Poet-tree en Motion Winter-Spring Performance Series
Friend the Group for PeM @ :
http://www.facebook.com/groups/116980678334215/
Featured acts include…
* Barajagala
the American Tribal Style Bellydance influenced by folkloric & traditional belly dance, with Flamenco stylizations
* Monica Day
Performance art that often ponders the intimate & sometimes comic moments where our real lives vary from the Hallmark card & romance novels lives of our imagination
* the Femme-mynistiques
Trio of sis-starz merging forces w/ fresh beats, mystic vocals, rhymes & lyrical poetics (Facebook/GoldenLover, /Lady Omni & /Plum Dragoness)
* Hillaria Innocentia Goodgame
poetry, song, live music & dance-the evolution of black woman's identity & control in society
* MOM/Music Over Matter
the dynamic all Female Philadelphia based drum ensemble
Bios:
Barajagala Tribal Bellydance is the collective name of two American Tribal Style bellydancers, Irene Reinke and Pamela Hall. The style of dance, American Tribal Style or ATS is a form of bellydance created by Carolena Nericcio in San Francisco in the early 1980's. It was quite a departure from the traditional bellydance - it's focus was dancing with other women and presenting the dance form in venues other than restaurants and nightclubs. But it's greatest contribution was creating an experience for the dancers that celebrated not only the artistic sensuality of women, but infused in each dancer a feeling of power and elegance, beauty and strength, and a sense of community (hence the "tribal" aspect). This is in part due to the fact that the dance combines classic bellydance with modified Rajastani folkloric steps and Flamenco stylizations. Barajagala Tribal Bellydance was created by Irene Reinke in 2008, after receiving her teaching certification from Ms. Nericcio. In 2010, Barajagala gained sister studio status with Carolena Nericcio's dance troupe - FatChanceBellydance. Barajagala also has a student troupe, Sabeela Tribal, who perform quite frequently in Philadelphia's suburbs, Delaware, and New Jersey. Workshops and classes are taught in the Philadelphia and suburbs. For more information, check out Barajagala online (www.btribalbellydance.com)!
Monica Day is representing the Erotic Literary Salon presenting performance art that often ponders the intimate & sometimes comic moments where our real lives vary from the Hallmark card & romance novels lives of our imagination… She is the founder of The Sensual Life (http://www.thesensuallife.com/), was host and curator of Essensuality: An Evening of Erotic Expression in NYC for three years, and is a regular reader/performer at Philadelphia's Erotic Literary Salon. She recently wrote, produced and performed her play, Song of the Sacred Whore, in the 2011 Philly Fringe Festival. Her current project is an 8-week workshop series called The Essensual Experience where participants explore the place where expression and sensuality come together. The final performance for the current series will be held on April 16th. A new series will begin here in Philly in May 2012, and will travel around the country as a weekend workshop beginning in the fall of 2012.
the Femme-mynistiques- Trio of sis-starz merging forces w/ fresh beats, mystic vocals, rhymes & lyrical poetics devoted to the “femminine mystic”. Together these three ladies bring to the stage backgrounds in beat/music production, dance choreography, staging theater productions, hostess-ing venues, singing, rap & spoken word performances…
Alexis “GoldenLover” Simmons is a one of a kind talent. Not only does she shine in Philadelphia’s intensely demanding soul music scene, but she has shown a gift for versatility, crafting songs in genres from R&B to House to Pop through her voice, lyrics and now production! She credits her versatility to her early work as a background singer for a wide variety of acts, including Ghettosongbird and Natural Selection. She also developed an ear and style for House music, writing two popular singles "Selene-The Goddess of the Moon" and "Aphroditey" with famed Philadelphia Soulful House production team StealVybe. The first was released early February 2009 by PhutureSole recordings, a small indie label in New York. Late this year, her second single, "Aphrodite" was released to eagerly awaiting fans! Like many lyrical artists, she expresses herself deeply through the songs she writes, saying:
To articulate myself through the words and music is not always easy, but it is such a worthwhile process, and as I experience, so my songs are a reflection of those experiences. I am an intensely passionate and romantic person, so I deeply enjoy love songs; however, as I learn to cherish my growth as a woman, most of what you will hear now will be largely associated with spirituality, sexuality/high energy and the affirmation of women. To put it simply though, I am a lover of people, I am a lover of the sensual, I am a lover of the spiritual and on this journey, I am learning to fall in love with myself. My greatest hope is that in listening to my songs, people will fall in love! (Facebook/GoldenLover)
Geri Vanore is a Philadelphia native who bargained her training at her neighborhood studio at the age of ten. She later attended the High School for the Creative And Performing Arts (CAPA). She also trained at Philadanco, where she became a member of Danco II. Developing a passion for teaching in 1995, Geri now specializes in teaching modern, ballet, technique and turn, lyrical, hip hop, bellydance and mask acting. She attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she worked with Ruth Andrian, Molly Misgalla, Pat Thomas, Andrew Pap, Roni Koresh, and Manfred Fishbach . In 2001 Geri was offered a scholarship to train at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. There she studied under Kazuko Hirabayashi, Denise Vale, Elana Comendador, Marguerite Wesley, Max Luna III, and many more. In 2003 Geri co-founded and directed Identity Dance Company, a dance group designed for adolescents and young adults who sought to escape potentially harmful environments and explore their potential through dance arts. In 2005 Geri became a member of the Philadelphia Wings Dance Team with whom she performed for three seasons. She has also recently danced as a featured performer at the Garden State Dance Festival in 2007. Since 2005 Geri has been working with Archedream for Humankind, a blacklight archetypal dance theatre, with whom she tours nationally and internationally giving performances and workshops at schools festivals and theaters.
