Daily May 19-30 Noon
Jewels in the Square

Union Square
FREE

Presented by MJM Management and SFIAF

Come to Union Square for free site specific shows and outdoor sneak previews of performances by various local and international artists performing as part of SFIAF. The performances include participants in SFIAF's MASH Program. This year's MASH artists are Aura Fischbeck Dance, Dance/Theater Shannon, FACT/SF, Ishika Seth & Dancers, Iu-Hui Chua, Kelly Bowker & Dancers and Nguyen Dance Company.

For a full calendar of SFIAF Jewels in the Square Performances go here

For more information on individual MASH artists go here

To apply to be in MASH 2011 go here

Thur. - Sat. May 20-22. 8:00pm
DEREVO (Russia)
Harlekin (2009, U.S. Premiere)
Cowell Theatre, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by SFIAF

One day, when I was crossing customs, in the form field "Occupation" I wrote "Harlequin." The customs officer asked me what it meant. I answered: "this is what I have been doing for many years in the theatre."

"You should write 'Actor,'" he said. I apologized. He smiled. Going away from his desk I could feel his glare on my back. And I suddenly realized that I was walking differently. Lighter, snappier . . . as if I was 300 years younger.

(Anton Adasinsky, artistic director, DEREVO)

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Thur. May 20, 8:30pm Sat. May 22 9:00pm, Sun. May 23 2:00pm
Dana Lawton Dances (U.S.A.)
Who Is She? (World Premiere)
shared billing with Studio Rue Dance
Southside Theatre, Fort Mason
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by Dana Lawton Dances

A new work choreographed by Dana Lawton in collaboration with international artists, Rosana Barragan (Columbia), Jia Wu (China) and nationally recognized artist, CatherineMarie Davalos. Who is She is a 36 minute dance quartet exploring feminine myths of female icons in literature (Lysistrata, Sappho), music (Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday), dance (Twyla Tharp, Martha Graham) and culture (The Virgin Mary, Marilyn Monroe). Original music composed by EJ Youngblood.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Thur. May 20, 8:30pm Sat. May 22 9:00pm, Sun. May 23 2:00pm
Studio Rue Dance (The Republic of Congo & U.S.A.)
Clinic (U.S. Premiere)
shared billing with Dana Lawton Dances
Southside Theatre, Fort Mason
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by Studio Rue Dance & SFIAF

Clinic is a solo dance theatre performance created and performed by Byb Chanel Bibene, the company's artistic director. Clinic explores how racism, greed and power separate people while simultaneously denying basic human necessities. While at times a self-reflective piece, Clinic delves into universal concerns while calling for Mbongui to heal our wounds. In traditional Congolese culture, Mbongui is the community square, serving many societal needs: problems are solved, history is passed down and guests are shown hospitality.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Tue. May 25, 8pm
The Foundry (U.S.A)
Please Love Me (San Francisco Premiere)
Dovre Club
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by The Foundry, Headlands Center for the Arts & SFIAF in Association with the Maggie Allysee National Center for Choreography

Please Love Me is a single mixed-media work that challenges the notions of site-specificity and aims to create a new work that is modular by design and free from the confines of creating and presenting work in a formal theater space. The piece consists of a distilled movement vocabulary, deliberately chosen for its effectiveness in a diversity of situations, venues and cultural contexts, and will be developed by the company in collaboration with digital-media artist Les Stuck. Please Love Me proposes that work can be created with complexity and rigor and can be accessible to audiences as a moving and startling art experience outside of the formal theater and in often-unpredictable spaces.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Sun. May 23. 4:00pm
Collage, featuring Black Sea Surf (U.S.A.)
Moments (World Premiere)
Cowell Theatre, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by Collage

Experience the power, energy and joy that is Collage, Boston's award-winning fusion dance company performs its signature high-energy mix of traditional dance forms reinterpreted through contemporary choreography. Their first appearance at SFIAF features some of Collage's award-winning pieces, drawing from the traditions of Eastern Europe. Collage will be joined by Black Sea Surf, a new Balkan band that enlivens the traditional sounds of Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, the Roma, Turkey and more with modern instrumentation and interpretation.

ARTIST INFORMATION

Thur.-Sat. May 27-29 8:00pm, Sun. May 30 5:00pm
inkBoat with Ko Murobushi (Japan & U.S.A.)
The Crazy Cloud Collection (World Premiere)
Z Space @ Theater Artaud, 450 Florida Street
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by inkBoat, U.S. / Japan Cultural Trade Network & SFIAF

Crazy Cloud is a collision. The life of 15th century Buddhist monk and poet Ikkyu Sojun meets modern humanity, and questions arise that provoke and prod the order of our lives. Crazy Cloud Collection is choreographed by Ko Murobushi, recognized in Japan as a leading inheritor of Hijikata's original vision of Butoh, and Shinichi Iova-Koga, a younger generation artist who has created a hybrid form of performance integrating Butoh dance, physical theater and music. Together, these artists search for the ghost of Ikkyu.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Thur. May 27 8:00pm, Fri. May 28 9:00pm, Sat. May 29 7:00pm
A.K.Y.S. Project (France, U.S. Debut)
100% Croissance (2006, U.S. Premiere)
Cowell Theatre, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by SFIAF and the San Francisco Circus Center

The hyper-talented A.K.Y.S. Project from Lyon led by artistic director, circus trained Vietnamese-French Xavier Kim, make their first ever U.S. appearance with an extremely engaging multi-disciplinary work titled 100% Croissance (100% Growth) about the cycles of competition and collaboration and acrobatic travails of contract workers in the 21st Century high tech industry.

