Inclusive Performance Festival Creates Cultural Respect through Art

Very few performing arts festivals in the world focus specifically on inclusive performance. While inclusivity is in every aspect of life, it is often a nuance that is hard to place in concrete terms.

Now in its second year, Cal State East Bay's Inclusive Performance Festival is a "do-it-yourself" festival of contemporary, experimental and multicultural creative events that create spaces of cultural respect, intimacy, shared ritual experiences, healing and celebration. The events run Friday, October 21, through Monday, October 24 and are free and open to the public.

"Our festival was imagined in direct response to all the major changes that the performing arts fields and the world at large are going through since the pandemic began, and a wider awakening of social justice concerns has spread rapidly," said Eric Kupers, chair, Department of Theatre and Dance. "We've developed the festival to be extremely adaptive and flexible so that whatever changes happen in our communities and the world (and we believe there are many more big changes to come), we can still create and share meaningful and inclusive performance."

The festival, planned collaboratively with an ad-hoc group of artists, activists, students, alumni, administrators and community members, is a platform for diverse approaches to art and activism.

"What's great about this festival so far is that there's a sense of being 'in it together' as we organized and shared the events," said Kupers. "Because we have done away with auditions and competitive application processes, everyone that wants to participate respectfully can do so."

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21

5 – 7 p.m., University Theatre Lobby and Courtyard: Center for Disability Justice Research Launch Party with AXIS Dance Company and special guests.  Performances, refreshments and networking for disability justice culture-building. 

7 – 8:30 p.m., Danza Azteca with Calpulli Ome-Tekpatl: An introduction to Danza Azteca at the University Theatre Lobby and Courtyard, for people of all abilities and levels of experience.

Come dance, drum, witness and enjoy this powerful community-dance-prayer practice.

8:30 – 9 p.m., University Theatre Lobby and Courtyard: Inclusive Jewish Dance Shabbat Ceremony with Bruce Bierman

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22

10 a.m., from Lot J to the Music Building: Jaago (Wake-up) Procession led by SNJV and friends

10:10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Outdoor stage across from Music Building: Multicultural Performances featuring: Saraswathy Lakshmivaraham, IIE Taiko, the Wandering Ensemble, Face Reveal, the CSUEB Dolls, and more;

12 – 5 p.m., TH 182 - Studio Theatre, Multi-Cultural Workshops:

1.     Mohiniyattam with Saraswathy Lakshmivaraham (12 – 1 p..m)
2.     Dancing Away from Oppression-A Partnership Between Movement and Drama Therapy with Stephen Breithaupt (1:10 – 3:10 p.m.)
3.     Bhangra with Ashmita Kaur (3:20 – 4:20 p.m.)
4.     Dance Like a Doll with Kyle Wallace-Jordan (4:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

6 – 7 p.m., Studio Theatre: Bharata Natyam Performance with Jayanthi Balachandran and collaborators

7:15 – 8:15 p.m., Studio Theatre: Earthling (Bharata Natyam performance and a panel discussion

on “Gender and the Divine” by Bruce Bierman, Supratim Tulukdar, and guests)

8:30 – 9 p.m., Studio Theatre: Dance Party with DJ Anik Bapna

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23

REST AND REFRESH: No events planned

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24

1 – 2:30 p.m., Online, Ask an Able-Bodied Art Promoter: A workshop led by Jacob Lesner-Buxton and Colleagues, bringing together art lovers and artists with disabilities to ask questions of people who help bring art to the public. Questions will be focused on their assumptions about audience members with disabilities, the balance between needing to make money versus creating inclusive programs, and the ethics of booking artists with disabilities year after year at inaccessible venues.  Email eric.kupers@csueastbay.edu for zoom link

2:30 – 4:30 p.m., Online Workshops and Panel Discussions 

4:30 – 6 p.m., Open meeting for the CSUEB Disability Justice Working Group: Come check out this dynamic group of CSUEB faculty, staff, students, and community members: Learn about the group’s work, network with activists, and debrief about the 2022 Festival. Online, through zoom. Email eric.kupers@csueastbay.edu for zoom link.

All events are free. For more information, visit the Inclusive Performance Festival website.