Friends of Enforced Arch

Enforced Arch Dance CommunityI couldn't be more pleased to say that this has been a huge success for our community! We have demonstrated our ability to pull together for a common goal. Our success represents how much compassion is needed, movements are needed and Enforced Arch community is needed! We have inspired 738 people to vote for our community of compassionate 'Movers' making us the 2nd Best Dance Blog of 2011! Thank you Dance Advantage for hosting this contest and to it's creator Nichelle Strzepek for all the great work she does for the Dance community!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support, love & devotion. We will continue to inspire change in 2012 for those in need. Happy New Year!

Best,

James Koroni Creator, Enforced Arch EnforcedArch@gmail.com

Please, Don't Touch at 3rd Ward Art Gallery

Please, Don't Touch - Art Gallery - 3rd Ward - James KoroniEnforced Arch's Anti-Fur performance piece, Please, Don't Touch, was featured in 3rd Ward's Semi-Annual Art Gallery Showcase. ‘Please, Don’t Touch’ focuses energy on a topic that sits at the intersection of social justice, ecology and design. It's ultimate goal is to to become an effective conduit for empathy and a creative tool for change. Through the use of live performance, transmedia and personal interaction, this project will impact the heavily guarded perceptions of fur iconography by shedding light on what isn’t revealed behind the glitz and glamor. Here are a few pictures from that evening: Please, Don't Touch - Art Gallery - 3rd WardPlease, Don't Touch - Art Gallery - 3rd Ward Please, Don't Touch - Art Gallery - 3rd WardPlease, Don't Touch - Art Gallery - 3rd Ward

Dear Stranger

Dear Stranger, Enforced ArchDance inspires action, expresses ideas or wisdom, and is given as a gift to others. 'Mover,' Nicole Javanna Johnson has developed a way to implement all three of these elements to make a difference for others while doing what she loves. Johnson created Javanna Productions, a nonprofit organization that presents an annual effort entitled M.O.V.E.: Motivation Opportunity Vision Entertainment. In this effort all are encouraged to take action, be creative and develop a stronger sense of community within their neighborhoods while raising funds for a cause. This years efforts are entitled M.O.V.E. The Cambodia Project. They are working with the Bernie Krisher foundation to build a school in rural Cambodia, thereby raising awareness and funds for education. The following excerpt from M.O.V.E. The Cambodia Project’s theme song by Bridget Barkan describes our relationship to those whose shoes we may not have walked in, but in light of, whose experiences we can certainly dance:

Dear Stranger, I love you, (I love you) I know, what this world can do to you.

Dear Stranger, I need you. You need me too. Together we can make it through.

The people of Cambodia have faced deep tragedy in the last century. Recovering from genocide requires much forethought. Generous action from strangers will help catapult progress. By building schools we teach Cambodian children their history and generate a light of hope. M.O.V.E. The Cambodia Project has set a goal to raise $20,000 in funds to support their cause.

Fortunately New York City is culturally diverse and provides its patrons with tremendous opportunities in which we can spread awareness and instill what change is needed. Johnson grasps these opportunities to spread Cambodia’s needs, and without question, onlookers emphatically express interest and find ways to support her efforts.

Dear Stranger, Enforced ArchM.O.V.E. The Cambodian Project was most recently seen at the New York Dance Parade with support of Broadway Dance Centers educational department. Now in its fifth year it has brought together almost ten thousand dancers, almost two hundred dance organizations and nearly one hundred unique styles. Before May 21st these dancers may have been considered strangers, but when brought together with a common love for dance one can appreciate and experience their power. Click here for more on M.O.V.E. The Cambodian Project.

Click here to donate and help them reach their goals!

Photography by Serena Dykman

Glee-fully, Tonya Kay!

Tonya Kay on Glee'Mover,' Tonya Kay has been a busy bee! She performed Sunday on Glee doing a big deal "never-before-seen-on-tv" fire whip crack and more. There were four fire dancers and they all have wigs on, so keep your eye on the girl cracking the fire whip (seen on left in the image shown) and then remember what she looked like during the rest of this huge production number! Yes, you read correctly: they wigged Tonya Kay! She said, "Productions have tried and failed countless times. But not Glee's hair department. The stylist wigging me, whom himself had dread locks (thank goodness!) said he wigged Whoopi, so I knew I was in good hands. Literally. He kissed my locks when he had piled them up - I knew this one understood."

