Photo by Jerry Smith
INTRODUCING THE COMPANY, On Stage and Behind the Scenes 
AXIS is pleased to introduce you to the dancers, administrators, and behind the scenes folks that make up our current company. At the beginning of 2007, we acquired several new dancers while others moved on to new phases in their dance careers and lives. While these transitions are always bitter sweet, we're thrilled with our latest configuration of dancers, some of whom have traveled far and wide to collaborate with one another and to perform with AXIS. We wanted to take a moment to recognize who they are and where they've all come from. And then there are those who write the grants, book the tours, plan our residencies and education events, put up the stage lights and drive the vans on tour. It’s the spirit of collaboration amongst people of differing abilities that’s the corner stone of AXIS mission and that brings these talented individuals together. Please read a little more to find out who they are and what brings them to AXIS.
JUDITH SMITH, Artistic Director
"I’ve had the great good fortune of finding something to do with my life that is endlessly challenging, inspiring, creative and rewarding. Being surrounded daily by passionate, committed and talented artists, not too mention some of the brilliant minds of our time makes for a great life actually."
Judith has earned an international reputation in the field of physically integrated dance. Upon taking over artistic leadership of AXIS in 1997, AXIS began commissioning works by some of the nation’s best choreographers, composers and designers and launched Dance Access Community Education and Outreach Program. Prior to becoming disabled in a car accident at age 17 Judith was a champion equestrian. She transferred her passion for riding to dance after discovering contact improvisation in 1983. Along with several other disabled and non-disabled dancers she founded AXIS in 1987. Judith has been featured in several award winning videos including Dancing from the Inside Out, WNET TV’s nationally broadcast series People in Motion and John Killacky’s Crip Shots. In 1997, she was a co-curator and Artistic Consultant for Dance Umbrella’s International Festival of Wheelchair Dance. Judith teaches dance to youth and adults and lectures at community organizations, schools, universities and conferences. She has been on the faculty of Florida Dance Festival and Bates Dance Festival. In addition, she has served on numerous arts grant review panels and is on the advisory boards of The National Art and Disability Center based at UCLA, Bates Dance Festival, Dancers’ Group and the Magee Allessee National Center for Choreography at Florida State University. Judith received KQED’s Local Hero award in 2005 and the Artship Foundation’s Local Hero award in 1999.
RODNEY BELL, Dancer
"AXIS is strong, loving and fun, come along and see how it's done."
Rodney Bell is of Maori descent from New Zealand (Aotearoa) the Ngati Maniapoto Iwi (Tribe) and a functionally diverse dancer. He is a new member to AXIS and joined in July 2007. Rodney has been dancing for 12 years and began dancing in 1995 with Touch Compass Dance Company, New Zealand’s first mixed ability dance company performing in numerous shows. Rodney also teaches mixed ability dance to those with and without disabilities and is constantly sharing his technique and knowledge through various workshops and dance intensives. He has traveled extensively with dance, traveling as far as Seattle, WA to a summer intensive in 2005 held by AXIS, and he attended the MANCC choreography process with AXIS in Florida 2007. Rodney has choreographed dance works for Touch Compass. He is also an avid wheelchair basketball player having represented NZ 1999-2006 in many national and international events and represented Auckland in the NZ Wheelchair Basketball Championships 1996-2006. Rodney also coaches a junior wheelchair basketball team. He has worked as an occupational therapy assistant, at the Otara Spinal Unit. Rodney was featured on various television programs such as 60 Minutes, Good Morning Show, Maori Television, and various disabled television programs. He has pursued acting roles in various plays and performed in a Wellington play Nga Moemoea (The Dreamers) 1997, which was spoken in Maori and toured in 1998 throughout New Zealand to various Kohanga Reo and Kura kaupapa (Maori Schools). Rodney was a member of Poutokomanawa (Maori Kapa haka group) and performed with them nationally. He shows great passion towards performing arts, Maori culture and disability culture and in his own words” It fulfills my soul.”
LISA BUFANO, Dancer
"I initially felt compelled to perform because being in front of people terrified me. Dance allows me to explore the huge range of what it is to be in a body- to experience being athletic, vulnerable, empowered, sensual, repulsive, monstrous, human, animal- and ultimately find some comfort with that. Working with AXIS has been a unique opportunity to learn to move from an exceptionally creative and experienced group of dancers."
