Southampton resident and choreographer, Kendra Mace Clark, has been awarded the 2017 NYSCA Creative Communities Grant, which she will use to create a community drive work of art. The panel was empowered to award the strongest and most compelling applications and Clark’s entry, Project PAUSE – a dance project for residents of Southampton – stood out amongst her competitors.
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Clark is looking forward to connecting with the Southampton community through dance. (Courtesy Photo) |
Project PAUSE is a community collaboration to spread PAUSE through the creation of a dance inspired by the moments of stillness that our bodies crave. Each community member will fill out a card that shares when, where, or why they indulge in a PAUSE. The community’s reflections are then used to generate choreography for a new work that will premiere at the Southampton Cultural Center (SCC).
“I am most excited about the collaborative nature of this work and that it is broadening the dance audience,” said Clark. “I have so much gratitude for the many people who have taken a moment out of their busy day to engage in the project.”
Project PAUSE is partnering with businesses that offer the public the opportunity to PAUSE and momentarily break in time by enjoying in an activity that rejuvenates them, so they are able to return to their busy lives feeling reenergized. Some community members wrote that they go to the Golden Pear Café for a drink, unwind with a book at the Rogers Memorial Library, or see a show at SCC.
“I am deeply inspired by what they’ve had to say and cannot wait to share what manifests from the collaboration with the community,” she added.
The first Project PAUSE booth was launched late April at the Hampton Bays Public Library, where several locals stopped by to learn about the community collaboration. The question posed to locals was “What makes you PAUSE?” Clark received several responses but a few that stood out are: “With two small children, the shower…alone…is my only still moment,” “After a brisk workout, I enjoy taking a relaxing break in my sauna. Newspaper, cold drink, and 25 minutes of quiet, hot, sweaty, peace,” and “I am renewed by appreciating nature. I love the colors in the sky and the beauty of flowers and trees. Also just love to feel the sun and the breezes and watch animals and birds. Hampton Bays is a good place for all of these things.”
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What do you do to PAUSE? (Courtesy Photo) |
Community members are welcome to participate further in the creative process by enrolling in a free dance workshop, audition to perform in the work, attend an open rehearsal with the cast, and/or partake in the final exhibit, dance performance, and Q&A at the SCC. Project PAUSE encourages all local businesses, residents, and visitors to be more active within the community by engaging this art-making project.
There will be a Project PAUSE booth at Rogers Memorial Library (91 Coopers Farm Road, Southampton) on Saturday, May 20 at 10 a.m., a Dance workshop at SCC on Saturday, June 3 at 2 p.m., an audition at SCC on Wednesday, June 7 at 6 p.m., an open rehearsal at SCC on Wednesday, August 30 at 6 p.m. and the final exhibit will be at SCC on Saturday, September 23 at 5:30 p.m.
Southampton Cultural Center is located at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton. For more information about Project PAUSE, visit www.kendramacedance.com.
