Food For Thought: Ayesha Jordan and André D. Singleton: Social Studies
Danspace Project is pleased to present this one-night-only evening of performance (originally scheduled as part of Food for Thought in January 2016) curated by Greta Hartenstein with choreographers Ayesha Jordan & André D. Singleton and special guest Akhmose Ari* as The Compliment King!
“Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence.
The primary purpose of social studies is to help people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.”
André Singleton aka @brohogany’s preferred gender pronoun depends on the day. 🙂 #veryhuman
Ayesha Jordan is a multidisciplinary performance artist who often uses characters and stories to create indelible moments for cerebral and visceral experiences. Jordan’s characters each represent a facet of herself and act as a tool to playfully disguise herself, and to uniquely connect with guests. Her work aims to create a feeling of authenticity and genuineness that relates directly to who she is as a person. Much of Jordan’s work is about audience engagement, bringing participants as close to the work as possible – creating moments, tasks, and prompts allowing the opportunity to engage with the performer, as well as with fellow audience members. Some of her previous performances and events include Come See My Double D’s (JACK), Enter & Exit: Playing House (JACK), Enter & Exit: Family Reunion (JACK), Inter 1-to-1, and In the Tube. Other works include the video project Living Room Dance Breaks, Drunk & Famous, and a host of other songs and videos. Jordan has also been seen as an actor in Ludic Proxy, by Aya Ogawa (The Play Company), Platonov: Or the Disinherited by Jay Scheib (The Kitchen), Harold I Hate You, by Cakeface (Ars Nova & Triskelion). www.ayeshajordan.com
Born in Rochester, NY and living in Brooklyn, Greta Hartenstein received a BA in Art History and Dance from Wesleyan University. She is currently the Senior Curatorial Assistant for performance at the Whitney Museum where she has been an instrumental in planning the opening season of performance at the new building, and has previously worked on exhibitions including 2012 Biennial, 2014 Biennial, Rituals of Rented Island, and Stewart Uoo & Jana Euler: Outside Inside Sensibility. Dance is an essential part of her focus and over the past five years at the Whitney, she has worked on major projects with choreographers including Sarah Michelson, Michael Clark, taisha paggett, and Miguel Gutierrez. Outside of the Whitney, she has guest curated for Current Sessions, as well as an exhibition at Pratt entitled The Artist as Provocateur: Pioneering Performance at Pratt Institute. Greta has danced with Sophie Sotsky | TYKE DANCE since 2010, and continues to perform with the company and foster her collaborative spirit.
Food for Thought is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and City Council Member Rosie Mendez.