MOVE! Women’s Rights from ISADORA DUNCAN to NOW
2020 was the centennial of the 19th amendment… women’s right to vote. It is being called “The Year of the Suffragist”. In celebration of 2020, Word Dance Theater created and premiered an evening-length, multidisciplinary performance titled MOVE! Women’s Rights from ISADORA DUNCAN to NOW.
MOVE! premiered at the Kennedy Center/The Reach on March 4, 2020, for a sold out, standing room only audience. A second refreshed adaptation was offered, March 10th, 2023 as part of the Intersections Festival 2023 at The Atlas Performing Arts Center.
MOVE! Proved itself to be a potent piece of Art. Audiences left invigorated, hopeful, re-charged and, yes, moved.
MOVE! can be shared in intimate settings as well as grand theaters. It can be presented as a few scenes or as a full evening.
To book MOVE! contact Cynthia Word at Cynthia@worddance.org.
Images by Theo Kossenas & Jessica Snow
The Production Team
Concept: Cynthia Word
Text and Curation: Jenny McConnell Frederick
Musical Direction: Carlos César Rodríguez
Costume Design: Judith Hansen
Stage Management: Michelle Janota
Props Master: Amber Kilpatrick
Lighting Design: Katie McCreary
Sound Design: Justin Schmitz
Marketing Direction: Stacy Yu & Nikki Hill
The Artists
Dancers: Cynthia Word, Ingrid Zimmer, Vanessa Carmichael, Jenifer Golden, Rebecca Lallande, Chartamia “Shay” Turner, Valerie Durham, Karen Morales Chacana
Actors: Sun King Davis, Georgia Deane, Nicole Jones, Jennifer Osborn, Alana Dodds Sharp, Yasmin Tuazon, Shirite Westreich, Phoenix Cross, Wallace Hewchuck, Shana Laski, Danielle Gallo, Rachel Johns, Erik Harrison, Christina Day
Musicians: Carlos César Rodríguez, Peter Joshua Burroughs, Fairouz Foty, Anamer Castrello
Testimonials
“MOVE! is a creative tour de force of both dance and educational enlightenment around the fight for women's rights. Anchored by the work of historical figure Isadora Duncan - a dance iconoclast, star, feminist, and mother, MOVE! takes the audience on a journey through historical milestones that mark the progress of women’s rights throughout the 20th century and beyond.” — Douglas Yeuell, Executive Director, The Atlas Performing Arts Center
“I wanted to take a brief moment to say thank you on behalf of the entire Dance Programming and Millennium Stage teams, for last night’s wonderful performance!It was so awesome to see everything come together, and I think the work looked and sounded gorgeous in the Skylight Pavilion! Congratulations! We counted approximately 250 people who saw the work overall. I’m so glad we were able to get so many folks in to watch the performance.”
— Jane Rabinovitz, Co-Director, Dance Programming, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
“Another triumph for Word Dance Theater! What an extraordinary presentation - this one inspired by women’s struggle and fight for the vote! Cynthia word, Ingrid Zimmer, and others brought these heroines to life! We are looking to life post COVID when we can all dance again!”
— Pamela Johnson, President , Woman’s National Democratic Club Educational Foundation
“What an amazing, inspiring production! I loved the integration of the dancing with the story and staging. And those singers! A huge congratulations to you.I will share.”
— Mary Ruth Hammond
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
Voicing Your Truth, Moving Your Power
Bring this workshop to your community! For more information please contact Cynthia Word at: cynthia@worddance.org
Celebrating the centennial of the 19th amendment, women’s rights to vote, inspires us in 2020 to continue seeking greater civic engagement and equality for all populations and particularly women. Workshop led by Marcia Daft and Cynthia Word.
Overview: Now more than ever, it is important for all citizens, and especially women, to feel the freedom to “speak their truth to power” through their words, votes, and agency within our American society. In this workshop participants will be guided through a series of specific vocal and movement activities designed to build comfort in expressing themselves and their truth through sound and movement. The workshop will culminate in Marcia Daft and Cynthia Word weaving participants’ ideas to create a short vocal composition and choreography around the thematic material of “truth to power”. Participants will leave feeling empowered in the knowledge that the Arts can amplify all people’s individual voices, thus encouraging engaged Citizen Artists. Length: 1.5 to 2 hours; Audience: anyone interested, ages 17 to 100.
Marcia Daft, www.marciadaft.com, is a professional musician and nationally known arts educator. She spent 20 years developing Moving Through Math and Moving Through Science. Her innovative work has transformed the lives of teachers and students across the United States.
Cynthia Word, www.worddance.org, Based in Washington, D.C., Ms. Word and Word Dance Theater has spent the last 20 years creating Isadora Duncan-based dance/theater productions, blending compelling story, live music, contemporary choreography and the dances of Isadora Duncan. Ms. Word and Word Dance Theater are the winners of numerous awards. For an extensive list please visit www.worddance.org/directors.
Image Header Credit: Jessica Snow