Introducing “LIGHT” a new film in progress
Dear Supporter,
On behalf of production partners Lenora Lee Dance, Innocent Eyes and Lenses Films, and Asian Improv aRts, I invite your participation in the creation of a new film by celebrated film director Tatsu Aoki and me entitled “Light”. Inspired by the life of Bessie M. Lee (–b. 1894), who, after migrating to New York City, spent two years in indentured servitude, “Light” is a film in which dance, memory, music and poetry collide in a visual and aural landscape; a meditation on women being propelled into the unknown by courage and faith to risk their lives and everything they have for freedom.
In “Light”, Aoki and I will weave together this powerful and evocative story highlighting the lives of women, including Bessie M. Lee and Miriam Chou Jean, who were at the forefront of the early New York Chinatown community, who through the resilience and triumph over unimaginable experiences, were grounding forces in the creation of this community in the early 1900s. We would be honored if you would consider a contribution to the realization of this important project.
At the $1,000 donor level, you will help cover the costs of:
– artist fees for the dancers and martial artists performing in the upcoming film shoots
At the $2,500 donor level, you will help cover the costs of:
– the three cinematographers fees for the upcoming film shoots
– the producer’s fee to organize
At the $5,000 donor level, you will help cover the costs of:
– the director’s fee to design and direct the film shoots, work with cinematographers and editing personnel
At the $10,000 donor level, you will help cover the costs of:
– post-production editing of the film
– a color and sound correction specialist
– graphic design for the packaging of the DVD and Soundtrack
– costs of compression to DVD and Blu-ray
– production of 100 film and soundtrack packages
You will receive credit in the film, verbal recognition at the screenings, and an advance copy of the DVD. Those donating at $5,000 and above will be named “Associate Producer” in the film credits.
You are contributing to a film that has impact on the arts, Asian American and human rights communities, pushing the relevance of this socially conscious work as a catalyst for generations to come. We look forward to your participation and are deeply grateful for your support! – Lenora
“History matters in the work we do,” says Cindy Liou, staff attorney and coordinator of the Human Trafficking Project at Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach. “The narratives of people who are marginalized and exploited are important, and these issues are here and present. To have someone visually display with dance what people are going through is very powerful. Lee’s work lets people identify with what these women have had to go through, the psychological oppression and manipulation involved in trafficking as well as the physical.”
“Lee’s kaleidoscopic dance views can be visually arresting.”- Mary Ellen Hunt, San Francisco Chronicle 2012
“I can’t think of any choreographer who has taken an approach as simultaneously intimate and large scale as Lenora Lee. In her work, the personal and the political intertwine inextricably.”- Rita Felciano, San Francisco Bay Guardian 2012
Lenora Lee Dance is sponsored by Asian Improv aRts, a non-profit tax-exempt organization – EIN: 91-2063104. All donations are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Contributions can be made by credit card here or by check. Please mail your check (payable to Asian Improv aRts), noting on the memo line “for Lenora Lee Dance/Light” sending with it this completed card to:
Lenora Lee, P.O. Box 22542, San Francisco, CA 94122
If you have questions or would like further information feel free to email LenoraLeeDance@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your support!
5/8 & 5/9 NYC Performances featured on the “Women’s Media Center Live” podcast
New York Premiere May 8 & 9, 2014 at Asia Society!
The Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University and Asia Society present
THE ESCAPE AND RESCUED MEMORIES: NEW YORK STORIES
By Lenora Lee Dance with Kei Lun Martial Arts & Enshin Karate, San Mateo Dojo
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014 · FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 · 8pm
Asia Society
725 Park Avenue
General Admission & Asia Society members: asiasociety.org/new-york/events/upcoming
A/P/A Institute members: www.apa.nyu.edu/events
Tickets: $15 general public, $10 Asia Society members, $12 students/seniors. Groups of 8 or more people can purchase at a discount. Email Lenora@asianimprov.org for group discount code. For tickets / info (212) 517-2742 or visit www.asiasociety.org/nyc
Directed by A/P/A Institute at NYU Visiting Scholar LENORA LEE, the interdisciplinary performance works The Escape & Rescued Memories: New York Stories are engaging and heartfelt pieces in which dance, martial arts, film, text and music collide in a visual and aural landscape, a meditation on women being propelled into the unknown by courage and faith to risk their lives and everything they have for freedom. Performed by an Asian American cast of 10 dancers and martial artists from San Francisco and New York City, these works utilize the interplay between live performance and film.
Through the cinematic recreations of actual experiences in key historic locations of San Francisco and New York City Chinatowns, overlaid with voiceover of first hand accounts, contracts and court documents found in the archives at Donaldina Cameron House and the Library of Congress, Lenora weaves together a powerful and evocative collage of stories highlighting the lives of women who were at the forefront of the early Chinatown communities, who through the resilience and triumph over unimaginable experiences, were grounding forces in the creation of these communities during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Rescued Memories: New York Stories retraces the life of Bessie M. Lee (Bessie You Toy-b. 1894), who, after migrating to New York City, spent two years in indentured servitude working for a wealthy Chinese family. The Escape is inspired by a girl who sought refuge from exploitation in San Francisco at Donaldina Cameron House, a faith-based social service agency that today continues to serve Asian communities living in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Click on the link below for video clips of both pieces:
These companion pieces detail stories of women who became vulnerable upon their arrival in the United States. They shed light on the experiences of these women in the context of the social history for Chinese in America as well as in the struggles and achievements of the 20th Century Women’s Movement. The works connect these experiences with today’s fabric of organizations and individuals that are on the front line of the contemporary struggle against the exploitation of women and children in our communities.