Lisa Bufano is an interdisciplinary artist from Boston, Massachusetts. Her initiation into performance led to an international collaboration and support with the University of Linz in 2005. In September 2006, she was awarded the Franklin Furnace fund for performance Art for her work wearing table-leg stilts. When Boston presenter Jeremy Alliger introduced her to NY choreographer Heidi Latsky, she began new work in modern dance. In 2006-2007, Lisa performed at The Kennedy Theater in Washington D.C., The Baryshnikov Arts Center, Judson Memorial Church and Long Island University in New York, The Balancing Acts Disability Arts Festival in Calgary, and for audiences in Boston and Vienna, Austria. In May 2007, Lisa Bufano moved from the East coast to work with AXIS Dance Co. Lisa was a competitive gymnast as a kid. After a bacteria infection led to the amputation of both her feet and fingers when she was 21, Lisa pursued animation and sculpture at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. After a 15-year career as primarily a visual artist, Lisa is finding dancing with AXIS to be challenging and engaging work. Lisa would like to thank Peter Couture, prosthetist at Next Step O & P, for 13 years of encouragement and friendship. Next Step O & P fits Lisa's prosthetics and cheetah (running) legs.
MARGARET CROMWELL, Dancer
"It is a joy to arrive at rehearsal everyday and find such a individualistic, committed and passionate group of people. The kinetic and expressive opportunities are endlessly fascinating to me."
Margaret Cromwell is originally from Oklahoma. She completed high school as well as received her BFA from North Carolina School of the Arts in modern dance performance and composition. She taught dance at a secondary school in St. Lucia, West Indies before moving to the Bay Area to earn her MFA from Mills College. Since joining AXIS in 2006, she has had the opportunity to work with Margaret Jenkins, Victoria Marks, Joe Goode, Kate Weare, and other extraordinary dance artists.
RODRIGO ESTEVA, Guest Dancer
“I am enthusiastic about being part of a company with high quality artistry whose focus is integrated dance.”
Originally from Mexico, Rodrigo is the Artistic Director of the newly acclaimed DANCE MONKS, created in 1999 with Mirah Moriarty. See www.dancemonks.com. He has dedicated his life to dance professionally, performing internationally in some of the most prestigious festivals and theaters of the United States. DANCE MONKS stage and site works have been shown in theaters and universities in Mexico and the United States including: Dancer's Group Summer Dance Festival 2006 (SF), Counterpulse Theater (SF), UC Berkeley, Teatro de la Danza, The National University of Mexico, Counterpulse Theater (SF), Ibero Americana University (Mexico), The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts (USA) and Middlebury College (USA). They are currently on faculty at ODC School Commons and have been invited to teach at UC Berkeley in 2008. Additionally, Rodrigo has been invited as a guest dancer and choreographer with numerous renowned companies. As members of PEARSON & WIDRIG DANCE THEATER (1994-2001) he performed at: The Joyce Theater (NYC), The Kennedy Center (DC), Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors (NYC), Jacob's Pillow (MA), Judson Church (NYC), Central Park Summer Stage, PS122, DTW (NYC), among numerous others. Rodrigo also performed for En dos Partes, directed by Gerardo Delgado- one of the foremost Mexican choreographers of the recent years, winning international acclaim. He has received support from the National Foundation for the Arts and Culture of Mexico as an outstanding artist in the field in 1994 and 1998 to study at the Merce Cunningham Studio, Nikolais Dance Lab and the Trisha Brown School. Rodrigo began his movement studies in ballet with Dagmar Kortum (Germany) and modern dance with Federico Castro in Mexico City. He has also trained in Tai Chi Chuang, Capoeira, and extensively in improvisation. His body studies include: applied anatomy, Acupressure and Shiatsu. Esteva also wrote a book, Imaginacion en Movimiento (Imagination in Movement), soon to be published in Spanish. Rodrigo has collaborated with artists from Finland, Spain, Japan, United States, Germany, Korea, Greece and Argentina and Mexico.
SONSHERÉE GILES, Dancer, Costume Designer & Administrative Assistant
“I am inspired by the dancers I work with everyday.The exceptional choreographers we are so frequently exposed to inspire me. Most of all I am continually inspired to challenge the traditional dance canon -who can dance and what is dance.”
Sonsherée Giles is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana and now resides in Oakland, California. She is a dancer, choreographer, teacher and costume designer. She moved to the Bay Area to attend Mills College where she received her MFA in dance performance/choreography. Since 2001, she has been collaborating with Jerry Smith. Together they combine movement, sound, video and sculpture to create performances. Before moving to the Bay Area she was teaching dance and yoga in Jacksonville, Florida in public school systems and university institutions. As a costume designer she has had the opportunity to create costumes for many extraordinary dance artists. In 2005 she joined AXIS Dance Company. She considers it a deep honor to be dancing with the company.
