Date: Apr 06, 2011

Riveting Performances Highlight the Hofstra Conference, "Into Sunlight: The Impact of War on the Social Body From the Vietnam Era to the Present"

Into Sunlight, Choreographed by Robin Becker will be Performed as part of the Hofstra Spring Dance Concert, April 14 to 17, With a Special Free Performance Introduced by Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author David Maraniss on April 15 at 3 p.m.

Undeclared History, A New Theatrical Work, Inspired by the Oral Histories of Hofstra Alumni During the Vietnam Era; Performances April 8 to 17
 
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … When Hofstra Dance Professor Robin Becker read David Maraniss’ book They Marched Into Sunlight, a nonfiction account of two days in October 1967 at the height of the Vietnam War and antiwar protests, she responded “immediately to the timelessness and universality of the themes and events he documented.” She then embarked upon choreographing a dance, Into Sunlight, through which she hoped “the universal language of the body would reflect the sense of healing and peace that David’s words evoked in my heart.”

The dance, Into Sunlight, and Professor Becker’s and Mr. Maraniss’ collaboration have inspired a three day interdisciplinary conference at Hofstra that looks at the impact of war and violence on the human condition. Into Sunlight: The Impact of War on the Social Body, From the Vietnam Era to the Present will be held April 14, 15, and 16, 2011.

Into Sunlight, features the talents of Professor Becker’s professional dance company, Robin Becker Dance, as well as Hofstra dance students.  More than half the members of Robin Becker Dance are alumni from Hofstra’s dance program.

Into Sunlight will be performed several times – 8 p.m. on April 14 and 15; 2 and 8 p.m. on April 16; and 2 p.m. on April 17, as part of the University’s Spring Dance Concert at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse.  Excerpts of the dance will also be performed on Thursday, April 14, at 9:30 a.m. as part of Mr. Maraniss’ conference keynote address.

There will also be a special conference performance at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 15, introduced by Mr. Maraniss. This special performance is free and open to the public.

In addition to the dance, another unique performance has been inspired by the conference. Undeclared History is a new theatrical work directed by Professor of Drama and Dance Cindy Rosenthal. Hofstra’s Department of Drama and Dance commissioned Isaac Rathbone, a Hofstra alumnus and co-founder of Oracle Theatre, to write this original play, set on the Hofstra campus. The script is drawn from the oral histories of Hofstra alums during the Vietnam era – veterans, activists, journalists, and faculty. Undeclared History will be performed at the Black Box Theater, at Hofstra’s New Academic Building. Show times are 8 p.m. on Friday, April 8 and 15; 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9 and 16; 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10 and 17; and 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14. There will also be a special free performance of Undeclared History on Thursday, April 14, at 2:20 p.m.

In addition to these productions, Into Sunlight: The Impact of War on the Social Body, From the Vietnam Era to the Present will feature lectures, panel discussions, speak-outs, an art exhibit and performance events. These various presentations will offer diverse perspectives on war. Invited participants from a variety of fields – including history, political science, media, trauma studies, dance, somatic studies, visual art and theater – will engage the audience in active dialogue addressing current conditions of war through the historical lens of the Vietnam Era.

There will also be an outdoor concert at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, to close the conference. Rock Revolution: Psychedelic and Protest Music from 1968 to 1972 will be performed by David and The Hendersons. David Henderson is the chair of Hofstra’s Department of Drama and Dance. (Rain location: Black Box Theater)
 
In addition to David Maraniss, other distinguished guests include:

Psychologist and the author of War and the Soul Edward Tick. He is founding director of Soldier's Heart: Veteran's Safe Return Programs. Honored for his groundbreaking work in the holistic and community-based healing of veteran's and Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dr. Tick has been a psychotherapist for 33 years, specializing in working with veterans since the 1970s.

Emilie Conrad, Somatic pioneer and founder of Continuum Movement, has been a featured teacher, lecturer and keynote speaker.  She is the author of Life on Land,  and leads workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. Continuum Movement has proven to be beneficial in the treatment of trauma and spinal cord injury. Conrad was born and raised in New York City where she studied ballet and Afro-Haitian dance.  In 1963 she began teaching at the Actors Studio, and her novel approach to movement enriched performing artists and led to choreographing and directing many plays and performance works. 

Fees:
Conference registration fees:  $65, $50 for Nassau County residents and senior citizens (with ID), and $35 for matriculated non-Hofstra students (with ID). The registration fee is waived for veterans with military ID.

Conference banquet on April 15, 6:30 p.m.: priced separately at $35. Featuring remarks by David Maraniss and conference co-directors Robin Becker, Cindy Rosenthal and Robert Westley.

Spring Dance Concert tickets: $12, $10 for senior citizens and matriculated non-Hofstra students (with ID).
The  April 15, 3 p.m. special performance of Into Sunlight, featuring an introduction by David Maraniss, is free and open to the public. Conference registration is not required.

Undeclared History tickets: $10, $8 for senior citizens and matriculated non-Hofstra students (with ID).
There is one free conference performance on Thursday, April 14, 2:20 p.m. that is open to the public. Conference registration is not required.

Note to members of the Hofstra community: All conference events and performances, with the exception of meals, are free to members of the Hofstra community upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.

More information is posted www.hofstra.edu/intosunlight . Details are also available by calling the Hofstra Department of Drama and Dance at (516) 463-5444. Tickets for Undeclared History and the Spring Dance Concert are available through the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644.

Related Link: "Into Sunlight"