Fall 2009 Season:

Welcome to the Fall 2009 season! Join us in the heart of the Lower East Side community and engage with exciting emerging and established performers across boundaries and genres.

Ticket prices, unless otherwise noted:
            $15 adults/$10 for students and seniors
            Family Matinees: All tickets $7

Your ticket purchases help subsidize tickets for families in-need and help make the arts accessible for all.

Location: The Performance Project @ University Settlement is located at the corner of Eldridge Street and Rivington Street. F/V to Second Avenue, B/D to Grand Street, J/M/Z to Essex Street.

For more information and to make a reservation for any event, please call 212-453-4532 or e-mail project.audience@gmail.com.

Benefit screening of Stages
Friday, Oct. 2 @ 7:30pm

Presented in Collaboration with Meerkat Media Arts Collective

A moving and surprisingly funny exploration of the unexpected power of storytelling.  Set at the University Settlement and its affiliate agency, The Door, in New York City's changing Lower East Side and SoHo neighborhoods, STAGES follows a group of older Puerto Rican women and inner-city youth over 20 weeks as they create an original play out of the stories of their lives. 

This is the first public screening of the film since its sweep of the top documentary honors at the HBO New York International Latino Film Festival.

Ba Da Chui, Percussion Quartet
Saturday, Oct. 24 @ 3pm -- Family Matinee

Presented in Collaboration with Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series
Part of Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A City-Wide Festival Celebrating Chinese Culture. Hosted by Wu Man.

Ba Da Chui means "eight great hammers," and this percussion quartet straight from China promises a feast of exuberant sound. Inspired by the Beijing opera tradition, this foursome will wield drums, cymbals, gongs and woodblocks to weave complex patterns into compelling music. Acclaimed pipa virtuoso Wu Man will introduce children and their families to this dynamic group. Bring the whole family! Admission is free.

THE LUST WEEKEND
Saturday&Sunday, Nov. 7&8 Time TBA

Presented by Performa 09

Avant-garde dances, sensual songs, mysterious avatars, intimate confessions and provocative performances. Performa 09, the NY biennial of new visual art performance, pays tribute to Futurist poet and dancer Valentine de Saint-Point, author of the Manifesto of Lust (1917), with an enticing program of events at a variety of galleries and non-profit venues on the Lower East Side to coincide with Feminine Futures, an exhibition at the Italian Cultural Institute, and Futuriste at Casa Italiana Zerili-Marimo.  Let yourself be tempted.... Admission is  free.  See below for a listing of the weekend's events, all taking place at The Performance Project @ University Settlement.


Nov 7 / 1pm / LILIBETH CUENCA RASMUSSEN: THE PRESENT DOESN'T EXIST IN MY MIND AND THE FUTURE IS ALREADY FAR BEHIND
A performance inspired by the writings of Valentine de Saint Point and Mina Loy.  Composers Pete Drungle and Brian Bender.  Motion graphics Brian Close. Costumes Lise Klitten. Presented by SculptureCenter.  Supported by the Danish Arts Council.
 
Nov 7 / 3pm / TRACEY EMIN: READING FROM THOSE WHO SUFFER LOVE AND STRANGELAND
Tracey Emin will read from her new book of poems Those Who Suffer Love and from her critically acclaimed 2008 autobiography Strangeland, followed by Q&A moderated by RoseLee Goldberg. Presented by Performa and Lehmann Maupin.  RSVP required.  Details TBA
 
Nov 7 / 8pm / LUCIE FONTAINE INTERPRETING A PROJECT BY MARCELLA VANZO WITH MUSIC BY JENNIFER WALSHE: PERFORMAT
A traveling, site specific performance inspired by 70's feminism, mixed up and spiced with Vogue magazine, the television show Big Brother, and plastic surgery, starring the magnificent Lucie Fontaine. The performance will be available after as a limited edition LP.
 
Nov 7 / 8:15pm / DISCOTECA FLAMING STAR (JIM GALBRAITH, CGB, MAREN MAURER, WM): INGRID (INZWISCHEN)
A music, film, and spoken word performance that draws on a partially fictionalized biography of 70s performance artist Ingrid, and the confrontational politics of the No! Art movement's Boris Lurie. Presented by Performa

Nov 8 / 7pm / LUCIE FONTAINE INTERPRETING A PROJECT BY MARCELLA VANZO WITH MUSIC BY JENNIFER WALSHE: PERFORMAT
See description above.

Nov 8 / 7:15pm / NILS BECH  &  LINA VISTE GROENLI: TKTK
Performing on a set designed by Groenli, Bech will combine sparse acapella versions of contemporary and classical music and well-crafted electronica in a conceptual stage show laced with cabaret and contemporary dance, in collaboration with saxofonist Bendik Giske. Presented by Art Since the Summer of 69.

