PSYCHOPOMP DANCE THEATER
ABOUt
the mission
Psychopomp is a diverse group of makers and dance artists that create dance theater works and host movement workshops. The core group of artists in Psychopomp includes five to six performing artists in addition to Shenandoah Harris and her collaborator Ryan Howard who assists in the production of all of Psychopomp’s work. Psychopomp creates and shares the Jewish way, battling erasure and rebelling against universal conforming belief systems, making space for the Jewish perspective and all historically excluded viewpoints. In Miss Harris’s work she invokes her cultural and ancestral practices of Talmudic study, acting in Chevruta (partnership), making accessible spaces for everyone to participate in the creation, appreciation and discourse of dance. The movement style is rooted in complex floorwork, powerful acrobatic Parkour movements and draws spaciously powerful traveling modern dance techniques. Psychopomp explores identity, morality, and questions our place in the world. The work is highly narrative, drawing inspiration from Jewish mythology along with Rabbinic and wider cultural commentary. We compare these formative stories cross-culturally, working to recontextualize them into modernity.
artistic Director
Shenandoah Harris is the Artistic Director of Psychopomp Dance Theater. Miss Harris has been a Curriculum in Motion Fellow with Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, an artist in residence with MashUp Dance Company, Terra Nova LA and Highways Performance Space. Additionally Miss Harris toured nationally as a performer and teaching artist with Diavolo: Architecture in Motion. Miss Harris has been a guest lecturer across California including UC Santa Barbara and CSU Fullerton and on the faculty at Genesis LA. She continues to host numerous Los Angeles based contemporary movement, acrobatic skills and creation workshops in conjunction with Psychopomp. Miss Harris has also hosted several community based movement programs with local Angelenos in the jewish community and beyond.
Under her leadership the company has self produced numerous shows including performances at Highways Performance Space, Stomping Ground LA and Diavolo Dance Studio Theater. Psychopomp Dance has performed across numerous stages in California. Most recently, the company’s work has been presented live at Lighting in a Bottle Music Festival 2022 on the main Thunder Stage, with Heidi Duckler Dance at the Baldwin City Scenic Overlook, Live with UCSB Percussion Ensemble, At the Brand Library in Glendale, in Seattle Washington at the Yaw Theater. Upcoming Shenandoah will be in residence at Keshet Makers Space in New Mexico and the Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center.
Miss Harris hosted Psychopomp’s third annual Summer Creation Workshop this past August 2023. The workshop drew dancers from across California for three days of intense creation, culminating in a sold out performance of a new work. In addition to the summer workshop, Shenandoah also produced a two weekend multidisciplinary dance festival at HIghways performance Space entitled CHAOS! In 2023 and will be returning for a second year this august 2024.
Miss Harris is also a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist and Nutritionist. Her work as a fitness and health practitioner is a key element in her philosophy of creating positive learning and work environments for dancers to thrive in.
Production DESIGNER
Ryan Howard is the production designer and artistic advisor for psychopomp dance theater. He designs all costuming and props as well as advises on dramaturgy of the movement.
Ryan was born and raised in Buellton, California and has a degree in Theater Production and Design from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He now works and lives in Los Angeles as an Artist and designer. Currently, Ryan is a prop artisan for Universal Studios Hollywood and in the past has worked with Center Theater Group as a Prop Carpenter and Theater Technician. His work has been seen onstage at the Ahmanson Theater, the Mark Taper Forum, and the Kirk Douglas Theater. His current artistic adventure is exploring the world of analog film, in both still and motion picture formats.
DANCERS
Mizuki Sako
Mizuki Sako started her dance career training in classical ballet at Southland Ballet Academy when she was 4 years old. After being accepted into Orange County School of the Arts in the Classical Contemporary Dance Conservatory, Mizuki went on to study at UCLA where she graduated with a BA in World Arts and Culture/Dance.. Mizuki dances because it allows her to escape into a character or world where she feels invincible. Dance also provides her the opportunity for creating social change in her own unique way. She recently picked up surfing and is loving every minute of it!
