Recent Performance Information

K*Star*Productions home of the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble (KKDE), in its 10th Anniversary Celebration Concert, "10 + 1 and Counting."

Featuring past and current repertory, and a sneak-peak of 2008's premiere "Home Is That Way?"

Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble's "10 + 1 and Counting" Anniversary Celebration is an event designed to honor the past 10 years of contributing to the dance community. This multi-faceted event will include repertory favorites such as "Vision," "Rarity of Me," and "Visitors" with excerpts of Brazilian Choreographer Rosangela Silvestre's "Oya." Celebrations will include an opening night reception with a meet and greet the artists and artists discussion on both nights. The concert will also feature a reunion of dancers that have danced for KKDE in the past, guest artists from Dimensions Dance Theater, and a solo by Maija Garcia, past KKDE dancer and currently company member of the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company. Both evening will include a slideshow presentation by local artist Kimara Dixon - acknowledging ancestors, teachers and fellow dancers who have passed away. This weekend of celebratory performances promises to be one of thought-provoking physical exuberance and utter enjoyment.

Following Friday's concert will be a free reception and post-concert discussion. It is important for K*Star*Productions to say thank you to the audience that has supported for the past 10+ years. All are welcome to enjoy an evening of reflection of the marking of this first decade as a milestone in being a viable organization in the community. K*Star*Productions will also share ideas for the upcoming 2008 Season.

Presenting an eclectic array of movement and a depth of choreographic eloquence Kendra's new work "Shut Yo Mouth", takes a comical journey into the world of the unspoken. Dancers use movement, gestures, and text to reflect on the naughty, stereotypical, judgmental, thoughts that one may have when coming into contact with others. The twist begins with the realization that those they are imposing judgement on are people with stories and lives and loved ones.

The issue on the table is "Who really deserves to be scrutinized for being based on our pre-conceived notions and societal definitions of perfection?"

A sneak preview of 2008's "Home Is That Way?" is just in the beginning stages of a dance-drama dealing with incarceration - mental and physical bondage while telling the story of how the innocence and genius of a child is often slowly stripped by the "imperfections" of society. This is KKDE's first full-length dance drama that will include text, movement, and live music elements.

Returning to grace the stage once again will be Maija Garcia. Before moving to New York, where she is currently dancing with the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company, was on faculty at Alonzo King's Lines San Francisco Dance Center, Rhythm and Motion, and Mills College in California where she performed with KKDE, Printz Dance Project, Company Chaddick, Cecilia Marta and Michelle Bolong. This truly phenomenal woman and exceptional performer will be dancing a self-choreographed solo as well as joining KKDE for the reunion of dancers performances. Joining the production on Saturday evening will be a solo performance by Laura Elaine Ellis co-founder and executive director of the African and African American Performing Arts Coalition, co-producers of the Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now. Laura performs with two award-winning dance companies — Anne Bluethenthal and Dancers and Dimensions Dance Theater — and was nominated for an Isadora Duncan Dance Award for Outstanding Performance in 2002.

The Reunion of Dancers features a medley of past repertory works including "Vision," "Rarity of Me," and "Visitors" with excerpts of Brazilian Choreographer Rosangela Silvestre's "Oya" and a special Anniversary piece "Revive to Survive."