COMMON GROUND
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Choreography: Fran Spector Atkins
Media Integration: William Roden
Music: Crosby Stills Nash and Young, LAGQ, La Guitarra, Lila Downs, and Arvo Part
Visual Images: Paintings by José G. Ortiz, Photographs by Kirk Kennedy and Vectorpoint Studio, Kira Corser, William Roden and New Dawn Studio, Video footage from Earthbound Farms, newspaper articles collected from The NY Times, The Monterey County Herald, The Monterey Coast Weekly, The Economist, The San Jose Mercury, The Nation
Text: from interviews with Susanne Andrews, Nancy Isakson, Greg Lazerrini, Bill Periera, Gary Peterson, Connie Quinlan, Dean Storkan and with farm workers through the United Farm Workers and Elia Gonzales
Translation: Elia Gonzales, Raymond Gonzales - from Spanish to English
Translation: Maggie Malone - from English to Spanish
Dancers: Brendan Barthel, Barbara Giusti, Pam Keindl, Denis Nagtalon, Luke Stockton, Kerstin Stuart
Common Ground is based on interviews with a variety of individuals working in California agriculture today and looks at current issues such as immigration, land development, environmental responsibility, and realities of competing in a world market. Blended dance with music, spoken word and visual images, Common Ground brings together the divergent perspectives with shared values such as the universal passion for farming, the fundamental need to prosper and provide, and the importance of respecting the earth and one another. Common Ground expands perceptions and possibilities, and celebrates the beauty and abundance of our local harvests.
Performed February 2006 at SpectorDance Studio