BUILT ON STILTS
Martha's Vineyard's Homegrown Dance & Performance Festival
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REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATING CHOREOGRAPHERS FOR 2008's festival will be July 1st, 2008. Click here FOR PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES AND TO DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION in spring of 2008.  This Program is supported in part by a grant from the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. THANK YOU to the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council and The Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust for their generous assistance in making Built on Stilts possible in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008! All participants are invited to provide links to their websites or related online information. Please e-mail Abby with information. PAST CHOREOGRAPHERS (who usually perform too!) INCLUDE: Sara Ahren Bonnie Alexander Flo Alexander Tilly Alexander Amara/ Benjamin Asriel Marta Azzollini Teo Azzollini Rhonda Backus Lily Baldwin Abby Bender Krista Brown Erin Brown Bob Buckley Victoria Campbell Tom Carberry & Janet Holladay Marlon Carey & Christopher Johnson Bobby Carlson Lorraine Chapman Bess Child/ Judie Clark/ Sally Cohn Jen Cooke Elyse Cote/ Ginger Cox/ Lori Cunningham/ Aisha Dacosta The Debate Society: Oliver Butler, Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen Richard Decker, Direct Intent Andrew Dickerson & Jason Leinwand/ Don Dilego Augusta Dillon Lucia Dillon Meredith Dillon Sarah Donnelly & Charmian Wells of Refractions Dance Collective Ann Donohue Kate Elias and Ellen Smith/ Katie Federowicz Alexis Fedor fivefour/ Lara Ruth Forman Nancy Gaffney Lea Gagnon & Lindsay Guidoboni Maendy Giordano Shandoah Goldman Jessica Gordon Iris Grace Valerie Green/ Eliza Greene Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company Laura Sargant Hall Maya Harcourt Richard Harrington Emma Hastings Meagan Hiltz Josh Howard Alexis Iammarino IMP/ Amy Jardin Lila Jasny Diane Jetmund Ilona Kamins Elizabeth Kent Kick/ (Abby Bender, Anna Luckey, Cary Baker, Sonya Robbins, Layla Childs) Jon Kinzel Roberta Kirn Judy Kranz Kelly Leonard & Sarah Hitti Nora Laudini Natalie L'etoile Devon and Karen Lodge Carol Loud Anna Luckey Rose Maidoff Alexis Major Erin Malley Mary Esther Malloy The ManDancers: Nicki Azzolini, Brian Hall, Jonah Maidoff, Paul Lazes, and Sidney Morris Anna Markwica & Samantha Rabin Kris Martin Angela Martinelli & Deanna Beattie Anita McFarlane Sheila McHugh Christina Montoya Ashley Mondrick Lily Morris Jaclyn Moynahan, JaxDance Christi and Kim Mueller Suzanna Nickerson Kim Olson (SweetEdge Dance Co.) Janessa Olsen/ Daryl Owens Kelly Peters Cathy Proulx Ana Sargent Liz Schneiter Leanne Schmidt Jessica Seeman She-Figured Dance: Jil Matrisciano, Serena Smith & Julie Carrando Eliza Sherlock-Lewis Eva Silverstein/ Marissa Schoenfeld Cheri Soule, Springfield College Dance Lindsay Stegeman Stiefel & Stars Lilah Steece Sandra Stone Wendy Taucher Daniel Taylor Tanya Vincent/ Janis Marlen Vogel Julie Whitehill Joan Wiegers White Road Dance Media Karin Wilkinson Lashanna Williams/ Zoe Wolff ADDITIONAL PAST PARTICIPANTS and PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Jilana Abrams Carol Aranzabe Matt Adams Dena Ahren Justen Ahren Sequoia Ahren Brent Alberghini Cameron Alexander Sarah Aliberti Whitney Andreser Esteban Aranzabe Adrian Aristide Emelia Armstead Melora Armstead Lindsay Ashmun Tiffany Bagg Paul Banvinue Claire Baione Katie Barany Sean "bones" Barber Sabrina Barry Lauren Beford Jen Bettencourt Caitlin Bille Brynne Billingsly Beth Blankenship-O’Connor Christine Box Breanne Brasile Tallula Brodsky Cindy Brown