New Hampshire Dance Collaborative to Present ‘Are You Okay’ at The Rex Theatre

New Hampshire Dance Collaborative to Present ‘Are You Okay’ at The Rex Theatre

by | Nov 22, 2022 | Press Releases

On Wednesday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m., New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC) will present ‘Are You Okay’ at The Rex Theatre in Manchester. Created by Anthony Bounphakhom of The Block Collaborative in Portsmouth, ‘Are You Okay’ sheds light on the subject of mental health and the value of self care through hip-hop dance/street styles and dance movement.

“Dance can reveal so much about ourselves and our struggles as people,” said Bounphakhom, who expressed gratitude for the recent sneak preview of the full show that took place on November 17 at The Factory. “I’m appreciative of the support offered by New Hampshire Dance Collaborative and their belief in the power of dance as a way to deepen understanding of one another.”

Whereas the sneak preview revealed just excerpts of ‘Are You Okay,’ the full performance will fully explore the struggles of three main characters as each grapples with personal demons. “The story will take the audience on a fantastic, imaginative adventure through dance movements,” added Bounphakhom. “It’s an adventure you will feel in your body.”

Learning dance on the street and through workshops, Bounphakhom has found widespread success with his choreography featured at venues throughout New England, including The Institute for Contemporary Art in Boston. He is also a featured dancer in the recently released film, Hocus Pocus 2, now streaming on Disney Plus.

According to NHDC Founder Joan Brodsky, her support of Bounphakhom and The Block Collaborative reveals a deeper mission. “I believe that incorporating more dance into our human experience would be a powerful tool in further developing human understanding and tolerance for each-other.,” she said. “My support of Anthony’s work is reflective of my belief that dance is an underappreciated form of human expression in our culture. I hope to change that.”

In addition to serving as narrator for ‘Are You Okay,’ Najee Brown will moderate a discussion after the performance. Brown is founder of Theater For The People, a BIPOC produced touring theater in Eliot, ME.

“I want to help people open their minds and bodies to possibilities only dance can offer,” added Brodsky, who said NHDC’s mission “to make dance a more well understood, accessible and utilized art form.” “We are very grateful that Najee can help us demonstrate the relevance and importance of dance.”

‘Are You Okay’ takes place on Wednesday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m. at The Rex Theatre. Tickets start at $15. Click here to purchase tickets.

Excerpts and Investigation: Are You Okay

Excerpts and Investigation: Are You Okay

by | Nov 17, 2022 | Past Performances

Excerpts and Investigation of Are You Okay – a dance/ theater piece in Hip Hop/street style dance created by Anthony Bounphakhom
Location: The Factory on Willow in Manchester, NH
Date: 11/17/2022

This event was created in order to preview the performance of Are You Okay in an intimate environment where the audience was situated on the same level and just feet away from the dancers. The dance portion was kept to 20-30 minutes so as to whet the appetite for more. It was moderated by Najee Brown, Artistic Director of Theater for the People, who asked creator Anthony Bounphakhom compelling questions which provided context and an explanation to the audience.

Because dance can baffle the general audience, Excerpts and Investigation was designed to provide a learning experience for the viewer and also to provide them an opportunity to ask their own questions. Dance creates waves of energy. The audience was able to hear footfalls and breathing and witness the hard, physical work involved in this craft. The goal of New Hampshire Dance Collaborative was to better prepare the audience for the full performance on the proscenium stage a week later.

New Hampshire Dance Collaborative to Present ‘Are You Okay’

New Hampshire Dance Collaborative to Present ‘Are You Okay’

by | Nov 7, 2022 | Upcoming Performances

On Tuesday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m., New Hampshire Dance Collaborative (NHDC) will present ‘Are You Okay’ at The Factory On Willow in Manchester.

Created by Anthony Bounphakhom of The Block Collaborative in Portsmouth, ‘Are You Okay’ sheds light on the subject of mental health and the value of self care through hip-hop dance/street styles and dance movement. The free performance on November 17 will present 4 short excerpts from ‘Are You Okay,’ which premiers in its entirety on Wednesday, December 7 at The Factory.

“The show will take the audience on an adventure through fantasy, imagination, dance, and storytelling and is told through the eyes of three main characters,” explained Bounphakhom. “Through their struggles, these characters have created inner demons that must be faced.”

Regarding the role of dance to help tell complex stories like ‘Are You Okay,’ Bounphakhom referred to it as “a natural language.” “I discovered dance at the age of 13 – it helped me to create my cultural identity.”

Learning dance on the street and through workshops, Bounphakhom has found widespread success, as his choreography has been shown throughout New England, most notably at The Institute for Contemporary Art in Boston. He is also a featured dancer in the recently released film, Hocus Pocus 2, now streaming on Disney Plus.

“It was a lot of fun and very exciting, but I’m just as excited about ‘Are You Okay,’ he added.

In addition to presenting 4 excerpts from ‘Are You Okay,’ the performance on November 17 will feature a moderated discussion with Najee Brown, founder of Theater For The People, a BIPOC produced touring theater in Eliot, ME.

“We are thrilled to have Najee with us for this very special evening,” said NHDC Founder Joan Brodsky, who noted ‘Are You Okay’ is part of Excerpts and Investigation (E&I).

Launched this summer, E&I is a communication initiative developed by NHDC to present dance as an useful, inspiring art form that is relevant in broader contexts. E&I also provides free brief previews followed by moderated discussions as a way to help educate audiences about dance before full performances.

“Incorporating more dance into our human experience would be a powerful tool in further developing human understanding and tolerance for each-other,” said Brodsky. “Dance framed and presented as a form of connection and human understanding is impactful because the primary instrument of communication is the body.”

In launching Excerpts and Investigation, Brodsky said her intent was to create a platform for dance companies in New Hampshire “to better promote their work and value.” “Dance is a form of human expression that can encourage a more nuanced understanding of the human condition,” she said.

Bounphakhom agreed and added, “Dance has always been in human life. It is an expression of the soul. Watch someone move. What dance does is pluck at the person’s soul.”

The hope for Brodsky is that Bounphakhom ‘s ‘Are You Okay’ can “pluck at the souls of people unfamiliar with dance.” This is a performance that presents dance in an approachable, understandable way with real metaphorical significance in these uncertain times,” she said.

‘Are You Okay’ takes place on Tuesday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m. at The Factory On Willow in Manchester. Appetizers will be served at 5:30 p.m. followed by the performance from 6:00 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. and then moderated discussion. Attendance is free. Click here to register for free.