With ADHK Geri is a performer, choreographer, and instructor for various workshops. Her most rewarding experience with ADHK was a month long residency at the Dream Community in Taiwan. And her most recent accomplishment was taking on the role of Director of the newest addition to the company’s repertoire, Chorus of Dreams. In addition to teaching and ADHK, Geri is enjoying working with gifted choreographer and friend, Tina Heuges. Now and perpetually, Geri remains passionate about dance, choreography, improvisation, chance, sharing and all else swirling around this art form!!!
(Lady Omni)
Plum Dragoness (Gabrielle de Burke) is a Performer/Poet/Theater Artist. She has been an artist in residence at The Rotunda since 2007 with the performance series she organizes & hosts, called, “Poet-tree En Motion”. This ongoing free community fall/spring performance event has led to collaborating w/ various artists in the Philly underground art scenes. She performs her sung-spoken words regularly for the series, working with VJ artists for visual projections & musicians & dancers & so on… Her work as an artist has led to touring shows in a verity of arrangements varying from solo/duo presentations to an ensemble of venues & has been presented by the Rossport Gathering (June, 2009/County Mayo, Ire), the Winter Solstice Nexus event (December, 2009/Toronto, ON, CA), The OM Reunion Project Festival (June, 2010/Northern Ontario, CA), the PEX Fest Summer Festival (Darlington, MD. 2009/2010/2011), the Gaian Mind Festival (Artimus, PA. 2007/2008), the Coalesce Fest (Darlington, MD 2009/2010), the Desiderata Festival (July, 2009/Upstate, NY), Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (NY, NY) & the Times Square Performing Arts Center (NYC, NY) & in local west Philly venues such as the Rotunda, The Community Education Center & at The World Cafe Live (December 2010) & more.
Hillaria Innocentia Goodgame- poetry, song, live music & dance-the evolution of black woman's identity & control in society..Hillaria comes from a line of woman that have always seen music and performance as a ritual of life. She started singing as a child in the church choir. This was soon fallowed by dance and acting in and out of the church. When Hillaria moved to Philadelphia in 2001 she started performing her poetry in different venues in Philadelphia and New York,. A second burst of inspiration and motivation occuered after the birth of her muse, Aviv Goodgame. Hillaria began teaching dance to young girls and specializes in mentoring young woman into their own power. Hillaria has also been involved in stage production, choreography, acting, and organizing charity events. Hillaria now performs a collage of poetry, dance, music, and meditation in every performance. Hillaria believes that the expression of womanhood can't be limited to one talent and embraces all possibilities on stage. Currently a law student and mother by day, at night Hillaria invites all to join in a musical ritual of life. Hillaria's current project, MoFire , is a crystallization of a vision that employs all types of expression into a production of the mind. MoFire's musical tapestry includes, but is not limited to influence from rock and roll, South American and African rhythms, and a large dose of funk to Uplift Fallen Humanity. Links to past work:
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150122124066833
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=463535146832
Music Over Matter/M.O.M.- the dynamic all Female Philadelphia based drum ensemble & more..Music Over Matter is made up of a group of dedicated women from many walks of life, who feel and express the profound rhythm which beats within us all. M.O.M. takes special pleasure in embracing the participation of all the children of the universe. All levels of drumming expertise are welcome to participate in the weekly drumming circle. Under the expert tutelage of Founder and percussionist, Jan Jeffries, the group shares their hearts and souls with each other, while exploring the universal love of tradition buried deep in their essence by the wisdom of countless ancient ones. Although students of percussion, their rhythms and enthusiasm are inspiring; transporting the observer to an emotionally invigorating, uplifting dance of pure spiritual beauty. The music of M.O.M. feeds the souls of children, teens, and adults alike, encouraging the reticent to boldly embark on an adventure of tremendous possibilities. M.O.M. performs in various settings, including churches, schools, parties and street fairs in and around Philadelphia and New Jersey.
April 18th: Paying Homage to National Poetry Month
* Rosemary Cappello
Poet & Editor of Philadelphia Poets, will read some of her latest material
* Mel Brake
awarding-winning Philadelphia based poet/singer/song writer & arts educator shares some of his written works
* Greg Sirfir
Local poet presenting his savvy comedic pieces of word-power for the people
* Elijah B.Pringle, III
Philadelphia based poet, editor & publisher
* Plum Dragoness
where lyrical performance poetry meets in a dance w/ the spoken word/Collaborators TBA
May 16th: Fire Rite Celebration & Spring Fundraiser Festivities
more TBA