Kate Speer: dancer, choreographer, writer

upcoming events

BDF Festival Finale
Aug. 11th at 7:30pm
Alumni Gym
Lewiston, ME

Sticks & Stones
Boulder Fringe
Aug. TBA
Boulder, CO

Sticks & Stones
Philly Fringe
Sep. 7th & 8th at 7:30pm
Sep. 8th at 4pm
Mascher Space Co-op
Philadelphia, PA

Thank You!

Funding for Sticks & Stones was made possible by the generous contributions from:

Amelia Longo Lisa Rothstein Michelle Brodeur Charles & Barbara Grunden
Rowen Haigh Wendy Schlotterbeck Jill Van Noy Marcel Williams Foster
Martin Lautz Bob Shannon Brooke Gessay Frank & Jess Coulter
Jeanine McCain Sarah Bowers Jackie Krieger Lauren Ramsey Lewis
Nathan Blackwell Michelle Ellsworth Arielle Weiler Sarah Bryan & David Fask
Becky Godby Cameron Growden Emily Stuber Lillian & Ben Pubols
Katie Houff Laurie Randall Julie Gilbreath Bob & Nancy Kleckner
Maggie Koller Judy Stock Leah Stein Scott & Debbie Van Noy
Pamela Pish Jessica Pearson Joanne M. Sharpe Chrissy & Mike Nelson
Lauren Beale Amanda Costner Benjamin Law Betsy & Joel Hawes
Erin Mishoe Joy French Julie Gryguc Lee & Robin Brown
Lia Giannosa Mary Kirchman Mona Martinez Scott & Vanessa Hood
Laura Amon Rob Sjoberg III Caitlin <3s Kate Rachel Merz & Brian Clark
Jan & Bill W. Meg Perry Marjory Levitt Elizabeth & Michael Hansen
Pam Beliveau Tara Rynders Bob & Ewa Stein Peg Hoffman & Jim Cogan
Wendy Franz Barb Mathison Sharon Van Boven Rick Speer & Judy Frost
Jacob Horger Jeremy Sato Jillian M. Merrill Sharon & Art Divell
Andrew L. Varnell Anna Grant Anne-Marie Mulgrew Corlett Wolfe Wood
Van Pham Karen A. Kaufmann Molly Westenberg Neva Oliver
Jordie Sehestedt Barry Harel Maren Waldman Peg Gulrich & Harry Ezell
Brenda Wylie Nicholas George Judy Bretschneider Betty & Dwayne Oliver
Kat & Steve Phillips Dan McKinnon

Musings on Charisma & Funkativity

David Dorfman Dance is currently touring Prophets of Funk, a dance work that follows the rise, demise, and redemption of Funk composer and musician Sly Stewart using a collage of hits from his band, Sly & the Family Stone. Invested in this loose biographical narrative are the culture of the black Pentecostal Church, the tradition of transcendence and testifying, and the creation of Sly Stewart as a charismatic prophet. Discover the depth of the work by reading my recent writings:

Excerpt

Across the literature, Sly Stewart is referred to as the "most popular Pentecostal mystic" in the country or "part shaman, part preacher, part trickster, [and] part soul brother." His "vivacious banter and infectious positivity complimented by a strikingly deep voice that could soar and scorch your soul in an instant" speaks to a charisma or an "it" quality that captivated both white and black audiences across America.

In Prophets of Funk, Raja Kelly, who portrays the youthful Sly, exudes this strange magnetism when he disappears completely into the character of Sly Stewart. With the same gesture, Kelly is able to possess contradictory qualities such as being tall and lanky with immense coordination and rhythmical acuity, "linking male 'sexual domination' with 'vulnerability' in the same hot breath."

Read more…

Fidelity

Dance for Camera — November 2011

Life as a grad student gives me so many opportunities to experiment with the process of creation. This is my first exploration into dance for camera. I had a wonderful, supportive colleague, Charlie Dando, to help with the videography. I think I'm hooked to this new multimedia discipline.

Fidelity from Kate Speer on Vimeo.

THANK YOU!

Funding for my Generation was made possible by by the Puffin Foundation and the generous contributions from:

Michelle Brodeur, Sharon & Art Divell, Lea Deutsch, fidget, Lee Fogel, Anna Gonzalez, Charles & Barbara Grunden, Jan Grauman Neander, Susan Hayward, Susan & Peter Herchenroether, Beckie & Jim Hess, Makoto Hirano, Gina Hoch-Stall, Caitlin Koerber, Sarah Konner, Anita Kumar & Nile Chang, Lela Aisha Jones, Marjory Levitt, Tom & Sylvia McDowell, Rachel Merz & Brian Clark, Meg Perry, Pam & Bill Pish, Lil & Ben Pubols, Melissa Rodis, Dorothy Spaulding, Rick Speer & Judith Frost, Bob & Ewa Stein, Leah Stein, Jane Stojak, Liz Strong, Anne Suomi, and Steve Weisz & PhiladelphiaDANCE.org.

Puffin Foundation

my Generation (excerpts) from Kate Speer on Vimeo.