisco. Aaron performed worldwide with ODC/Dance, Alwin Nikolais Dance Theater, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. He also has performed with the Detroit Opera Ballet, RAW Dance, Capacitor, and now with KAMBARA+DANCERS.
Zoë Prillinger and Luke Ogrydziak, Architects
Zoë and Luke are principals of Ogrydziak Prillinger Architects (OPA), a San Francisco idea-driven office committed to design that expands possibilities inherent in architecture and particular contexts. OPA has received numerous American Institute of Architects awards and the Architectural League of New York’s ‘Emerging Voices’ award. OPA has done artistic projects including Nuclear Thresholds, Triskelion and City Dance and has been featured in MARK magazine, the New York Times, Metropolis, Wallpaper*, Architecture, Architectural Record, GA Houses, and in multiple exhibitions at GA Gallery in Tokyo.
credits
Artistic Direction: Yukie Fujimoto
Choreography: Yayoi Kambara
KAMBARA + DANCERS: Leesha Zieber and Aaron Perlstein
Original musical score: Marquisse Moore with sound assistance from Noah Mack
Interactive Writing Wall: Zoë Prillinger and Luke Ogrydziak
Concept Contributor: Heather Ferguson
Photography: Debra Szidon