Andrew Corpuz
Andrew Corpuz, originally from Ukiah, California fell in love with movement after taking capoeira and musical theater classes. Upon attending CSU Fullerton, Andrew decided to focus on dance as a career. in college he had the privilege to work with Colin Connor and performed a piece of his repertoire Titled "August" both at the Kennedy center and Jacobs Pillow.
Andrew went on to work extensively with Diavolo, appearing on AGT 2017 and other major performances.
Currently Andrew works not only as a dance artist and personal trainer but as a registered Nurse as well.
Abigail Chuah
Abigail Chuah is a Los Angeles based dancer who is currently working with Psychopomp dance. She began dancing at Excelsior School of Dance in The Woodlands, Texas at the age of four. After high School Abby studied at The Boston Conservatory where she received a BFA in contemporary dance. Abby dances to make a deeper connection with people and to gain an understanding of how human connection effects society around us. She enjoys spending her free time reading, baking, and drinking coffee.
Stephanie Mizrahi
Stephanie, an LA native, started dance training at the age of fourteen. She graduated in 2020 from the Ailey School and Fordham University with a double major in Dance and History. Stephanie creates art because she believes it has the power to make a person a better version of themselves. When she dances and choreographs she is truly alive; She feels creative, authentic, determined, empathetic, and thoughtful. When she isn't dancing she is doing capoiera or watching crime tv shows.
Nicole Flores
Nicole is a Dancer and Movement Artist from Chicago Illinois and completed her degree in dance from Columbia College Chicago. During this time she worked alongside Johnny Huntoon of Alluvion dancer Chicago, becoming one of the founding members of the company in 2015 and served as Rehearsal Director until 2017. She also received the "Inspiration Award" at Alluvion's 2017 Gala. She performed as a company member of The Kate Jablonski Statement and Forward the Movement. In 2018 Nicole attended AMDA LA and has had the privilege of performing works by Genevieve Carson of LA Contemporary Dance Company, Laura Berg of Whyteberg, Mackenzie Martin of Geometry Dance Company and many more. Nicole is also a company member of Heidi Duckler Dance Company and The Sand Dance Project. She joined Psychopomp Dance Theater in 2019 is so proud and thrilled to be a part of this movement
Lydia Mcdonald
Lydia McDonald is originally from Longwood, Florida, and spent most of her childhood in Arlington, Texas. She began her dance training at the age of 12 and has been heavily involved in dance ever since. Lydia is passionate about performing and creating dance because she feels movement transcends words. it is a powerful method of communication and expression. Outside of dance, Lydia enjoys spending as much time in nature as possible, typically hiking and going to the beach.
WHAT’S ON
Psychopomp & Temple Akiba present an evening of dance on Passover!
AUGUST 26TH 8PM 2024
TEMPLE AKIBA, CULVER CITY CA
FREE! (info below)
Psychopomp & Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center
May 25th 8PM 2024
Glorya kaufman Performing Arts CEnter
Tickets & info below
Psychopomp & HIghways present CHaos Dance Festival 2024
Weekend one: August 23rd, 24th, 25th
Weekend two: August 30th, 31st & Sept. 1st.
Projects
CHAOS! Festival 2023
Presented in collaboration with Highways in august 2023, CHAOS! is a multi weekend live performance festival which included a variety of eclectic artists, each uniquely ruminating on an essential pillar of the Psychopomp artistic ethos: Embracing Chaos.
See here now I’m by myself... talking to myself.. Now that’s–that’s chaos theory.
Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic ParK
NAMES (2023)
Inspired by the biblical story of Shemot or the Exodus story, this exhilarating dance theater work performed by five eclectic dance artists explores how our own ancestral experiences of bondage, freedom and redemption continues to shape our present day lives.
