MADE BY WOMEN

FILM NIGHT

PROGRAM

BETWEEN SILENCES

Choreographer/Performer/ Director: Ali Kenner Brodsky
Dir of Photography/ Editor: Rich Ferri
Musician: MorganEve Swain

MAKING A GOD

Director: Ankita Sharma
Choreographer: Ankita Sharma
Performers: Eyner Roman and Ankita Sharma
Director of Photography: Amy Piñon
Editor: Ankita Sharma
Composer: Max Sarkowsky
Set Design: Soren Kodak
Filmed at Base Experimental Arts + Space

REFLECTIONS OF A BLACK STAR

Director: Morgan Gregory
Editor/FX Editor: Alessia Mandanici 
Additional Graphics: Jess Montijo
Score: Maria Komiyama 
Videography: Laila A. Stevens/Adah Unachukwa
Cast: Tyler Isaiah Bey, Sydnie Cooper, Kirsten Gottlieb, Elise Logan, Elinor Kleber Diggs, Sumayyah Smith, Danielle Gurima


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INTERMISSION

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SLEEP EASY

Choreography / direction : Lilit Hakobyan. 
DOP/editing : Philipp Contag Lada.
Dancers : Sandra Bourdais/ Chiara Pareo/ Maurus Gauthier / Davide Sioni / Conal Francis Martin

UNCONDITIONAL

Directed And Edited By: Marta Chierego
Starring: Dorchel Haqq
Cinematography By: Andrea Gavazzi
Choreography By: Loni Landon
Original Music Composition: Gracie And Rachel
Based On A Poem By: Jennifer Wellwood
Narration By: Leigh Martha Klinger
Produced By: Julia Yelvington
Colorist: Dante Pasquinelli
Sound Design And Mix: Juan Torán
With: Hakeem Olayinka
Film Scan: Metropolis Post
Shot on Kodak Film

TOPIA

Directed by: Jessie Lee Thorne and Justin Thorne
Choreographed by: Jessie Lee Thorne 
Edited by: Justin Thorne 
Cast: Laja Field, Matt Luck, Kaia Makihara, Annalise Gehling, Keilan Stafford, Jessie Lee Thorne 
Artistic/choreographic collaborator: Laja Field, Matt Luck
Musical Score: “Lost in Light” written by Lauren Dessinger and Distant Cowboy 
Produced by Lauren Dessinger | Lauren N. Dessinger Publishing

- MEET THE ARTISTS -

ALI KENNER BRODSKY

ANKITA SHARMA

MORGAN GREGORY

LILIT HAKOBYAN

MARTA CHIEREGO

JESSE LEE THORNE

ALI KENNER BRODSKY makes gesturally rich and emotionally driven dance-theatre works and dance films that ask the viewer to indulge in a world of reflection, remembering, and connection. www.alikennerbrodsky.com

ANKITA is an experimental performance artist invested in world-making where content dictates genre and betrays expectation. Their creations unpack systems and symptoms of power from a queer, punk solidarity-based lens that rehearses freedom in body and mind. In aesthetic, their work is grungy, confrontational, and cheeky, a dance-horror, with physicality rooted in contemporary dance-theater and South Asian and African diasporic forms. 
Ankita’s work has been shown at venues across the US, including Denver Art Museum, The Basement, Dixon Place, BASE, The Tank, JACK, Ormao, University Settlement, and LPAC. They are currently in residence at BASE and GALLIM.

MORGAN GREGORY originally from Richmond, Virginia is a 4th year student in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, set to graduate May 2024.  In her junior year (2022), Morgan was honored as the Denise Jefferson Memorial Scholar for her graduating Ailey/Fordham BFA class as well as named one of Sidra Bell’s Winter Module 2022 Research Fellows. Artistically, Morgan finds herself in spaces of intersectionality: Academia, Womanhood, Blackness, Dance, and Theater. As a result, nearing graduation, she is interested in how her ever changing identity can work with and nurture her current movement practices within institutionalized work spaces.

LILIT HAKOBYAN is an Armenian interdisciplinary artist based in Germany who focuses primarily on Choreography and Photography. She graduated from the Yerevan State Ballet College and continued her studies in University for Theater and Cinema. Lilit started choreographing in 2011 and had her first photography exhibition in 2012. Her two interests, visual media and dance, are seamlessly integrated with each medium influencing the other. She draws inspiration from cinematic imagery to shape her choreographic works, while her photography aims to capture the dynamic atmosphere of the stage.

