2022-2023 Boston Dancemakers Resident

Artist Statement

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Jessi Stegall is a dance-theatre artist, applied ethicist, and arts educator based in Boston, Massachusetts. Jessi currently approaches performance as an act of ode: expressing curiosity and homage toward worlds built by others. She has been an artist-in-residence at the Harvard ArtLab, National Parks Service, Windhover Performing Arts Center, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and was recently featured as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2022) alongside her close collaborator, Ilya Vidrin. Her choreographic work has been featured at the Dance Complex, Motion State Dance Film Festival, Cambridge Art Association, and Boston Arts Consortium for Health. As a dancer, Jessi has performed works by Jill Johnson, Ilya Vidrin, Ali Kenner Brodsky, LROD, and Jamila Glass. In addition to her work in dance, Jessi holds an M.S. in Bioethics from Harvard University, a B.S. in Expressive Art Therapy from Lesley University, and is an alumna of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

 

Project Description

The Theremin Vignettes by Jessi Stegall

Directed and choreographed by Jessi Stegall, The Theremin Vignettes is an evening-length dance-theatre production set to and inspired by the music and life of thereminist Clara Rockmore. Despite being credited as the best theremin player to have ever lived, Clara Rockmore, a Lithuanian-Jewish woman and music virtuoso, remains under-recognized for her immense contribution to electronic music. The Theremin Vignettes is an ode to Clara and her beautifully bizarre music.

Set in the form of choreographic vignettes, the piece explores themes of grief, remembrance, and devotion through theatrical interpretations of real events from Rockmore’s life. Each vignette is set to one of Rockmore’s arrangements of classical scores for theremin. Audiences will walk away with gratitude for the bizarre and a new favorite music genre.

 

In-Person Performances

Thursday, May 25 | 7:30pm

Friday, May 26 | 8:00pm

Saturday, May 27 | 8:00pm

Sunday, May 28 | 4:00pm

 

Virtual Performance

Friday, June 2 | Register: Free, 7 day online access

Calderwood Pavilion at BCA | 527 Tremont Street, Boston 02116

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Collaborative Team
Director & Choreographer | Jessi Stegall
Performers & Contributors |Haley Andrews, Dara Capley, Heather Easley, Elizabeth Epsen, Aliza Franz, Hannah Franz, Raxel Kempenaar, Andrea Muniz, Hannah Ranco, Cassie Wang, and Henry Winslow
Dramaturg |Ilya Vidrin
Music |Music of Clara Rockmore and Nadia Reisenberg: Eleven (11) pieces from Bridge Records “Clara Rockmore’s Lost Theremin Album” (Bridge Records) and one (1) piece from Romeo Records “Music In and On The Air” (Romeo Records); Courtesy of the Nadia Reisenberg & Clara Rockmore Foundation.
Technical Director & Light Designer | Anne Dresbach