RAREdancework is a dance collective and non-profit organization that creates conversations about the world we live in, relying upon physical movement to sustain a dialogue about how we understand human experiences individually, collectively, and historically through performances, collaboration and educational programming. Based in New York City, the collective has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Barnes Foundation, Dixon Place, The University of Wisconsin-Madison and Constellation-Chicago. Working with text, mixed media, live music and abstract narratives, RAREdancework creates unique, textured performance experiences.
PROHAIRESIS
SHORT DANCE FILM
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Our short dance film, Prohairesis, has grown out of the ideas of Stoic philosopher Epictetus’ term of the same name surrounding the faculty of choice. Imogen Holst’s Phantasy Quartet, brought to life by the musicians of Red Riding Hood String Quartet, supports the dancers of RAREdancework located in the United States, Canada, Germany and Greece.
The film—a montage of the dancers and the Chicago-based musicians—captures the varied perspectives of the artists, commenting on notions of space, time, direction, environment, and connection. Prohairesis demonstrates that our destinies and futures are not fixed, and that choice is not an illusion. Reason, beauty, and love make us irrefutably human, and reminds us that the cosmos is pregnant with possibilities awaiting our decisions.
Rebecca Arends is the creative director and choreographer, as well as a dancer and co-producer. Nora Williams is a producer and musician. The film is slated to be released in 2023.
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​We are honored to be the recipients of grants from both the Musicians Club of Women (MCW) and The Cliff Dwellers Foundation in addition to being recipients of generous donations from private contributors. The finished film will be distributed globally to educational institutions, museums, galleries, and short film festivals, as well as to MCW and Cliff Dwellers members.
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Prohairesis (Ancient Greek: προαίρεσις; variously translated as "moral character", "will", "volition", "choice", "intention", or "moral choice") is a fundamental concept in the Stoic philosophy of Epictetus. It represents the choice involved in giving or withholding assent to impressions (phantasiai). The use of this Greek word was first introduced into philosophy by Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics. To Epictetus, it is the faculty that distinguishes human beings from all other creatures. Read more on Wikipedia.
Epictetus born c. AD 50; died c. AD 135
Imogen Holst b. April 12, 1907, d. March 9, 1984
TO MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION,
DONATE THROUGH PAYPAL:
RAREdancework is a non-profit organization as defined under Section 501(c)(3), and all contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent as allowed by law. Your gift will be acknowledged.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
DANCERS
Mary Kate Sheehan
Merryn Kritzinger
Carson Reiners
Rebecca Arends
MUSICIANS
Edith Yokley
Nora Williams
Songhea Sackrider
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Erica Lessie
Director of Photography/Cinematographer (NJ) JULIA LIU
Cinematographer (NJ) KEITH HEYWARD
Cinematographer (Berlin) PETER REINBOTHE
Cinematographer (Athens) CHRYSANTHI BADEKA
Cinematographer (Montréal) JONATHAN BRISEBOIS
Cinematographer (Chicago) ALEX BRESCANU
Film & Sound Editor KEITH HEYWARD
Film Editor MARK WEATHERS
Music Publisher (London) FABER MUSIC
MANY THANKS TO OUR PROHAIRESIS DONORS:
RENEE TYPALDOS
MARGARET SHEEHAN
KATHRYN TYPALDOS
MARIANNE CARUANA
SUSAN BERGGREN
CAROL KYROS-WALKER
ANGELIQUE DORCHIES
MATTHEW SMITH
LOUIS CHESNEY
DENISE SABALA
MONTE COLE
ELISABETH FLORES
DON & ANN JENKINS
HARRY & GWEN MIRIJANIAN
MARTHA ARENDS
DOMINIC LEDESMA
LARRY SIMON
LARRY K. SNIDER
JAMES SULLIVAN
MOLLY & TARRE HAYES
THERESA O'CONNOR
ERIK WANGER
DAVID SPEER
CAITLIN TRAINOR
CAROLINE O'BRIEN
PAUL SALDANA
BRANDON WILLIAMS
DONNA STEPHANO
VANESSA RUOTOLO
FIONA BARRETT
D.R. ARENDS FAMILY
KATIE & KEVIN BENNETT
MARY ANN CARLSON
ROBERT W. ARENDS
WILLIAM TAYLOR
CHESNEY SNOW
DR. STEPHEN MALAMUD
AMY CHEN
SEÁN CURRAN
VALERIE BERTERMANN
GABRIELA WHITE
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GIFTS IN MEMORIUM:
KAY and TOM WILLIAMS
SHAWN QUAID
PAST PROJECTS
THE UNWRITTEN LAW
"The pure pleasure of the language, the dancing, and the music add up to 65 minutes of the most powerful theater I've ever witnessed." -BROADWAY WORLD
"Passionate, difficult and engrossing, The Unwritten Law is a searing depiction of triumph over adversity." -THEATER SCENE
Peter Yesley ©
Peter Yesley ©
Peter Yesley ©
Daily Constitution of an Invisible (Wo)man (2009)
Performed/Choreographed/Filmed by: Rebecca Arends
Text Written by Brian Kay with Rebecca Arends
Video/Sound Editing by Shane Rutkowski
Colored Girl(s)
Choreographed & Performed by Rebecca Arends
UnderExposed (2015)
Dixon Place
NYC
Quicksand Confessions/Nella (2015)
Performed/Filmed/Created by Rebecca Arends
Cortege
Composed by Lili Boulanger (1914)
Choreography/Performance by Rebecca Arends, Carson Reiners & Aaron R. White
Music Performed by Red Riding Hood String Quartet
Produced by RAredancework & Ossia Musical Forum
Constellation Chicago (2016)
Et Aeterna Gaudia
Composed by Robert Arends (2007)
Choreography/Performance by Aaron R. White
Music Performed by Red Riding Hood String Quartet
Produced by RAredancework & Ossia Musical Forum
Constellation Chicago (2016)
