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Jo Kreiter is a remarkable innovator using aerial dance as communication on social issues. For the world-premiere of Flyaway Productions' “Needles to Thread: Dancing Along these Lines in Continuum Alley," Oct. 1-10, 2015 she brought into focus the plight of the Chinese Ladies Garment Workers Union and their subsequent problems breaking the color barrier, in wage insecurity and the endless problems of working women. The program at Continuum Alley, a San Francisco Tenderloin space was 'staged' in three parts: on fire escapes where the dancers climbed and gestured and narrated the conditions of life at the sewing machines; a second 'flying' section over the center of the alley; and a third climbing and dancing across a white wall, swinging with dresses in hand, creating a moving kaleidoscope of work well done. The show's program handout states “Flyaway Productions has a long history of transforming oral into public art, articulating the experience of invisible populations of women.” My strong memory is of the production honoring women who built the Bay Area bridges. These events in what is humorously referred to as ‘off-the-ground’ dance brought delight in the range of physical activity demonstrated, but also in the community spirit and awareness that it aroused. Many credits are due to the technical staff and to a song “Which side are you on?” written and sung by Florence Reece (1931). Unfortunately the words did not carry clearly down the alley. The marvelously skilled dancers were: Marina Fukushima, Marystarr Hope, Yayoi Kambara, Megan Lowe, Karla Quintero, Quilet Rarang and Alayna Stroud. Congratulations to them all and especially to Director/Choreographer Jo Kreiter.
Flyaway Productions' Alayna Stroud in "Needles to Thread: Dancing Along These Lines in Continuum Alley." Photo © & courtesy of RJ Muna |
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Flyaway Productions dancers in "Needles to Thread: Dancing Along These Lines in Continuum Alley." Photo © & courtesy of RJ Muna |
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