Sandy Broyard Della Burke Maggie Burke James Burrows Alyssa Burstein Gabriella Camilleri Norman Campbell Nina Carelli Louisa Carlson Colleen Carroll Erin Carter Ava Castro Kate Cecilio Nicole Celio Heather Chipperfield Hyosun Choi Ed Cisek Alex Clark Danny Cleary Nancy Cohen Toni Cohn Amy Cohn David Coleman Devin Colter Chris Colville Taylor Combra Alexis and MacKenzie Condon Jen Cooke Carlene Coppinger Kathy Joyce Costanza Jessica Cummens Amy Custer Courtney Daly Sheryl D'Agostino Carter D'Angelo Sharon Danley Sue Dawson Lisa Debassia Erin DeBettencourt Melissa DeGroot Molly Dickerson Jimmy Dolan Jessica Dolliver Kaitlin Dore Lucy Dougherty-Soares Will Duncan Heather Dusty Sioux Eagle Daniella Edmonds Nicole Edmonds Alley Ellis Jeffrey Enos Vivan Ewing Juniper Ezzanno Alyson Esposito Adriana Falcon Sue Farbanks Annie Finnerty Caroline Flanders Amy Fligor Emma Forbes Anne Foss Alexandra Foster Caroline Fournier Jessica Francis Chris Fried Alexa Fulginiti Cassandra Gaines Stuart Gardener Megan Gardiner Perry Garvin Treather Gassman Erica Gilbert Mary and Bella Giordano Ashley Girard Mary Glackmeyer Kirsten Glaser Clara Goldfield Rachel Goldstein Emily Goldthwait Alex GordonBeck Emily Gray Molly Gray Sam Greene Jessica Grippo Katharine Grosche Olivia Gross Diana Gaudenti Jennifer Guercio Katherine Gulick Frank Haan Alise Haigazian Ethan Hall Evan Hall Grace Hall Imani Hall Sarah Halland Rilla Hammett Maya Harcourt Diane Hartmann Maria Hastings Holly Hawks Juno Henderson Scott Hershowitz Betsy Hint Russell Hodson Lillit Hogranian Molly Houghton Ruby Hoy Haven Huck Humphrey Hutchinson Nancy Hugger Erika Hughes Marina Hutchinson Zeke Iammarino Ernie Iannacone Jason Ignacio Emma Lee Iverson Chelsea Ives Jess James Pamela-Ann James Laura Jernigan Christina Johnson Emma Johnson Sydney Johnson Phoebe Johnson Jason Jones Chris Kann Tova Katzman Adelaide Keene Thea Keene Darcy Kennedy Kate Kenney Kristen Kesner Raquel King Margaret Knight Olivia Knight Jeanne Knowles Lark Knowlses Christine Koestler Haley Krauss Melanie Krauss Scott Kunce Linnea LaRocco Heidi Larson-Arroyo Maria and Tad Lawcewicz Michelle Lazerow Jackson Lee Satchel Lee Joan LeLaucher Tonya Leonard Jocelyn Levinson Isabelle Littlefield Karen Lobdell Shannon Lobdell Alex Loftis Leslie Look Emma Lovewell Caitlin Lowe Meghan Lowell Ben Luckey Isabella Maidoff Carmen Major Sydney Maresca Megan Martiros Sonya Mayrand Mariah MacGregor Mariah MacKenzie Kimberely Mayer Alex Mazza Paige McCarthy Connie McHugh Kourtney McCullough Cary McWilliam Grant Meacham Delilah Meegan Chelsea Melone Megan Mendez Else Meyers Audrey Mills Cynthia Mills Roger Mitchell Jackie Montanile Kim Montanile Emily Moore Nina Moore Lily Morris Zion Morris Lauren Mulvey Noelle Nelson Sophie Nelson Sam Nevin Gillian O'Callaghan Christina Orloff Isabelle Ortlip-Sommers Sarah Ortlip-Sommers May V. Oskan Paul Paglia Anne Palmer Kathleen Pantos Nadia Pareja Jessica Park Eddie Parker Michael Pattarina Carolyn Paine Kristen Parece Madeleine Penicaud Melissa Perrotta Kim Petros Vicki Pfluger Claire Phelan Melissa Pilarski Jerome Pikor Michelle Pikor Ali Pina Judy Pizzella Hayley Plante Daniel Ponickly Xavier Powers Vincent Procker Molly Purves Patty Quast-French Zack Rabin Elisabeth Rainer Sheila Rayyan Gillian Reney Belle Riley Anna Elizabeth Rogero Nile Russell Shannon Rynd-Ray Anna Saluti Brianna Samyn Kristin Santos Dave Sawyer Kelly Scallion Christy Schaaf Alexandra Schoenfeld Emmie Schreck Anna Seagrave Kate Seethaler Brenda Sewall Leandra Seward Seniel Seward Jackie Sicoli Hartley Sierputoski Miya Signor Alix Sklarew Allie Slocum Betsy Smith Jason Smith Marguerite Smith Erin Spain Stephanie Spain David Stanwood John Stanwood Ralph Stewart Abbey Stone Taylor Stone Val