Bandelion is exploring dance/theater modalities that feel like sitting around the campfire, sharing stories and songs. FolkSing Practice is an experiment in community-building, artistic intimacy, the merging of dance/theater/music into one unified form, improvisation, and the returning of contemporary performance to grass-roots accessibility. Audiences join performers in a circle for an experimental conversation. Bandelion shares stories, songs, dances, and creative prompts. We all stay open to the unfolding of this unique experience, with each unique combination of folks. Everyone is invited to make themselves comfortable—sitting in a chair, lying on the floor, standing, moving, napping, meditating, and/or singing along.

Founded in 1996 by Eric Kupers and Kimiko Guthrie, Dandelion Dancetheater is situated at the crossroads of dance, theater, music, community activism, healing, and new performance. Bandelion is Kupers’ core ensemble within Dandelion (founded in 2006.) We are inspired by Physically Integrated Dance, in which people with and without disabilities figure out how to move and create together, and set up accessible structures for performance. Our work includes different ability levels due to disabilities and devotion to different artistic disciplines. Bandelion rehearses and trains together all year long, ongoing. We are continually experimenting with intersections of artistic forms and intimacy.

Eric Kupers (Director and Performer)
Eric Kupers has co-directed, choreographed, and performed with Dandelion Dancetheater since its inception. Eric is a Professor of Dance and Inclusive Performance at Cal State University East Bay. He is the director of Bandelion (his core research collaboration within Dandelion Dancetheater founded in 2006,) as well as the CSUEB Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble (founded in 2006,) which brings together students, alumni, community members and professional performers with and without disabilities and from diverse cultures to create original performance works. Eric has been a resident artist at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, CELLspace, Jon Sims Center for the Arts, and ODC Theater.

Bandelion (Collaborator-Performers)
Bandelion is an ensemble of artists, designers, teachers, activists, parents, spiritual seekers, misfits, oddballs, outcasts, outsiders, visionaries, and other Walks-Between folks. We are: Bruce Bierman, Dawn Holtan, Corissa "Reese" Johnson, Nils "Becky" Jorgensen, Eric Kupers, Amy Marie, Keith Penney, Frances Sedayao, and Deborah Trudell.