educational programs
“Jody’s week-long campus residency beautifully illustrated the connections that exist between sustainability and the arts. Her programming engaged folks from a variety of disciplines in deep discussion and reflection about the impacts of climate change and prompted individuals to consider the role that the arts, and dance more specifically, can play in climate action.”
— Levi Rogers, Sustainability Coordinator, Skidmore College
Residencies
Our unique programs create deeply meaningful experiences for students and facilitate a process of engaging with climate justice through dance. We tailor college and university residencies to each campus with programs that bring together academic departments and are accessible to all students. Offerings include masterclasses in ecokinetics, Sperling’s practice that considers the moving body in relation to ecological and social systems, as well as lectures/lecture-demonstrations, staging repertory, and creating new work for students. Please see below for more info and email us to discuss the options.
RESIDENCY OFFERINGS
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MASTERCLASSES
Masterclass offered in ecokinetics, Sperling’s dance practice—part technique, part compositional method— that relates the moving body to environmental and social systems. Students learn to expand energetically and consider their physical impacts in the space. Workshop may employ Loie Fuller-style costuming as a tool to help students experience a larger kinesphere. Offered as single or multi-session workshop/s.
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PRESENTATIONS
An engaging public speaker, Sperling has lectured at universities, arts centers, and conferences around the world. She offers in-person, virtual, and hybrid presentations. Residencies often include panel discussions bringing Sperling into conversation with faculty across disciplines around topics including climate change, activism, sustainability, and the arts. Sperling also offers lecture-demonstrations, part spoken presentation and part solo performance.
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STAGING WORKS
Sperling has created a number of environmentally-focused, Loie Fuller-inspired ensemble works that are available for restaging, including Wind Rose, Ice Cycle, Plastic Harvest, and Turbulence. Such works have been staged for student groups at Montclair State University, Brenau University, Fordham/The Ailey School, among others. She may also create new choreography with students employing ecokinetics processes.
ResidencY goals
creating connections for students between dance, climate science and activism
understanding the intersectional nature of climate change
stimulating cross-disciplinary thinking and doing
exploring the dynamic relationship between the body and environment
moving beyond despair or apathy into activism
showing how dance can be a vehicle for social change