Set to a soundscape of ambient blues music, why are you all still here begins in a space of curiosity and play, remembering and rebuilding. With choreography by Gillian Ebersole & Shannon Nulf and live music by Ben Court (fka Muddytooth), this work explores the connection between knick knacks and nostalgia. Inspired by the items that stick with us, persisting even after every iteration of spring cleaning, we embody the objects of affection from our childhoods.
What does it mean to rediscover wonder as an adult? why are you all still here seeks to reckon with the feeling of finding characters in our lives that remind us of our past. A pair of pink plastic dinosaurs that became lifelines during the early days of the pandemic. A piece of wall art that displays a queer love story. A statue of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet holding a balloon.
Through gesture and moments of rigor, we make meaning, again and again, in the same way that we do with our treasures. Movement unfolds through tenderness and strength, arriving at the realization that we have carried these pieces of ourselves with us all along.
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Gillian Ebersole (they/them) is a dancer and choreographer, as well as a poet, dance critic, and researcher. Gillian graduated Summa Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a dual degree in Dance and English. Performed on stages in Los Angeles, Denver, and Paris, as well as across Berkshire County, their choreographic work merges a love for language and for movement. Gillian trained with Denver contemporary dance company Wonderbound, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, Whyteberg, Gibney, and Bill T. Jones. Currently, Gillian works for Berkshire Pulse as the Marketing/PR & Curriculum Coordinator.
Shannon Nulf (she/her) is a movement artist whose work reflects her commitment to human connection. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BFA in Dance and minors in Movement Science and Performing Arts Management. At U-M, she worked with artists such as Urban Bush Women, Rosie Herrera, Joel Valentin-Martinez, Charli Brissey, Fabiola Torralba, Sydney Schiff, Kelly Hirina, Jen Peters, and Melissa Brading. She currently choreographs and performs in Berkshire County, and teaches Ballet, Modern, and Contemporary at Berkshire Pulse in Housatonic, MA.
Together, Gillian and Shannon have performed and presented work at multiple venues in Berkshire County, including Jacob’s Pillow, The Foundry, and Chesterwood. Their work explores queer whimsy, vulnerability, and gentleness.
Ben Court (fka Muddytooth) is dancer, musician, writer, and educator in Western Massachusetts. Ben grew up in Western New York, where he played in punk and experimental music groups beginning in his teens. He studied Musicology in Los Angeles and, in 2017 received his Ph.D. from UCLA. His scholarship explores the politics of musical “amateurism” – music by individuals who claimed not to know how to play music, but nevertheless became musicians. He has published articles in Music & Letters, Popular Music and Society, and Third Text, among others. In 2021, he joined the Chicago Footwork crew Creation Global and began releasing self-produced Footwork music. For the past three years, he has also been recording and performing solo guitar music as Muddytooth. In 2021, he joined the staff at Berkshire Pulse, a center for dance and the creative arts in Housatonic, MA.
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Tickets: $18 in advance / $20 at door
Seating/Bar: 7:00PM Show: 7:30PM
This event is indoors.
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Parking is limited at the venue so please utilize the three public parking lots in Town. One is across from the Post Office, one is behind Berkshire Bank and the other is just off Main Street. They are clearly marked. Do not park at Trúc Orient Express Restaurant or the Post Office or you might receive a ticket.