Everybody’s Chance Dance

Inspired by the Merce Cunningham’s Choreography by Chance technique, Liz Lerman’s community engagement strategies, and traditional Cherokee values, Maura Garcia interacted with the community by asking questions about the look, form, direction and feel of Everybody’s Chance Dance. Following the responses, Garcia invited attendees to join her for the physical creation, rehearsal, and eventual performance of the completed piece.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Oppenstein Park, Maura Garcia asked  pedestrians and visitors (along with social media requests) what it was they would like to experience in this site-specific, community-choreographed piece.

At 12:15 p.m. the choreographing with community volunteers began. All were invited to join in! Group rehearsal followed as members of the community, along with Maura Garcia, learned the site-specific dance of their creation.

The performance of the completed dance followed at 1:00 p.m., with an open invitation to perform alongside Garcia! This was the culmination of the event, uniting the community and place together to truly present Everybody’s Chance Dance.

Click here to read the blog post for the performance 

Date and Location

This collaborative experience took place in Oppenstein Park on July 9th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Bio

Maura Garcia is a local dancer/choreographer who collaborates within communities to create stories of identity and place. She is fascinated by stories that have been hidden and the unexpected connections that arise when they are rediscovered. Originally from North Carolina, Garcia is an Indigenous woman (Cherokee and Mattamuskeet) who brings her own mixed-blood southern story to her works. She specializes in multimedia, one-woman shows involving audience participation and community members as performers.  Concerns about the perpetuation of Cherokee lifeways, the environment, and social justice underlie her creations. Garcia uses her art to empower, to form connections, to uplift indigenous cultural values, and to explore the rhythms of the natural world.