This work was first commissioned by the Brand Library Dance Series in may 2023. Since then it has been performed at highways performance Space in Psychopomp’s CHAOS! Festival in August 2023
Galut|Golah (2023)
(translation: sociopolitical experience & psycho-spiritual experience of exile)
This unique improvisational and chance procedure based work explores the diasporic exiled experience through the audience’s interaction with and manipulation of the sound score in real time via a midi controller. The movement style of this work is an improvisational score of high risk acrobatic skills and virtuosic modern dance requiring the dancers to use verbal communication and discussion to execute.
In The Dream (2023)
Commissioned by the UCSB Percussion ensemble this quirky ensemble work takes place in the liminal space of our dreams. Intricate lifts, unique body balances and virtuosic leaps, turns and floorwork weave together to explore the silly, scary, joyous and strange Qualities of our dreamland.
This work was performed in the UCSB percussion ensemble 2023 Spring Concert with live musicians.
seder Zeraim (2022)
Sedar Zeraim (order of the seeds)
In the Mishnah (a first major written composition of Jewish ethics) it tells us how to engage with the land. We are instructed to work the land for six years and on the seventh year, we must let it rest with a Shmita Year. Shimita directly translates to release. During this time agricultural lands should lie fallow, all debts are forgiven, private land areas become open to the public and anyone is allowed to harvest any naturally growing food. Let's begin to examine this ancient practice through modern eyes. Our bodies grew from microscopic organisms in the watery chaos of this world. How might our relationship with the environment change if we released it from the never-ending work we demand? How might our social structure change if it was customary to share resources like food, water, land and housing with one another? Perhaps offering thanks to the natural world more often would create the space we need to repair our relationship with the land and ourselves
EYN SOF (2022)
EYN SOF meditates on the Jewish practice of existence and constant struggle with YHWH or Hashem or G-d. EYN SOF, a Jewish philosophy positing an explanation to the existence of the spiritual realm and lack of human capability to comprehend such a place, translates directly to without end or limitless. EYN SOF tells the story of five dynamically fierce artists meeting in a space of liminality and battling against all odds to reunify. The movement harkens back to Psychopomp’s physically aggressive roots– full of acrobatic floorwork, confrontational partnering and parkour inspired movement. These qualities are juxtaposed against highly specified gestural movements embodying Ms. Harris’s personal practice of reflective davening or prayer.
NEVIECHA: YOUR PROPHET (2022)
NEVIECHA: YOUR PROPHET WAS COMMISSIONED IN 2022 BY THE DOLAB FOR LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE MUSIC FESTIVAL. This 9 minute piece premiered on the main thunderstage between the dj’s LSDREAM and Clozee. This work, like all our previous works is an original score created by Riley Smith.
SYLKIES (2020)
An adaptation of YLEM(2020), this film began as a way to pay respect to a work that never had the chance to be shown due to the 2020 Pandemic. This work was collaboratively created by Shenandoah harris and Ryan Howard.
Sylkies works to transport the audience to a dreamlike space. Viewing the lake as a primordial soup landscape to remind the audience how the human body moving through space shares so much in common with Mother Nature.
This work was shot on analog film as a response to the exponentially digitized world we are living in. Using physical media is a hallmark of Ryan Howard's artistic voice as he is always seeking to create a more tactile relationship with the artistic process.
This film is in opposition to the highly edited and easily consumable forms of dance that exist on social media. Both Ryan and Shenandoah aim to create a pathway to a more grounded and reflective experience of consuming art.
YLEM (2020)
"The earliest known microbes, the Ten Kabbalistic Sephirot and 19th century Wendigo Psychosis" are all starting points of inspiration for the collaborative creation of Shenandoah's new work. Danced by seven eclectic and strong artists, YLEM (meaning: the fundamental matter in all things) taps into the nagging feeling of not truly knowing why we are here and ultimately not knowing where our journey will take us.
RELICS: RETURN TO CLAY (2019)
psychopomp dance Theater’s first evening length work , this piece is Inspired by the archaic myth of the Great Flood that spans both culture and religion. Psychopomp brings together five artists in a ruthless landscape that are presented with the opportunity to remake their mindless and brutal society.
Does this opportunity to forge a new reality make a difference?