PATRICK HAJDUK, Production Manager
Patrick has toured with The Acting Company, The Dance Theater of Harlem, AXIS Dance Company and Capacitor. He spent much of the year 2003 as theater manager for the Alice Arts Center (now the Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts). In addition Patrick has served as lighting designer for Melissa Hayden, Charles Anderson, Jodi Lomask, Reginald Ray Savage, Terry Sendgraff, Patrick Corbin, Alexandre Proia as well as many others. Patrick is currently production manager for AXIS Dance Company and Company C Contemporary Ballet. He holds a BFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Design and Production.
BONNIE LEWKOWICZ, Dancer & Founding Member of AXIS
“For the last 20 years being with AXIS I’ve been able to fulfill my childhood dream to be part of a loving, nurturing community and of being a dancer. AXIS has been my vehicle for creativity, new adventures, lasting friendships and a voice for changing people’s perceptions of who can dance. For this and more I am forever grateful.”
Bonnie a native of Detroit, began studying ballet, tap and jazz from age 5 to age 15 when an all-terrain vehicle accident left her paralyzed. Still having the desire and need to be physical but not thinking that dancing in a wheelchair was an option, she explored wheelchair sports and earned a B.A. in Recreation Therapy. Through her work in the disabled community she was exposed to contact improvisation and immediately discovered the dormant dancer within. She is one of the founding members of AXIS Dance Company and has enjoyed the various roles of dancer, teacher and administrator of the youth program. Her favorite is teaching kids. Working with such notable choreographers as Bill T. Jones, Stephen Petronio, Joe Goode, Sonja Delwade, Victoria Marks, Joanna Haigood, Margaret Jenkins and Ann Carlson has been a blessing. She is the founder and director of Access Northern California, a non-profit organization that works to improve access to travel and recreation. As a published travel writer she has written an accessible trail book for the Coastal Conservancy and several articles for magazines. She lives in Berkeley, CA with her non-dancer husband and two adorable cats. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and being outdoors.
MOLLIE MCFARLAND, Managing Director
“My interest in AXIS lies in the unique artistry they introduce to the national dance scene. I thoroughly enjoy getting the company into new communities where people have not experienced integrated dance that is so artistically stunning. I continue to be invigorated by the inherent beauty and message of inclusion in the work.”
Mollie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Santa Clara University in 1994 with a BFA in Theater & Dance and a BA in English. In 1996, she received her MFA in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. In her 11 years as a performing arts administrator, Mollie has worked for several performing arts organizations including Dance Theater Workshop; Stephen Petronio Company; Robert Friedman Presents and Western Arts Alliance. Mollie has served on Western Arts Alliance’s Communications Committee, and will be faculty for the National Arts Leadership Institute in 2008. Mollie has been AXIS Dance Company’s Managing Director since 2002. Prior to her arts administration career, she performed as a part of the Second Avenue Dance Company at NYU, and The Sabrina Peck Dance Ensemble. As a performer, Mollie enjoyed dancing in the work of many talented choreographers including David Parsons, Sabrina Peck, Hsiu Ping Chang, and Alisa Rasera. Mollie’s own choreography has been presented as a part of The Field work at the Ubu Repertory Theater and Dance Space/NYC, as well as at ODC San Francisco as a part of Pilot 31 and 32. In April of 2007, Mollie and her husband Andrew had a beautiful baby boy, Declan Casey McFarland who of course has become the love of her life.
ANNIKA NONHEBEL, Education Director
"Working for AXIS is a treat! Or as we say in Dutch: Genieten! Who gets to work with such a unique group of people? It's wonderful and inspiring to see how we touch people, young and old, where ever we go. Everyday I go to work with a smile on my face, what else can you wish for..."
Annika relocated to California in early 2006. Originally from the Netherlands, she studied Dutch language and literature at the University of Amsterdam and holds a major in sign languages. Whilst studying Annika worked on a variety of different theater productions as a choreographer, director, and dance teacher with children of all ages. After receiving her Masters degree in 2002 she was employed as a research assistant and later as a team leader and coordinator of a group of sign language teachers. In her role as team leader she was responsible for planning, coordinating, and promoting the sign language program as well as leading her team of deaf and hearing sign language teachers. After moving to the Bay Area Annika worked as a visiting researcher for UC Berkeley, has volunteered with deaf children, and taught both Dutch and sign language. She now works for AXIS Dance Company as the Education Director of the Dance Access Community Education and Outreach Program.
