Lecturer of Music & Dance, Swarthmore College
Sep
2
to May 31

Lecturer of Music & Dance, Swarthmore College

Bethany Formica uses her multi-company performance experience and eclectic skill base in classes designed to build up ideas and break down her contemporary/modern dance technique. One need not be afraid to sweat, laugh, or fall over. These classes are accessible and aerobic, so humor and high energy are all that is required.

Warming Up: Performing Ecology: This new interdisciplinary course, was initailly developed with Tara Webb and then taught by Bethany Formica and K. Elizabeth Stevens at Swarthmore College. It was crossed listed in Theater, Dance, and Environmental Studies. This class provides creative opportunities for students of any discipline wishing to explore performance creation and design within the broad context of ecology/environment, exploring climate grief and hope within natural and created environments. The class incorporates photography, visual art, dance, multi-disciplinary solo work and group collaboration within the broad envelope of eco-performance.

Contemporary Modern I: This introductory dance class is designed to put participants in touch with their bodies, help them focus, connect, and collaborate, while allowing every individual’s voice to be heard. This course encourages a sense of playful humanism, evoking new ways of thinking and moving, problem-solving and multitasking. The dance playing field is leveled, and the value of play and laughter enlivens the body in completely unexpected ways.

Contemporary Modern II & III: These intermediate/advanced level contemporary dance courses build on skills developed in Modern I & II. Additional vocabulary and increased floor work will be introduced with a focus on building physical and mental stamina, increasing technical proficiency, and beginning to work on personal movement style and performance quality. With an emphasis on musicality and athleticism inside a contemporary dance vocabulary, students will continue to work on strength, full range of movement, dynamics, endurance, and accuracy and explore new partnering and improvisation skills. We will also be viewing a variety of contemporary dance artists to deepen and discuss our relationship with dance.

Contemporary Ensemble: This dance ensemble is an exercise in synergy. This contemporary work will utilize and encourage the creativity of the dancers to build upon a choreographed framework, bringing together dancers that are excited by the possibility of creating collaboratively, and who strive to meet the piece at its most intense points. This class fosters a unique ensemble with intentional artistry that transforms with each group that circulates within it.

Dance Lab I: Making Dance: This course will explore how you might use dance to tell a story, express an emotion, respond to music or sound, or make a political statement, just to name a few possibilities. Students will use movement assignments as a way to challenge their ideas about texture and rhythm, experiment with improvisation as a way of generating material, and engage with a research-based approach to choreography. This course will feature special guest artists. All are welcome, including students with dance experience, and those without any movement experience whatsoever.

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Scamper, Swarthmore College Spring Dance Concert
May
3
to May 4

Scamper, Swarthmore College Spring Dance Concert

Bethany Formica is in full swing choreographing a contemporary dance with Swarthmore College dancers/collaborators Liya Chang, Keira Dandy, Justin Hohn, Tianyue Lang, Amy Liu, Gabrielle Nash, Ayla Schultz, Angel Su, Finn Verdonk, Moss Wacker, Jessie Weiss, and Max Winig.

Costumes: Bethany Formica, Ell Rose and Dancers

Scamper will be performed as part of the Swarthmore College Spring Dance Concert in Pearson-Hall Theater in the Lang Performing Arts Center at Swarthmore College. Free and open to the public.

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2023, 4:30 -7PM and SAT. MAY 4, 7:00 -9:30pm

This program features dance from a variety of styles and cultural traditions, including faculty-directed repertory ensembles in Kathak, African Dance/Drum, Taiko, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap and Contemporary.

The closest parking lot to the event venue is the DuPont parking lot.

Accessibility Advance Notice: Swarthmore College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the event sponsor, or Susan Smythe, ADA Program Manager at 610-690-2063 in advance of your participation or visit.

Be advised there is a LOT of construction on campus and direct ways to the theater may be blocked.

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Liminal Lobby, Bryn Mawr College Spring Dance Concert
Apr
26
to Apr 27

Liminal Lobby, Bryn Mawr College Spring Dance Concert

  • Goodhart Theater, Bryn Mawr College (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

BETHANY FORMICA IS CHOREOGRAPHING IN UNCONVENTIONAL WAYS IN AND AROUND GOODHART THEATER WITH COLLABORATORS/DANCERS, LIV ARP, ABYSSINIA BRAUD, ZORA DALLMANN, ALI FOWLER, MADDY GALLI, KUANKAUN HU, SOPHONISBA M JARKA-SELLERS, CLARA-MARIE MASCARENHAS, PIPER ROLFES, AND MEENAKSHI THIRUMURTI.

LIMINAL LOBBY ASKS YOU CONSIDER THOSE THAT HAVE OCCUPIED THE SPACES IN GOODHART THEATER OVER THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.

LIMINAL SPACES ARE NOT SPACES TO RUSH INTO OR LEAVE QUICKLY.