Featuring media design by Olivia Ting, videography directed by Tatsu Aoki, music score by Francis Wong, and text by Genny Lim. Performed by Juliet Ante, Kelly Del Rosario, Raymond Fong, Larissa Fong, Marina Fukushima, Chin-chin Hsu, Lynn Huang, Wei-Shan Lai, Lenora Lee, Olivia Ting.
Both evening’s performances will be followed by special conversations featuring the artists, community organizers, and scholars. On May 8, Karen Shimakawa (Chair, Performance Studies, NYU Tisch School of the Arts) moderates a post-performance conversation featuring Lenora Lee, Larry Lee (Executive Director, New York Asian Women’s Center), and Kaitlyn Keisel (Director, Polaris Project New Jersey).
On May 9, Dan Bacalzo (NYU Drama Department and Hunter College Asian American Studies Program) moderates a post-performance conversation featuring Lenora Lee, Purvi Shah (non-profit consultant, anti-violence advocate, and writer), Annie Fukushima (Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Associate, Women’s and Gender Studies and the Institute for Research on Women, Rutgers University), and Song Kim (Kirkland and Ellis Fellow, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund).
Lee’s kaleidoscopic dance views can be visually arresting but it’s provocative storytelling around universal themes that forms the heart of many of her works, including her latest. – Mary Ellen Hunt, San Francisco Chronicle 2012
I can’t think of any choreographer who has taken an approach as simultaneously intimate and large scale as Lenora Lee. In her work, the personal and the political intertwine inextricably.– Rita Felciano, SF Bay Guardian 2012
Cultural History Meets Multimedia: Stories of Chinese Women Immigrants by Emily Wilson, featuring Cindy Liou of API Legal Outreach, poet Genny Lim, Lenora Lee
These pieces were created and premiered with support from Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University, Asia Society, Asian Improv aRts, API Cultural Center, Asian Women Giving Circle, California Arts Council, Cameron House, CA$H, a grants program administered by Theatre Bay ARea in partnership with Dancers’ Group, Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, de Young Museum, Djerassi Resident Artists Program, Lighting Artists in Dance Award, Puffin Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission, WKK Donor-Advised Fund of the San Francisco Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation and Generous Individuals. Special thanks to Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Asian Women’s Shelter, and New York Asian Women’s Center. Photo by Robbie Sweeny
Help us raise $10,000 in 30 days to support our 2014 programming!
DEAR FRIENDS,
Wishing you a very happy new year of the horse! 2013 was an explosive year for Lenora Lee Dance (LLD) with new commissioned performance works, dance film premieres, and creative engagement programs for youth and college students. Thanks to your generosity, LLD has reached over 11,000 people, collaborated with over 30 artists, and produced new large-scale performance works every year for the last 6 years with increasing visibility and relevance within the arts, Asian American and human rights communities.
In May we will be flying our cast of 9 out to perform in the NYC premiere of The Escape and Rescued Memories: NY Stories, which excavate the lives of early 20th century Chinese women migrants through dance, martial arts, film, text and music. The Escape is inspired by women who sought refuge from exploitation in San Francisco at Donaldina Cameron House. Rescued Memories: NY Stories retraces the life of Bessie M. Lee (b. 1894), who spent two years in indentured servitude after migrating to New York City. These pieces were commissioned and performed at the de Young Museum in 2013 and will premiere in New York City this May 8th & 9th, at Asia Society, co-presented by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University.
In addition to taking these performance works on tour, we will shoot more film footage, edit & premiere our 3rd film, based on Rescued Memories: NY Stories. And this coming September 26 – October 5th, we bring to you our 7th Annual Home Season performances at Dance Mission Theater, which will feature new & older works, expanding our season to a 2-week run from our previous 1-week set of fall performances.
With this growth we are taking on new and significantly greater financial challenges. YOU CAN BE PART OF THE TEAM BY HELPING US TO RAISE $10,000 IN 30 DAYS!
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW
Audiences have been deeply touched by both of these performance pieces. Please consider deepening your impact by increasing your contribution this year. Your gifts are instrumental in the vitality of this work.
A huge thanks to those who have donated this year so far!
Lenora
P.S. Please help spread the word! http://igg.me/p/710739/
For information about the 5/8-5/9 NYC performances, click here
Upcoming Presentations in the Mid-west and East Coast 3/24 – 4/2!
Lenora Lee will be giving the following presentations and workshops:
– Monday, March 24th, 7-9pm – New York University
– Tuesday, March 25th, 2:15-3:35pm – Rutgers University, New Jersey
– Wednesday, April 2nd – University of Wisconsin, Madison
For more information, please contact Lenora@asianimprov.org
THE 12TH ANNUAL FREEDOM NETWORK ANTI-TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE 4/1-4/2/14
THE 12TH ANNUAL FREEDOM NETWORK ANTI-TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE:
“INSPIRING CHANGE AND UPHOLDING DIGNITY”
April 1-2 │San Francisco, CA
Presentations and workshops by experts on human trafficking issues for advocates, legal representatives, social service providers, government officials, prosecutors and law enforcement officers.
