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What if dissent is a dance? What if revolution begins with a pas de deux or an artful kick in the pants?

Twenty-one artists gather strength through coming together and creating works that explore the myth of superwoman, experiences of femininity, shoes, burning bridges, first world privilege, and untarnished hope.

Up in Arms Collective is a community of diverse Memphis dance artists who have come together to collaborate and create three evenings of original works and performances.

Each evening’s performance will be one-of-a kind and feature different dances. Participating dance artists include Bethany Bak, Sheri Bancroft, Travis Bradley, Rebecca Rose Cochran, Josh Colfer, Marie Dennan, Lauren Hales, Emily Hefley, Stephanie Hom, Jill Guyton-Nee, Orixa Bowers, Jenn King, Louisa Koeppel, Sarah Ledbetter, Kristen Lucas, Tamara Prince-Parrish, Lauren Stallings, Wayne Smith, and Erin D.H. Williams along with filmmaker N’Seeka MacPherson and photographer Yasmine Omari.

Up in Arms Collective was born out of the need for the dance community to respond to what is happening in America in an open and affirming environment. The process leading up to the performances has allowed artists time, space, and energy as well as support to build and create, as they bring their responses to life through movement and dance.

A response is a reaction to something and an impulse caused by a change or event. The responses are candid, personal, and as diverse as the dance artists themselves and explore power, fear, truth, boldness, self-determination, activism, love, support, protection, humor,and revolution.

World-renowned dance icon Pina Bausch once said: “Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost.”

While we are all unique, Up in Arms believes we are stronger when we come together–united. We find one another and connect and share and discover we are not lost but when we respond through dance, we are empowered and through RESPONSE, we hope to leave others empowered. Art has the power to change us all and transform the world.

Dance artist and collaborator Sarah Ledbetter says, “I’m basically using this platform to
bush whack some breathing room for the sacred/secular feminine. To call up friends in big
places that we desperately need now. I’m not trying to show off. I’m trying to show up.”

Tickets are $10 cash only and available at the door. To find out more about RESPONSE and/or make reservations, like Up in Arms Collective on Facebook.