Indigenous Pitch Dance offers Reflexions on their work in New Orleans, Haiti, and North Philadelphia

March 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective (IPDC) will be presenting six evenings of Dance/Theater entitled Reflexions. Works presented are indicative of the outreach IPDC has done in Haiti, North Philly and New Orleans with children traumatized by natural and/or sociology-economic disasters. The program will feature new work from Stephen Welsh/Swerve, Charles Tyson’s Underground Danceworks, the Monster Squad and several independent choreographers.

Reflexions will be held at the Performance Garage at 1515 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia, PA on March 22nd at 7:30 PM, March 23 and 24th at 8 PM, March 29th at 7:30 PM and March 30th and 31st at 8 PM. Tickets are $20 at the door; $15 in advance. $10 students/seniors. They are available online at danceboxoffice.com

Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective was formed in 2006 to create new work for Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The core companies included Binc, Illadelphlave, and Underground Dance Works. After a successful run during Fringe, the collective formalized Indigenous Pitch as a performing arts group.

In 2007, director of First Position Movement Arts Center, Lisa Welsh, attended a presentation given by Pastor Mike Hogg of Canal Street Presbyterian Church on the work he was doing in New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He invited visiting teams to contribute whatever resources they could towards reconstruction. After viewing photos of the obliterated homes and victimized children, Lisa was inspired to bring hope back to these forgotten youth. Upon contacting Pastor Hogg, a free one week dance camp was proposed for area children in desperate need of involvement.

The initial IDPC effort comprised of eleven volunteer instructors made the camp a reality, traveling to New Orleans that summer to teach  dance to over 60 children ages 6-18. Two daily technique classes were offered in Hip-Hop, Ballet, Tap, Breakin’, Afro-Modern, Jazz Funk, and Yoga. The children also engaged in improvisation games, art projects and basic choreography. Each day of the week had specific themes that included Community, Trust, Future/Dreams, and Water. Each child received a journal, which was used to probe questions raised by these themes as well as a place to write his/her innermost thoughts. The week culminated with a performance of choreography based on these personal accounts and a cook out for the entire community. The collaborative dance was profoundly cathartic for performer and viewer alike. The unique bonds that were formed during this intense artistic exchange has continued to last.

Indigenous Pitch has continued to return to New Orleans for a three-week camp each summer, building relationships and offering an opportunity for children to gain self-confidence, trust in the future and the life skills necessary to move forward beyond the tragic events, that so effected their lives.

Since New Orleans, IDPC expanded their program on an international level, offering healing arts programs to the children of Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2012.

In addition, IDPC continues with programs for children in North Philadelphia. With the recent dissolving of after school programs, the need for organized, constructive, and creative outlets for urban youth is critically necessary. IDPC plans on partnering with existing family service organizations with their uniquely transformative approach. IPDC will soon be offering dance camps after school and during school holidays with the added benefit of child care for many working parents.

In performance, Indigenous Pitch continues to produce works of artistic excellence that also display their belief in a more compassionate society.


Reflexions
Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective
3/22 @ 7:30pm, 3/23 & 3/24 @ 8pm
3/29 @ 7:30pm, 3/30 & 3/31 @ 8pm
Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia
Tickets online at DanceBoxOffice.com

# # #

PhiladelphiaDANCE.org was established in 2005 as a resource and hub for dance related information, advocacy and service in the greater Philadelphia region