ImprovisAsians 2014!: Reflections Collective: Cultural Preservation & Artistic Legacy March 3 – 7
ImprovisAsians 2014!: Reflections Collective: Cultural Preservation and Artistic Legacy March 3 – 7 San Francisco State University
ImprovisAsians! is an annual series of performances and workshops at San Francisco State University exploring the connection between the performing arts and community-building. This year’s program will focus on preserving living cultural legacies in the arts. ImprovisAsians 2014 is sponsored by Asian Improv aRts in association with the School of Music and Dance, and American Indian Studies. All events are free and open to the public!
__________________Monday, March 3
Voices from the Canefields: Folksongs from Japanese Immigrant Workers in Hawai’i
Knuth Hall
1:10-2:00 pmDr. Franklin Odo (founding director of the Smithsonian Instituttion’s Asian Pacific American Program and author of the book Voices from the Canefields: Folksongs from Japanese Immigrant Workers in Hawai‘i/Oxford University Press) with SFSU Professors/Musicians Dr. Wesley Ueunten and Dr. John-Carlos Perea (Ethnic Studies) and guest musicians Francis Wong, Masanori Oba, and Julie Beal. This event is co-sponsored by SFSU Asian American Studies, Edison Uno Institute of Nikkei and Uchinanchu Studies (SFSU), and the Dilena Takeyama Center for the Study of Japan and Japanese Culture (SFSU)
___________________Wednesday, March 5
Asian Improv Today
Knuth Hall
1:10-2:00 pmAsian Improv aRts Co-Founder and Creative Director Francis Wong and guest musicians Karl Evangelista, Yangqin Zhao, John-Carlos Perea, and dancer/choreographer Lenora Lee will give a special concert showing the range of work being produced by the celebrated artist-driven production company.
___________________Thursday, March 6
Legends and Legacies
CA 152
6:10-8:50 pmIn this panel discussion Professors Hafez Modirzadeh and John Carlos Perea and guests Francis Wong and Lenora Lee will discuss collections (archiving, documentation, interpretation) efforts in the Persian, American Indian, and Asian Improv artistic communities.
___________________Friday, March 7
The Inspiration of Mahmoud Zoufonoun
Knuth Hall
1:10-2:00 pmMahmoud Zoufonoun (1920 – 2013)
SFSU Music Professor and saxophonist Hafez Modirzadeh performs with alumni of SF State’s Creative World Ensemble, members of Mahmoud Zoufonoun’s family and other special guests. There will be a reception following the concert at 2:15 p.m. celebrating the J. Paul Leonard Library Collections work on M. Zoufonoun.
Much Gratitude and Appreciation to our 2014 Donors and Supporters!
We are deeply grateful for all of the generosity and support from the following individuals and organizations in 2014!
Alson & JoAnn Lee, Carl & Jackie Jew, Catherine Hung, Chiayi Seetoo, Clinton Huey, Connie Young Yu, Cynthia Joe, David Dea, Derek Lang, Diane Ngo, Dora Ng, Douglas Hirai, Edward Kam, Evelyn Huang, Felicia Lowe, Francis Wong, Fred & Carolyn Hee, Genevieve Chan, Gunthilde & Lew Perin, Heidi & Anthony Wong, Isaac Kong, Jean Liu & Terry Chea, Jean & Dick Lym, Jeanette & Low Chan, Jeanne & Winchell Quock, Jennifer & Steve Gillette, Jill Shiraki & Wilbur Obata, Joan & George Louie, Joel Wanek, John Jung, John Seto, Joyce Ashizawa-Yee & Bradley Yee, Judith Wing, Judy & Clinton Gee, Keith Jew & Pamela Jang, Kenneth Lee, Kimberly Elliot, Larissa Fong, Larry Lee, Laura Hays, Leonard & Christina Lew, Leslie & Bob Chan, Lianne & Terrence Leong, Linda Lee & Harry Chuck, Linus Enriquez, Loretta Holscher, Louisa & Arthur Chin, Lynn Huang, Marina Fukushima, Mark Chung, Mary Wong Leong & Dayton Leong, May & Lawrence Lui, Melody Takata & Genryu Arts, Michael Holscher, Michael Takada, Morrie Warshawski, Olivia Ting, Patricia Chan, Phyllis Tom, Presbyterian Church in Chinatown, Raymond Fong & Enshin Karate San Mateo Dojo, Roberta Lee Kelly, Ruth Wu, Sandra Lee, Sandy Yuen, Stephen Rosen, Stuart Nakanishi, Susie Wong & Scott Barlow, Teddy Yoshikami, Thompson Lee, Tongjia Wang, Victor Joe, Wei-Shan Lai, Wendy & Michael Wong, Winnie & Jenson Lee, Yoonmi Choi, Annonymous Donors
Asian Improv aRts, API Cultural Center, API Legal Outreach, Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University, Asian Women Giving Circle, Asian Women United of Minnesota, California Arts Council, Chinese Historical Society of America, Donaldina Cameron House, New York Asian Women’s Center, Puffin Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation
Lenora Lee Dance participates in Help Desk®, a Pentacle program providing infrastructure mentoring and support. (www.pentacle.org).