MARTA is an Italian director, writer and editor bringing a uniquely cinematic eye to her stories, inspired by the international mindset she developed over 20 years of living in cities like London, Geneva, New York City and Los Angeles. Her work has premiered at Sxsw Eco 2016, was in the official selection of the Female Voices Rock Festival in 2021, won a Vimeo Staff Pick and accumulated millions of views online. Her latest branded documentary about the future of the internet is coming out soon on Hulu. Fluent in English, Italian, French and Spanish, Marta has a RYT200 Forrest Yoga teacher training and loves to sing.

JESSIE LEE THORNE (she/they) is a multifaceted artist hailing from Los Angeles, California, with a skill set spanning dance, choreography, filmmaking, and creative production. Beginning their performance journey in Italy under Walter Matteini, Jessie toured extensively across Europe, Israel, and Russia. Later, as a founding member of Micaela Taylor’s The TL Collective, Jessie spent six years touring across the US, Canada, Panama, and Germany. Their prowess extends to directing and choreography, evident in award-winning films and stage productions like "Topia," commissioned by Boston Moving Arts, which received accolades such as "Best Dance Film" at the Paris Play Film Festival and "Best Screendance Short" at Indie Short Fest. Jessie's live adaptation of "Topia" premiered at The Odyssey Theater LA in 2023. Upcoming commissions include:  The Boston Conservatory, Backhausdance and Mash Up Dance Company.  Their commercial dance and choreography work can be found  in music videos for renowned artists including but not limited to RY X, Emmit Fenn, David Archuleta, Kevin Mchale and films like Universal's "Bobbleheads" among others. As an educator, Jessie has shared their expertise through classes and workshops at esteemed institutions like The Boston Conservatory, Chapman University, and UCLA. Jessie Lee Thorne is dedicated to a lifelong pursuit of cultivating connection through the transformative power of art.

-Meet the Selection Panel-

JESSICA SMITH

CHELSA AINSWORTH

MITSUKO
CLARKE-VERDERY

ANYA
CLARKE-VERDERY

KE’RON WILSON

MONICA NYEKAN

JESSICA SMITH (she/they) is a New York City based dancer from New Orleans, Louisiana. She studied at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, London Contemporary Dance School, and received her BFA in dance from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College. She has performed with companies such as Punchdrunk's Sleep No More NYC, Vim Vigor Dance Company, ZviDance and Kizuna Dance. She continues to teach and set work at schools, festivals, and training programs throughout the U.S. and internationally. Jessica was one of eight choreographers chosen for The Jacob's Pillow Ann and Weston Hicks Choreographic Fellowship in 2022. She was the Associate Director of Arts On Site NYC, a non-profit arts organization, for 4 years. Jessica is the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Dual Rivet, a highly physical contemporary dance company based in NYC. Jessica is currently on Faculty at The Juilliard School, Purchase College, Gibney and Marymount Manhattan College.

CHELSEA AINSWORTH is a graduate of the Dance Department of The Juilliard School.  After graduating she worked with Johannes Wieland/StaatstheaterKassel in Germany, Lorena Egan, Flexicure, Amber Sloan, Bryn Cohn + Artists and was on the modern/ballet dance faculty at Cap21 musical theater school and Chen DanceCenter. Currently she is dancing with The Bang Group, as well as ZviDance. She’s also the co-founder and Executive Director of Arts On Site, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists of all disciplines by offering affordable studio space and hosting monthly events to encourage community collaboration.  She also built and curates residencies at a retreat and residency center in the Shawangunk mountains in upstate New York. In 2020 she joined the Dance Advisory Board of Marymount Manhattan College.

ANYA CLARKE-VERDERY(they/she) Born and raised in Brooklyn, with roots hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Anya Clarke-Verdery is a queer choreographer, dance artist, and educator. They received their BFA in Dance from Long Island University where they began their choreographic career choreographing for the American College Dance Association. In 2016, they won 1st prize for Choreographic Excellence in the 11th International REVERBDance Festival. Described as movement that “moves between lucid and fluid to downright jarring in the most effective way,” Anya’s work has been presented at venues such as the Andy Warhol Museum, Gelsey Kirkland Theater, Dixon Place, and more. As a dance artist Anya has worked with choreographers such as Matthew Rushing, Sidra Bell, Earl Mosley, Clifton Brown, Holly Blakey, Alex Ketley, Staycee Pearl, among others. Alongside partner Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery, they were selected as the 2019 Guest Lecturer and Resident Artist at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Art & Drama, and a 2018 PearlDiving Movement Resident Artist at PearlArts Studios. Anya’s love for dance permeates through their teaching. Their expertise with both children and adults has led them to teach at schools and organizations such as Point Park University, Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, UC Santa Barbara, Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, A BroaderWay Foundation, Excellence Community Schools, and more. With MICHIYAYA, Anya is the lead choreographer creating highly physical and visceral choreography that melds with each dance artist’s voice.