KAREN SCHILLER, Bookeeper
“I love working for AXIS because I love the work they do. They are beautiful dancers; when I watch them, I gain a greater understanding of the concepts behind contemporary dance. I'm proud that I can do something that helps make their work possible.”
Karen Schiller is the part-time Director of Finance and Administration for the Center for Asian American Media; she also works as an independent consultant with small- and mid-size nonprofits, helping them to create better systems for managing their financial information. Her services include: assessing the organization’s financial management needs and making recommendations, setting up accounting systems, training for board and staff, development of worksheets to manage fund allocations and restricted monies, and helping with audit preparations. She is also a trainer with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, teaching classes in QuickBooks, bookkeeping and financial management for nonprofits. Prior to becoming a consultant, she was the General Manager of Theater Artaud, a mid-size nonprofit arts organization where she was responsible for managing the organization’s fiscal resources, artist projects, box office and youth education programs. She has degrees from Antioch University and Northwestern University.
ALICE SHEPPARD, Dancer
“AXIS offers the chance to explore my physical and creative ideas in a challenging, rigorous setting. I am excited by the choreographers we work with and I love my dance colleagues.”
Alice is a former musician and literature professor; she grew up in England and moved to the United States in 1991. Alice came to dance late in life; she began to explore movement in response to a dare from disabled dancer Homer Avila. She soon discovered that dance was a passion. Alice made her professional debut in New York with Infinity Dance Theater as a wheelchair dancer. She loves to explore a wide variety of dance forms; she is particularly interested in work that challenges conventional understandings of the relationship between dance and disability. She is over the moon about working with AXIS.
IVA WALTON, Tour Assistant
“I enjoy supporting a company whose work is socially relevant and artistically interesting. Touring with the company is always a new and different experience and I love finding the pulse of the cities we tour and sharing that with the AXIS dancers.”
Iva has worked in theater for over twenty years as a stage designer, costume designer, house manager, production manager, stage manager and tour coordinator for various theaters, festivals and artists including Theater Rhinoceros, Theater Artaud, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco Queer Arts Festival, Bay Area Dance Series, Gary Palmer Dance Company, Mary Reid/smaller than life, Anne Bluethenthal, and AXIS Dance Company. When not touring with AXIS she works as tile contractor specializing in art deco designs.
Artistic Director's Report - by Judith Smith
Photo by Trib La Prade. Sonsheree Giles & Judith Smith in rehearsal.
Happy end of summer. We’ve had an eventful year full of arrivals, departures, new artistic projects and lots of education work. Speaking of arrivals huge congrats to our Managing Director Mollie and husband Andrew on the birth of their first baby, Declan McFarland! You’ll read in this newsletter about our current dancers and staff. It’s a gorgeous, bold new configuration of AXIS and I am so inspired, actually re-inspired by this group! Everyone is extremely talented, committed and excited about the work we’re creating, teaching and performing.
In April we spent three glorious weeks at the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography at FSU Tallahassee. MANCC’s innovative Free to Rep program provides subsidized research and development time for repertory companies. The primary goal is to encourage artistic exploration in a supportive environment void of the usual time and financial constraints that most projects face. Our dancers had the opportunity to work with four emerging choreographers (narrowed from a pool of 65applicants!) Isabel Croxatto (Chile), Shinichi Iova-Koga (CA), Alex Ketley (CA), and Kate Weare (NY). Each choreographer had a challenging choreographic style, very different from one another.
Having the opportunity to dedicate three full weeks just to the process of exploration was simply priceless and one of the highlights of my twenty years with AXIS! Margaret Jenkins and Victoria Marks each joined us for a few days to share their insights and brilliance. Midway through our stay we had the opportunity to show the entire dance department, students and staff, what we’d been working on. We ended our stay with another showing and a national convening attended by an illustrious group of funders, presenters, academics and dance writers to discuss what we did, what we learned and what is needed to support artistic growth of rep companies.
This residency made use stronger as a company and as individual dancers. The choreographers likewise went away with new knowledge about working with dancers of different physical abilities as well as with new insights into their own creative process. We've had the opportunity to really gel as company, stretch ourselves as dancers and learn tons in a short time together. We made great new artistic friends and will be going back for a residency and performances at FSU in 2008. My heartfelt thanks to Jennifer Calienes for giving us free reign to develop our residency and to the entire MANCC Staff for taking great care of us.