New Stages for Dance II is administered by Dance/USA in partnership with Dancers’ Group. Leadership Support for the New Stages for Dance II Initiative is provided by MetLife Foundation.
Photo of dancer Wei-Shan Lai, by Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang
The Making of “The Escape” & “Rescued Memories” 3/8/14, 1pm, & “Stories In Motion” Workshop 11am!
In recognition of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, join Lenora Lee, members of her collaborating team – Francis Wong and Raymond Fong, along with Cindy Liou, staff attorney and coordinator of the Human Trafficking Project at Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach as they share about the artistic process, the stories, themes and issues involved in these two interdisciplinary performance pieces.
Conceived and directed by Artistic Director Lenora Lee during her Artist Fellowship at the de Young Museum, “The Escape” and “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” excavate the lives of early 20th century Chinese women migrants through dance, martial arts, film, text and music.
“The Escape” is inspired by stories of women who sought refuge in San Francisco’s Donaldina Cameron House, a faith-based social service agency that today continues to serve Asian communities living in San Francisco’s Chinatown. “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” retraces the life of Bessie M. Lee (–b. 1894), who spent two years in indentured servitude after migrating to New York City to work for a wealthy Chinese family. Photo by Robbie Sweeny.
Video of Lenora’s recent performance piece “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” (2013) at the de Young Museum.
FREE!!
Please RSVP for the 1pm presentation here:
Saturday, March 8, 2014, 1-2pm
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum
965 Clay Street (between Powell & Stockton), SF, CA 94108
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stories in Motion
A creative movement, writing, theater & video workshop
Enhance your imagination through a unique workshop offered on Saturday, March 8, 11-1pm. Come explore! Engage in a creative process filled with movement, writing, theater & video exercises as a means to develop stories through performance.
Lenora Lee Dance creates large-scale multimedia performance works integrating dance, original music, video, and text that connect various styles of movement and music to culture, history and human rights issues. Lenora has been a dancer, choreographer and artistic director for the past 16 years in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. In 2013 she was an Artist Fellow at the de Young Museum and a Djerassi Resident Artist. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at New York University through the Asian/Pacific/American Institute.
FREE!!
Please dress in comfortable clothes and RSVP here:
If you have questions, please email Lenora@asianimprov.org.
For more information, click here
“Performing Art in the Digital Age” at Stanford University 2/11/14, 12pm
Join the Stanford University Institute for Diversity in the Arts for an artist talk with acclaimed Bay Area artists: dancer/choreographer Lenora Lee, musician/composer Francis Wong, and videographer Eric Koziol. Having recently collaborated on “The Escape” and “Rescued Memories: NY Stories”, both multidisciplinary works recently presented at the de Young Museum, the artists will discuss their interdisciplinary collaborative process and both the benefits and challenges of incorporating digital technologies and new media into the performing arts.
Open to the public. Lunch will be provided.
Tuesday, February 11, 12noon – 1:30pm
Stanford University
Roble Hall Theater
374 Santa Teresa St.
Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650.723.4402
Click here for more information.
Photo by Robbie Sweeny at the de Young Museum, 11/8/13
The Latest News from Composer/Musician Francis Wong
Click here for the latest news from composer / musician Francis Wong
including Video from a concert in Poznan, Poland – paying tribute to arts organizer Wojtek Juszczak as part of the Made in Chicago Festival in an ensemble led by Chicago luminaries Mwata Bowden and Tatsu Aoki.
Women’s Media Center Podcast 12/14/13 on CBS radio!
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Saturday, 14 December 2013
Women’s Media Center Live with Robin Morgan #63: Lenora Lee, Katharine Morrison, Rachel Moran. (Original Airdate: 12/14/2013)
Robin on the women behind Mandela’s greatness. Guests: Katharine Morrison, founder of the first full-service women’s health facility—a birthing center and abortion clinic; Lenora Lee’s art about trafficked Chinese women; and Rachel Moran exposes the reality of prostitution.
Click here to listen to the Podcast
Photo by Robbie Sweeny
Film Screening of “The Escape” 12/17/13, 6pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art
In conjunction with Taiko Legacy 10 (at MCA Stage Dec 21–22), director Tatsu Aoki introduces his dance film created in collaboration with choreographer Lenora Lee. Shot on location, including at Donaldina Cameron House in Chinatown, San Francisco, The Escape conjures Cameron House’s start in 1874 as the Mission Home for Girls. Until the 1930s Cameron House assisted over 2,000 women who sought shelter, education, and opportunities, or sought refuge from forced domestic labor or servitude. Original music by Francis Wong, Tatsu Aoki, and Jonathan Chen.
Tatsu Aoki Escape, 2012; 28 minutes
Photo by Robbie Sweeny
“Reflections” as part of the En Route Dance Film Festival 12/8 – 12/14/13!
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We are honored to have the “Reflections” film be included as part of the En Route Dance Film Festival this 12/7 – 12/14/13!