Stoyer Sharon Strimling Gaby Sullo Sarah Swift Pat Szucs Emily Targbeh Kelsey Taylor Sofi Thanhauser Ana Thibodeau Kennedy Thomas Taylor Thomas Mariah Thompson Jessie Tomanek Lauren Turowetz Saskia Vanderhoop Zana van Rooyen Anna VanSambeck Elliot Vecchia Phyllis Vecchia Carol Vega Willa Vigneault Ava Vigneault Coby Vincent Teresa Vittucci Carrie Waldron Anna Walton Diana Waring Holly Wayman Kayla Weaver Gretchen Weber Aliya Whitaker Indaia Whitcombe Heidi White Heather White Ariel White Julie Whitehall Lynne Whiting Tabatha Whitney Amanda Whitworth Elisha Wiesner Tommy Wilkenson Lashanti Williams Carenna Willmont Alison Wilson Ariel White Heather White Yeon Seon Yoo Annie Yuen Sam Zimmerman |
Who are we?Artists, click on the REGISTER page. We are not accepting any registrations any later than July 12th, 2008. NOTE!!!!! CHANGE OF FESTIVAL DATES! August 15th-19th and 23rd-24rd, 2008 (Festival will be broken up into two portions due to Illumination and Fireworks nights) We are YOU, your friends, neighbors, children, parents, students and teachers! The Built on Stilts Dance Festival is comprised of work by members of the Vineyard Community and professional performing artists from the island and other shores. Our twelfth year celebrating the shared language of dance through an incomparably egalitarian and inspiring season of programming is slated for August 15th-19th and 23rd-24rd, 2008.  FEATURES hip hop, ballet, jazz, modern, bellly-dance, tap, theater, improv, African, comedy, drumming, poetry and oh so much more... Built on Stilts' Eleventh Annual Dance Festival was a smashing success--our most diverse season yet--packed to the rafters for 8 nights in a row! Over fifty works were presented Saturday, August 18th through Saturday, August 25th, 2006. Each evening's program featured a different arrangement of dances including modern, ballet, bellydance, salsa, hip hop, improv, poetry, comedy, theater and much more. Thanks to all the performers and choreographers and the incredible outpouring of support from our audiences! If you are interested in purchasing a DVD or video of a particular evening from the 2005, 2006 or 2007 shows, or obtaining a copy of the retrospective film we screened for our 10-year anniversary festival, please email Abby at shakes9999@ Tee-shirts from 2007 are still available as well and donations are always welcomed! Don't hesitate to contact Abby with any questions or concerns. The Martha's Vineyard Built on Stilts project was spearheaded by Abby Bender and Anna Luckey in 1997 in the hopes of creating an all-inclusive, grassroots performance venue for island artists. The pair are two of the five founding members of the former New York City-based collective dance company KICK STAND DANCE which enjoyed a long partnership from 1998-2005. The group cooperatively ran the Brooklyn based studio and theater, Triskelion Arts, a highly active rehearsal and performance center for theater, dance and circus arts, now under Abby's direction. Built on Stilts has grown substantially since its inception, and what began in August 1997 as a magical one-night performance of the works of seven choreographers, has evolved into an enormous festival of the island's remarkable artistic spirit. The event now runs seven nights and features more than fifty original dance pieces and other performing arts presented by dozens of performers from near and far. Interested visiting artists are encouraged to bring their work to the island for the festival. Built on Stilts is a creative playground for both children and adults, from beginners to professionals, representing diverse stylistic backgrounds. Over the years, the event has showcased ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, tap, breakdance, bellydance, tai chi, movement theater, circus arts, pilates-based dance, mime, improvisation, spoken word and, of course, a bit of stilting. Each performance has traditionally opened with an improvisational drum circle open to all willing musicians. The rhythms bouncing down Circuit Avenue draw in passersby, flooding the gates of the historic Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs, which has housed the festival since its inception. As included in the program handed out to audiences each year, the founders write:
