UW–Madison to host screendance practitioner, body-percussionist and lecturer Omari ‘Motion’ Carter for International Visiting Artist Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2022

Media Contact: Aryn Kresol, Arts Residency Programs Coordinator at UW–Madison Division of the Arts, akresol@wisc.edu

URL: go.wisc.edu/Carter

Link to media assets: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/ujzio9owevcitqwmdut4j4s4435si8fa 

Link to article: https://artsdivision.wisc.edu/2022/03/22/omari-motion-carter-ivap-spring-2022/ 

UW–Madison to host screendance practitioner, body-percussionist and lecturer Omari ‘Motion’ Carter for International Visiting Artist Program

Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts welcomes Omari ‘Motion’ Carter to campus April 7–15, 2022 through the International Visiting Artist Program (IVAP). A collaboration between the Division of the Arts and the International Division, which funds the program, the International Visiting Artist Program supports short-term residences for international artists on campus. 

Omari ‘Motion’ Carter is a screendance practitioner, lecturer and body percussionist based in London and, for the past decade, has been choreographing, teaching and performing for music videos, film, television and theatre. He is the Founder and Creative Director of The Motion Dance Collective and lecturer in Dance at London Contemporary Dance School. Omari’s practice is influenced by hip hop dance culture, screendance and body-percussion. The recipient of international awards for his work in screendance, Omari’s multi-faceted, dance-filmmaking experience results in the purposeful creation, presentation and education of narratives told through dance and the camera. 

Omari’s residency will include participation as a presenter at State of the Art: the 2022 International Symposium on Screendance (April 10–13, 2022), a guest filmmaker at the Wisconsin Film Festival (April 7–14, 2022) and a teacher, leading workshops in professional development and exploring elements of dance “Animation” (a subgenre of Popping) and body percussion.

Events

Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 5:15 p.m.

In Pursuit of Joy: A Screendance BBQ in Movers and Shakers, Wisconsin Film Festival

In Pursuit of Joy: A Screendance BBQ, a film by IVAP artist Omari ‘Motion’ Carter, will be presented during the 24th annual Wisconsin Film Festival’s shorts block titled Movers and Shakers on Saturday, April 9 at 5:15 p.m. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with attending filmmakers featured in the block. Tickets may be purchased in advance or day-of.

Monday, April 11, 2022, at 12:30–2:10 p.m.

Workshop – “Urban Tones: Expanding Animations”

In “Urban Tones: Expanding Animations,” a workshop with IVAP artist Omari ‘Motion’ Carter, participants will explore elements of the dance form “Animation” (a subgenre of Popping). From Slow-Motion to Ticking, Gliding and isolations, this workshop will explore how these ways of moving can be expanded upon to develop narrative and character-driven dance performance. Going beyond the technique, the session fuses pedestrian action, character work and animation dance conventions to explore how these dances, influenced by animated stories on screen, can be the starting point for telling stories for all styles of movement makers. “Urban Tones: Expanding Animations”  takes place during Dance 455 – Dance Composition III on Monday, April 11, 12:30–2:10 p.m. in 349 Lathrop Hall. Open to students and International Symposium on Screendance attendees of all styles and abilities. Shoes will be removed to participate.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 3:30–5 p.m.    

Workshop – “Body Percussion Possibilities” (UW students only)

In “Body Percussion Possibilities,” a workshop with IVAP artist Omari ‘Motion’ Carter, participants will work with the rhythmic body. This session will introduce participants to the art of body percussion in an aim to bridge the gap between dance and musical language. Participants will explore rhythmic techniques from across the globe (Brazil, America, South Africa, UK), stimulating an awareness of the body, control of movement and muscular strength, coordination and balance.

Exercises, warm ups and games will help improve concentration, perception and memory alongside musicality, composition, listening and ensemble work. Participants will gain practical experience with tools that inject an essence of hybridity, musicality and joy into their ongoing practice. The workshop convenes during Dance/Theatre 259 – Collaborative Arts Performance Lab: Devising Collaborative Performance Through Hip Hop Arts on Tuesday, April 12, 3:30–5 p.m. in 249 Lathrop Hall and is open to UW students.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 11 a.m.

