From summer 2013 to summer 2014 Eric Kupers will be directing the research period, creation, and performance of a new work, Gather, to be performed as a companion piece for the revival of Tongues. 

For an online program (with full credits) click HERE.

Gather will explore the nature of birth, to complement Tongues’ investigation of facing one’s death. It will be a piece completely reliant on the body itself–using no props, instruments or set pieces.   The work will be created with and performed by the IIE, Bandelion and a host of diverse collaborators. Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell will compose the vocal score in a series of intensive workshops over the course of the year, and Kupers will also weave into Gather and Tongues the fruits of cultural music and dance exchanges with Shira Cion of Kitka, Melanie Demore, Trina Nahm-Mijo, Laura Elaine Ellis, and Kumu Kau’i Peralto.   A tentative schedule for creation and performance of Gather/Tongues is below. This is subject to change as plans are formalized, so please check back regularly to keep abreast of the project’s evolution. Much of this plan depends on funding still to be raised.   To make a tax deductible donation, go to: Support Us. Every amount helps us to fulfill this ambitious vision!

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GATHER/TONGUES 
  • September 2013 – June 2014: the CSUEB Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble, Bandelion, Shira Cion, Melanie Demore, Kumu Kau’i Peralto, and Laura Elaine Ellis research and train in relationship to Gather and Tongues with long-distance feedback from Dr. Barnwell.

Coming up in 2014


Tongues/Gather
San Francisco Bay Area, July 17 – 27
Thursday, July 17
Z-Space Below, 9:00pm
470 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA
As part of the FURY Factory
festival of Ensemble Theater.
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Friday, July 18
Z-Space Below, 7:00pm
470 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA
As part of the FURY Factory
festival of Ensemble Theater.
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Sunday, July 20
Z-Space Below, 7:30pm
470 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA
As part of the FURY Factory
festival of Ensemble Theater.
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6:30pm on July 26/July 27
365 45th Street, Oakland, CA
Our final performances will be outside, in the courtyard, dancing/singing with the setting sun.
Tickets are “pay what you can” donations at the door. Seating is “first-come, first-served.”
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Excerpts of new material for Tongues:

PREVIOUS EVENTS/PERFORMANCES

  • September 2013: The Bandelion ensemble traveled to Washington, D.C. to spend two intensive days of rehearsal with Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Shira Cion of Kitka.
  • November 13 – 17 2013: Trina Nahm-Mijo (from the University of Hawaii, Hilo) and Taupouri Tangaro (from Hilo Community College and UNUKUPUKUPU Ensemble) traveled  to CSU East Bay for intensive rehearsals, workshops and a performance at CounterPULSE on 11/17 as part of Beware the Band of Lions.
  • December 7, 2013: Excerpts of Gather research-in-progress and Tongues are shown at CSUEB’s ICE-X.
  • March 22, 7:30pm: Songs of Spirit – Songs of Struggle; We hope you will join us for an exciting fund-raising event with Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell, Shira Cion,  Rodney Bell, and Eric Kupers. The audience will be small (approximately 20 people) in keeping with our efforts to bring performance closer to audiences.  We will meet on March 22nd at 7:30 P.M. at a private home in Oakland (which is wheel-chair accessible) to share in the sounds and stories of these performers and their cultures, and to raise funds for the tour of Bandelion and IIE’s Tongues/Gather to Hilo, Hawaii in June.   The company has already raised $60,000 and needs another $20,000 to fund the 44 artists (with and without disabilities) who will travel on tour to Hawaii. FOR MORE INFO AND/OR TO RSVP, CLICK HERE.
  • March 22 – 26 : Dr. Barnwell spends five days of intensive rehearsal with the CSUEB Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble, Bandelion and collaborators.On 3/26 there will be a public showing and community sing with Barnwell and the artists, sponsored by ODC Theater in San Francisco. For Info and Tickets click here.