On the creative front, we’ve just finished two new works that we are thrilled with and itching to get in front of audiences. The first, a dance theater quintet, is Joe Goode’s second piece for AXIS. It’s quintessential Joe Goode with elements of dance, text, and some harmonica! and singing combined in his quirky and wry humorous style. In Joe’s words the piece explores the questions “What do we see? Is the actuality of the “seen” entity ever close to what we presume it to be? Is “seeing” somehow limited? Does it imply an unnecessary separation between viewer and viewed? It has been my delight to explore these questions with my AXIS collaborators. I am indebted to them for their willingness to reveal themselves and to take this journey with me.“ Catch a sneak preview November 3 at JCCSF. Check our website for details.
After delving into some raw, rich material with choreographer Kate Weare at MANCC, we knew we wanted to finish what we started. Kate is an upcoming choreographer who is getting a lot of national attention for her stunning work. She describes her work as ‘fiercely physical, idiosyncratic that relies on the body as a primary source of meaning. The precision and specificity of my work would be a challenge for any dancer, and in my process I use the body’s explorations (sometimes improvisatory, sometimes interpretive) to speak back to me about what I am trying to say. I am interested to see what I can learn from the bodies of AXIS dancers, some of whom have rerouted their physical choices and intelligence in fascinating and unexpected ways.” Kate has created a complex sextet utilizing some wonderful bluegrass music.
For our next year of touring, these two new works will join favorites from our 2006 home season Waypoint choreographed by Margaret Jenkins with a dynamic score by Fred Frith and Victoria Marks’ timeless quartet Dancing to Music set to a lush piece by Wim Mertens.
On the education front, we have several very exciting opportunities happening at the university level! We are working with Eric Kupers and CSU East Bay to develop and launch the first BA program in Physically Integrated Dance. This has been an AXIS dream for quite awhile and something that is crucial to the survival and growth of our important dance form. This would be the first program like this in the U.S. and we know of only one other in the world based in the UK. We hope to launch the first classes in 2008. Additionally, we will be the Company in Residence at Mills College. Through fall 2008, we will be interacting with the Mills community-- taking classes Mills students, workshopping new pieces, teaching classes, presenting lecture demonstrations and performing in a new work choreographed by Sonya Delwaide which will hopefully join the AXIS repertory after its Mills premiere.
Board Profile - by Louise Vesper
Recently, Chuck McAvoy, Danville native and Network Planning Engineer at Kaiser Permanente, danced joyfully to 1960’s music at his 40th high school reunion with his wife Thoebe. “AXIS has freed me to do this.” 
At 34 Chuck, an avid motorcycle racer, suffered a spinal cord injury in a racing accident. He has used a wheelchair since then. “My life did a 180° change. I never knew any disabled people, except for a blind friend who I grew up with. He was instrumental in helping me adjust to the changes in my life.”
Since the accident, Chuck has been involved with the disability community as an advocate. He began wheelchair road racing on a corporate team.
Chuck has always been interested in the arts. He played drums for modern dance classes at college in Chico. Becoming a Board member was a natural progression. Deborah Kaplan, AXIS Board President suggested that he become involved.
“I'm fascinated with the complexity of AXIS, integrating disabled and non- disabled dancers, and with the professionalism of the company. Seeing is believing. It is hard to describe the power of AXIS. Everyone that I have brought to performances is amazed."
“I am passionately involved with the outreach and education aspect of the company, representing AXIS at public events. It has been enlightening getting to know the dancers. I'm fascinated by where they come from, particularly the disabled dancers. I find that people with disabilities, including myself, are pushing themselves outside the envelope of what society may think and expressing a curiosity, which is key for me.”
Chuck’s passions still include motorcycle racing. He coaches racers and attends races. He is also restoring his vintage Corvette. At the top of the list of Chuck’s passions is his involvement with AXIS.
“During the 2006 home season, I was blown away by Waypoint, choreographed by Margaret Jenkins, set to a score commissioned by guitarist Fred Frith. The composer recorded sounds of wheelchairs prior to composing the piece. The dance and music were intensely integrated with those sounds. The performance was packed, especially with people in wheelchairs.”
AXIS profiles one Board Member in every newsletter. Our board is a volunteer board and consists of 7 members total who generously give of their time and talents.
Deborah Kaplan, President
Parker Monroe, Secretary/Treasurer
Linda Cannava
Anna dos Ramos
Chuck McAvoy
Marilyn Straka
Judith Smith
CALL FOR BOARD NOMINATIONS:
AXIS Dance Company is currently accepting new Board member applications. To learn more about how you can join a group of talented and committed indiviudals in advancing the mission of AXIS Dance Company, please contact us at (510) 625-0110 or email info@axisdance.org. We’re particularly looking for candidates interested in dance, disability issues, and integration who will bring one or more of the following:
•Commitment to AXIS’ creative vision and philosophy
•Fundraising/development expertise
•Connections to corporate communities; expertise in designing social initiatives that generate earned income, “social entrepreneurship”
•Connections to the diverse cultural communities of the San Francisco Bay Area
•Skill in marketing/public relations
•Expertise in nonprofit administration, HR policy/personnel, or financial management
•Commitment to making a hands-on contribution to the company
•Experience with contemporary dance (as a performer, choreographer, teacher, or dance enthusiast)
Dance Access Corner - by Annika Nonhebel, Education Director
Photo of Dance Access Teens Class, Spring 2007
Time flies, especially if you are working for an exciting company like AXIS. At the moment of this writing August is half way through and I can hardly believe it’s already 8 months ago that I started working for AXIS Dance Company as the “new” Education Director. I guess it is about time to drop the adjective “new” by now.
For those who don’t know me yet I’ll give a short introduction. I am originally from the Netherlands and prior to my moving to the United States in March 2006 I worked as Director of Education and Linguist at the Sign Language department of the Dutch Institute for the Deaf in Amsterdam. At the same time I worked as a dance teacher and choreographer for theater groups for youth ages 8-21. So, when I came across AXIS’ posting for Education Director, I knew I’d found my dream job.
The Dance Access and Dance Access /KIDS! –team has done many exciting projects these past months. Among other things we taught an 8-week in school residency for three K-1 classes at Jefferson Elementary School, provided our interactive in-school assembly for 2500 K-12 students at 5 different schools, and performed at the Bay Area Discovery Museum as part of the access/Ability exhibition for 50 kids and their parents. Every time it is exciting to see how engaged children are in our performance, or as one of the teachers said: “It has been eye-opening to them at a time in their lives when they are able to learn new things about each other and new people”.
As for our studio-program, the sessions this winter & spring were wonderful. We invited two well-known choreographers to teach master classes at AXIS. Jess Curtis taught a wonderful master class on contact improvisation and Shelley Senter provided 2 series of Alexander Technique classes. As for our Teens we started the 16 weeks of creative dance with a hip-hop workshop by Jess Klipp and Freeplay Dancers and ended with an open class in which parents were invited to dance along with their daughters.
In July AXIS was featured as one of the main workshop presenters at the Sacred Dance Guild Festival in Berkeley. And in May and June we successfully presented our first 4-night session “Fundamentals of Physically Integrated Dance”, followed by our second series on August 22.
With much excitement I’m looking forward to all the upcoming Dance Access & Dance Access/KIDS! events locally and during our residencies on tour. Stay tuned for more at www.axisdance.org.
Get ready for AXIS Dance Company's Unique Annual Event:
Dance Access Day sponsored by TARGET
What: A Day of Dance, Disability Education, Performance & Fun! a 45-minute interactive performance for pre-K-6
When: December 4, 2007 9:30 am & 11:00 am
Where: Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland
Creative Dance Class for Teens with and without disabilities
What: An after school creative dance program designed for youth 12-21. Classes focus on building dance skills,
cooperation skills and developing appreciation of each other’s own creative expression while having fun!
When: Tuesdays October 9 - November 27, 4:00-5:15 pm
Where: Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland
Fall 2007 Touring Engagements, sponsored by
With additional funding by
Scottsdale Center for the Arts
Sun, October 21st @ 7:30pm
7380 East Second Street, Scottsdale, AZ
http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/
Palmdale Playhouse/ Harvest Moon Festival
Fri, October 26th @ 7:00pm
Palmdale, CA
http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/departments/playhouse/
Friend Center for the Arts/JCCSF, The Art & Healing Program
Sat, November 3rd @ 8pm
3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA
http://www.jccsf.org/content_main.aspx?catid=31
North Fourth Art Center/VSA Arts of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
Fri, November 9th @ 8pm
http://www.vsartsnm.org/
Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center
Sat, November 17th @ 7:30pm & Sun, November 18th @ 2:30pm
Birmingham, AL
http://www.alysstephens.org/2006/
Photo courtesey of the Maggie Allesee
National Center for Choreography.
THANK YOU!
Photo courtesey of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography.
Rodney Bell & Margaret Cromwell in rehearsal.
INDIVIDUAL DONORS...
BENFACTORS ($2500-$4999): Parker Monroe & Teresa Darragh, Tom & Ancella Toldrian
PATRONS ($1000-$2499): David A. Brown, Susan Foster, Mishana Hosseinioun, Wheelie Geek Trust
DONORS ($500-$999): Dean Beck-Stewart & Ben Covone, Anne Bleeker Corcos, Larry Connolly & John Killacky, Cynthia “Roxy” Jones, Nicoletta June Maes, Janice and Danny Mosley
SUSTAINERS ($250-$499): Shelley Bergum, Marilynn Hall & Alan Baskin, Deborah Kaplan, Ray Lifchez, Tom Metz & David Brightman, Michael Perreault, Marilyn Straka, Ken Weber
SPONSORS ($100-$249): Marsha Balian, Justine Ballantyne, Elaine Belkind, Shelley Bergum, Maryann Buchholz, Jeanie Bunker & Mary Uscilka, William & Sarah Cromwell, Mary Ann Dreiling, Bruce Dugstad, Lainey Feingold, Jackie & Richard Fineberg, Kim E. Fowler, Jan and Dan Garrett, Mary & Larry Goldberg, Ruth Gorrin, Sondra Jensen & Paul Clinton, Lucille Karuzas, Jenny Kern, Mary Klipp, Jürg Koch, David Landes, Bonnie Lewkowicz, Hank & Gail Liese, Susannah MacKaye, J. Dougal MacKinnon, MD, Pam Mendelsohn, Nancy Newman, Patricia & Deanna Orr, Deanna & Annie Pankow, Laurie Posner, Tom Ramos, Gigi Shervanick, Kathleen Skinner, Janet Sovin, John & Lauren Steinberg, Mitchell Tsai, Brenda & Jim Waters, Lawrence & Carolyn Zaroff
SUPPORTERS ($50-$99): Beth Alper Slepian & Ian Slepian, Stephen Beard, Carol Bolter, Mary Kate Carter, Carolyn Cornia, Richard Ellis & Don Jacobs, Sonja Franeta, Richard Scott Goldaber & Jill L. Witlin, Nancy Henderson & Kathryn Black, Margaret Jenkins, Robin Keller & Talia & Mark Geliebter, Joanne Kunz, Pamela Markmann, Stephanie & Matt McGlynn, Michael Miller & Ron Eastman, Jerry Moore, Susan Musicant, Patricia Reedy & Meri Issel, Manuela Rohr, Joshua Schefers & Cashel O’Boyle, Karen Schiller, Peg & George Schirle, Terry Sendgraff , Kathleen Skinner, Janet Sovin, Kae Tsukagoshi, John and Martha Veranth, & Daunne Zinger
FANS ($10-$49): Leslie Bennett, Joan Breves, Tish Brown, Nenelle Bunnin, RT Carr III, Ann & Sam Cupolo Freeman, Telory Davies, Roger Dillahunty, Deborah Dunster & EmilyDunster-Farey, Louise (Trudy) Engle, Karina Epperlein, Jeff Friedman, Cindi & Howard Goldberg, Meghan Humlie, Kim Hunt, Arina Isaacson, Edith F. Laub, Sandy Metzler, Jean Morrison, Donald Moyer, Carolyn Murphy, Susan Pence, Carol Rothman & Scott Ullman, Margaret Ryan, Leslie Saxon-West, Alan & Laurie Senauke, James Shays, Mercy Sidbury, Allegra Silberstein, Leslie J. Smith, Erika Townsend, Leigh Walters Manning, Lydia Whitehead
Foundations who support AXIS:
- National Endowment for the Arts
- City of Oakland Cultural Arts & Marketing Department
- Alameda County Arts Commission
- California Arts Council
- Banks Family Fund
- Bayer Corporation Foundation
- Betty Faber Fund
- The Brickyard II Family Fund of the East Bay Community Foundation
- Cisco Systems Foundation
- Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
- Cresent, Porter and Hale
- Clorox Foundation
- East Bay Community Foundation
- East Bay Fund for Artists
- Betty Faber Fund of the San Francisco Foundation
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- Bill Graham Foundation
- MetLife Foundation
- Morris Stulsaft Foundation
- National Dance Project
- Oakland Methodist Foundation
- The O'Leary/Thiry Family Fund
- TARGET
- The San Francisco Foundation
- Special People In Need
- Morris Stulsaft Foundation
- True North Foundation
- Van Loben Sels RembeRock Foundation
- VSA Arts/ Arts Connect All
- Zellerbach Family Fund
A huge thanks to all of these folks who provide in-kind services, volunteer their time, advise us, console us and cheer us on!
AXIS Board of Directors, AXIS dancers and their significant others, Heather Basarab, Patty Berne, Erika Bunnin, Larry Connolly, Jennifer Calienes, Lindsay Meeks, and Joyce Straub at the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography, Isabel Croxato, Sonya Delwaide & Mills College, Melanie Elms, Kim Epifano, Joe Goode, Patrick Hajduk, Chris Hammer, Walter Holden & Alisa Rasera, InterPlay, Shinichi Iova-Koga, Margaret Jenkins, Sondra Jensen, Deborah Kaplan and the 930 Clay Street Housing Co-op, Alex Ketley, John Killacky and Larry Connolly, Eric Kupers and CSUEB, Trib LaPrade, Dr. Bruce Lawrence, LUNA Kids Dance and Patricia Wreedy, Malonga Center for the Performing Arts, Victoria Marks, Ryan Medlin, Neil Ratzlaff, Anne-Lise Ruesswig, Nina Sazevich, Megan Schirle, Karen Schiller, Ben Eldridge & Dudley Connell of the seldom scene, Shelley Senter, Leslie Smith, Jerry Smith, Suzanna Shubeck and ultrapop, Stafford, Jessica Swanson, Louise Vesper, Kate Weare, and Iva Walton.
5 Easy Ways to Support AXIS
Do you shop online?
Do you use search engines to find things online?
Do you have a grocery loyalty card, credit card or ATM card?
Are you in need of a new shirt?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are already an AXIS donor. Sign up with any of the following four programs and your shopping and web browsing activities will result in money being donated directly to AXIS from sponsoring websites. Or you can just purchase a snazzy new shirt.
1) Introducing Giveline as a Revolutionary Way to support AXIS Dance Company!
Giveline.com is an online store created for the community-minded shopper, offering more than a million bestselling products including books, movies, music, electronics, housewares, gifts and more. Every purchase generates a substantial donation to AXIS Dance Company - an amazing average of 16% of store sales, sometimes as high as 33%. Giveline has great products, great service, and great prices - the only difference between Giveline and other major online retailers is that every purchase earns money for our organization. Check it out today, and if you decide to buy, remember that AXIS Dance Company will earn significant funds in support of our mission!"
2) Your Two Cents Make a Difference at iGive.com!
Did you know that more money is printed daily for the game Monopoly than by the U.S. treasury? If only some of that money could make a difference for AXIS Dance Company. But guess what? You can make that happen just by buying your games, toys, books, CDs and everyday items at iGive.com. At the Mall at http://www.iGive.com/AXIS, you get a free membership (no costs or obligations) to shop at 600+ stores and without even knowing it, you’ll be helping AXIS at the same time. So, instead of printing money, just find a little here and there by doing a little shopping, and up to 26% of every purchase you make will be donated directly to AXIS!
3) Join eScrip
eScrip is proven to be a fantastic resource for fundraising where participating business partners contribute a percentage of your grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to the organization of your choice. Visit eScrip’s family of merchants for a complete list of participants in the program. How it works: You register any one or all of your existing grocery loyalty, debit and credit cards for use in program. Participating merchants will make contributions to AXIS (#500000653), based on purchases made by you, just by using the cards you have registered. Your purchases are tracked and available to you online, allowing you to see just how much you are earning on behalf of AXIS Dance Company! Electronic Scrip Incorporated (ESI) is a California-based corporation dedicated to establishing relationships between commerce and community - to provide resources to organizations and projects that support programs for youth. Go to this url and follow the steps: https://secure.escrip.com/jsp/supporter/registration/step1.jsp
4) Do your Online Surfing at GoodSearch.com
An easy way to help AXIS is through a new search engine powered by Yahoo! called GoodSearch. GoodSearch will make a donation to AXIS with every search. It doesn't cost you a thing — the money comes from the advertisers. The more people who use this site, the more money will go to AXIS. So please spread the word to your friends and family. Here's the web site — http://www.goodsearch.com. You can also read about GoodSearch in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and more.
5) Buy a brand new spiffy AXIS T-shirt and impress your friends!
Go to this link and make a secure online purchase - AXIS T-shirt