nest, act II

CURATED by NOoSPHERE Arts

World Premiere: August 28, 2021 NOoSPHERE Arts NYC, Urban Wildlife Event, WE ARE NATURE

A view of two birds building their home in the environment of an industrialized wasteland. We witness them cope with their fellow species flocking away and how they take care of one another through the loss of hatchlings, man-made hazards, and the desire for wild spaces.

Director and Creator: Kelly Ashton Todd
Performers: Jennifer Payán and Kevin Pajarillaga
Musical Accompaniment: Christiaan van Voorst van Beest
Choreography: Jennifer Payán, Kevin Pajarillaga, and Kelly Ashton Todd
Producers: Kevin Andrew Specter, Tracy Grogan, and Amelia Tsai
Costume Design: Allison Dyke
Generously supported by Lisa & Michael Springle, Kevin Andrew Specter, Tracy Grogan, and Amelia Tsai

Performers

Jennifer Payán is an Afro-Latina New York based movement artist, Pilates practitioner, and Yoga instructor. Before the shutdown, she worked as a performer for PunchDrunk’s SleepNoMore. She currently takes on the role of Artistic Associate for UNA Productions and has recently been promoted to the Associate Artistic Director for Company SBB.

Jennifer has helped set company repertoire on students at The Juilliard School, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and The Ailey/Fordham Dance Program. In 2021, she joined Montclair State University as an Adjunct Professor in their Spring Semester.

Recent affiliations: Trisha Brown Dance Company, LeeSaar the Company, Netta Yerushalmy, Bobbi Jene Smith, Pam Tanowitz Dance, Yara Travieso, Jasmine Hearn, Maleek Washington, Amy Gardner, Loni Landon, Troy Ogilvie, and Marla Phelan.

Jennifer completed a 452-hour comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training through Polestar Pilates under Kim Gibilisco. She has been a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) since 2015. Jennifer recently completed her 200 hour Bhakti Yoga Teacher Training certification through the Bhakti Center. She holds her BFA from Rutgers University, NJ.

Kevin Pajarillaga is a Filipino American, born and raised in Silver Spring, MD. Pajarillaga trained at Citydance Conservatory, Point Park University and Springboard Danse Montréal. Professionally he has worked with companies including NW Dance Project, Yin Yue’s YY Dance Company, Sonya Tayeh Dance, Bruce Wood Dance, PRIOREDANCE, and I.C movement project. He has guest performed with Parsons Dance Company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and originated roles with choreographers Felix Landerer, Ihsan Rustem, Yin Yue, Patrick Delcroix, Andrea Pena, Sarah Slipper, Maleek Washington, and more.

Pajarillaga is the associate director of Moving Forward Dallas, a non-profit dedicated to nurturing the thriving young artists in Dallas. He has appeared in GAP’s 2018 spring campaign “Experiment in Color” and in Apolla Performance Shocks’ campaign in 2017. He is the movement coach and choreographer for artist “BIG WILD”, Jackson. He has choreographed for NW Dance Project’s “In Good Company”, The Juilliard School’s senior showcase, the DREAMscape Gala, Booker T. Washington Ensemble, and Wanderlust dance project. Pajarillaga is the recipient of the “All County Performing Arts Awards” by the MCPS Arts Superintendent and the “All States Dance Award” at the Goucher College Dance Festival in 2011 and 2012. Pajarillaga is currently an Artistic Associate with Gibney Dance Company.

Musical Accompaniment

Christiaan van Voorst van Beest is a bassist and composer living in Brooklyn, NY. Chris received a Bachelors degree in music from the University of New Hampshire and a Masters degree in composition from the City College of New York, where he studied with Pulitzer-Prize winning composer David Del Tredici.

As a bassist, Chris is known for his big sound and lyrical bass lines. Highly sought after in the NY jazz community, he also plays with songwriters, chamber ensembles, and for immersive theater (Sleep no More). Chris has performed, toured and recorded with a diverse set of artists including Robert Glasper, Gabriel Kahane, Sam Amidon and Frank Kimbrough. He plays with a number of original music projects, uncluding the critically acclaimed Danny Fox Trio, the Flamingo Trio, Garage Ellington, and saxophone/bass duo Evan & Chris.

As a composer, Chris writes both chamber music and music for improvisors, founding his own contemporary chamber ensemble in which original chamber works are followed by improvised responses. A new live recording features the group's most ambitious work to date: a broad program of new works and improvisations exploring the dialogue between composition and immediate musical reaction. Chris has been awarded a Dutch grant for composition and nominated twice for the Charles Ives Arts and Letters award.

Director

Kelly Ashton Todd lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. She is a native of Houston, TX, where she began her training in classical ballet at Festival Ballet and contemporary dance at Metropolitan Dance Company. Continuing her education, she received a BFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University and a Double Minor in Biology and Environmental Science.

Professionally, she has been featured in contemporary dance works by Robert Battle, Doris Humphrey, Kuperman Brothers, Sharon Eyal, zoe|juniper, Johannes Weiland, and Punchdrunk. She currently resides in NYC and performs with the critically acclaimed, award winning off-broadway show Sleep No More. Along with performing, she also teaches Mindfulness, Environmental Science, Health and Wellness, and Sex Ed at Waterfront Montessori in Jersey City, NJ.

Kelly’s choreography has been showcased nationally and internationally. She has been commissioned by renowned architect, Steven Holl and the celebrated immersive experience Meow Wolf. Todd has taken part in residencies through Arts on Site, Keshet Makers Space, and Open Wabi. She has been awarded the Brooklyn Arts Council Grant, Jerome Hill Foundation Finalist, F21 NYSCA in Media Grant, Puffin Foundation Grant, Walmart E-commerce, LEIMAY Fellowship, and the NYFA Fellowship in Choreography. Her environmental dance film series, Under Review, has won awards for Most Inspirational Film and Best Narrative and has attended over 12 film festivals nationally and internationally. Most recently, Under Review: Katahdin was awarded the New Vision award from the International Wildlife Film Festival. Her environmental dance activism has been curated into installations through the Human Impacts Institution and New York Restoration Project. Kelly is currently pursuing a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University.

Costume Design

Allison Dyke is a Brooklyn-based costume designer, wardrobe witch, dancer, actor, and nightlife goblin, among other things. From a very young age, Allison’s love of dance was matched only by her love of all things swishy, sparkly, and magical. This led her to pursue dual careers on the stage and behind the sewing machine. This is Allison’s second collaboration with the effervescent Kelly Ashton Todd, and she’s looking forward to many more projects in the future. In addition to designing for independent artists, Allison has produced costumes for Sleep No More, Signature Theatre, Company XIV, and Parsons Dance.

When she’s not putting clothes on people, Allison is taking her clothes off as her burlesque alter ego Lily L’Noir. You can connect with Allison (or Lily, whoever you prefer) at www.allisondyke.com