On Friday August 13, 2021 at 8:00pm Entity Contemporary Dance and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) will present EntityFeatures. Performing at the JACCC’s James Irvine Japanese Garden, EntityFeatures is a series of films that interweave live performance with dance on film and features new works by Karen Chuang, Emily Crouch, Will Johnston, Shiori Kamijo, Grayson McGuire, Nina McNeely, Marissa Osato, and Diana Schoenfield. A Q&A with the artists will follow the performance.
Will Johnson – Photo by Mike Esperanza
Directed by choreographers Will Johnston and Marissa Osato, the Los Angeles based Entity Contemporary Dance is a professional company founded in 2009 by Johnston, Osato, and Elm Pizarro. Entity strives to build connections between the Southern California hip hop and contemporary dance communities as well to close the gaps between commercial and concert dance in LA . The company’s choreography fuses together modern, jazz, and hip hop dance styles to “explores the nuances of human emotionality and connectivity” (Entity press release).
Entity has presented several evening-long works including “Braxon vs. Oregon”, “PEEL”, “Transparent/see”, and “The Spectacular Society”, as well as participating in numerous festivals, benefit shows, and industry showcases. The company was the recipient of the 2017 Capezio A.C.E. Awards grand prize, and has taught workshops across the U.S., Mexico, Asia, and Australia. Entity was a company-in-residence at Edge Performing Arts Center from 2016-2020 and is currently a resident company at Stomping Ground L.A.
Current Entity company members include Kent Boyd, Karen Chuang, Emily Crouch, Shiori Kamijo, Angel Mammoliti, Jason Martin, Grayson McGuire, Vickie Roan, Eugenia Rodriguez, Diana Schoenfield, Derek Tabada.
Marissa Osato – Photo by Mike Esperanza
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center weaves Japanese and Japanese American arts and culture into the fabric of our communities. JACCC remains firmly rooted in Little Tokyo, providing a vital place to build connections between people and cultures, locally and internationally. Through inclusive programs and authentic experiences, we continue our traditions and nurture the next generation of innovative artists, culture-bearers, and thinkers.
########
WHAT: A live screening of new movement films created by and for Entity Contemporary Dance, interwoven with live performance and artist Q&A
WHO: Entity Contemporary Dance and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
WHEN: On Friday August 13, 2021 at 8:00pm (PDT)
WHERE: James Irvine Japanese Garden at JACCC
TICKETS: $25/$20/$15 – For tickets and info click HERE
*Pre-order a special $15 Japanese bento from Sake Dojo, curated by Jane Matsumoto, JACCC Culinary Curator
To visit the Entity Contemporary Dance website, click HERE.
To visit the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center website, click HERE.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle
Featured image: Entity Contemporary Dance in “Transparent/see” – Photo by Vince Horiuchi
