All donations will be going toward my flight to New Zealand in June 2019! In February 2020 Exhale Dance Tribe & Okareka Dance Company will perform a new work for the New Zealand Arts Festival. Thank you!
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Hi everyone!
Thank you for taking the time to visit this page and to learn more about what this project is! Exhale Dance Tribe is a nonprofit, professional dance company, and it is the only contemporary dance company in Cincinnati, OH. I danced with Exhale for two seasons prior to working on the cruise ship, and now residing in New York. I'm so honored and appreciative to dance with my tribe again. These people are my home and will aways hold a special place in my heart, as they're the ones who inspired me to choose the life that I have now. Most of all I'm incredibly grateful and humbled to be a part of this journey, experience, and creative process!
The VWohali/Hokioi Idea
This project has been in the works between Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard (Exhale), and Tai Royal (Okareka) since 2008, when the three of these profound artists and creators met at a LiveStrong fundraiser that Exhale was performing for. November 2018 was the final beginning of this outstanding and special project that I am so lucky to now take part in!
The idea for this project was inspired by the significance of the eagle across both cultures. Exhale's choreographic tone is heavily influenced by the Native American Indian culture, where the eagle has made huge significance. The Cherokee name for eagle is VWOHALI. New Zealand was once the home for the world's largest eagle, the HOKIOI. Since the eagle has significance among the Native American Indian people, and the HOKIOI was once a majestic bird in skies of Aotearoa, NZ, an acknowledgement was made to create a dance theater work that celebrates not only these two majestic birds, but to celebrate two strong indigenous cultures coming together under the modern art form of contemporary dance.
PROJECT TIMELINE
June 2019: Two week rehearsal process to develop a choreographic language that stems from HOKIOI (Aotearoa, New Zealand)
October 2019: Annual Cherokee Festival Performance (Cherokee, NC)
Feb/March 2020: New Zealand Festival rehearsal/performance tour
2020/2021: Additional performance opportunities in the works including Cincinnati, OH and the Joyce Theatre in New York City
THANK YOU to Missy Lay Zimmer, Andrew Hubbard, Tai Royal, Sharu Delilkan, and Tui Matira Ranapiri Ransfield for this incredible opportunity that I know will be life altering!!!!
I am personally seeking donations to fund my flight in June 2019! As a nonprofit organization we rely heavily on grants and personal donations from private donors, educational endowments and businesses in an effort to offset and cover operating expenses. Financially, times are rough and the arts need more support now than ever! I'm endlessly thankful for anything you can give in order to help us continue to create and entertain, and make this dream of being with my tribe again and creating with artists from all over the world, a reality! Please remember your donation is tax deductible.
Any donation does not go unnoticed and would mean the world to me!
Thank you!
Jackie Engelkamp
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