You might remember her on Glee's famous Madonna episode last year with Stilt World. Of course, a performer never knows what happens in post-production after the filming, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Glee wanted to be the first in television history to show her stunt! A big deal that it's a woman doing it - and that woman is Tonya Kay!

To see more of this compassionate 'Mover,' visit: http://www.tonyakay.com/

Too Young

Young Girl WorkingTremendous injustice is occurring all over the world. The most innocent and fragile of living creatures have no voice. Children are making textiles, toys (which they will never play with) and matches, among many other items. We call this Child labor. Child Trafficking is another malicious form of modern slavery. Each day, more children are trafficked into prostitution, forced labor, child marriage and other slavery-like conditions. Each day sees the growth of skills and experience of traffickers and those who purchase trafficked persons. Isn't slavery illegal? I guess not.

Child TraffickingIn our society we seek the most "delicious" food and at what cost? Do we know at what level of cruelty the farmers reach for particular forms of meat or dairy? Male chicks are useless to egg farms so they are simply plucked up and loaded into a grinder or left in a dumpster to die.

Male Chicks in GrinderVeal production is also a bi-product of the dairy industry. It's beyond me how this kind of medieval torture is still around? Pulled from their mother immediately after birth, fed an anemic diet in a wooden crate to small to lie down in and then killed after 18 or 20 weeks.

Veal CratesYou may ask what can I do about this? Being informed should be your first bit of effort. There are so many resources online for you to peruse. Then avoid companies that use child labor, create artistic works that educate your audiences, avoid cruel farming practices and you'll make a world of difference. All we have is each other to rely upon. It isn't difficult to be compassionate. It's simply difficult to know these ethical issues exist and then not do anything about it!

Foh Real? Faux Feathers!

Bettina May & James Koroni Where in the world is Bettina May? Well she's in New York City. Certainly wouldn't be the same without her. Her innovative performances are more than just fanfare. Every bit of her costuming, performance and smile are genuinely committed to ending cruelty. She showed up to teatime today in a FAKE full length fur coat with matching hat. When I asked her where she acquired her matching set, she said, "I sew, made it myself." Well that's impressive! Little did I know she envisions and creates all of her own costumes. Her resistance to the mainstream costuming industry is that traditional Burlesque dancers use feathers, leather, and fur in all their performances with little thought of who they took it from. You don't need these items to entertain, be creative, innovative and inspire others to not feed into unfortunate tradition. We must not get involved with indulgent lifestyles that breed thoughtless performance rather evolve along with the environment and return the respect. Very refreshing to meet such a unique 'Mover' in our industry!

Check out her home made "Feather" Headdress in a performance entitled,

'Don't Touch My Tomatoes!'

Live PluckingWhile one end of a feather is soft to the touch, tickle worthy and awe inspiring there is another end of this quill that isn't quite as lovely. Live plucking is of commonplace among feather producing farms. If you thought getting hair waxed off was painful, imagine living a lifestyle, against your will, where being "waxed" regularly for anothers kicks and giggles was all you understood.

Alternative choices are available!

Coquette Faux Furriers

Bettina May's Links

For more on Miss Bettina May check out her website, click on the link below!

Bettina May

Wildchild Nation Inspiration

Luam Keflezgy Luam Keflezgy is one of my most inspired mentors. Her style is confident, grounded, classic, smooth, edgy, and for her, all this is seemingly effortless. However she taught me effort and intention is everything!

She once said to me after a rigorous class, "It's where the movement comes from, that makes a statement." This has always rang true in my life as a dancer concerned with ecological and social issues. With her inspired statement I have been able to add quality to every movement I make, whether it be in class, choreography or with the clothing I wear!

Wildchild Nation offers a few alternatives to support my active and compassionate dance lifestyle! I even noticed a few eco-friendly materials such as Tencel! Hopefully she will expand upon these options in the future!

Check it out!

WildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchildWildchild LUCKY for us there's a phenomenal clearance sale. Don't miss it!

MEN WildchildWOMEN

Leave a comment. Tell Enforced Arch how Luam Keflezgy has inspired you!