realizing that I put this cut together and have been watching it weekly for months - and it always makes me cry (in the best way). and that maybe no one else has seen it! I was reminded recently that even when you have to put something down for a bit, it’s still simmering on the back burner. and all the interstitial time is research, too. so much love and pride for this project and wherever it goes next~~~~
FOLK
performed 6/29/25
at Links Hall, Chicago IL
as part of the 2025 Co-Mission Festival of New Works
FOLK is the movement of the present that binds us.
A working class anthem, ballad, lullaby..
archival + future-making.
A quilt in progress / a group effort
Unifying in cacophony
Mobilizing, effortful and true.
Four dancers, two musicians and an audience study themselves and each other to identify what’s working, what’s not, and where we all go from here.
movement research + performance : tuli bera, isabella limosnero, ali lorenz, chrissy martin
sound development + performance : haruhi kobayashi, scott rubin
composition + direction : amanda maraist
vocal contributions from all collaborators, michael macdonald, and the Dixon Wetlands frogs at Skokie River Nature Preserve
text lovingly collaged from the brilliant minds of Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Woody Guthrie, Ted Lucas, Randy Martin, Chaepter Negro, Chrissy Martin, Rising Appalachia, and Florence Shaw.
videography by Jane Jerardi, Giau Minh Truong, and Helen Lee.
for the last two years and some, @chrissybounce and I have been working with @ginahs on a new performance. we let it unfold slowly over that time, and we’re juuuuuust about ready to lay it all out for you / with you ~
𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦
choreography by @ginahs
performed by @chrissybounce + I
sound design by @chienanyuan
dramaturgy by @verena.moves + @misssassypants
SAVE THE DATE
7/2, 7/3, 7/5
7/9, 7/10, 7/11
at @theneofuturists
𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 pulls audiences into the familiar mess and comfort of a long-term friendship. Crisp choreography collides with wild, rule-breaking scores that crack open the dancers’ inner worlds. As things unfold, the audience gets to chime in and redirect the action, making each performance a one-of-a-kind co-creation.
++++ see you there
@freedom_from_and_freedom_to this saturday 4/11 @elasticarts — 7pm, $15 ❕
grateful to have been in this community over the last several years, ffft reveals something new to me every time. joy, play, awkwardness, rigor, rage, tenderness (like here, with @liyahplainjain@tpaige22u@scottrubinmusic ).
great lineup / great friends / don’t miss!
opening set
Dancers: Amanda Maraist, Nejla Yatkin
Musicians: Sasha Masakowski, Luc Mosley, Nick Turner
Dancers:
Silvita Diaz Brown
Anniela Huidobro Castro
Isabella Limosnero
Chrissy Martin
Jacinda Ratcliffe
Cristal Sabbagh
Aurora Tabar
Nikki Telegan
Musicians:
Kim Alpert
Naydja Bruton
Oui Ennui
Mickey Farés
Nexus J
Fred Jackson Jr.
Jordan Knecht
Jessica Morrison
Ruby Que
Breena Shusterman
Jefferey Thomas
Ayanna Woods
finally sitting down to process this one… phew. still feels too big to hold.
thanks so much to all who came out, thanks to all who made these three performances possible.. the list is LONG.
if you were there and have thoughts to share, I would love to hear them! an email text comment - whatever. more perspectives deepen the experience in all things; especially this.
1: video by Farnaz Khosh-Sirat + Matthew Griffo
2+3: photo by Matthew Gregory Hollis
4-8: photo by Ricardo Adame
9: video by Helen Lee, Jane Jerardi, Giau Truong
10+11: photo by Ricardo Adame
13+14: photo by Ricardo Adame
15: video by Helen Lee, Jane Jerardi, Giau Truong
16: photo by Ricardo Adame
@linkshall@synapse.arts@foundationforcontemporaryarts
for more: amandamaraist.com/folk-2025
two new bombshells have, in fact, entered the villa!!!!! Nico and Rory!! (thank you @aliznerol for the joke)
michael found these two in a box in the alley behind our house a few days ago. I don’t know if I 100% believe in fate, but I’m pretty sure this is about as close it gets 🥲 truly serendipitous timing as we’d finally been feeling ready to have a cat in our lives again after Dixon passed last october. and here we are with two literal bundles of joy!!! our hearts are full. pls come over and see them while they’re this tiny. it’s absurd.
THE LABOR
of pulling on the thread
of trying
of friendship
of cooking
of fighting
of protesting
of checking in
of carrying the load
of witnessing
of documenting
of protecting
of sharing
of relating
of making
of seeking joy
of wrapping the cable
of showing up
❗️low ticket warning for FOLK
last show at links hall
SUNDAY 6/29, 7PM
see ya there
Been trying to string together words of how proud I am of my friend @amandaplsplspls + the impossible task of summarizing the effort/joy/honesty of the past months living inside of FOLK
tonight @linkshall 7pm
that’s all for now
1+2 @amandaplsplspls
4+7 @michaelmacdonaldofficial
5 me
Amanda Maraist's FOLK opens tomorrow and we're so excited!
Check out these beautiful photos featuring Amanda and her collaborators in rehearsal. (And then, read this incredible ensemble's bios on the Links Hall website!)
It's going to be a beautiful evening. Won't you join us? Get your ticket now at the link in our bio. 🌿
