Come celebrate the life and death of No Mirror Movement - a San Francisco based mission-driven dance collective that has been modeling what it means to be all levels, all styles and all bodies for six years. Since it’s inception in 2016, the group has always danced outside with no mirrors - as both political statement in reclaiming public spaces for dancing and The group’s legacy is one of radical love, innovative storytelling and rejecting conditioned norms impeding an authentic relationship with the music, the body and each other.
Season 1 Dance Collective Members (left to right): Solasta McIntyre Ethridge, Natalia Vasquez, Jamie Wong, Ashley Eala, Pita Meanata, Louise Wo, Juliette Blank, JT Ebarvia, Marco Martinez, Tatyana Topsana, Celina Culver and Leah Worthington.
The event:
A chance to experience the people, methods and lessons learned of No Mirror Movement. Roll thru for as much of the journey as you can:
6:00-7:00 pm —> Community Meet n Greet: a chance for the company’s alumni, supporters and the wider community of people who love dance to come together, (re)build relationships and experience some of No Mirror Movement’s classic community building exercises.
7:00-8:00 pm —> Wisdom Share Panel: a chance to learn about the experiences, approaches, challenges and visions of this unique group of dancers. The panel will cover already established topics such as accessibility in dance, intentional community building, nonprofit management, the impacts on dance communities from pandemic, and experimental movement therapy. There will also be time for Q&A. Panelists are alumni of the dance company.
8:00-9:00 pm —> No Mirrorz Method Class: experience what a typical rehearsal would have been like through a journey of somatic mindfulness, cypher and choreographic practices. Facilitated by Founder: Solasta McIntyre Ethridge, previously known as SammyMac.
9:00-10:00 pm —> Dance Party / Freestyle Session: get down to some tunes provided by our founders alter ego: DJ Prince Lucky as we celebrate our Last Dance session and six years of community, dance and evolution.
Note:
The event will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person. The live stream will be recorded and available to event registrants indefinitely.
Season Three - Scene from No Mirror Movement’s full-length production “Kinesthesis” - performed twice to an oversold crowd at the Joe Goode Annex in San Francisco. Pictured (left to right): Kristie Lui, Scott Wong, Pita Meanata, Leah Worthington, Juliette Blank and Solasta McIntyre Ethridge
A short history:
Founded by Solasta McIntyre Ethridge in 2016 after recovering from an eating disorder very much influenced by toxic dance norms, this group of rainbow rebels has performed all over the bay including Pride, Mission Dance Theatre, 1015 Folsom, DNA Lounge, and the Joe Goode Annex. In its time, the group has also contributed to the Waacking community through its annual jams such as Creativity takes Courage, You Are Magic, and Return of the Whack.
The groups mission has evolved over time and at the end of its life, remains steadfast in the power of accepting ones self so one can accept others. Strongly rooted in trauma-informed care, Health At Every Size, and somatic psychology, the group has been quietly at the forefront of experimental accessible dance movement for therapeutic and intentional community building purposes.
The group has had the privilege of calling Ohlone land its home and honors the many ways in which its people are still fighting for recognition, reparation, and rematriation by the state and its occupiers. The groups first ever audition and open call community class was at the Palace of Fine Arts. Dolores Park Playground was its home base for season 1, and then transitioned to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Plaza where our final event takes place today. The group has had four official seasons, with fourth one being cut short due to pandemic.
Watch some of the groups performance and concept video history here.
Join us for the festival kickoff:
Season 2 Dance Collective Members (left to right): Ton Tubig, Marco Martinez, Juliette Blank, Natalia Vasquez, Ashley Eala, Hannah, Leah Worthington, Louise Wo, Brianna Maltez, Tatyana Topsana, Solasta McIntyre Ethridge, Pita Meanata and JT Ebarvia.