WYRD: RAW (2018)
WYRD: RAW breaks down the many layers that surrounds feminine and masculine roles that exist within religion and tradition. Focusing on the ritualism and inherent beauty found in male and female bodies moving together, the dancers create sacred and powerful connections that give rise to the transcendent qualities within each of us.
This piece was commissioned by RAW Artists LOS Angeles for their DTLA Performance in September 2018.
WYRD (2018)
wyrd focuses on the power, pain and delicacy that resides in the primal and spiritual aspects of womanhood. This trio of three power women explores these topics through high risk, athletic and emotional movement. How do women negotiate the inner strength that comes from the pain we experience and learn to appreciate and take control of that power? Highlighted as “the most memorable work of the night” in the Synthesis v festival 2018.
Desperantium(2018)
Desperantium takes its inspiration from Auguste Rodin’s work The Gates of Hell. The choreographic material is drawn from the intricately beautiful body shapes of both the male and female figures, the exhibition of raw human emotion and the backstory of Dante’s Inferno. Rather than a specific story, the work creates a landscape for the dancers and the audience to confront their relationships not only with one another but with their own spirituality and mortality.
This piece was commissioned by Highways Performance Space for their 2018 New Shoes Series.
Anomie (2017)
Anomie, the title of the piece, is defined as the condition where society creates a structure where humans feel no moral obligation towards one another. This clash between a personal moral compass and society's moral compass leads to widespread suffering. Anomie focuses on existential fears and invasive thoughts and how these concepts can cause individuals to behave in society. inspiration was drawn from frank auerbach's paintings as well as literature on invasive thoughts and ocd. through collaboratively generating imaginative and spiritually authentic movement this piece allows the viewer to reflect on the world around them. can we create a world governed by morality?
From The Great Above to the Great Below (2016)
From The Great Above to the Great Below is a piece based on joeseph CAMPBELL'S THE HERO'S JOURNEY AS WELL AS THE TALE OF INNANA. This piece tells the story of three women who take on a challenging journey to a rite of initiation through the application of gold paint to their bodies, weaving and intermingled partnering and weight sharing as well as sweepingly powerful movements that explode across the space.
Nefesh|ruach|neshamah(2016)
Nefesh | Ruach | Neshamah was created around specific scenic, lighting and costume design choices. the movement was generated from working with long billowing skirts, huge panels of white fabric hanging down in the space. These white diaphanous panels of fabric are evocative of the separation of realities and reference the allegory of the Plato’s cave, as the dancers are both real and visible at times, and mere shadows in other moments. This piece is set in an otherworldly space, where the dancers explore a new landscape and new relationships with one another.
PRESS
Witness the Ritual at stomping ground LA: June 24th & 25th
CHAOS! Festival at Highways performance Space: August 11-12th, 18, 19th
Read the LA Chronicle review here
PSYCHOPOMP DANCE THEATER IS FISCALLY SPONSORED AND REPRESENTED Fractured atlas
Donate today!
DONATE TO HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF HITTING 3,000 BY DECEMBER 15TH AND SUPPORT THE COMPANY’S WORK IN OUR 2024 SEASON! EVERY DOLLAR DONATED GOES TO COVERING OUR STUDIO RENTAL COSTS FOR REHEARSAL!
Hitting this goal means we can increase our employee wages for our 2024 season!
Join us in transforming the dance industry by making a tax deductible donation today!
Psychopomp Dance Theater is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Psychopomp Dance Theater must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
PSYCHOPOMP DANCE FESTIVAL 2024 SUBMISSIONS!
Psychopomp Dance is looking for new or already created dance works to be performed in our August 2024 Dance Festival at Highways Performance Space.
The Simple Details:
Dance must utilize an object or prop that is intrinsic to the piece itself.
Dance run time approx: between 6 to 9 minutes. (Dance must not be over 10 minutes)
Choreographer will receive modest stipend for their work.
work will be shown in one of two weekends either August 23rd-24th or August 30th-31st.
submissions due by may 20TH 5PM PST.
Click link below for full submission instructions