JELANI TAYLOR is a choreographer and founder of ERA DANCE COMPANY. Jelani and the company were artist/company in residence at Norfolk State University and a part of the Digging in Group, Artist Residency program at Green Space Studio. He is currently a 2024/25 Performance Project Fellow at University Settlement. Jelani graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography in 2019 where he was the recipient of the African American Studies Department’s “Black History in the Making” Award. @eradanceco / @Jelanireality

SUZZANNE PONOMARENKO DANCE will be showing vignettes #6 and #7 of a larger work entitled, Tapestries, to be fully realized during a residency at Baryshnikov Arts Center in May.

Tapestries will be guided by the curious narrative of The Unicorn Tapestries (1495-1505) reimagined through lesser known Ukrainian Folk Tales which interrelate with the dialogue of The Hunt of the Unicorn. It consists of seven short vignettes, each representing a different tapestry and folk tale, each of which will recognize a specific aspect of the subjective and brief narrative of The Queer Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American folks as mapped by visual artist, Anton Shebetko. This non-narrative based performance will unfold through rigorous and quirky dance vocabulary abstracted from Ukrainian Folk Dance, Ballet, and Modern Dance. It will serve as an embodied archive of the LGBTQIA+ people; an ever evolving Сморгасбург (Smorgasbord) of Queer Ukrainian Culture and History.

Era Dance Company, founded by Virgnia Beach native Jelani Taylor, hosts the E75: Dancer Development Workshop. 

A three-day intensive experience for aspiring and professional dancers in Virginia, ages 16+. Dancers will experience a myriad of dancer forms and training practices over the course of the 3 days while grounding in the contemporary modern practice of Era Dance Company. 

E75 is an opportunity for dancers to experiment, network, and grow to their hearts content!

Era Dance Company, founded by Virgnia Beach native Jelani Taylor, hosts the E75: Dancer Development Workshop. 

A three-day intensive experience for aspiring and professional dancers in Virginia, ages 16+. Dancers will experience a myriad of dancer forms and training practices over the course of the 3 days while grounding in the contemporary modern practice of Era Dance Company. 

E75 is an opportunity for dancers to experiment, network, and grow to their hearts content!

Era Dance Company, founded by Virgnia Beach native Jelani Taylor, hosts the E75: Dancer Development Workshop. 

A three-day intensive experience for aspiring and professional dancers in Virginia, ages 16+. Dancers will experience a myriad of dancer forms and training practices over the course of the 3 days while grounding in the contemporary modern practice of Era Dance Company. 

E75 is an opportunity for dancers to experiment, network, and grow to their hearts content!

Digging In Group Artist Residency culminating performance at Green Space Studio!

Experiments class takes the contemporary modern dance vocabulary of Jelani Taylor/Era Dance Co. and offers opportunities of informed choice. Participants engage in live decision making in theatrics, timing, energy, and other ways of movement manipulation. Challenging the body in movement and the mind in performance is the essence of Experiments.

CLASS IS FREE

Donations accepted through Fractured Atlas

Experiments class takes the contemporary modern dance vocabulary of Jelani Taylor/Era Dance Co. and offers opportunities of informed choice. Participants engage in live decision making in theatrics, timing, energy, and other ways of movement manipulation. Challenging the body in movement and the mind in performance is the essence of Experiments.

CLASS IS FREE

Donations accepted through Fractured Atlas

The Elemental Body Alignment System (EBAS) is a series of exercises designed for structural integrity and supported range of motion. Through anchoring and initiating movements via the pelvis, the body discovers its ability to efficiently articulate movement through experiential anatomy.

The work deepens the students understanding of where movement comes from, how to align the body and to build a physical consciousness of open pathways of energy for movement. The system helps the learner to override the central nervous system creating new neuromuscular firings supporting a greater understanding of sensorial technique.

CLASS IS FREE

Donations accepted through Fractured Atlas

ERA Dance Company culminates their residency with Norfolk State University's Dance Theater Company with a performance of Kinetic Study on Pain: Vols. 1 & 2. The work is a part of the creative and critical inquiry into pain, perseverance, and peace which is the foundation for the company's long term project Forward.

ERA Dance Company culminates their residency with Norfolk State University's Dance Theater Company with a performance of Kinetic Study on Pain: Vols. 1 & 2. The work is a part of the creative and critical inquiry into pain, perseverance, and peace which is the foundation for the company's long term project Forward.

Firehouse Theater in Richmond, Virginia hosts Era Dance Company for a developmental residency for “Forward”. This residency will culminate in a showing at the theater display the work in in its current state and featuring live music. https://donorbox.org/events/378098