About Marin's 21st Century Dance & Music Collaboration 2002

Artists were chosen from a call for entries that was sent throughout the Bay Area and publicized, by a jury of five. The artists range from young and up-and-coming, to locally established, to masters in their fields. The chosen artists originally hail from Marin and the bay area, Osaka, Japan, Calcutta, India, Saigon, Vietnam, London, England, and from all over the U.S.; they received BFA and MFA degrees at well-known art springboards such as Mills College, SUNY Purchase, Berklee College of Music in Boston, and California Institute of the Arts, and universities Indiana, Wesleyan, Osaka, London; quite a few have performed all over the U.S. as well as internationally in Canada, Croatia, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and West Africa. This talented group will perform works that feature ballet, modern, jazz and kathak techniques; the Australian didgeridoo, Japanese taiko drums, Indian tabla and sarod, the cello, guitar and violin and other instruments, and several works will include sound design incorporating experimental theater. We expect the program will reflect a diverse range of international influences.

Artists require performance showcases to show their work, to receive feedback, and in order to apply for grants and other funding. Creating ONE dance costs approximately $500-$2,500, depending on the costs of rehearsal space, dancers' and collaborating artists' compensation, technical needs and/or costumes and props, and video documentation. If an artist is not affiliated with a studio, he/she is paying top dollar for all of these costs. Many independent artists who are for the most part coming from limited means due to their participation in the arts, cannot take on the cost of an evening's production while simultaneously creating work. While M21CD&MC pays for the production, the artists involved bear the brunt of costs associated with creating their work and that is why M21CD&MC attempts to award as generous an honorarium as possible to to the choreographers and composers because it helps alleviate a portion of their costs.

This performance brings artists and audience in from the east bay, south bay, north bay, SF and Stockton, and a guest artist from New York, unifying the artist communities and sparking ongoing collaboration between artists of two fine arts disciplines, dance and music. It is the only showcase for contemporary choreographers and composers requiring interdisciplinary collaboration in the entire North Bay region and the only opportunity for independent artists in Marin to show original work at a truly professional venue. M21CD&MC is also a valuable opportunity for choreographers and composers from outside the North Bay, since due to the high costs of producing and the recent closing of 3-4 major studio/performance spaces in the city, they also suffer from limited opportunities to show work.

The Marin community benefits in so many ways from encouraging performances of this caliber. Cultural performances educate and entertain the general public and in some cases introduce uninitiated audience to live dance and music performance. Artistic and cultural events are positive productive educational activities which promote health and creativity, setting an example for young people and adults alike. M21CD&MC features choreographers who work with pre-professionals from local dance schools, and many of our showcased artists provide arts education for youths and adults; it is well-known that arts education builds confidence, self-esteem, and communication skills and thereby reduces drug abuse, criminal activity and teen pregnancy among youths, and encourages some to stay in school. This show encourages young artists to begin or continue studying with dance teachers, choreographers and composers/musicians in the community and to evaluate dance and music as a career choice. Businesses in the area continually receive the economic benefits of a healthy community environment nurtured by fine artists and live performances; these assist in establishing vital community and retail neighborhoods that draw new clientele and families to visit the area. Marin's support of grass-roots arts programs that showcase local as well as international creative innovators assists in boosting the affluence of Marin and the desirability of Marin real estate in general.

ZGDT's goal is to continue to create M21CD&MC as an outstanding cultural project serving both the bay area general public and the arts community, while simultaneously building M21CD&MC into a world-class dance and music event, eventually bringing national and international audiences and participants to Marin.

Marin's 21st Century Dance & Music Collaboration 2002 is a program of Zero Gravity Dance Theater, Inc.
© 2002. All rights reserved.