THE STORIES WE TELL

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Crossroads Project/ Stories We Tell is an experimental dance film from choreographer/director and Louisiana native, Anji Crain, and is the culmination of a Masters of Fine Arts Study from Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, UK.  The research has been centered around evolving narratives of plantation sites to include more well-rounded accounts of history and on the necessity for generating new narratives.  The film will highlight a moment of shifting awareness in our country, using the culturally diverse landscape of Louisiana, as well as, by juxtaposing contemporary movement and faces with the historical site.  

ABOUT THE PROCESS

Participants will be engaged as investigators, performers, storytellers and arbiters of actions and ideas.  Each person will be able to contribute to the work through his/her own movement vocabulary and/or with his/her own words.  By decentralizing the narratives around history, we will seek to develop a richer, more empowered narrative structure.  Workshops will include a combination of improvisational exercises, choreography, and writing.  Group feedback will be essential in guiding the process. Performers have the option to write and/or record their own narratives if they choose.   

Finally, we will culminate with a short (dance) film that will elicit an embodied cultural and collective memory from present-day perspectives and represent a shifting perspective/aesthetic in how we view the historical site. 

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The film will be shown at the MFA arts showcase in London, England and after substantial feedback from participants, will be submitted to arts and film festivals for national and international presentation - with the hopes of gaining a wider audience.

RESEARCH

The workshop phase of The Stories We Tell is taking place after extensive research and fieldwork examining the evolving narrative landscape around Louisiana plantations, including prolonged site visits, tours, archives, literature,  interviews conducted with historians, tour guides, visitors, and local community members and descendants. The movement workshops are also a key element of the research and will help to addresses some of the challenges of history telling by placing the work within a larger context of communal storytelling; all with a focus on shifting the center and setting forth a method for future investigation into social, cultural and evolutionary landscapes.  

PARTICIPANTS

Seeking 10-15 movement artists willing to share their voices and blend of cultural influences, as well as to collaborate with local community members around the plantation. Strong improvisational skills a plus - including background in multiple disciplines such as Contemporary, African, Hip Hop, Folk, Freestyle, Etc.    All shapes, sizes and ages.

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Paid: Small project fee

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Movement Artists will be engaged as investigators, performers, and storytellers and have the chance to be featured in a short film with international showings.  We will start by uncovering the baseline of our engagement (expectations and perceptions of this symbolic place) and move through improvisational exercises, written reflections and conversations. 

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Interested participants may use the contact form below. Please include photos, statement of interest, experience and any available links to work.

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DATES

WORKSHOP 1

Time TBD

Location TBD

Meet and greet

Warm up exercises

Improv/Movement Writing Exercises

Observations and Discussion

WORKSHOP 2

Time TBD

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Location  TBD

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SITE VISIT/ TOUR

TIME TBD

Multiple dates
Some Flexibility

SITE REHEARSALS

June 13th and 14th
Time TBD

On Location
Available and Recommended but not mandatory

SHOOT DATES

July 16th and 17th

On Location

EDITING FEEDBACK

Time/Date TBD

Screen footage and feedback on images

SCREENING

Date/Time TBD

Screening Party

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

As a Louisiana native, I have always understood that the mixing of cultures here was unique, powerful and troublesome at the same time and have always felt indebted to those who have shaped this land.

It is my understanding, after my research, that narratives - both the ones that we receive and the ones that we create - are powerful agents of our evolution.  With all of the feedback I have been receiving,  it has become clear to me that new, more empowering narratives are greatly desired  I also recognize that this is a sensitive context. My goal in this project is to address this in whatever small way we can by both: creating a strong visual statement that challenges static images, and, by providing a space for people to contribute new narratives around one specific site in the effort to highlight anything of value that perhaps has not gotten enough attention in history books.  I recognize that I am not the first, nor will I be the last to do this and that this is very much a collaborative effort.  I greatly appreciate everyone's time, energy, and guidance.  

IF YOU COULD WRITE HISTORY, HOW WOULD YOU TELL THE STORY?

