Wednesday, March 13, Central Oregon Community College is partnering with the Bend Contemporary Dance Company to perform an original piece, Encounters with Modernity, that focuses on the impact of modernization in society.

The performance will ask the question, “Can we represent narratives of the past through movement,” and will explore the effects of industrial capitalism, imperialism, the exploitation of working classes, racism, war fought with mechanized weapons and much more.

Encounters with Modernity will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Pinckney Auditorium of Pence Hall, located on COCC’s Bend campus.

COCC’s Associate Professor of World History, Jessica Hammerman, and Professor of Composition, Stephanie André, have collaborated with Sinnamon Hauser, founding member and choreographer of BCDC to help create the contemporary piece.
The trio will be part of an ensemble of 14 dancers on stage.

The event is free to all, but registration is required beforehand.

André, who is also chair of COCC’s humanities department, and Hammerman were both interested in how dance can make an argument.
“We wanted to tell a story of history through dance, and we wanted students to be involved,” André said.
André asked students to ponder the question, “can art make an argument,” garnering interesting and unique answers that will be shown in a slideshow before the start of the evening’s events.
“I’m thrilled that this collaboration has a spot at the Season of Nonviolence,” Hammerman said.
“Dance can express so much about the human experience, and fitting dance within history helps bring a narrative alive. I love working with choreographer Sinnamon Hauser—she is a true professional, laser-focused director and dancer,” she added.
After the performance, Hammerman and André will join Hauser in a discussion that analyzes modern history and how to tell those stories through dance.
You can register for the event here.