“What is Urban Dance on Screen” at the International Symposium on Screendance

Omari ‘Motion’ Carter, presents ”What is Urban Dance on Screen” on Wednesday, April 13 at 11 a.m. in  the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall. In his presentation, Omari draws from his postgraduate study which focused on dances within hip hop culture and their relationship to narrative. Additionally, Omari will explore the label of “urban” within a screendance context. As a hip hop dance culture aficionado studying under the roof of a contemporary dance school, Omari was concerned about who his research was going to reach. If his research hopes to be an academic contribution to hip hop culture, will any hip hop practitioners outside of academia actually read it?

Omari will screen his video essay created during his study at the world’s first Master’s Degree in Screendance program. “What is Urban Dance on Screen” is a musical and spoken word provocation that mixes video references with academic prose, resulting in a piece of academia that aims to bridge a gap between the writers and the makers. Could the video essay format be further utilized to diversify how we academize screendance practice in the future?

About 

Omari ‘Motion’ Carter is a screendance practitioner, lecturer and body percussionist based in London and, for the past decade, has been choreographing, teaching and performing for music videos, film, television and theatre. A first-class BA (Hons) degree in Performing Arts at London Metropolitan University led Omari to perform for 7 years (2011–2018) in the West End and international touring productions of Stomp!. During this time, Omari choreographed, directed, performed and produced a varied reel of dance-film work with screendance production company The Motion Dance Collective, which he founded in 2011.

As a director, videographer and editor, Omari has created digital-dance and documentary content for Breakin’ Convention Hip Hop Theatre Festival (UK), Parkinson’s UK, Dance Woking, DanceXchange, South East Dance, Akademi (UK), Calmer UK, National Centre for Circus Arts, Jason Mabana Dance, Pagrav Dance Company and Mouvement Perpétuel (Canada).

As an independent choreographer and dancer, Omari has created works for Google, Britain’s Got Talent, Weetabix, Stanton Warriors, Greenpeace UK, Diabetes UK and ADAD (Association of Dance from the African Diaspora).

A graduate from the world’s first Master’s Degree in Screendance program at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), Omari went on to become associate lecturer in screendance at the University of East London, University of Lincoln and LCDS. Most recently Omari was co-curator of Akademi Dance-Film Festival 2021, Digital Creative for Pavilion Dance South West, on the event programming team for San Souci Festival of Dance Cinema (U.S.) and features twice in Vol. 12 of The International Journal of Screendance, which was released earlier this year.

The Motion Dance Collective (The MDC) is an award-winning screendance production company founded by Omari ‘Motion’ Carter in 2011. Since its beginnings, The MDC has gained worldwide recognition as a production company that produces thought-provoking dance-films to tell relevant stories through the hybrid practice that is screendance. With work screened across the UK and internationally at over 60 film festivals, including Loikka Dance Film Festival (Helsinki, Finland), Cinedans Dance on Screen festival (Amsterdam, Netherlands), British Urban Film Festival (London, UK), Lightmoves Festival of Screendance (Limerick, Ireland) and the San Francisco Dance Film Festival (U.S.), to name a few. The MDC’s purpose is to innovate the dance-film production process, present audiences with thought-provoking dance-on-screen narratives and engage artists with playful and educational digital-dance workshops. From concept through to delivery, we are UK’s leading company that produces bespoke content for organizations and artists who have an interest in bridging the gap between moving body and moving image.

The International Visiting Artist Program (IVAP) is a collaboration between the Division of the Arts and the International Division, which funds the program. This partnership, launched in the fall of 2019, supports short-term residences for international artists on campus. Through IVAP, the Division brings visiting artists and their expertise into existing campus arts programs. Visiting artists expand students’ horizons and facilitate opportunities for future collaborations and careers abroad.

State of the Art: the 2022 International Symposium on Screendance (April 10–13, 2022), directed by Professor Douglas Rosenberg, is presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Art Department and the Dance Department. This symposium, held at the UW–Madison, creates a forum for discussion, reflection, and aspirational, futurist and intentional thinking about the future of the field of screendance. This year’s symposium also serves as a bridge between newer generations of practitioners and thinkers in the field, and the elders still active in whom much of the historic and institutional memory of the earlier days of screendance resides. Timely topics such as the Feminist roots of screendance, the generational and evolving critical landscape of the field, de-colonizing screendance, race and gender in screendance, intersectionality and facilitating new ways of knowing the cinematic body and mapping the literature of the field will be explored. The symposium is generously supported by the Virginia Horne Henry Fund. 

