The Defiance Project has had a beyond-successful summer of performances so far, and the fun has just begun! Our first annual Fundraiser and Performance went better than we could have ever imagined- a HUGE thank you to everyone who made the evening possible! Our performance, silent auction, and dessert feast were full of love and support from family, friends and fans. We are beyond grateful for everyone who attended our fundraiser as well as everyone who donated to The Defiance Project. 

We would especially like to thank Lynne Roswall of Studio Shu for her help and support with the performance space, Jason Segal for his videography and photography, and Sydney Rosin for his donation of our official Defiance Project Banner.

In addition, we would like to thank the following silent auction donors: Paul Needelman, Lori Krause, Brian Jeffries, Debbie Kalinowski and 3rd Corner, Andrea and Ira Feinswog, Sharon Leib, Lynne Roswall, gaytravel.com, Ericka Moore and Eveoke Dance Theater, Lois Mark, Debbie Simon. Your donations helped us raise money for our upcoming season of work! 

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In addition to our fundraiser, The Defiance Project performed with Mojalet Dance Collective in their Summer Series at The Vine. We had an amazing time sharing our work with the broader San Diego dance community, and wish to thank Faith Jensen-Ismay for including us in this showcase. 

The Defiance Project expanded beyond San Diego and also performed at danceXchange in Temecula. A beautiful evening of performing under the Temecula stars culminated with lots of audience feedback, new contacts, and lots of new works shared amongst performers. 

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The Defiance Project’s first summer season has been thrilling and rewarding for everyone involved. We are beyond thrilled for the birth of this company! 

For more information, check us out on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thedefianceproject

…or see our youtube channel by searching “thedefianceproject1”.

Stay tuned for more! 

We Don’t Eat by James Vincent McMorrow

Choreographed and Performed by Sophie Needelman

Performed in July 2012 at The Vine Summer performance series

Veins By Charlotte Martin

Choreographed by Sophie Needelman

Performed by Lily Haine and Kim Tsu

Performed in July 2012 at The Vine, Mojalet’s theater venue

Friday July 13th, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Studio Shu in Solana Beach

742 Genevieve St., Suite A, Solana Beach 92075

You are invited to The Defiance Project’s Fundraiser Performance and Silent Auction! This event will feature performances, superb silent auction items, delicious desserts, and more! 

It is with great pride that we debut our dance company, The Defiance Project, to our community of supporters and fans at our first official fundraising performance. The Defiance Project uses the creation, expression, practice, and performance of dance to explore what it means to defy. The company behind this project manifests defiance in both the form and function, and process and product of the work it does. Pieces include works choreographed by Becky Kalinowski and Sophie Needelman.

We have taken advantage of various performance opportunities and fundraising events throughout the dance community, including performances at the 2012 Little Italy ArtWalk, Mojalet’s Core Group Weekend at The Vine, and PGK’s Dance Moves. As our dance company continues to grow and expand, we hope to extend our fundraising efforts to our network of support above and beyond the dance community. 

Funds we raise will be put toward offsetting the cost of future performances, rental of rehearsal space, publicity and marketing materials, and more. Any and every donation makes a difference, and we are honored and grateful for the time you have spent taking to heart our cause of bringing dance to the level of defiance. Thank you for your continued support. Looking forward to the defying to come!

For more information on The Defiance Project check out:
- our website at http://thedefianceproject.tumblr.com/
- our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/thedefianceproject
- our youtube channel: thedefianceproject1
…. or email us at thedefianceproject@gmail.com

If you are unable to attend the event or want to show your support in the meantime, donate online at: http://www.gofundme.com/t0g20

The Defiance Project Little Italy ArtWalk Performance (Part II)

Choreographed by Becky Kalinowski

School Night by Ani Difranco

The Defiance Project’s Little Italy Artwalk 2012 Performance (Part 1) 

Choreographed by Sophie Needelman and Becky Kalinowski

Misguided Ghosts by Paramore, Veins by Charlotte Martin, People Praise Her by Sophie Needelman

Funds we raise will be put toward offsetting the cost of future performances, rental of rehearsal space, publicity and marketing materials, and more. Any donation makes a difference, and we are honored and grateful for the time you have spent taking to heart our cause of bringing dance to the level of defiance. Thank you for your continued support- financial and otherwise. Looking forward to the defying to come!

The Defiance Project is pleased to announce that it will be performing in the Little Italy ArtWalk’s Dance on the Edge! This “event within an event” celebrates the dance community in San Diego by offering a full weekend of dance to the already thriving Little Italy ArtWalk community. This is a weekend-long event happening the last weekend in April, but The Defiance Project will be performing on Sunday, April 29th at 4:30 p.m. We would love to have your support at this Spring Preview of our work, so definitely plan your Little Italy ArtWalk visit around being there on Sunday afternoon!

• Who: The Defiance Project… dancers: Chloe Chelf, Genna McGrath, Pascalle Rodriguez, Darrah Rosin, Alisa Tang, Bora Yoon… choreographers: Becky Kalinowski, Sophie Needelman
• What: The Defiance Project’s Spring Preview 
• Where: Little Italy ArtWalk’s Dance on the Edge stage at India and Grape Street
• When: Sunday, April 29th at 4:30 p.m.

** This is a FREE event!

For more information on the Little Italy ArtWalk, visit http://www.missionfederalartwalk.org/index.htm

Introducing the new and improved Defiance Project logo!

Designed by Becky Kalinowski, February 2012

“Veins” by Charlotte Martin

Choreographed by Sophie Needelman

Performed by Kim Tsu and Lily Haine

February 2012

“Konstantine” Solo Rehearsal

The Defiance Project

January 2012

Performed and Choreographed by Sophie Needelman

Misguided Ghosts- Solo Rehearsal

“Misguided Ghosts” by Paramore

The Defiance Project (January 2012)

Choreographed by Sophie Needelman

Performed by Becky Kalinowski

“Tonight” by FM Static

Performed at The Vine (San Diego, CA) July 2011

Choreographed by Sophie Needelman

Change

Movement is change; by moving we are changing. Even in a state of rest, our bodies move with pulse and breath; these movements are the foundation of life. Change is innate to our humanity and to our lived existence. Defiance is embracing oneself as a changing being- by changing oneself. Change, without judging change as progressive or regressive; it is merely a process and a product that leads to a difference based on what once was the same. Move and be moved.

Connection

Points of connection within the body are the source of initiation and engagement for movement. Connectivity allows for space to be made as a foundation for and initiation of movement. Space allows for engagement. Connection is liberating. Connection between bodies exists through the catalyst of rhythm. Our breaths and pulses are consistent and constant; the stability of rhythm is innate to our humanity and existence. We can control our bodies on a rhythmic level to connect to other bodies, connect to music, and connect to the momentum of life in space.

Presence

The Defiance Project uses the creation, expression, practice, and performance of dance to explore what it means to defy. The company behind this project manifests defiance in both the form and function, and process and product of the work it does. This work examines Defiance as:

-Presence within and because of one’s physical being, as    occupation of self through sought sensation

-Connection within and among physical beings through breath, pulse, and rhythm

-Change through movement, because and in spite of connected presence and present connection

Boundaries must first be known in order to be broken. Defiance allows us to know ourselves- because of and in spite of these boundaries. It yields the growth necessary to then become limitless as a dancer and as a human being.