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

Erica Lessie

FILMMAKERS
Director of Photography  JULIA C. LIU
Camera Operator (NY/NJ)  KEITH HEYWARD
Cinematographer (Berlin) PETER REINBOTHE
Cinematographer (Athens)  CHRYSANTHI BADEKA
Cinematographer (Montréal)  JONATHAN BRISEBOIS
Cinematographer (Chicago) ALEX BRESCANU
 

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

D.R. ARENDS FAMILY

SEÁN CURRAN

AMY CHEN

WILLIAM TAYLOR

DAVID SPEER

CAITLIN TRAINOR

CAROLINE O'BRIEN

PAUL SALDANA

DONNA STEPHANO

VANESSA RUOTOLO

FIONA BARRETT

GABRIELA WHITE

VALERIE BERTERMANN

DR. STEPHEN MALAMUD

ROBERT W. ARENDS

KATIE & KEVIN BENNETT

BRANDON WILLIAMS

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GIFTS IN MEMORIUM:

KAY and TOM WILLIAMS
SHAWN QUAID

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THE UNWRITTEN LAW