Evolver.net's Spores Series
Thursday, Nov. 12 @ 7pm

Hosted by The Interdependence Project

In the throes of the recession, what better time to delve into the ins and outs of Gift Economies? Get a sneak peek at Daniel Pinchbeck's new film, 2012: A Time for Change.  A panel discussion will follow along with an interactive gift exchange for those who bring an offering. Tickets are $7.

compani javedani: On the Alchemy of Love
Thursday, Nov. 19  &  Friday, Nov. 20 @ 7:30pm;
Saturday, Nov. 21 @ 3pm -- Family Matinee

The theater transforms into a restaurant's kitchen. An ensemble of chefs fall in love and reveal their competitive desires to be top chef. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this vibrant dance-theater work, accompanied by video and an international sound score, is inspired by food and love. The Family Matinee will be followed by an artist-led workshop. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

The Construction Company: 40th Season Celebration
Thursday  &  Friday, Dec. 3  &  4 (Program A) @ 7:30pm;
Saturday  &  Sunday, Dec. 5  &  6 (Program B) @ 7:30pm

This pioneering company celebrates its 40th anniversary with two exciting programs of new dance, music and video. Program A offers Sally Bowden, Sally Gross, Bryan Hayes, Rajika Puri , and Rebekah Windmiller.   Program B offers Ariane Anthony, Jeffrey Bauer, Anita Cheng, Andy Gurian and Beth Leonard..  Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Aaron Landsman: Special Tonight
POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING 2010

Aaron Landsman returns with a staged reading of his brand new play. Unfolding in extended real-time scenes that begin in a sauna and end at a cozy Lower East Side restaurant, Special Tonight is sexually frank, tenderly masculine and, like the meal the characters eat, easily digestible, with lingering aftertastes of shame and faith. Directed by Paul Willis. Tickets are $7.

MIM - ARTE : Once upon a time in a place not so far away
Saturday, Dec. 12 @ 3pm -- Family Matinee

MIM-ARTE combines classic pantomime techniques with video, sound effects and dance to create highly animated and comical performances. Our fearless protagonists face challenges and find beauty in our chaotic city full of crying babies, pooping pups, late trains, crowded parks and stinky garbage. Special guest appearance by Michael (Jackson) Dracula! An artist-led mime and mask workshop will follow.

Faye Driscoll: 837 Venice Boulevard
and a sneak peek of There is so much mad in me
Friday, Dec. 18  &  Saturday, Dec. 19 @ 7:30pm

The New York Times selected 837 Venice Boulevard as one of the top five dance shows of 2008. It paints the lonesome emotional landscape of a neglected kid left to her own fantasies and fears, while exploring universal themes of identity, blame and how exhausting it is to have to "be somebody" all the time. There is so much mad in me looks into the ways we fail, succeed and get lost in the chase for true connection. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Monday Night Salons

Reception follows each salon.
Admission is free and all are welcome.



Oct. 5, Nov. 2  &  Nov. 30 @ 7pm  Live Arts Collaboration and The Performance Project offer The Salon Series, where artists meet artists meet audiences to unwrap the creative process. Each evening, selected artists from across disciplines share samples of their work, illuminate their process and seek out collaboration, conversation and connection.




Oct. 19  &  Dec. 14 @ 7pm  The Performance Project teams up with the Ontological-Hysteric Incubator to tackle issues confronting the NY performing arts community. Each salon will be moderated by an arts blogger and feature a panel of artists currently engaged with the Project or the Incubator.

Tuesdays with US @ the Houston Street Center

Spend the afternoon enjoying dance, music, storytelling or theatre.  Presented in collaboration with the Houston Street Center at University Settlement, these unique performances will take place every fifth Tuesday of the month, which fall on September 29, 2009, December 29, 2009, March 30, 2010 and June 29, 2010.

Join us for the first Tuesdays with US Performance Project event--a FREE Artichoke Dance Company performance on Tuesday, September 29th at 2:30 p.m. at the Houston Street Center.  To reserve your spot call 212-475-5008.  

Artists-in-Residence and Curated Rental Program

The Performance Project is committed to building new and diverse audiences for live performance and reaching out to people of all ages and backgrounds who have little access to the arts. Towards that end, teaching artists lead workshops and classes in dance, drama, music and visual art for Settlement participants of all ages. In addition, our Artist-in-Residence program provides invaluable opportunities for community members to engage with working artists in the artistic process.

We are pleased to announce that three of the artists performing this season at The Performance Project--choreographer Faye Driscoll, mime artist Raul Hurtado and playwright Aaron Landsman--will be working directly with University Settlement program participants and staff to develop community performance projects.

In addition, The Performance Project welcomes artists to apply to be a part of our Curated Rental Program. If selected, your production will be presented by The Performance Project and marketed as part of our Spring or Fall season. The rental agreement will be tailored to best serve the needs, budget and ambitions of the production.

If you are interested in applying for our Artist-in-Residence or Curated Rental program, please follow the instructions below: 

• Mail or send an email to the arts program curator, Alison Fleminger at afleminger@universitysettlement.org
• Please include the lead artist(s) bio, resume and one page description of your current project. Highlight how you use the arts to engage with diverse communities. 
• Please provide either links to performance footage or a DVD of a past performance.
• Please be sure to follow up with a phone call to Ms. Fleminger at 212.453.4532

Space Rental

Speyer Hall, our intimate, fully-equipped performance space located in University Settlement's headquarters on Eldridge Street is available at low cost for performances, lectures and workshops. For more details about Speyer Hall please click here.

For information about all rentals please email arts@universitysettlment.org or call 212.453.4532.