The 24th annual Wisconsin Film Festival, presented by the University of Wisconsin­–Madison Department of Communication Arts, is April 7–14, 2022. Founded in 1999, the Wisconsin Film Festival presents an average of 150 film screenings over 8 days every spring. The Festival is known for its diverse film offerings. Categories include American independent, international cinema and documentaries. We also screen experimental and avant-garde, and restored classics. The Wisconsin’s Own section of the Festival features Wisconsin filmmakers, themes or settings. Big Screens, Little Folks features specially curated full-length and short films for young people that will inspire and delight. We strive to make films screened during the Festival accessible for all audiences.

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Andrew Buss Joins M3 as Account Executive

Andrew Buss recently joined M3 Insurance as an employee benefits account executive. Buss’s primary role is to advise on the design, implementation, and management of employer-sponsored benefit programs. He works with clients to manage their risk and maintain comfortable levels of coverage to meet their changing business needs.

Prior to joining M3, Buss gained experience through high-level sales and operational roles within insurance, healthcare, and IT. Most recently, Buss served as a senior program performance manager with WPS Health Insurance where he specialized in governmental business and working with federal contracts.

Buss is a skilled-communicator and thrives in dynamic work environments, making him a great addition to the M3 employee benefits team.

“I have had the fortune of meeting with Andrew several times during the hiring process. I am very excited at the experience and outlook he brings to M3. I believe that Andrew will be very successful as well as a great culture fit to our EB team.”
— Jeff Ireland, Director of Employee Benefits – Southcentral WI

Key Takeaways

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.

Madison Ballet names Artistic Director from NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jonathan Solari
920-728-6217
jonathan@madisonballet.org

Melanie Kranz Share
608-206-3647
melkranz@gmail.com

Madison Ballet names Artistic Director from NY
Ja’ Malik known for unique perspective in dance, choreography

MADISON, WIS. (March 21, 2022)—Madison Ballet announced today that Ja’ Malik, a nationally known dancer and choreographer based in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, will join the organization full-time as artistic director in July.

He is currently in Madison choreographing part of “Turning Pointe,” Madison Ballet’s coming performance at the Overture Center March 25 to April 3.

Ja’ Malik, an advocate for artists of color, brings to Madison his exceptional and diverse experience as dancer and choreographer. He is director and founder of the all-male Ballet Boy Productions. He worked with Tony-nominated Camille A. Brown on The Public Theater’s 2019 production of Ntozake Shange’s, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enuf”. In 2003 he graduated from the first class of Joffrey Ballet School, and New School University, BFA program.

“Madison Ballet offers a national platform for me to share my vision to create a company that reflects the diverse world we live in,” Ja’ Malik said.

Jonathan Solari, chief executive officer of Madison Ballet, said he urges Madison residents to attend Turning Pointe as a show of support for the new artistic director.

“As an arts organization, Madison Ballet helps define beauty through the art we present on this community’s stages. We take that role seriously and recognize our obligation to challenge what ballet is and who it is for,” said Solari. “Ja’ Malik’s clear and energizing vision will honor our 40-year history while bringing progress to this organization, this city, and this art form. It is apt that he is making his debut during Turning Pointe.”

Pamela Squires of The Washington Post said Ja’ Malik is “a choreographer who shows a fine eye.” Roslyn Sulcas of The New York Times named him a “Choreographer to Watch.” He has been featured in Dance magazine.

He is a former member of Cleveland Ballet, Oakland Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Nathan Trice Rituals, City Dance Ensemble, Ballet Hispanico, and Philadelphia’s BalletX.

“Turning Pointe” begins this Friday and runs through Sunday, April 3. Tickets are $18 to $32 and for sale at the Overture Center Ticket Office in person, by mail or online.

About Madison Ballet: Madison Ballet is a 40-year-old arts organization in Madison, Wis. It features the 150-student School of Madison Ballet.Since 1981, Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community. It offers full-scale productions of inspiring traditional ballets, innovative contemporary performances, and the timeless holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” in Madison’s renowned Overture Center for the Arts. The School of Madison Ballet empowers students of all ages and skill levels with the poise, confidence, discipline, and life skills intrinsic to the study of dance. Outreach programming, presented in partnership with dozens of local school and community groups, enriches thousands of young people’s lives by introducing them to the joy of dance.

For more information, go to madison ballet.org.

Strang’s First Female Board Member

STRANG, Inc. Names Erica Ostendorf Mullins to Firm’s Board of Directors
First Woman Board Member in The Firm’s 87 Year History

MADISON, WI. March 15, 2022 – – – Strang, Inc, proudly announces that Erica Ostendorf Mullins, NCIDQ, WRID, has been appointed to the firm’s highest level of leadership, the Board of Directors. This appointment is effective immediately. Ms. Ostendorf Mullins will continue in her responsibility as Senior Vice President, Director of Interior Design.

