MARCH 2019 | JPG@THEBANK LAFAYETTE
about you me us: in exploration
Inspired by audio interviews of local Lafayette residents conducted in 2018 for Encased: Presented, this year’s theme delves deeper into what defines us as individuals, how we define our relationship to others and how that ultimately defines our community as we look at “Who are we?”
You Me Us is a collaboration that will commission choreographer Yukie Fujimoto with dancers from No Strings Attached Dance Company, as well as other artists.
about the artists
Yukie Fujimoto, Choreographer
Yukie was a former dancer with ODC/Dance, former Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Mills College and currently, an American Ballet Theater certified ballet instructor. She is a dance educator, arts advocate and choreographer who is deeply invested in social justice issues. She founded ALL THE RIGHT MOVES, a dance program that offers free dance classes at the Boys & Girls Club of Oakland.
Elise Johnson, Dancer
Elise grew up dancing in Seattle, Washington, later locating to Holland, Michigan where she received her BA in dance performance and choreography from Hope College. Utilizing and personifying styles of modern, contemporary, jazz, ballet, improvisation, and laban movement analysis, she joined in the H2 performance company under artistic direction of Matthew Farmer, where she began her professional journey. Elise now resides in San Francisco, California. Elise currently dances with No Strings Attached Dance Company and Alyssa Mitchel.
No Strings Attached Dance Company
Directed by Lissa Resnick, a Harkness award-winning choreographer, the company was founded in Los Angeles and expanded to the SF Bay Area in 2013. Lissa links ballet technique with contemporary dance and theater. The company’s work has been featured throughout California including at ODC PUSHfest, where they received the 2018 Audience Choice Award, Djerassi’s Women Ballet Residency Program, Z Space, sjDANCEco, North Hollywood’s El Portal Theater, and named LA Weekly’s “Top Five Dance Shows This Week.”
Stephen Fambro, Dancer
Born in Pasadena, California, Stephen Fambro studied music performance, art and dance from a young age. He received his BA degree in Ballet Performance at San Francisco State University with an emphasis in dance production and choreography. Stephen’s performance experience spans working in the diverse genres of ballet, theater, jazz, and hip hop. Recent highlights include the African American Shakespeare Company and modeling/acting/dancing for RAE agency. Stephen has worked with No Strings Attached Dance Company since 2016.
credits
Choreography: Yukie Fujimoto with movement contribution from the dancers
No Strings Attached Dance Company: Stephen Fambro and Elise Johnson
Costumes: Yukie Fujimoto
Artistic Installation & Writing Wall: Christy Mack, Lissa Resnick and Yukie Fujimoto
Music: Max Richter and Amelita Galli-Curci
Sound and lighting: Marquisse Moore, Noah Mack and Stephen Harwood
Photography: Christy Mack
Artist Panel: Yukie Fujimoto, Stephen Fambro, Elise Johnson, and Lara Dutto