Please click here for details!
Francis Wong’s “Diapsora Tales #2: 1969” 9/20, 7:30pm at the Berkeley Art Museum!
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Chinese Culture Center, and Asian Improv aRts present
Diaspora Tales #2: 1969
The Francis Wong Unit featuring saxophonist Francis Wong, bassist John-Carlos Perea,and guitarist Karl Evangelista with guests taiko (Japanese drums) artist Melody Takata, yangqin artist Yangqin Zhou, dancer/choreographer Lenora Lee, and rapper/performerAK Black.
Immerse yourself in Diaspora Tales #2: 1969, an invigorating multimedia work encompassing music, dance, spoken word, and video projection. Francis Wong, an acclaimed composer and jazz musician, tells the story of his Bay Area family living through turbulent times, touching on UC Berkeley’s Third World strike (which resulted in the establishment of ethnic studies programs at the University), the Black Panthers, drug culture, and other themes.
Friday, September 20th, 7:30pm
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2626 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94720
For tickets and more info: www.bampfa.berkeley.edu, www.franciswong.net
San Francisco Dance Film Festival presents “REFLECTIONS” 9/14, 6:30pm!
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San Francisco Dance Film Festival presents
REFLECTIONS
A Short Film inspired by an interdisciplinary performance piece of the same name, Reflections addresses the struggle for dominance and survival.
by Lenora Lee & Olivia Ting
featuring Kei Lun Martial Arts & Enshin Karate, SSF Dojo
as part of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival Screendance Shorts IV
Saturday, September 14th, 6:30pm
Delancey Screening Room
600 The Embarcadero at Brannan
San Francisco, CA 94107
For tickets & more info: www.sfdancefilmfest.org, www.LenoraLeeDance.com
Don’t miss the premiere of “The Escape” and “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” 11/8 & 11/9!
Rescued Memories: NY Stories short from Lenora Lee on Vimeo.
The de Young Museum in collaboration with Asian Improv aRts, Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, and Donaldina Cameron House present the premiere of “The Escape” and “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” 11/8 & 11/9 at the de Young Museum!
These two new interdisciplinary works are companion pieces inspired by stories of women who had become vulnerable upon arrival into the U.S. during the early 20th Century. They seek to shed light on the experiences of these women in the context of the social history of the period for Chinese in America as well as for women in the society as a whole with the struggles and achievements of the 20th Century Women’s Movement, which took on such issues as child labor and human trafficking.
By Lenora Lee Dance in collaboration with Kei Lun Martial Arts & Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo, featuring media design by Olivia Ting, music by Francis Wong, text by poet Genny Lim, lighting by Patty-Ann Farrell, and videography directed by Tatsu Aoki, filmed by Ben Estabrook, Eric Koziol, Heath Orchard, Joel Wanek, Zhuoyun Chen, and Joshua Chuck. Performed by Larissa Fong, Raymond Fong, Marina Fukushima, Chin-chin Hsu, Lynn Huang, SanSan Kwan, Wei-Shan Lai, Lenora Lee, Yukihiko Noda, Chia-Yi Seetoo, and the dragon dancers of Kei Lun Martial Arts.
Friday, November 8, as part of Friday Nights at the de Young
6:00 pm and 7:15 pm | Piazzoni Murals Room
Film Screening: The Escape (2013, 30 min.) by Tatsu Aoki
6:30 – 8:30 pm | Wilsey Court
Live Music by Francis Wong’s Trio SF performing jazz and creative music.
7:00-8:15 pm | Koret Auditorium
Performance: The Escape and Rescued Memories: New York Stories. Tickets are required.*
Saturday, November 9
8:00-9:15 pm | Koret Auditorium and Wilsey Court
Performance: The Escape and Rescued Memories: New York Stories. Tickets are required.*
de Young Museum
Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, SF 94118
*Events are free and take place at the de Young Museum unless otherwise stated. Tickets for The Escape and Rescued Memories: New York Stories are $15 general/$10 museum members and can be purchased at https://tickets.famsf.org/
For info: www.deyoungmuseum.org/artistfellows • email Lenora@asianimprov.org
The Escape & Rescued Memories: NY Stories are part of the de Young Artist Fellows project, which has been generously funded by the James Irvine Foundation’s Innovation Fund & the Institute of Museum and Library Services/Museums for America. Also supported by Zellerbach Family Foundation, San Francisco Arts Commission, WKK Donor-Advised Fund San Francisco Foundation, Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University, Puffin Foundation, Lighting Artists in Dance Award a program of Dancers’ Group, CA$H a program of Theatre Bay Area in partnership with Dancers’ Group, and Individuals. Community Partners include Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, Asian Women’s Shelter, Dancers’ Group, New York Asian Women’s Center, San Francisco Department on the Status of Women.
