Across the Floor: Anniversary Edition #8

Illuminated by soul and funk music during the 50s and mid 70s, Staycee and Herman Pearl premiered the production sol. at the first pearlPRESENTS Dance Festival in summer of 2019. sol. echoes the emphatic sounds of the musical phenomenon and exceeds it with powerful and elegant movement. The sumptuous vibes fill the space to the brim, abundant with dancers embodying the relentless energy of the era in overwhelming floral and retro patterns. This week we wrap up the 10th anniversary of STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos and the birthday of co-founding artistic director Staycee Pearl, reflecting on the innovative sounds and enduring memories of joy that soul music made and continues to move generations in this Q&A and our Spotify playlist expertly curated by STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos.

Across the Floor: Anniversary Edition #7

In the 2019 production of sym, STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos tunneled through the paradoxical universe of vampires and humans to navigate symbiosis, gender identity and race inspired by Octavia Butler’s “Fledgling.” Transcendent, fixed, and changing, Staycee and Herman conjured a deep naturalism with live experimental music by musicians Sadie Powers, Bonnie Jones, & Soy Sos as well as artwork by acclaimed visual artist Barbara Weissberger.

Across the Floor: Anniversary Edition #6

In 2017, Staycee and Herman revisited their love for jazz vocalist, composer, and civil rights activist Abbey Lincoln in their production ABBEY: In The Red. Rather than pull directly from raw compositions of Lincoln’s music, the production concentrates on the intricacies of her voice and historical influence during the Jazz age with a contemporary arrangement of her work. STAYCEE PEARL dance project was accompanied in the August Wilson Center with a live quintet of woodwinds, strings and electronics curated by Herman Pearl and arranged by saxophonist Ben Opie. However, they didn’t just stop there.

Across the Floor: Anniversary Edition #5

Following playground, Staycee and Herman Pearl rekindled their love for the ‘90s nightlife in the production of FLOWERz. FLOWERz bottles the relentless and ecstatic energy of the house music scene, pulling from memories of Staycee’s experiences in dance clubs and Herman’s discoveries as a music producer during the time. STAYCEE PEARL dance project dancers not only explored movement professionally, but also investigated social dances and partnered phrases to bring the party scene to the stage. This week, we circled back to Staycee and Herman Pearl on the importance of creating FLOWERz and performing it in 2016.

Across the Floor: Anniversary Edition #4

After OCTAVIA, which drew inspiration from the life and sci-fi works of Octavia Butler and …on being…which explored race, gender, and identity, STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos decided to lighten the mood with PLAYGROUND in 2014. PLAYGROUND examined movement in the context of a simpler and more innocent time: childhood. Melding childhood reminisces, PLAYGROUND explored movement, topography, and memory. In today’s 10 year retrospective, we travel back in time with SPdp&SS dancer, Jessica Marino Mitcham. Read on for a glimpse behind the piece!

Across the Floor: Our Favorite Warm-Ups | Part 2

In addition to the PearlArts Round-up, we’ll be putting a spotlight on all things dance with "Across The Floor every month. This month, we checked in with STAYCEE PEARL dance project company dancers, Latrea Rembert, Jess Marino, Kaitlin Kulasa, and Joy-Marie Thompson on their favorite warm-ups to get you ready to move!

Across the Floor: Our Favorite Warm-Ups | Part 1

In addition to the PearlArts Round-up, we’ll be putting a spotlight on all things dance with "Across The Floor every month. This month, we checked in with STAYCEE PEARL dance project company dancers, Latrea Rembert, Jess Marino, Kaitlin Kulasa, and Joy-Marie Thompson on their favorite warm-ups to get you ready to move!

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