The Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble (IIE) is an unusual performing ensemble. In one room, we have bright young students who are just beginning their artistic careers working alongside accomplished professional artists, as well as people who never even knew they wanted to perform before they stumbled into dance classes at CSU East Bay. We have people with extremely varied abilities and disabilities, of all sizes, all ages, and all gender identities. Once we’re together, all focused on a shared vision, there is tremendous energy and vitality. In one room we are a wider cross-section of humanity than most people ever encounter. This richness makes the work created with the IIE deeply satisfying and very challenging.
IIE is a collaborative project of Dandelion Dancetheater and the Theatre and Dance Department at CSU East Bay. It is directed by Eric Kupers in collaboration with members of Dandelion. The IIE creates a full-length performance piece each year, that is performed in the CSU East Bay Faculty Dance Concert, as work-in-progress excerpts throughout the Bay Area, and when possible, on tour.
IIE’s works push everyone involved into unfamiliar territory. We simultaneously work towards full inclusion for anyone that is interested in performing, and towards making works that are provocative, complex and courageous.
IIE has three primary components. To find out more about participating, contact: eric.kupers@csueastbay.edu
-
IIE Afternoon Ensemble
Both a CSUEB course and performance ensemble, this component of IIE meets twice a week throughout the school year and is geared towards radical inclusion for anyone who wants to participate in rigorous, respectful, accessible performance research and creation.
-
DanceSing Drum Company
A space for people of all body identities to delve deeper into professional level inclusive performance training and creation. Participation by invitation and/or audition.
-
Creativity Lab
A laboratory for all manner of creative exploration, geared towards the work of Autistic students at CSUEB and their allies. Overlapping with the work of the IIE Afternoon Ensemble.
See work by IIE:
TABOO STEW (2011)
TONGUES (2008-09)
Photos by Ben Ailes, Hans Holtan, and Luiza Silva