A.K.Y.S. stands for Always Keep Your Smile; a fitting motif for the times.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Fri. May 28 7:00pm, Sat. May 29 9:00pm, Sun. May 30 2:00pm
Erica Essner Performance Co-Op (U.S.A.)
Moon Uprising (2009, Excerpt). You Go, I Go (2007, West Coast Premiere)
shared billing with Gretchen Garnett & Dancers
Southside Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by Erica Essner Performance Co-Op and SFIAF

Erica Essner and her five member company return to San Francisco from New York City as part of the company's 20th anniversary celebrations. The Co-Op was a Bay Area fixture before relocating to the East Coast in 2000. The company presents a section of Moon Uprising that was created as part of a residency at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in Tivoli, NY and features an original score by composer Miguel Frasconi. You Go, I Go is performed to music by Gustavo Santaolalla and features traditional Argentinean music infused with polyrhythm and harmonic overtones.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Fri. May 28 7:00pm, Sat. May 29 9:00pm, Sun. May 30 2:00pm
Gretchen Garnett & Dancers (U.S.A.)
Intermediate Levels of Disturbance (World Premiere)
shared billing with Erica Essner Performance Co-Op
Southside Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by Gretchen Garnett & Dancers and SFIAF

Intermediate Levels of Disturbance looks into the growing homogenization of the American landscape and the long-term effects it has on our lives and our communities. In the natural world, diversity is fundamental for the survival of species and environments. Living creatures depend on each other in order to survive. Instead of taking inspiration from nature, when Americans create their communities and environments they build massive one-stop shops that specialize primarily in convenience and low prices. Intermediate Levels of Disturbance confronts the ideas of progress, sustainability and growth and questions whether our communities can be both bigger and better. The piece takes the point of view that humans can learn from the natural intelligence of the world to create thriving communities.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Fri. May 28 9:00pm
Company Prototype Status (Switzerland, U.S. Debut)
Marvin (2004), Frozen (2007), Caso & Caos (2009) U.S. Premieres
NOTE: Marvin will be repeated as part of a split bill on Sat. May 29 at 7:00pm with Keith Hennessy and Sun. May 30 at 4:00pm with Christian Burns and Anthony Discenza
Southside Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center
$25 General Admission, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by swissnex San Francisco, the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco and SFIAF. With the support of the Arts Council of Switzerland, Pro Helvetia.

Company Prototype Status from Vevey in Switzerland makes its U.S. Debut with solo performances by artistic director, Jasmine Morand (Frozen) and (Caso & Caos) and Marvin (biomechanical birth of an android), which is an intriguing and intense solo performance choreographed by artistic director, Jasmine Morand and performed by David N. Russo. Marvin is 35 minutes in length and, as its sub-title suggests, chronicles the first moments of life of a being of artificial intelligence. The piece is danced expertly by Russo who gives a virtuosic performance seamlessly executing movement combinations ranging from classical ballet to butoh with grace and skill. The sound score, mixed live onstage by Berkeley, CA based Enrique Gonzalez Müller adds to the intensity of the work.

The performance will be preceded by a reception hosted by swissnex San Francisco and the Consulate General of Switzerland at 7:30pm. All ticket holders are invited.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Sat. May 29 7:00pm.
Keith Hennessy / Circo Zero (U.S.A.)
Almost Nothing, Almost Everything
Southside Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center
$25 General Admission, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Shared bill with Company Prototype Status
Presented by Keith Hennessy and SFIAF

Keith Hennessy comes to SFIAF to improvise: to invent a performance from almost nothing, accessing almost everything. Curious about histories of moving bodies and bodily movement, Hennessy's improvisations are a dynamic mash-up of Judson, body art, stand up, Ridiculous, Modern, lecture, and ritual (where Ridiculous means, among other things, subversive camp, and ritual is about how a group of people experience magic and/or death together). He might go off on a political rant, he might take questions from the audience, and he'll probably change costumes and be naked. Hennessy's all-improv concerts are rarely presented in the Bay Area but have been recently featured and praised in New York at Dance Theatre Workshop, in Mexico at the Prisma Foru, and in Germany at Ponderosa.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Sat. May 29 9:00pm, Sun. May 30 7:00pm
Amy Seiwert / im'ij-re with Frieder Weiss (U.S.A. & Germany)
White Noise (World Premiere)
Cowell Theatre, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center
$25 Reserved Seating, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Presented by im'ij-re and SFIAF

The final performance of the 2010 Festival is a landmark collaborative project between im'ij-re artistic director, choreographer Amy Seiwert and Freider Weiss of Nuremburg the author of EyeCon and Kalypso, video motion sensing programs especially designed for use with dance, music and computer art. White Noise focuses on the human urge to polarize versus unify. The phrase, "I'm right, you're wrong" paints a black and white worldview caught in duality, where ideas are clung to and value systems point out differences rather than connections. Just as all sound can be canceled out with the presence of white noise, a question will arise as to whether the serene state is transcendent or dismissive.

ARTIST INFORMATION  |  ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Sun. May 30 4:00pm
Christian Burns & Anthony Discenza (U.S.A.)
Beneath Your Sheltering Hand (2007)
Southside Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center
$25 General Admission, $20 in advance. Series Discounts Available.
Go Here for Information on discount tickets.
BOX-OFFICE: 800-838-3006
Shared bill with Company Prototype Status
Presented by Christian Burns, Anthony Discenza and SFIAF

San Francisco based choreographer Christian Burns and Oakland based video artist Anthony Discenza collaborated to create a work for solo performer with text and video projection. Beneath Your Sheltering Hand investigates the oppressive nature of mass media and the effects of being constantly exposed to a flux of dense, highly censored and edited information broadcast without context; a condition that inhibits any real sense being made of it. The artists comment, "The media portrays itself as benevolent and enlightening (or sheltering) but in fact we're being crushed beneath its force."

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES