Shared Program: Nuu Knynez and Ilaria Passeri with Evelyna Dann
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Black Butoh (2024) by Nuu Knynez
Y (US Premiere) by Ilaria Passeri with Evelyna Dann
The always-captivating dance trio Nuu Knynez, current artists in residence at La MaMa, bring their distinctive style of performance to the festival. About the work, the artists write: "Three black brothers expressing their journey’s embodying the art of Krump infused with butoh, as they perform movements of joy, pain, peace, trauma, liberation, and triumph within a stage series." Created and performed by Nuu Knynez: David "Twice Light” Adelaja, Tyrell “Rocka Jamez" James, and Brian “Hallow Dreamz" Henry.
“BLACK BUTOH” By The Nuu Knynez is an impactful experience. With this production, you can expect to receive a sense of courage and empowerment through the view of a wide perspective of movements and emotions. The Knynez movements are fluid and graceful from the moment they take the stage, immediately captivating the viewers. Technically impressive, exciting and beautiful, the Knynez move in sync. Their bodies flowing as one. It’s clearly evident that they’re telling a story with their bodies, minds, and soul. Their brotherhood of emotion and energy are seen vividly in their dance performance.
The Knynez display a variety of moves, from simplistic motions to complex acrobatic feats. “BLACK BUTOH" is a truly mesmerizing experience. Everyone involved in the production are incredibly talented, and their performance is amazing, beautiful and moving. The audience is left feeling inspired, empowered and uplifted."
Ilaria Passeri (author and director) and Evelyna Dann (performer) will present the US premiere of Y, an installation/performance comprising music, sound, theater, art, and video. Y arises from human restlessness linked to the anthropized territory of contemporary society which pushes man towards the happiness of inhabiting a new space of well-being. Where the vastness of the city grows, diminishing the natural territory hand in hand, man feels the need to regenerate rather than recover the understanding between man and Nature.
Sound design by Stefano Zazzera. Visual and lighting design by Micke Tannemyr. Costume design and make-up by Roberta Scotton. Still photography and video by Peter Alt.
Brian Henry, also know as HallowDreamz, is a BrooklynBuck/Krump dancer from Bed-Stuy Brooklyn NY who was known for his audition on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (season 8). He calls his personal Krump style BROOKLYN BUCK. Brian started Krumping in 2004. Inspired by Mijo and Tight Eyez "The creators", Brian has been pushing the Krump movement in N.Y.C.since 2008, when he joined E.S.K. (East Street Kingdom, a branch of the group STREET KINGDOM founded by Tight Eyez. Brian has taught at EXPG, Broadway DanceCenter, PMT, and many more. Recently featured in Madonna's music video "Bitch, I'm Madonna" and A$Ap Ferg & Liam Bailey's "Villain". Brian also has experience in Ballet, Modern, contemporary, and African. Which makes him one of the most sought after Krump teachers.
Rocka Jamez: Born & raised in Crown Heights Brooklyn NY. Professional Dancer who specializes free form contemporary infused with the studies of KRUMP. He’s also a designer in the fields of Urban Fashion & NYFW. Playing a big role as a Street Dance Community Leader, he created a Dance platform that unites all Dance Cultures, called “Roundz Of Flame”. He participated in multiple NYFW events and achieved dance awards, features in The New York Times, VOGUE magazine and sponsorship by PUMA. Rocka was also honored to perform a dance piece for Rihanna at Parsons School Of Design | The New School Awards (2017) | with his brothers (DanceTrio) “The NUU Knynez”. As a person who likes to inspire the children, Rocka taught dance to the youth abroad, in places like Bali, Indonesia, Africa, Sweden & Berlin, Germany just to name a few. His goal is to open Schools that specializes in all of the different street dance styles, fundamentals and history.
Twice Light was born in the Bronx and raised throughout Brooklyn. He is a founding member of dance trio, The Nuu Knynez. He has shared the Webster Hall stage with Michael Jackson and has performed on the Apollo Theater stage, winning 1st place at Amateur Night with The Nuu Knynez. His dance style is ELEMENTAL: Infusing The Elements Of Earth,Wind, Fire, Water. Through his craft, he hopes to inspire others in and out of the field to live the higher version of themselves in the skin they were born in. He aims to allow his dance to stay truthful to the source of light.
Black Butoh is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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ideation/direction Ilaria Passeri
set Stefano Zazzera, Ilaria Passeri
performer Evelyna Dann
visual project/lightdesigner Micke Tannemyr
composer/sound designer Stefano Zazzera
costume designer/make-upartist Roberta Scotton
still photographer/videomaker Peter Alt
Ideation/Direction Ilaria Passeri
Ilaria Passeri, director and performer graduated in Opera Direction at"Verona Accademia per l'Opera Italiana" and graduated in History of Contemporary Art, at the University of Tuscia, on the theme and practice of Performance. Deepened performance practices in the field of Ethnoscenology with artist Françoise Gründ in France. Fundamental was the meeting with Ellen Stewart, La MaMa e.t.c. for the acquisition of the principles of Theatre in the World and the teachings of dramaturgical analysis with Maestro Quirino Principe.
She has worked in shows as director, assistant director of opera, performer, kathak dancer, in Italy, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Germany, USA, Canada, collaborating with Cultural Associations, Public and Private Bodies, Universities, Foundations and Embassies. Founder of the Eremo Teatro Celleno Cultural Association and the Roccaltia Group; member of the Fanelli International Kathak Company and founder of the Teatro Spazio Corsaro.
Performer Eveleena Dann
Eveleena Dann, performance artist, dancer, absolved “international trainee program” in Modern Dance with Merce Cunningham and Murray’s Louis: NYC, where she lived and found her artistic home La MaMa E.T.C. Now, living in Berlin and studied and performed Butoh with Atsushi Takenouchi, Yumiko Yoshioka a.o. She is also a licensed Yoga teacher and Ashtanga Yoga practicioner. Her passion is Body Language and how the unspoken and immaterial world finds expression in the body creating shape and motion.
La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival
La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival continues to support La MaMa’s commitment to presenting diverse performance styles that challenge audience’s perception of dance by featuring performance/installations, experimental film screenings & public symposiums which address dance artists’ engagement with the current political climate, as well as honoring diasporic histories and legacy, ancestral inspirations and inter-generational dialogue.