ODC Theater: Megan Lowe Dances presents Gathering Pieces of Peace

Megan Lowe Dances (MLD) celebrates their 10th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of Gathering Pieces of Peace, a dance theater work exploring mixed-race Asian American experiences, with an artistic team composed of folks who identify in this way. Through thoughtful text, soulful song, and dynamic dancing, Artistic Director Megan Lowe and collaborators Clarissa Rivera Dyas, Malia Hatico-Byrne, and Melissa Lewis Wong share stories of fractured selves and longings to belong, and co-create a supportive environment for connection that radiates out into their communities. As part of the 10th Anniversary Celebration, admission is free, with suggested donations.

“Mixed-race individuals make up less than 5% of the SF population and are severely underrepresented in the arts,” explains Lowe. “Our artistic process thrives via collaboration, prioritizing creating relationships of respect, generosity, and gratitude. We’re building a movement of folks with a rare and powerful understanding of how drastically different racial and cultural backgrounds can come closer together—dreaming up possibilities for our futures and the futures of our diverse communities,” she adds.

The San Francisco Chronicle writes of Lowe’s recent work, “The whole evening holds together with a well-hewn emotional arc, a strong sense of form and meaningful variation, and terrific organic use of the whole theater space…Lowe also has a delightful penchant for surprise.”

Featuring:

– Dance Performance by: Clarissa Dyas, Malia-Hatico Byrne, Melissa Lewis Wong, and Megan Lowe
– Music by: Peekaboo/transcriptions01, Zachary Abelson, Megan Lowe, Marica Petrey/Girl Swallows Nightingale, and Emma Tome

https://www.meganlowedances.com/donate

Friday 9/1, after the show = Mixed Mixer =
Megan Lowe Dances is partnering with Asian Babe Gang (ABG) for ABG’s second Mixed Mixer. Here is what ABG has to say about this special event: “ABG’s mixed mixer was born out of the desire to gather with other mixed-race folks. We hope to use mixedness as an entrypoint to connect about shared experiences, while acknowledging and unpacking the many differences, nuances, and complexities bound to come up along the way. We hope for our Mixed Mixers to offer the first steps in longer-term efforts to politicize our identities, and build capacity together in movements that demand we show up fully. For MLD’s ‘Gathering Pieces of Peace,’ ABG will host a Mixed Mixer-inspired reception on Fri. 9/1. Join us after the performance to continue the conversation! For this iteration of Mixed Mixer only, audience members of all racial identities are welcome. We all hold varieties of mixed cultures and backgrounds!” And of course, there will be some tasty snacks and beverages!

Friday 9/8, after the show = POC and Allies Jam =
Megan Lowe Dance is partnering with Bay Area POC CI Community to host a POC and Allies Jam after the show. Here is the Bay Area POC CI Community’s Mission Statement: “The POC Jam provides a much-needed space for existing and future POC dancers to be centered within the larger CI community. Additionally, we hope the jam will support the evolution of the Bay Area CI community into a more diverse, inclusive and equitable space. Our hopes and guiding intentions for the jam are as follows: 1) To create a safer/braver space for POC within the historically and predominantly white CI community; 2) To create a more accessible entry point into CI for POC who have yet to be introduced to the form; 3) To provide quality and beginner friendly CI training for existing and new POC dancers; 4) To serve as a bridge for new POC dancers wishing to join the larger CI community.” For this POC and Allies Jam on Friday 9/8, all dancers are welcome to join, and it is our mission to facilitate spaces with a POC majority. In consideration of this mission, if you identify as white and would like to attend the jam, we enthusiastically encourage you to reach out to your POC friends and have them join along! (The POC CI Jam is a project of Sense Object’s Artists & Activists in Residency program. You can find more info at senseobject.com/aair-residency)

Saturday 9/9, during the show = interpreter.png ASL Interpretation=
Megan Lowe Dances is excited to be partnering with Annie Dieckman, Certified National Interpreter to provide American Sign Language Interpretation for Gathering Pieces of Peace. If you are in need of ASL Interpretation, please leave a note in the Comments section at the checkout by Wednesday 9/6 to let us know you are coming.

Tickets to all shows are by donation. You can choose a price point that feels best to you!