WE WELCOME YOU TO MOVE SLOWLY AND STAY WITH US FOR AWHILE.

LIMINAL SPACE IS THE UNCERTAIN TRANSITION BETWEEN WHERE YOU’VE BEEN AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

WE INVITE YOU TO STAND ON THE PRECIPICE OF SOMETHING NEW AND NOT QUITE DEFINED YET.

PRE-SHOW PERFORMANCES OCCUR IN THE BENHAM LOBBY AS YOU ENTER THE BRYN MAWR COLLEGE SPRING DANCE CONCERT, FRIDAY APRIL 26 & SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2024

DOORS OPEN @ 7:05PM, Free and Open to the public.

For more info: https://www.bethanyformica.org/process/liminal-lobby-brynmawr-site-specific

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Everything Offstage: A Conversation with Anna Drozdowski
Apr
3
4:30 PM16:30

Everything Offstage: A Conversation with Anna Drozdowski

A Conversation with Anna Drozdowski

Everything Offstage: Performance Ecosystems Outside the Role of the Dancer

Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 4:30-6pm

LPAC 002 Troy Dance Lab, Swarthmore College

In this salad bar survey, we will explore the performance ecosystem outside of the role of the dancer, inclusive of technical production, producing, audience engagement, criticism and arts administration. Articulating the various career paths that exist in the field, we will collectively imagine what it is to bring forth an idea from conception to completion, communally draft a budget and engage in a conversation about making a life and making a living as a collaborative creative professional. This is a seminar that we build together. Come with your ideas, questions and hopes for your future in dance, and come curious about pathways that might not yet exist in your training. A brief media list is available for advance preparation in order to jump start our conversation. Free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Swarthmore College Dance Program Lecture Series

Email Bethany Formica, bbender1@swarthmore.edu for information.

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Creative Management (2023), Performer for Maia Chao, Philadelphia's Love Park
May
18
4:00 PM16:00

Creative Management (2023), Performer for Maia Chao, Philadelphia's Love Park

Lead Artist: Phoebe Bachman

Installation Activator: Maia Chao

A live public performance in Philadelphia’s Love Park using the choreographic mechanism of six interconnected rolling office chairs. The performance explores the incorporation of team building exercises, problem-solving, and improvisation into neoliberal office culture. Commissioned by Mural Arts Philadelphia as part of The People’s Budget, which aims to increase awareness of the city’s budgeting process. 

Video documentation forthcoming.

Featuring: Bethany Formica, Julian Chehirian, Khalil LeSaldo, Emily Bate, Leslie Miller, Alyse James

Cinematography: Ty Burdenski

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2022 Subcircle Residency Artist, Biddeford, ME
Jun
8
to Jun 15

2022 Subcircle Residency Artist, Biddeford, ME

So excited to have the opportunity to develop new work at this stunning residency in Maine. Director/Actress/Educator, K. Elizabeth Stevens, will be joining me to explore contemporary line dancing, cults, and climate change.

I would love your help building a new dance. The work is an experiment where I gather movement material choreographed by my extended community, build several dance pieces based on those movements, and teach sections of movement to a large group of people. Ideally, performers will be a mix of folks who DO and DO NOT consider themselves “DANCERS”.

Here’s where you come in! I’m hoping to collect videos of short movement phrases made by a variety of friends, collegues, dancers, movers…YOU! (16 to 48 counts if possible - Due by next Tues. June 7). Just a simple video from your phone should do the trick - Movement that simply makes you giggle and happy to do it. Nothing fancy, just fun. Think about movement that most people could perform or could be easily modified. With your permission, I will start to mix, remix, order and reorder everyones movement phrases into one big beautiful work made by all of us. Submit your awesome videos here: https://www.dropbox.com/request/HOuJp0GkKEMNesz8Nzh4

Free Community Workshop: Tired of dancing in your living room by yourself?  Join us for a joyful contemporary line dance celebration led by dance artist Bethany Formica.  Forget about technique and discover the value of play & laughter as it enlivens the body in completely unexpected ways.

What’s it all about?  A line dance -- a big, fun, witty one!

What kind of dancing? Check out this video: https://vimeo.com/704918161

Who can do it? Anyone.  No prior experience is necessary. Just enthusiasm and love of dance. Geared towards adults all of ages, teenagers & tweens. Kiddos are welcome with supervision. 

When & Where? June 14, 6:45-8:15pm, The Richard Martin Community Center, Biddeford, ME

How to register/info: Email  info@subcircle.org

Subcircle Residency prioritizes supporting performing artists (dance/theater/performance art/interdisciplinary) in the beginning or early stages of developing new works, but welcomes artists of any kind to apply. Located in Biddeford, Maine., just 15 miles south of Portland, 2 miles from a beautiful Fortunes Rocks Beach, and a short drive to downtown Biddeford which features some of Maine’s best coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.

https://www.subcircleresidency.org

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