MITSUKO CLARKE-VERDERY (she/her) Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery is a queer visual, performance, and dance artist from New York City. As a woman of European and Japanese descent, and coming from a family of artists of many genres, Mitsuko’s influences have always stemmed across mediums. She is a visual arts alumni of LaGuardia High School and the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance. She received her BFA in Visual Art from Carnegie Mellon University along with completion of the Independent Study program at the Alvin Ailey Dance School. Mitsuko is a National Silver Medal Winner in Excellence in Photography from Scholastic, and a recipient of Carnegie Mellon’s Emily Phyllis Howard and Wilfred Readio Awards. She has shown her visual and performance work at the Brooklyn Museum, Miller Gallery, BRIC Arts Media Gallery, Heath Gallery, among others. As a dance artist, Mitsuko has performed in works by Ronald K. Brown, Francesca Harper, Sidra Bell, Earl Mosley, and more. Alongside partner Anya Clarke-Verdery, she was selected as a 2021 guest resident artist at UC Santa Barbara, a 2019 Carnegie Mellon University School of Art & Drama Guest Lecturer & Resident Artist, and a 2018 PearlDiving Movement Resident Artist at PearlArts Studios. With a passion for supporting the next generation of artists, Mitsuko has taught at and led panel discussions at schools and organizations such as Montclair State University, Gibney, Peridance Capezio Center, A BroaderWay Foundation, and more. As an Artistic Director of MICHIYAYA Dance, Mitsuko creates visual and contextual landscapes for the dance artists to engage with—taking form as character development, sculptural/visual elements, technology, text, and more.

MONICA NYENKAN - Currently based in NYC, Monica Nyenkan (rotating pronouns) is an artist, arts administrator, curator, and producer from Charlotte, NC. Graduating from Marymount Manhattan College, Monica received her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on administration for the visual & performing arts. Monica has worked with Rachel Uffner Gallery, Gallim Dance, Ballet Tech Foundation, Movement Research, 651 ARTS, Gibney Dance, Elsewhere, and Bloom Arts Strategy. Independently, Monica has curated and produced community-based engagements and art events throughout the city. Monica is committed to creating and curating work that centers and challenges society's view of marginalized communities.

KE’RON WILSON (they/she) is a healing-centered movement artist, choreographer, model, actor, musician, and poet currently based out of New York City. Born in Lakeland Florida, Ke’ron began their dance training at Harrison School for the Arts and Florida Dance Theater. After graduating with a BFA from Sam Houston State University, her career began as a founding member of Elijah Alhadji Gibson’s Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theater and as a recurring guest choreographer for Pilot Dance Project. Ke’ron is now receiving support through the Movement Research Van Lier Emerging Artist of Color Fellowship, which is supported by the New York Community Trust through the Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund.

-Produced by-

DUAL RIVET is a women-led dance company focused on creating and sharing highly physical contemporary dance to a wide audience. Based in NYC, Dual Rivet creates work for stage and film that exchanges a cinematic and visceral language to influence both platforms. Directors Jessica Smith and Chelsea Ainsworth have been making and presenting work since 2017. They have performed and set work at Festival PRISMA (Panama), Centro Cultural Los Talleres (Mexico), Barnard College/Columbia University, Sam Houston State University, Oklahoma International Dance Festival, Austin Dance Festival, Joe's Pub, West End Theatre, Kittery Maine, Musikfest Pennsylvania, Gibney Dance, Peridance Capezio Center, CreateArt, Arts On Site and many more. The company teaches a myriad of classes, throughout the United States and internationally, with an emphasis on contemporary partnering and floorwork. Dual Rivet is currently on faculty at The Juilliard School, Gibney, Peridance, SUNY Purchase, Marymount Manhattan College, and Adelphi University. The company hosts an annual choreography festival, MADE BY WOMEN, highlighting women choreographers and filmmakers from around the globe. For more info: www.dualrivetdance.com @dualrivet

