Moving Steps Foundation

05/01/2015

Moving Step's major collaborative performance at SMCC was a resounding success!

Last night was the fourth and final performance of our major collaborative performance at SMCC, and we could not be more proud. The piece was so popular that the women did an encore, performing twice in one night! Over a dozen women participated; some acting, some dancing, and many doing both. We even had some new dance/performance lab members who turned out to be amazing at improv. And all the material used in the performance - including dances, spoken word poetry, and prose - was created by the women.

We'll keep you updated on future performances and any revivals of this particular piece. And please let us know if you're interested in attending any future performances via the contact page on our website: http://www.movingstepsfoundation.org/contact/

04/04/2015

Mark your calendars! Moving Steps will be premiering our major collaborative performance at SMCC on Saturday, April 25th at 1:00 pm and Monday, April 27th and Wednesday, April 29 at 6:00 pm.

Written by the women at SMCC and produced by Adrianne Tabet and spoken word performer Celia Lechtman, the piece centers around the daily lives and struggles of the women at SMCC. The piece will consist of acted scenes and spoken word poetry interspersed with dances choreographed by the women. We are so proud and excited by how many women at SMCC of such varied talents – including dancing, writing, acting, composing and staging – have come together to make this performance possible.

If you are interested in attending this performance, please contact us via the contact page on our website here: http://www.movingstepsfoundation.org/contact

03/03/2015

Moving Steps is currently in the process of expanding our outside program for women that have recently been released from SMCC. While we have successfully placed women in positions as dance facilitators, we are adding a dance- centric social component to further facilitate long-term success.

With several of our SMCC dancers scheduled for release this spring/early summer, we want to prepare to meet their needs for an outside support system that will aid in their transition to life beyond prison. We are establishing a Moving Steps family with regular meet-ups for dance classes, seminars and performances. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our progress over the coming months. We’d love to hear your ideas for free classes and performance tickets.

02/22/2015

Moving Steps' spoken word instructor, Celia Lechtman, is finalizing the script for our major collaborative performance that will be presented at SMCC at the end of April. The script features the written work of the women who've been attending Celia's spoken word classes at SMCC over the past few months, and she will be working with the women to finalize the script over the next couple of weeks.

The script is part structured narrative, part abstract performance and addresses issues such as addiction, abuse, and the experience of incarceration. Interspersed with scenes of daily life in prison are dances choreographed by the women. So many people with so many different talents - including dancing, writing, acting, composing and staging - are coming together to make this performance unforgettable. We are so excited to see how it develops over the coming weeks, and we'll keep you posted on our progress!

01/30/2015

Our Executive Director, Adrianne Tabet, has been nominated for Encore.org's Purpose Prize! Encore.org is (in their own words) "building a movement to tap the skills and experience of those in midlife and beyond to improve communities and the world." Every year they award the Purpose Prize to individuals over the age of 60 who are using their experience to facilitate social change in their communities. Last year, the 2014 Purpose Prize awarded $300,000 to six individuals.

The winners of the 2015 Purpose Prize will be announced in the summer and prizes will be awarded in the fall. Let's all congratulate Adrianne and wish her luck!

01/21/2015

The members of our Performance Lab at SMCC gave an amazing performance last Sunday and Wednesday. The women showed great versatility with their dances which included hip-hop, modern/lyrical, tap, and Broadway. All of the dances were choreographed by the women with help from our SMCC dance facilitators: Adrianne, Desiree, and Mary. The time and the work the women put into choreographing and practicing these dances really showed, and we couldn't be more proud of them.

As always, if you'd like to attend a future performance at SMCC, please email us via our contact page here: http://www.movingstepsfoundation.org/contact

01/13/2015

On Sunday, a group that included Moving Steps staff, collaborators, and board members met to discuss the future of the organization and what we hope to accomplish in the upcoming year.

We discussed the expansion of our re-integration program, upcoming outreach efforts, and our larger-scale performance which will premiere in April. We're very excited to have such talented and creative individuals on our team, and we look forward to expanding our programs and showing the world what we have to offer in 2015!

01/12/2015

Our resident SMCC Dance Performance Lab has an upcoming performance this Thursday (1/15) at 6:30 pm.

In addition to SMCC residents; family members, volunteers, and guests from the Boston community will be attending. The program will include a wide variety of dance styles and musical selections that include lyrical/contemporary, Broadway, swing/tap, and hip-hop. Dances are choreographed and performed by company members with the assistance of our guest choreographers and amazing teaching staff including Desiree Reese Mottard and Mary Teuscher.

The focus of all of our performances is the exploration of dance as a means of self-expression, authenticity, creativity, and joy. We invite our audiences to share in this transformative process. The dedication of the women has been astounding with several of them now working 40 hours a week in re-entry jobs within the Metro West-Boston community, attending regularly scheduled rehearsals and still finding time to practice with other company members for an additional 3 hours per week!

Anyone interested in attending an upcoming performance can message us via our contact page: http://www.movingstepsfoundation.org/contact

11/17/2014

Mary Teuscher joins the Moving Steps family as a dance facilitator at SMCC. Welcome, Mary!

Members of the SMCC Performance Collaborative had their first class with contemporary dancer and choreographer, Mary Teuscher, on Saturday. Mary has now officially become part of our Moving Steps t...

11/13/2014

Moving Steps will soon be collaborating with Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre as they prepare to produce a short ballet based on the life of activist Angela Davis.
Moving Steps will help to advise and lend authenticity to the production, specifically the portion that will deal with the time Davis spent in prison. Over the coming weeks, collaborators from Jose Mateo will be visiting SMCC to observe our performance lab and to speak with the women about their life in prison. In addition, several of the women will be chosen to write about their experiences.

The ballet will be entitled "Dynamite Hill" in reference to the neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama in which Davis grew up. It will be premiered by José Mateo Ballet Theatre at the Strand Theatre in the spring of 2016.

Non-profit professional performance company and dance school.
📍Cambridge & Dorchester, MA

10/16/2014

New blog post from our Executive Director, Adrianne Tabet, about the upcoming Family Day performance at SMCC!

Our SMCC resident dance company rehearsals are well underway for the upcoming Family Day performance on Sunday, October 19th. Twelve of our Performance Lab members will be performing three dances ...

10/06/2014

Moving Steps is now working with several artists, performers, and members of the Boston area dance and theater community in preparation for a major collaborative performance that we hope to premiere early next year.

Local musician Christa Renee DaSilva has been working tirelessly to get music donations for the performance. Many Boston area musicians have generously donated tracks, including Christa herself.

Here's some more about Christa in her own words:
"Christa Renee DaSilva studied music at Jacksonville University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Media Arts from New Jersey City University. She has spent the last 10 years working in human services with mentally ill adults in NYC, children/teens in DCF custody in MA and currently with the disabled. She also has formed and performed in two bands in New England, Invading Kim and Christa Renee Band, releasing multiple musical collections through bandcamp and cdbaby. She also is part of Come Together Events bringing live music, arts and events to the gay community in NH."

Stay tuned for a preview of the donated music!

American made, world infused music!!!!