Much appreciation to all of those who have contributed this year…
A very special thanks to those who have contributed to the online campaign! We couldn’t have reached our goal without you…
Stella Adelman, Anne Bluethenthal, Elaine Chan-Scherer, James Q. Chan, Katie Chan, Leslie & Bob Chan, Sherman Chan, Demetria & Conant Chi, Louisa & Arthur Chin, Yoonmi Choi, Jennifer Chu, Christopher Chua, Jane & John Chung, Marjorie H Chung, David Dea, Doreen Der-McCleod, Grant Din, Sumio Enomoto, Linus Enriquez, Bonnie Fimbres, Larissa Fong, Raymond Fong, Shar & Al Hall, John Ho, Michael Holscher, Clinton Huey, Catherine Hung, Jonathan Iiyama, Glenda & Chris Jeong, Cynthia Joe, John Jung, Ed Kam, Derek Kim, Margot Knight, Masaru Koga, Wei-Shan Lai, Amy Lam, Derek Lang, Alson & JoAnn Lee, David & Kathy Lee, Karina Lee & Perry Howe, Kenneth Lee, Larry Lee, Shirley Lee, Judith Leff, Mary & Dayton Leong, Wendy Leung, Hanmin Liu & Jennifer Mei, Jean Liu, Jonathon & Janet Low, Linda Lucero, Audrey Lum, Mary McFadden, Belinda Mekdara, M Emily Onglatco, Alleluia Panis, Vinay Patel, Amoena & James Quan, Jeanne & Winchell Quock, Chia-Yi Seetoo, John Seto, Katherine Seto, Sabrina Gee Shin, David & Marcella Soohoo, Melody Takata / GenRyu Arts, Tisha, Van Tran, Michele & Binh Tran, Joel Wanek, Ben Wong, Francis Wong, Jones Wong, Bradford Woo, Joanne & Jerrick Woo, Lillian Woo, Michelle & Steven Ureta, Alisa Yee, Dot Yee, Le Yoeun, Connie Young Yu, Joanne & David Yu, Anonymous Donors
Much appreciation to those who have supported us earlier this year!
Jeanette & Low Chan, Leslie & Bob Chan, Mark Chung, Laura Hays, Mildred Hall, Michael Holscher, Phyllis Huey Tom, Jeanette Huie, Keith Jew & Pamela Jang, Cynthia Joe, Victor Clark Joe, Derek Lang, Larry Lee, Linda Lee & Harry Chuck, Thompson Lee, Winnie & Jenson Lee, Lianne & Terry Leong, Mary & Dayton Leong, Christina & Leonard Lew, Jean Liu & Terry Chea, May & Lawrence Lui, Jean & Richard Lym, Joan & George Louie, Victoria Marks, Jill Shiraki & Wilbur Obata, Benson Toy, Joanne & Jerrick Woo, Joyce Ashizawa-Yee & Bradley Yee, Sandra Yuen
7 DAYS LEFT… You can help us reach our goal before June 28th!
June 21, 2013
Dear Friends,
My deepest gratitude to the 57 donors who have contributed to the campaign so far helping us raise $5,375 online plus $1,325 through checks!
THERE ARE ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT TO RAISE $2,625
for Phase 2 of the “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” project!
We will be going to NYC in next month to film scenes in NYC Chinatown with dancers Marina Fukushima, Wei-Shan Lai, Lynn Huang, Juliet Ante, Chin-chin Hsu, Yi-Ting Hsu, martial artist Yukihiko Noda, and media designer Olivia Ting. We will also record the music for this piece with Francis Wong, NY artists Min Xiao-Fen, and Jonathan Chen and Chicago artist Tatsu Aoki. The project will premiere at the de Young Museum November 8 & 9 and in NYC spring 2014!!
Please consider supporting the project and the team of over 20 artists and collaborators involved in creating this work.
In gratitude,
Lenora
A very special thanks to those who have contributed to this online campaign so far!
Anne Bluethenthal, Elaine Chan-Scherer, James Q. Chan, Katie Chan, Leslie & Bob Chan, Demetria & Conant Chi, Louisa & Arthur Chin, David Dea, Doreen Der-McCleod, Grant Din, Sumio Enomoto, Linus Enriquez, Bonnie Fimbres, Raymond Fong, Shar & Al Hall, John Ho, Clinton Huey, Glenda & Chris Jeong, John Jung, Derek Kim, Margot Knight, Masaru Koga, Wei-Shan Lai, Derek Lang, Alson & JoAnn Lee, Karina Lee & Perry Howe, Lamam2, Mary & Dayton Leong, Wendy Leung, Hanmin Liu & Jennifer Mei, Linda Lucero, Mary McFadden, Belinda Mekdara, Amoena & James Quan, Jeanne & Winchell Quock, Chia-Yi Seetoo, John Seto, Katherine Seto, Melody Takata / GenRyu Arts, Michele & BinhTran, Ben Wong, Francis Wong, Jones Wong, Bradford Woo, Joanne & Jerrick Woo, Michelle & Steven Ureta, Alisa Yee, Le Yoeun, Connie Young Yu, Joanne & David Yu, Anonymous Donors
Much appreciation to those who have supported us earlier this year!
