Kickstarter

We, Enoch Chan and Kimmie Dobbs Chan, are writing an original story to be told as a dance opera performed by DEVIATED THEATRE.  The seeds of inspiration for this project were planted in 2009 when we met an adorable (magical) 5-year old girl, Olivia Green.  At the start of 2011, we received a commissioned from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as part of Performing Arts for Everyone and the Millennium Stage to develop this dance work that we call siGHt, and we intend to reach our full vision with your support.  This will be our fourth full length original theatrical production since our debut in 2008.

The story of siGHt unfolds around a family of three, who are visited by spirits bearing an urgent message.  The strength of this family is tested through an ensuing crisis, and the boundaries of the human spirit are brought into focus.  The material involves innovative contemporary dance on folding chairs and aerial silks... [Watch our video!!! We're so much better with our dance imagery than our words!]

Why $7500?

The John F. Kennedy Center has placed a confidence in us of $7500, and our aim is to match this level of support (and level of faith) from our audience (YOU!)  This is a free un-ticketed performance for YOU (which of course is by no means free to produce) which will also be broadcast LIVE online at www.kennedy-center.org!  This is an incredible opportunity for our audience members to each choose their own desired level of giving, with a guaranteed "virtual ticket" whether near or far, in person or following online!

Unlike our last production Sway (nominated for 3 awards at the 2010 Metro DC Dance Awards) which was developed from start to finish in less than 12 weeks, siGHt has been underway choreographically since October 2010.  This means our premiere of siGHt on September 29th + 30th, 2011 will mark (almost perfectly) one year of the creation process for siGHt.  It will also mark one year of our newly found "company mode" of DEVIATED THEATRE, wherein we exist on the faith and tireless dedication of a select group of individuals who serve as both "staff" and "performers".  These funds will allow us to acknowledge the contributions of these individuals after literally hundreds of their volunteered hours.  Pledges will also help to offset all other expenses for the show, including, but not limited to: fees for aerial instruction and musical royalties; costs of materials including aerial fabric, rigging equipment, costumes, props; costs of marketing, advertising, and administration; and of course replenishing our first aid kit (in the video, watch all of our fast "drops" to the floor, and guess how many ice packs we go through in a month!).

Also... Olivia is now 7 years old (going on 8 years old by our premiere)!  Eek!  She's growing up... and we have only this year to tell this particular story in this particular way... with the girl who inspired it all!  Now is the time for siGHt!

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DEVIATED THEATRE COMPANY:

Enoch Chan (Producer, Writer, Artistic & Technical Director, Lighting Designer)

Kimmie Dobbs Chan (Producer, Writer, Artistic Director, Choreographer)

Greg Chaprnka (Production Manager)

Olivia Green (Performer)

Joshua Barnard (Performer & Staff)

Elise Hehn (Performer & Staff)

Katie Schiaffino (Performer & Staff)

Elena Consoli (Performer & Staff)

Kathryn Elizabeth Kelly (Performer & Staff)

JannieLe Nguyen (Performer & Staff)

Meredith Rabil (Performer & Staff)

Raha Behnam (Performer & Staff) 

Ali Owens (Performer & Staff)

Kelsey Karpman (Apprentice Performer & Staff)

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Special thank you also to the Alexandria Performing Arts Association for your incredible assistance to DEVIATED THEATRE since our very first rehearsal!  [www.alexperformingarts.org]

Special thank you to the talented Lisa Smallwood for your beautiful dancing in our initial previews of siGHt featured in this video... wishing you wonderful success in graduate school and beyond!

Thank you also to Balmorhea, whose music is featured in siGHt.  [www.newjerusalemmusic.com and www.westernvinyl.com]

Thank you to Andrea Burkholder of Arachne Aerial Arts [www.arachneair.com] and also to Ann Behrends of AerialWorks Fitness & Dance [www.aerialworksfitnessanddance.com] for helping us to reach our aerial vision for siGHt!

Thank you to Joe's Movement Emporium [www.joesmovement.org], to Metropolitan Fine Arts Center [www.metrofinearts.com], and to One For All Dance Academy [www.oneforalldance.com] for making our DEVIATED THEATRE rehearsals possible!

And, of course, Thank you to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and to the Local Dance Commissioning Project!