LAUREN FLACK (she/her) is a NYC based producer, director, and small business owner from Kansas City. She is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Mango Moon Productions, a Children's Media Company. Her first children's show, 'The Smack-Dab in the Middle of the Day Show' is currently streaming globally on Prime, HappyKids, Common Sense Media (Sensical), and Kartoon Channel. Her award-winning film and TV producing credits include: Veselka: The Rainbow at the Corner of the World (Feature Doc, 2024), Joke Man (Feature Doc, 2023), In Capsule (Short, 2022), Rabbithole (Short), Pizza Party (Short, Montclair Film Festival), Here Lies Truth (Short), Like Glass (Short, SCAD Film Festival). Lauren has also been part of the producing team for numerous commercial content for clients such as NatGeo, Razor Scooter, Peppa Pig, Pantene, truTV, The Swiss Institute, Nike, FX, Discovery, Showtime, Hallmark, FOX, and Apple. She is passionate about collaborating on projects with multidisciplinary artists and prioritizing storytelling that captures the human condition to create positive change. 

MONICA NYENKAN - Currently based in NYC, Monica Nyenkan (rotating pronouns) is an artist, arts administrator, curator, and producer from Charlotte, NC. Graduating from Marymount Manhattan College, Monica received her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on administration for the visual & performing arts. Monica has worked with Rachel Uffner Gallery, Gallim Dance, Ballet Tech Foundation, Movement Research, 651 ARTS, Gibney Dance, Elsewhere, and Bloom Arts Strategy. Independently, Monica has curated and produced community-based engagements and art events throughout the city. Monica is committed to creating and curating work that centers and challenges society's view of marginalized communities.

ARTS ON SITE is a women-run nonprofit arts organization dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and perform new works. With a performance space in the East Village and a residency center in upstate NY, AOS is able to provide artists with an expanse of opportunities for artistic development. www.artsonsite.org

MADE BY WOMEN 2023 EVENTS

  • October 5 | 7 PM

    This year we are excited to add Film Night to our MADE BY WOMEN festival. This is a donation based film night that will highlight 6 movement based films created by women and offer an accessible opportunity for these artists to share with the community!

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    Hannah Weinmaster
    Rachel Harris
    The Coronation / Kelsey Burns
    McKay House and Utam Moses
    Irina Khokhlova
    Rizoma Laboratorio Escénico

    BUY TICKETS HERE!

  • October 6 & 7 | 6:30PM & 8:30PM

    Dual Rivet celebrates its 3rd annual MADE BY WOMEN Festival highlighting 9 women* choreographers who will present work at Arts On Site’s Studio 3R .

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    PROGRAM A - Oct 6
    Olga Rabetskaya / OR Dance Projects
    Khala Brannigan
    Kashia Kancey
    Dual Rivet

    PROGRAM B - Oct 7
    Majella Bess, Laja Field, Jessie Lee Thorn
    Dorchel Haqq
    Ashley Pierre-Louis
    Ke'Ron Wilson

    BUY TICKETS HERE!

  • October 7 | 10AM - 4PM

    Dual Rivet excited to add a movement Workshop to the MADE BY WOMEN Festival this year! This will be a high intensity, 6 hour workshop comprised of the key technical and theatrical elements the company works with. The workshop will start with a somatics class, then a floorwork technique class, theatrical/character development and improvisation study and end with partnering rep and conversation. This workshop will be held at Gibney (280) with guest teachers KE’RON WILSON & ISADORA WOLFE.

    REGISTER HERE!

Donate

Donate

Help support MADE BY WOMEN and the incredible artists involved in this festival by donating to our Sponsor Program!
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Dual Rivet is asking that you and/or your business consider becoming a part of Dual Rivet’s mission to uplift women, gender-expansive individuals and underrepresented creators in the arts. As a Sponsor, you will be listed in our program and recognized during the night of the festival in the pre show introductions/projections for the night. The more you give, the more you get - with the potential of receiving ample marketing, MADE BY WOMEN swag and free tickets to the shows.

Support levels start at $10 and go to $1,500.

Regardless of your support level, we would be so grateful and honored to have you be a part of this amazing community as a Sponsor. 

Donate!

Dual Rivet is  fiscally sponsored through Arts On Site, a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization serving the performing arts community. Your generous donations will be considered as tax deductible.  Thank you for your support.