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THE MISSING PEACE

the blog

The Missing Peace Blog is a place to follow the creative process behind the development of The Missing Peace, a performance event. Each choreographer will post highlights from the rehearsal process, workshops, and volunteer opportunities.

Be a part of The Missing Peace.

Created by: Jamie Erin Murphy, Brady Sanders, Shana Simmons

Walking for the missing peace

12/31/2017

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by Shana Simmons
Picture
Jamie, Shana, Emily and Carmella (dancers in The Missing Peace) volunteering at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk - Pittsburgh - 8/26/2017

As part of The Missing Peace process, dancers and choreographers have donated their time towards outside organization’s fundraising walks to help spread awareness and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This show isn’t just about the choreography.... it’s about making an impact in our communities.

"As I stood at the start line for the Alzheimer's Association walk, I couldn't help but reflect how many people have been affected by both Alzheimer's disease and suicide. It was overwhelming to see the masses that were passing me and remember how many people walked alongside me during the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention walk. This was THOUSANDS of people and in Pittsburgh alone. It isn't often that we are united on such a large scale and the feeling is overwhelming. To try to put into words how these mental health conditions impact so many people and break down lives is difficult. This is why we dance. It's why dancers are compelled to move and we, as choreographers, are compelled to create. I believe The Missing Peace can help bridge the gap between these challenging feelings and what to say about them. I believe The Missing Peace will bring hope to those struggling through these difficult situations. I am excited to share and unite people through The Missing Peace." --Shana Simmons

"Taking our commitment to these causes from the studios to the streets of Pittsburgh has been a deeply moving experience.  I am incredibly grateful that the dancers have taken the passion we have for these issues to heart and that they have been so willing to get involved."  --Brady Sanders

PictureSara, Carmella, Jamie, Brady, Shana, Emily and JoAnna (dancers in The Missing Peace) volunteering at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's - Pittsburgh - 11/4/2017
"Seeing the joy in her face although she was battling this terrible disease (Alzheimer's) gave me hope that continuing on and living each day to the best of our ability is completely possible." --reflection by Carmella Cuomo, in response to interactions with a woman at the Alzheimer's walk that had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's


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Comparing process...dancer reflection

12/30/2017

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by Sara Spizzichini, dancer in both What Remains? and Me vs. ...

One of the most interesting aspects of being a part of The Missing Peace, in my opinion, has been comparing how each choreographer goes about constructing their own work and story. For instance, having been involved in both Brady’s as well as Jamie’s choreographic process, I have noticed that Brady is more apt to come into the studio with a clear and personal idea whereas Jamie prefers to create more spontaneously surrounding a loose theme.

---What Remains?---

Brady has gone about constructing his piece through structured layering: he has manufactured a main phrase (all with gestures pertaining to elements and effects of Alzheimer’s) and has continually built upon this phrase-work in order to produce additional movement. Brady has explained that the movement (the gesticulations, the repetition, how and where we travel through space) is what relays the chaos, confusion, frustration, and hardship that is experienced by both a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease as well as his or her caretaker (in other words, we are acting as their voice).

Each phrase is, more or less, tagged on as a new section to the piece as it is created, providing for a very systematic choreographic approach. Moving forward, I wonder how each section is meant to flow together and in what particular order? Where does the climax of the piece lie and how exactly will he tie in the desired use of photographs within the work?

---Me vs. ...---

Jamie, on the other hand, has been utilizing improvisational tools and exercises throughout her process to generate the meat of her work. Additionally, she has been framing important questions to us along the way in order to illicit genuine reactions to the subject matter in our movement. These questions and/or statements have involved concept identifiers such as “I am not vs. I am ” and “Do you categorize yourself based on how you personally identify with the world around you or how others tend to perceive you?”, etc.

Jamie has also employed word association as a tool for us to create individual phrases as well as small duets (for example: In one duet, we created a phrase with a partner that we had something in common with and in another, we created a phrase with a different partner based on a topic we did not share an interest in) Much of the framework for Me vs.... is discussion-based and task-oriented; I feel that Jamie’s process is more of a collaboration while, at the same time, allowing for a great amount of self-exploration. As opposed to being a voice for others, we are exhibiting our own voices throughout the piece for others to relate to.

Moving forward, I wonder how each section will take shape, what will tie each section together, and if the piece is relaying a final message or remaining open-ended for its audience at its conclusion?

Videos taken with Boomerang by Sara Spizzichini in rehearsals for Me vs. ...
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  • Welcome
  • Upcoming
  • About SSD
    • PRESS >
      • VIDEO
      • IMAGES
    • OUR PEOPLE
  • Contact
  • Presenters
  • PROJECTS
    • CONSTRUCTED SIGHT: a series of dance for films
    • ELEVATE: a triple bill of female choreographers
    • THE MISSING PEACE (2018) >
      • THE MISSING PEACE BLOG
      • The HOPE Series
    • OBJECTIVE I (2015)
    • PASSENGER (2014)
    • RELATIVE POSITIONS (2012)
    • COLLABORATIONS
    • CHOREOGRAPHY >
      • RED ROVER, RED ROVER
      • GROUNDED IN THE SOIL
      • OF ELEPHANTS AND ASSES
      • DANCING SOLO
      • QUIRKE
      • BITS... PIECES...
      • RESONANT PASSINGS
      • TEA PARTY
      • A-PART
      • WHAT IS YOUR...?
      • CRUNCH
  • DONATE
  • TEACHING
  • Insights & Ink: A Blog
  • AUDITION PGH 2020