Jeanette & Low Chan, Leslie & Bob Chan, Mark Chung, Laura Hays, Mildred Hall, Michael Holscher, Phyllis Huey Tom, Jeanette Huie, Keith Jew & Pamela Jang, Cynthia Joe, Victor Clark Joe, Derek Lang, Larry Lee, Linda Lee & Harry Chuck, Thompson Lee, Winnie & Jenson Lee, Lianne & Terry Leong, Mary & Dayton Leong, Christina & Leonard Lew, Jean Liu & Terry Chea, May & Lawrence Lui, Jean & Richard Lym, Joan & George Louie, Victoria Marks, Jill Shiraki & Wilbur Obata, Benson Toy, Joanne & Jerrick Woo, Joyce Ashizawa-Yee & Bradley Yee, Sandra Yuen
DON’T WAIT… GET INVOLVED BEFORE June 28, 2013!
Dear Friends,
We are in the process of creating a new interdisciplinary performance piece “Rescued Memories: New York Stories” which will premiere along with its companion piece “The Escape” November 8 & 9 at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and in New York City Spring 2014. It is inspired by stories of women who sought refuge from human trafficking in the early 20th Century in New York City’s Chinatown, shedding light on the experiences of women in the context of the struggles and achievements of the 20th Century Women’s Movement. The project will connect these experiences with today’s fabric of organizations & individuals that are on the front line of the contemporary struggle against the exploitation of women in our communities.
As part of this project, we will be flying 12 dancers, collaborating artists, and crew to New York City this July to take part in a music recording for the piece and a week of film shoots in key historic locations within Manhattan Chinatown. The site-specific video mapped and projected on various surfaces during the premiere performances plays a crucial part in the sharing of these stories.
WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE $8,000 IN 30 DAYS AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!
I am here to ask for your support in creating these projects as our scale and scope become larger and more integrated into various communities and venues throughout the country.
WE ARE IN CRITICAL NEED OF FUNDING to create this new interdisciplinary work in which dance, martial arts, multi-screen video projection, text & music collide in a visual and aural landscape, a meditation on one woman being propelled into the unknown by courage and faith to risk her life and everything she has for freedom.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP
Audiences have been deeply touched by “The Escape”. We hope to bring forth more compelling stories and information to you through “Rescued Memories: New York Stories”.
We are greatly appreciative of your generosity and for being part of the team.
Please help us spread the word.
In gratitude,
Lenora
ImprovisAsians 2013! Re(al)liance: Music, Collaboration, & Resistance April 15th – 18th!
ImprovisAsians 2013!
Re(al)liance: Music, Collaboration, and Resistance
Sponsored by Asian Improv aRts in association with The Departments of Music and Dance and American Indian Studies at
San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CAThis twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Asian Improv’s annual series of workshops and concerts at San Francisco State University, ImprovisAsians! will explore the role of performance as a community-organizing method enabling “re(al)liance” through shared histories of music, collaboration, and resistance.
All events will take place on the San Francisco State University campus.
Admission is free and open to the public for all events.
Monday, April 15th
1:10-2pm, Knuth Hall, Creative Arts Building, Room 132: Shiraz Quartet Reunion with James Norton and Hafez Modirzadeh (winds), joined by John Shifflett (bass) and Jason Lewis (drums)
2:10-3:25pm, Burk Hall 225 “The Art of Agency I”: a performance and discussion featuring Francis Wong (winds), Wesley Ueunten (sanshin – 3 string Okinawan lute), and Lenora Lee (dance).
Tuesday, April 16th
3:35-4:50, Creative Arts Building, Room 152: “The Art of Agency II”: a performance and discussion featuring John-Carlos Perea (bass, flute, voice),Wesley Ueunten, Francis Wong, and Lenora Lee.
5:30-7:30pm, Creative Arts Building, Room 152: Performing Re(al)liances: A roundtable discussion on the use of music in Chinese American, Native American, and Palestinian communities in relation to histories of occupation, relocation, and alliance building. Guests to include Dr Jess Ghanam (UCSF), Susan Greene (Break the Silence Media and Arts Project), Genny Lim (poet laureate), Francis Wong (AIR), and Dr John-Carlos Perea (AIS, SFSU).
Wednesday, April 17th
1:10-2pm, Knuth Hall, Creative Arts Building, Room 132: John-Carlos Perea Trio with Masaru Koga and Karl Evangelista. Over the course of their careers AIR co-founders Jang and Wong have cited the important influence of Creek and Kaw saxophonist Jim Pepper on their artistic visions. This performance will feature Pepper’s compositions alongside indigenized versions of jazz standards arranged by Perea.
Thursday, April 18th
3:30-5:30, Creative Arts Building, Room 146: Creative World Ensemble Master class with Dr Hafez Modirzadeh, focusing on original student works to accompany live poetry by Avotcja from her newly published book, “With Every Step I Take”.
6:10-8:50, Creative Arts Building, Room 152: “Art, Entrepreneurship, and Activism”: A roundtable discussion with Jon Jang, Francis Wong, Lenora Lee, and Melody Takata.
For more information: www.asianimprov.org
Photo by Andy Nozaka
Thank you!
March 29, 2013
Dear Friends,
It is with my deepest appreciation that I thank you for your gracious support. We are writing to ask you to consider contributing to our 6th Anniversary Spring and Fall Seasons at the de Young Museum as we reach new and broader audiences with our work!