And so each summer, we join together to make new dances in a few fleeting weeks, juggling our work schedules to dance with parks and backyards as our training grounds. Built on Stilts has found its home in this beautiful performance space and has made possible the discovery of friends and fellow artists who might otherwise remain strangers. Collectively, we have built a inimitable summer dance community so that we may ALL share our love of dance with you. We are endlessly grateful for the efforts of everyone involved in this project. Built on Stilts becomes increasingly important to us with each passing year, both as artists and members of a larger community. As we stand in awe of the festival’s growth over its ten years, we are so proud to have spawned an annual island tradition. Our doors are always open and we are thankful that we have been able to nourish our roots here. We encourage any of you who wish to be involved in the project to give it a go. We certainly are glad we have. --Abby and Anna BUILT ON STILTS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HELP FROM THE FOLLOWING AMAZING PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS: We extend tremendous thanks to Rich Greene at The Union Chapel, to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust for ensuring the longevity of this beloved space, to Brent Alberghini, Cameron Alexander, and Ernie Iannacone, without whom we would be in the dark. Thanks to Brian and Laura Hall, Bonnie & Sandy Alexander, the Point Way Artists Residence, the MVCC, the island’s newspapers, our fabulous ushers, Scott Hershowitz and all the musicians and of course YOU our undyingly supportive audience. The B.O.S. Crew for 2007 Director/ Stiltshop & Advancedshop Director: Abby Bender Stiltshop Assistant Instructors: Lucia Dillon and Eliza Greene Lights/ Music Improv. Leaders: Scott Hershowitz and Paul Thurlow If you would like to help us continue our efforts, donation boxes are located at the doorways of the chapel. Donations may also be mailed to: Abby Bender Built on Stilts General Delivery Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or mid-September through June to Abby Bender 9 Richardson St. #2R Brooklyn, NY 11211 Checks must be made payable to Abby Bender marked in the memo line for “Built on Stilts”. Any and all help you are able to provide is gratefully appreciated and will be applied directly to production expenses for this and future Built on Stilts events. Please keep in mind that 90% of the funding for this event comes from your genereous contributions! Thank you!  from Abby's "Septic Crisis" at The Yard in a July 06' performance to benefit Built on Stilts. The Yard presented "Comedy and Classics," on July 24th, 2006, a shared program to benefit Built on Stilts and The Yard. The performance featured three revised BOS favorites by Stilts' director, Abby Bender alongside the masterwork "The Moors Pavane" and classic solos from the Limón Dance Company. It was an unusual and engaging pairing performed to a packed house. Click here for a review of the show.  This is you - having fun - whether you're part of the show, or in the audience. |
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