The Endangered Language of Physical Presence is a summer-long dance making program that meetis Monday evenings at Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
Starting from inner explorations through movement formats like Butoh and Authentic Movement, the participants build out to interpersonal experiences using Dance Exchange Toolbox, group improvisation and learning methods of creating repeatable phrases or “choreography” for a dance piece.

Along the way there will be small informal showings to get practice performing as a group and listening to each other. The project culminates in an October showcase at Empire Outlets Theater where, along with the full group piece, individuals can perform their own works that respond to the theme of “finding connnection in these dark and dangerous times”

Who should come

Trained dancers and total beginners. People who used to move and stopped. People who have always wanted to try. People who are game to experiment, willing to explore, and are interested in performing site specifically as well as in the final presentation

Melisande Echanique studied dance improv and choreography under Delisa Myles at Prescott  College in Arizona. She returned to Staten Island after living on the west coast for over a decade and has been a part of Deep Tanks Butoh,  has led workshops and choreographed with Creation Dance Collective  as well as participating in the work of Melissa West and Women’s Playwright Collective. 

With the assistance of the  Staten Island Arts Mertz Gilmore Dance Research grant  she has been attending workshops with Dance Exchange in Maryland, Movement Research in Manhattan and taking advantage of digital classes available from Mark Morris. Staten Island Arts has awarded her a premiere grant for 2026 that is funding this project.
The continuous goal is to provide more creative movement opportunities for Staten Island residents, both seasoned dancers and the movement curious.
She hopes to also bring dancers and teachers from around the world to offer myriad workshops as well as exploring the unique aspects of the island’s natural and human built worlds and the confluence between them. 

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