Breaking Classical
The Breaking Classical Collection draws upon classical lineage, history, cultural politics, feminism, and the boundaries and containers of classical art forms. Each artist involved engaged in a dialog with their classical lineage, and personal relationship to their location in the art form, and was then asked to ‘break’ from those traditions or call upon an aspect of the tradition(s) that felt potent and cathartic for them to explore as a performative inquiry. Three distinct sections (Aurora, Restrictions, Return) came forth as a result of this initial reflection and each has further bloomed into more nuanced inquiries.
Aurora
“Your beauty is as a sunrise; but painted. Only to be seen, the glowing warmth never felt” ~ Olivia Brown
Restrictions
“With heavy cloth cocoon your heart
From those that cannot see.”
~ Krista Leigh Pasini
Return In You
“Then everything will return in you”
~ (translation) Verdi Prati, Alcina
A deconstruction, February 2017
Breaking Classical, A Deconstruction of Ballet (2017). Commissioned by Alberta Bair Theatre's OPI Outreach. Performed at the Billings Library Community Room February 14th, 2017. A performance lecture demonstration from Olivia Brown, Carolyn Coefield, Allison Kazmierski, and Krista Leigh Pasini.
Choreography and Performance design by Krista Leigh Pasini of HaltForce Art Collective
Vocal performance by Carolyn Coefield, Soprano
Poetry by Olivia Brown of Olivia Carolynn Brown
Portrait photography by Allison Kazmierski of Font & Figure
Performance photography by Miranda Murdock Photography
Clothing design by Tiffany Miller O'Brien of Tiffany Miller Designs.
Mourning Cloak, January & February 2017
Solo Performance by Krista Leigh Pasini
Inauguration: A Celebration to Mark the Beginning January 2017
Solo Performance by Krista Leigh Pasini
Chansons for a Winter’s Night February 2017
Development research for Restrictions inspired by the Mourning Cloak Butterfly, a butterfly so named for the fringe of color at the edge of dark purple and black wings - resembling a mourning cloak. This solo performance integrated the cocoon like garment as a metaphor for the societal restrictions social etiquette of mourning as depicted by Emily Post in her book Etiquette.
Mourning Cloak Butterfly
The Mourning Cloak Butterfly is a powerful flier and one of the longest lifespans. Their wing pattern a dark purple with a fringe of vibrant color at the edges is likened to a girl who, disliking having to be in mourning, defiantly let a few inches of bright dress show below her mourning dress.
Restrictions Apply [Void Where Prohibited], June & AUgust 2018
Solo Performance by Billie Parrott
Soul Show Just Us June of 2018
Solo Performance by Billie Parrott
Dreyfest Poetry Slam August 2018
A further inquiry of both Restrictions and Mourning Cloak - exploring historical and present conversations on the expectations of women, Restrictions Apply [void where prohibited] is a provocative performance art work intended to spark dialog on the many shapes women conform to, adopt, reshape, and discard.
Restrictions Apply
[void where prohibited]
“Clothes are to us what fur and feathers are to beasts and birds; they not only add to our appearance, but they are our appearance.
A woman may be stared at because she is indiscreet, or because she looks like a left-over member of the circus, or because she is enchanting to look at. If you are stared at, what sort of stare do you usually meet? Is it bold, or mocking, or is it merely that people look at you wistfully? If the first, change your manner; if the second, wear more conventional clothes; if the third, you may be left as you are. But be sure of your diagnosis of this last” ~Emily Post
Return In You, September 2018
Performance by Carolyn Coefield and Allison Kazmierski
Invited guest performance in tribute to dance educator Jana Stockton
Return In You
“Let us not look for you only in memory,
where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows. And music echoes eternal tones”
~ John O’Donohue
Aurora, Fall 2019
Pre-production development, in progress.
Aurora
“We used to be kin, you and I, but now we are barely acquaintances. Somehow I feel within my being that I am nothing without you. You owned me for so long and I loved you. So there is life after you … I don’t know what I will find, but there is more” ~ Olivia Brown