This is the story of a plantation. It's yours. How does it go? You are invited to be a part of a communal storytelling of many voices. Is your story a personal one, historical, conceptual, emotional, surprising? This is your chance to write (or rewrite) history!
The stories developed here will be used to compile a "landscape narrative".

ANJI CRAIN

Artist/Researcher

Anji Crain, a Louisiana native, is a choreographer/filmmaker, director of A+ Productions, and producer of the International New Dance Cinema Festival.  She has created over 25 dance films with professional dancers and students and has worked with top-tier performers from the likes of New York City Ballet, Parsons Dance, Philadanco, Ballet Hispanico, Broadway, So You Think You Can Dance, Freestyle B-boys/girls and more.  Her works have been featured live and in film festivals around the globe and she has been honored to present, perform and speak at festivals including the International Women in Arts Festival in Kendal, England and the Inaugural Women in Dance Leadership Festival in Baton Rouge Louisiana.  As a dancer, Anji has toured internationally with Decadancetheatre, Kinematik Dance and various independent artists and has had the opportunity to perform in such esteemed venues as Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Citi Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Southbank Center in London among others. Commercially, she has choreographed for such names as Macy’s, Nike, Kit Kat, State Farm, Reebok, the BBC, Red Hot Music, Sony music artists and more.  As a teacher and veteran arts educator, Anji has spent 8 years on staff at Peridance Center in NYC and works extensively in public education including with NYC Public schools and various initiatives such as Community Word Project and  Erasmus European partnerships for inclusive intercultural exchange (Germany, Poland and Greece).  Currently, Anji is completing her MFA at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London - building upon her BA in Dance/Sociology from New York University. 

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For over 15 years Anji has been working within the industry of hip hop dance on the professional, academic and community arts levels.  Embedded in her work has been a commitment to honoring hip hop's foundations as well as the inherent potential for encouraging personal expression and empowerment.  Her growth in this field has included years of professional development in community settings and engagement with workshops and panels discussions on culture, race, appropriation, whiteness and the application and evolution of the art form.  Her work has been inclusive of all demographics, ages, abilities and gratefully, within an array of national and international contexts and locations. 

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Artist's Statement

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As a Louisiana native, I have always understood that the mixing of cultures here was unique, powerful and troublesome at the same time and have always felt indebted to those who have shaped this land.

It is my understanding, after my research, that narratives - both the ones that we receive and the ones that we create - are powerful agents of our evolution.  With all of the feedback I have been receiving,  it has become clear to me that new, more empowering narratives are greatly desired  I also recognize that this is a sensitive context. My goal in this project is to address this in whatever small way we can by both: creating a strong visual statement that challenges static images, and, by providing a space for people to contribute new narratives around one specific site in the effort to highlight anything of value that perhaps has not gotten enough attention in history books.  I recognize that I am not the first, nor will I be the last to do this and that this is very much a collaborative effort.  I greatly appreciate everyone's time, energy, and guidance.  

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DYNASTY OGUN

Costume Designer

The conceptual fruit of identical twin designers, Dynasty & Soull Ogun, L'Enchanteur is a creative incubator inspired by the sciences, colour theory, numerology, religion, mythologies, magic, & fairy tales.

 L'Enchanteur seeks to communicate timeless inspiriations of spirituality behind each of their pieces, creating clothing, jewelry, and lifestyle items that redefine the meaning of an heirloom.

Embodying their motto, Transform Your Lifestyle, Dynasty and Soull push forward on an upward and unknown path to introduce a new vision of design decorum to the world.

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE

MFA Institution

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is the UK’s only conservatoire of music and contemporary dance.  In 2005, Trinity College of Music and Laban – leading centres of music and contemporary dance – came together to form Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, creating exciting opportunities for collaboration between musicians, composers, dancers and choreographers. Our innovative course provision, exciting performances, and groundbreaking education, community and social inclusion work make Trinity Laban a leader in the advancement of creative artistic practice. Our teaching and facilities are world-class.