DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF PAULINE TAPLIN
Social Movement Contemporary Dance
Presents
POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Social Movement Contemporary Dance returns to the MATCH for their first live performance in over a year with Power to the People.
Through three world premieres, Power to the People embodies the freedom from external control or influence. "The Culture" takes ownership of the global Hip Hop phenomenon through expression of Hip Hop's five pillars -- breakdancing, MCing, DJing, graffitti, and knowledge. In "Autonomy" artistic director Elijah Alhadji Gibson celebrates the strength, power, and perseverance of all women, through a series of solos. To close the show, "We The People" conveys his observations of what happens when people’s daily lives are interrupted by the world's harsh realities and they begin to demand change.
The Culture
(2021)
Concept by Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Music: Quip by dj ni**a fox, by Kris Adams, One Love, by Andrea Minotti, UMI Says by Mos Def
Costumes by Devert Monet Hickman
Lighting Design by Edgar Guajardo, Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Jason Dang, Andrea Minotti, Joel Rivera, Michiko Sharpe
Autonomy
(2021)
Choreography by Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Music: Woods, Panorama, & Ultraviolet by Eleonore Oppenheim & Jessie Montgomery
Costumes by Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Lighting Design by Edgar Guajardo, Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Amberly Altamirano-Daniels, Rachael Hutto, Yu-Ling Yeh
15 MINUTE INTERMISSION
We The People
(2021)
Choreography by Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Music: Theory of Machines by Ben Frost, What a Wonderful World by Jon Baptiste, Shrine Hale by Forest Swords, Aegis, by Leonce
Costumes by Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Lighting Design by Edgar Guajardo, Elijah Alhadji Gibson
Amberly Altamirano-Daniels, Rachael Hutto, Briah Napier,
Joel Rivera, Yu-Ling Yeh

Gibson founded Social Movement Contemporary Dance in 2019 after an international career as a professional dancer and a career in Higher Education. Originally from San Diego, California, he began dance with the San Diego Civic Dance Arts and attended the San Diego School for the Performing Arts. Gibson continued his education and studied dance in college and received his Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, with a focus on dance history, somatic studies, and pedagogy. Gibson joined the world-renowned Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago where he toured nationally and internationally for eight years, performing the works of the late Gus Giordano, Margo Sappington, Christopher Huggins, Jon Lehrer, Mia Michaels, Liz Imperio, Randy Duncan, Tony Powell, Ron De Jesus, and Davis Robertson among many others. He’s also had the privilege of guest performing with Instruments of Movement, Cirqua Rivera Dance Theater, Thodos Dance Chicago, and Especialty Tap Chicago just to name a few. He has performed and taught throughout the United States as well as in Germany, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Latvia, Spain, Ecuador, Canada, and Mexico. Mr. Gibson has served on the faculties of RDA Midwest, Gus Giordano Jazz Intensive, American College Dance Festival Association, Jazz Dance World Congress, Dance Masters of Wisconsin, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Leon Dance Arts NY, Embrace Dance Convention, and Key West Modern Dance. Dance companies have performed his choreography nationally and internationally such as Nomi Lamad, Inaside Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, Jayson Tisa Dance Company, City Dance Company of Houston, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago II, and Naway Dance Company, as well by university dance ensembles throughout the country. Mr. Gibson has been on faculty at Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sam Houston State University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Gibson has been fortunate to have dabbled in every aspect of the arts from dance, theater, and film.
*This work is inspired by the many women who have made me the man I am today. Thank you Natasha Lynn Davis, EdD, Carrie Shumway, and Lizzie MacKenzie for being great examples of strength, power, and perseverance.
THE ARTISTS

Amberly Altamirano-Daniels

Jason Dang

Rachael Hutto

Andrea Minotti

Briah Napier

Joel Rivera


Michiko Sharpe
Yu-Ling Yeh
PRODUCTION CREW
STAFF
Costume Design Devert Monet Hickman
Lighting Design Bryan Ealey
Intern Joy Crissmon
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JESSICA RAY HERZOGENRATH, PhD
BENJAMIN LUCZAK
PAM KENDALL
DANA NICOLAY
*I am extremely grateful for these individuals.
Without their support SMCD would not be able to operate.

SOCIAL MOVEMENT CONTEMPORARY DANCE FOCUSES ON PRESENTING WORK TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES THAT REFLECTS THE HISTORICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICES AGAINST ALL PEOPLES AND THEIR IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL IDEAS AND VALUES.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT AND HELP SUPPORT THE MISSION OF SOCIAL MOVEMENT CONTEMPORARY DANCE.