Since joining Strang in 2014, Erica has contributed to client success and satisfaction by sharing strikingly creative, cohesive designs which are remarkable to behold and engaging to occupy. Clients tell us that Erica’s award-winning designs inspire, empower, and excite those within. From healthcare to hospitality or corporate to cultural spaces, Erica applies her passion for design across a myriad number of sectors.

Additionally, Erica provides expert guidance, direction and mentorship throughout the Interior Design Group and the entire firm. For example, Erica is responsible for guiding Strang’s strategic business planning across all aspects of the firm. Her leadership style is pronounced by listening with respect, empowering confidence around her and responding with resolve.

According to Larry Barton, Strang’s President and CEO, “Our current Board of Directors unanimously believes that Erica will be a significant contributor to the next chapter of our continued growth and success. She possesses a natural talent for inspiring colleagues and clients alike through her imagination, leadership, rigor and accountability. Erica constantly delivers for our clients through design counsel that is creative, resourceful, respectful and on task. We are excited to have Erica join our Senior Leadership Team”.

Erica earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2010. She is a Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer, a member of National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)

About Strang

Established in 1935, Strang is an award-winning architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with offices in Madison and Waukesha, Wisconsin.

We champion a highly collaborative, vertically integrated approach entitled, Design Synchronicity. This proven process galvanizes our ability to safeguard a client’s financial, human, and environmental resources. We most often apply this approach within the science and technology, commercial/corporate, higher education, performing arts, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Strang has earned the Wisconsin State Journal Top Workplace Award for 2021 and 2022.

Strang has also been voted Number ONE Commercial Architectural Firm in Madison for nine consecutive years (2013-2021) by the readers of InBusiness Magazine!

WRTP | BIG STEP Hosts Women in the Trades Career Fair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2022

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Stephanie Johnston, sjohnston@wrtp.org or 608-255-0155

WRTP | BIG STEP Hosts WOMEN IN THE TRADES Career Fair

WRTP | BIG STEP of South Central Wisconsin and the Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin are hosting its Women in the Trades Career Fair on March 22, 2022 between 3 PM – 7 PM at the Madison Labor Temple, 1602 South Park Street, Madison, WI. Our goal is to introduce women to the numerous career pathways within the union construction industry’s seventeen building trades. This is a free event and open to the public. 

COVID-19 highlighted the daily inequalities that women, especially women of color, face. Women disproportionately shouldered the “essential worker” status in low wage jobs like grocery store clerks and fast food cashiers (more than 65% are female)1, and while men comprise the lion’s share of “essential sectors” like public safety, transportation logistics, and public utilities, these are traditionally occupations and fields with family sustaining wages, benefits, and even pensions. In 2020, full time working women earned 82 cents2 for every dollar a man made. Over a lifetime, this amounts to over half a million dollars that women cannot access or use to move into the security that comes with real wealth attainment, through home ownership or a debt-free life. 

WRTP | BIG STEP coordinated the the Women in the Trades Career Fair to expose interested candidates to the apprenticeship model and the family-sustaining careers within the construction industry to help address the labor shortage expected due to retirements and the shrinking workforce pool.

During the career fair, attendees will explore the building trades through employer and union apprenticeship tables/booth with organization information, employment opportunities, and sign-up for interviews. (4) $100 gift card giveaways drawn for attendees who visit each booth and submit their completed participation forms. Pre-registration is recommended to receive employer information before and after the career fair. Pre-register online here:

https://bit.ly/3x1V8zm or Register in person during the event.

Women in the Trades Career Fair sponsors include; Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 13, Carpenters Local 314, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 18, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 159, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades DC 7, Iron Workers Local Union Local 383, Construction Laborers Local 464, Plumbers Local 75, Steamfitters Local 601, Harker Heating & Cooling Inc, Parisi Construction Co., Inc, H.J. Martin and Son, Walbec Group, MIDWEST DRILLED FOUNDATIONS & EGINEERING, INC., Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC, RG Huston Co., Inc., All Comfort Services, InterCon Construction, and Vogel Bros Building Co.

ABOUT WRTP/BIG STEP

WRTP/BIG STEP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to connecting people to family-sustaining jobs. Our mission is to enhance the ability of public and private sector organizations to recruit, develop, and retain a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy.