2020 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL
reFRESH Program #1 – Thursday June 18
Program Credits
(artist bios at bottom)
#kNOwSHADE VOGUE ENSEMBLE
with DENA STANLEY
A Story Of…
Performed by: International Hall of Famer Mother Deedee Mizrahi, Legendary Pittsburgh Hall of Famer Havoc Ebony, Dimmi Fenty, Tinky Miza, Trevor C. ‘Miza’ Miles
Choreographed by: Havoc Ebony and Trevor C. Miles
Music By: Qween Beat Productions, Damian Escobar, Beyonce, DJ Flex, DJ Pillz Galactik Bass, Mother Father Sister Brother (MFSB) and Moulin Rouge Cast
NĀ LEI HULU I KA WĒKIU
No ke Ali’i Kauikeaouli (For the Chief, Kauikeaouli)
Performed by: Patrick Makuakāne and Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu
Music by: Patrick Makuakāne, New Order
Written by: Traditional, Puakea Nogelmeier, New Order
AMIR RABIYAH
The Dwindling Stars and Our Dangerous Sweetness
Written and performed by: Amir Rabiyah
ROBBIE TRISTAN & ERNESTO PALMA
Gay Ballroom – Proud Mary
Choreographed and performed by: Ernesto Palma & Robbie Tristan
Music by: John Fogerty, performed by Tina Turner
STORMMIGUEL FLOREZ
White Man’s Burden
Performed by: StormMiguel Florez
Music by: StormMiguel Florez
SEAN DORSEY DANCE
Butch
Choreographed and written by: Sean Dorsey
Movement created and performed by: Sean Dorsey, Brian Fisher, ArVejon Jones, Nol Simonse, Will Woodward
Music by: Ben Kessler
STAR AMERASU
Dark Angel
Written and performed by: Star Amerasu
BLACKBERRI
The Back Of The Bus
Original Song and lyrics written and performed by: Blackberri
TOBY MACNUTT
(It Takes) Two
Choreographed and performed by: Toby MacNutt
HOUSE OF AMOR (FORMERLY HOUSE OF ENERGI)
Enérgeia
Performed by: House of Amor – Father Ryan Energi, Mama Stacey “The Light” Energi, Anita “Daaahling” Energi, Jon “Leezy” Energi
Music by: Vjuan Allure
Written by: Ryan Davis
With the voices of: Archie Burnett “Ninja”, Cesar Valentino, Hector Xtravaganza, Kia Labeija, Michael Maasai – Milan
ARTIST BIOS
#kNOwSHADE VOGUE ENSEMBLE with DENA STANLEY:
#kNOwSHADE VOGUE ENSEMBLE is a vogue performance ensemble based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that creates brave, experimental, hyper queer art through visual, dance, and theater. kNOwShade speaks from the perspectives of today’s urban LGBTQ youth/young adults of color with goals to build a diverse community of support for both the performers and their respective artistic expressions. #kNOwShade is currently in its 3rd year of productions since its debut at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s 9th Annual New Moves Contemporary Dance Festival in May 2016. https://www.truetpgh.com/knowshade-vogue-performance-ensemble
DENA STANLEY is the founder of Trans YOUniting a non-profit organization in Pittsburgh that advocates for the transgender community and provides participants with positive role models, and opportunities for those in need of supportive services. Dena has over 15 years of baking experience, and she is the owner/operator of Maddezsweetz, a boutique bakery which specializes in an array of delicious goods (www.maddezsweetz.biz). The company Dena Operates is also used to help Transgender individuals build their resume and job experience by mentoring through her catering company and offering interning opportunities through a program at TransYouniting. Dena is a fierce advocate for her community, and she serves on the board of the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh and the steering committees of the International Women’s Day Strike Coalition, TransPride Pittsburgh, and SWOP Pittsburgh. She is also a member of Pittsburgh DSA, and the Trans Justice Program which is a campaign through the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Dena believes that collaboration and conversation with organizations and individuals is the key to educating people about the trans community, who just wanted to be treated with dignity and respect. https://www.transyounitingpgh.org/
Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu’s acclaimed dance company presents hula as a full theatrical experience that blends traditional and contemporary forms of Hawaiian dance.
Founded in 1985 by Director/Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne, the company of 40 dancers is known for its unique contemporary style called hula mua, or “hula that evolves.” The style blends traditional movements with non-Hawaiian music like opera, electronic, dance, alternative, and pop. Both hula mua and authentic, traditional pieces are showcased in the company’s visually captivating stage productions. https://naleihulu.org/
Amir Rabiyah is a queer, trans, disabled, poet. They are the co-editor of Writing the Walls Down: A Convergence of LGBTQ Voices, and the author of the poetry collection, Prayers for my 17th Chromosome, which was a finalist for the 2017 Publishing Triangle Award. Amir’s work has been published in numerous journals and anthologies, and explores living life on the margins and at the intersections of multiple identities. Amir writes about living with chronic pain and illness, war, trauma, spirituality, healing, redemption–and speaks on silenced places. For more about Amir, visit www.amirrabiyah.com
Robbie Tristan and Ernesto Palma: are one of the most successful Same Sex Ballroom duos, have won numerous national and International titles, including The Gold Medal at the Gay Games (World Gay Olympics). Robbie originally from Hungary and Ernesto from Costa Rica, are both living in New York City and perform all over the United States. Together they are featured in the Award-Winning Documentary film, Hot to Trot. Available on iTunes and Amazon. For more information about them go to www.robbietristan.com and www.ernestopalma.com
Robbie & Ernesto are super happy to be part of this beautiful, eclectic, amazing and inspiring family of performers at FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL 2020 online.
STORMMIGUEL FLOREZ is a Xicanx trans filmmaker from San Francisco via Albuquerque, New Mexico. He spent the majority of his artistic life as a music recording artist until 2012 when he discovered his love for filmmaking while producing a zombie music video for his country drinking song, “I’ve Been To Manhattan.” From there he went on to co-produce and edit the award-winning documentary, MAJOR! about Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a prominent Black trans elder and activist. He recently completed his feature directorial debut, The Whistle, about lesbian youth culture in Albuquerque in the 70s and 80s.
StormMiguel was chosen as Community Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride 2020 and hopes that you celebrate with him by donating to TGI Justice and following and supporting Black Trans leadership. www.stormflorez.com
SEAN DORSEY DANCE is directed by Sean Dorsey, a San Francisco-based transgender choreographer, dancer, writer, educator and activist. Dorsey is the founder and Artistic Director of Fresh Meat Productions and the Fresh Meat Festival.
Sean Dorsey Dance is currently working on a new project while sheltering in place: THE LOST ART OF DREAMING explores expansive futures and imagination. Sean Dorsey Dance has toured work 30 cities across the US and internationally. Dorsey has been awarded five Isadora Duncan Dance Awards and is an inaugural Dance/USA Artist Fellow.
SDD company members include Sean Dorsey, Nol Simonse (who also performs with Garrett+Moulton Productions and Christy Funch, has collaborated with Sue Roginski, Eric Kupers, Stephen Pelton and Kara Davis, and creates his own work), Will Woodward (who also performs with Printz Dance Project and Baloney, and who has collaborated with Blue Scorpion Dance Theatre, Palanza Dance, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Tim Rubel Human Shakes, James Graham Dance Theatre and more) and Raul Torres-Bonilla (who has collaborated with Aguas Dance Company, Presidio Dance Company, Tika Morgan Dance, Sarah Bush Project, James Graham Theater, Catherine Turocy, Sammay Dizon and more). www.seandorseydance.com
Star Amerasu is a multi-disciplinary artist. Her music and video work have been featured in many publications including Out Magazine, Paper Magazine, Them, I-D, Billboard Magazine and KQED Arts to name a few. She creates indie electronic music under the moniker Ah-Mer-Ah-Su and her last album “Star” Released in 2018 was voted Top 20 LGBT albums of that year by Billboard Music. Her voice though its own unique timbre has been compared to Nina Simone, her sound in a world of its own. www.starmusic.tv
BLACKBERRI is a songstylist, songmaker, poet, writer, photographer, health educator and community advocate. In other words an Artivist born in 1945 in Buffalo, New York, Blackberri grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He performed music and appeared in several films including Marlon Riggs’s Tongues Untied, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (No Regret)], Anthem, Affirmations, and Black is Black Ain’t, Isaac Julian’s Looking for Langston, and Nancy and Peter Adair’s Word is Out. Blackberri’s first album, Blackberri and Friends: Finally (1981) featured the classic award winning song, “Eat the Rich.” He also recorded the soundtrack for the Haight-Ashbury Radio Collective’s History of San Francisco, Knowing at the Gateway of Gold, which aired on KPFA, a Berkeley, California Pacifica Network Radio affiliate. This pioneer also appeared on the first anthology on Men’s Music Wall to Roses: Songs of Changing Men, which is now in the Smithsonian Folkways collection and Gay Men’s Music Strong Love Song of Gay Liberation, 1972-1981 CD. This national treasure has toured internationally and has made many radio and TV appearances. He is one of the most visible black queer/same gender loving artivist in the country. Blackberri currently lives in Oakland and has recently been given the lifetime achievement award from Generations.
https://www.facebook.com/blackberri.singer
Toby MacNutt is a queer, nonbinary trans, disabled dancer/choreographer from Burlington, VT. Their current work in progress, “A Singular They”, is a solo work showcasing fluidity and changing embodiment. Past works include “Enter the Void” and “One, Two”. They have also danced for Murmurations Dance (“Bone Hooks”, “When Women Were Birds”), Tiffany Rhynard’s Big APE, and Heidi Latsky’s “GIMP”, among others locally and internationally. Toby was an AXIS Dance Choreo-Lab choreographer in 2018 and 2019, and a 2019 recipient of the Rebecca Blunk Fund Award from the New England Foundation for the Arts. Find out more about Toby’s work at www.tobymacnutt.com, on twitter @tobywm, or instagram @tobymacnutt.
HOUSE OF AMOR (FORMERLY HOUSE OF ENERGI) is a Bay Area born family of artists dedicated to preserving Ballroom culture, and embodying the foundations of love and chosen family. https://www.facebook.com/amorballroom/