The importance of a dance project can be measured in the many years dedicated to its creation or
in the number of lives transformed. Now in its 20th year, the Pat Graney
Company’s artist residency program for women in prison brings together
both visual and performing artists to help incarcerated women and girls.
This year’s Keeping the Faith project was held at Mission Creek
Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW) in Belfair, Washington. In past
years, KTF projects have been conducted at Echo Glen Children’s Center
and King County Juvenile Detention in Washington, Excelsior Girls School
in Colorado, FCI Lowell and FCI Broward in Florida, Houston City Jail
in Texas, MCI Framingham in Massachusetts, Red Rock Juvenile Center and
Estrella Jail in Arizona, River City Correctional Center in Ohio,
Shakopee Women’s Prison in Minnesota, Washington State Corrections
Center for Women, Bahia Women’s Prison in Brazil, Munich City Jail in
Germany, Dochas Centre/MountJoy Prison in Ireland and Tokyo Girls
Detention in Japan.
The 2016 project concludes with two performances on June 24 and June 25 at MCCCW. Working with the women at MCCCW were visual artists Rachel Brumer and Devon Midori Hale, ASL instructor Vicky Mosely, writer Natasha Marin, ex-offender Sebastian Raine, project coordinator Erica Reich, choreographer and project director Pat Graney along with three dance interns Kate Pope, Sarah Hogland and Tyisha Nedd. Set to the theme of “Welcome to My Table,” the participants used movement, writing, visual art, sound and text to explore into the formation of individual identity.
The performances this week will include American Sign Language interpretations of “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone and “Hello” by Adele, a mixed-media visual art piece, dancing with an iconic red table, an energizing stomp routine, and original writings. Guest artist Natasha Marin has also contributed her poetic tracing of one’s own heritage, "Red Lineage," to the program. As in past years, the participating women will perform their own movement and writing to an audience including 100 members of the general public, the prison staff and 300 of their incarcerated peers.
To learn more about Keeping the Faith, check the Pat Graney website.
The 2016 project concludes with two performances on June 24 and June 25 at MCCCW. Working with the women at MCCCW were visual artists Rachel Brumer and Devon Midori Hale, ASL instructor Vicky Mosely, writer Natasha Marin, ex-offender Sebastian Raine, project coordinator Erica Reich, choreographer and project director Pat Graney along with three dance interns Kate Pope, Sarah Hogland and Tyisha Nedd. Set to the theme of “Welcome to My Table,” the participants used movement, writing, visual art, sound and text to explore into the formation of individual identity.
The performances this week will include American Sign Language interpretations of “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone and “Hello” by Adele, a mixed-media visual art piece, dancing with an iconic red table, an energizing stomp routine, and original writings. Guest artist Natasha Marin has also contributed her poetic tracing of one’s own heritage, "Red Lineage," to the program. As in past years, the participating women will perform their own movement and writing to an audience including 100 members of the general public, the prison staff and 300 of their incarcerated peers.
To learn more about Keeping the Faith, check the Pat Graney website.