Michigan’s International Dance Festival Brings Focus to New Style, Screendance
The 13th annual RAD Fest is bringing professional dance to the international stage in Kalamazoo, Mich. March 4 – 6 in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual offerings. The 2022 festival will feature the works of over 25 different choreographers and 20 screendance makers from Russia, Barbados, France, New York City, Chicago, and many other U.S. locations including several cities in Michigan.
And while this festival features many varying styles of dance, it’s focus on screendance has helped elevate the festival to the international stage. “We are focused on what is the future of dance, and screendance is a huge part of the festival because dance had to move forward,” explained Kate Elizabeth-Leishman Yancho, Executive Director of Wellspring, the organizers of the festival.
But what is screendance and why is it putting Michigan on the map globally? Described as the combination of film and dance, this art form makes for the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow artists far beyond close geographic proximity. “When we talk about screendance, we are talking about modern and contemporary dance which can have a hard time finding a home,” added Yancho. “It’s a little avant garde, and so we have worked really hard to bring an audience to modern dance and this festival. Exposing people to what contemporary and modern dance is, carrying forward the legacy of the artists before us and the many injustices they faced to bring this artform forward.”
RAD Fest will feature many performances but also offer master classes, workshops, informal performances, artist talks, and a Movement Installation in the form of an immersive dance film. All in-person events will take place at The Epic Center and the Kalamazoo Public Library in Downtown Kalamazoo.
Returning to a hybrid model after the pandemic has even brought unique opportunities to further connect the festival with the global stage with artists from all corners of the earth. “Although we always have international artists presenting at RAD Fest, we have had very few international audience members at our in-person festival. Last year, because we presented a virtual festival, we sold tickets in seven different countries, which widened our reach immensely,” said Festival Curator, Rachel Miller. “Because of last year’s impact, we are excited to continue to live-stream RAD Fest, in addition to welcoming an in-person audience back to the theater.”
The three-day festival will present the current RADicle residency artist, award-winning choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins, with the evening-length performance of The Conversation Series: Stitching the Geopolitical Quilt to Re-Body Belonging. Wilkins and collaborator, A. Ryder Turner, will travel to Kalamazoo two weeks prior to the festival to hold workshops in the local community. Wilkins will use the information gathered in these workshops to shape the formal performance on Friday, March 4, at 8:00pm in the Wellspring Theater at the Epic Center.
Tickets for the Midwest RAD Fest performances and master classes are open now. All other events are free. To order tickets, register for master classes, and view the concert line-ups, please visit www.midwestradfest.org.