“I can’t think of any choreographer who has taken an approach as simultaneously intimate and large scale as Lenora Lee. In her work, the personal and the political intertwine inextricably.” – Rita Felciano, San Francisco Bay Guardian 2012
This year in San Francisco we will share two large-scale interdisciplinary works created with Kei Lun Martial Arts and Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo, “The Escape”and “Rescued Memories: New York Stories”. Both are companion pieces inspired by stories of women who had become vulnerable upon arrival into the U.S. during the early 20th Century.
These projects seek to shed light on the experiences of these women in the context of the social history of the period for Chinese in America as well as for women in the society as a whole with the struggles and achievements of the 20th Century Women’s Movement, which took on such issues as child labor and human trafficking. They are commissioned works to be performed at the de Young Museum May 17th (“The Escape” & a new work by Francis Wong) and November 8th & 9th (both pieces) as part of their 2013 Artist Fellows program.
I have been conducting both historical and current day research for these works through the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, Cameron House, Asian Women’s Shelter, API Legal Outreach, the A/P/A Institute at NYU, and New York Asian Women’s Center, among other organizations. Stories of determination and courage in addition to the generosity of staff and advocates have been truly inspiring and humbling.
“Lee’s kaleidoscopic dance views on the Asian American experience can be visually arresting – her 2010 “Passages: For Lee Ping To” was nominated for an Izzie Award for its design – but it’s provocative storytelling around universal themes that forms the heart of many of her works, including her latest.” – Mary Ellen Hunt, San Francisco Chronicle 2012
Your support is invaluable and plays a critical role in realizing the development and sharing of this work in presentations and performances! You allow for people to witness history coming to life, in honoring the past and understanding how it impacts the present, so that we may have an empowered perspective in shaping our future.
Please consider contributing to the growth and expansion of this work and of our year round programming. We are ever so grateful for your support and generosity.
With much appreciation,
Lenora
GETTING INVOLVED
Lenora Lee Dance is fiscally sponsored by Asian Improv aRts, a non-profit tax-exempt organization. All donations are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law.
(“Donate”, Designate Purpose – “For Lenora Lee Dance”)
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR SUPPORT!
Jeanette & Low Chan, Mark Chung, Mildred Hall, Laura Hays, Michael Holscher, Jeanette Huie, Pamela Jang & Keith Jew, Victor Clark Joe, Derek Lang, Alson & JoAnn Lee, Karina Lee & Perry Howe, Larry Lee, Linda Lee & Harry Chuck, Lianne & Terry Leong, Mary & Dayton Leong, Christina & Leonard Lew, Joan & George Louie, Jean Liu & Terry Chea, May & Larry Lui, Jean & Richard Lym, Victoria Marks, Jill Shiraki & Wilbur Obata, Phyllis Huey Tom, Joanne & Jerrick Woo, Joyce Ashizawa-Yee & Bradley Yee, Sandra Yuen
Photos by Robbie Sweeny and courtesy of Cameron House
Miyoshi Sketches & The Escape – May 17th, 7pm at the de Young Museum!
Miyoshi Sketches is a new work by composer Francis Wong created with the support of Individual Artist Commissions of Cultural Equity Grants. This work features Tatsu Aoki and Chizuru Kineya, shamisen (Japanese 3 string lute), Yangqin Zhao on yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), Jim Norton and Francis Wong on woodwinds, Wayne Wallace on trombone, Melody Takata on taiko, and Deszon Claiborne on multiple percussion. It memorializes the friendship that developed between Wong’s parents, immigrants from China, and John Miyoshi, a Japanese American World War II veteran in the post-World War II era in San Francisco. In addition to Miyoshi Sketches the ensemble will also perform two older compositions by Wong entitled La Chine Africaine (for my mother), and Dream. www.franciswong.net
The Escape by Lenora Lee Dance
with Kei Lun Martial Arts & Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo.
featuring media design by Olivia Ting, music by Francis Wong, text by Genny Lim, lighting by Patty-Ann Farrell, and videography directed by Tatsu Aoki, filmed by Ben Estabrook & Eric Koziol
The Escape is an interdisciplinary performance piece inspired by stories of women who had become vulnerable upon arrival into the U.S. during the early 20th Century. The pieces seek to shed light on the experiences of these women in the context of the social history of the period for Chinese in America as well as for women in the society as a whole with the struggles and achievements of the 20th Century Women’s Movement, which took on such issues as child labor and human trafficking. www.LenoraLeeDance.com
Friday, May 17, 7pm, FREE
Koret Auditorium, de Young Museum
Golden Gate Park
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive • San Francisco, CA 94118
For more info http://deyoung.famsf.org/
Celebrating 25 Years of Asian Improv aRts – Saturday, May 11th, 1pm!
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, Asian Improv aRts, and API Cultural Center present
Celebrating 25 Years of Asian Improv aRts!
The Francis Wong Unit featuring saxophonist Francis Wong, bassist John-Carlos Perea, multiple percussionist Karen Stackpole, and guitarist Karl Evangelista with guests taiko (Japanese drums) artist Melody Takata, dancer/choreographer Lenora Lee, poet/performer Genny Lim, and other special guests TBA.
Saturday, May 11th, 1pm, FREE
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
760 Howard Street (between 3rd & 4th Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94103
For more info: http://www.ybgf.org/, www.asianimprov.org
Photo by John O’Donnell
