(Schenectady, NY): The New York State DanceForce and the Dance Program at Union College, with support from the Dance Alliance, are pleased to announce two free studio performances scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, July 28 & 29, 2026. Taking place in the dance studio in Henle Dance Pavilion on the Schenectady college’s campus, each program will begin at 7pm, will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a dessert reception for artists and audience. There is no admission cost and no reservations. Seating is limited so interested patrons are encouraged to arrive early.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, July 28 – “Witness” directed by Sondra Loring
Bridging worlds through movement, poetry and trust, this performance was born from years of creative risk, deep listening and radical collaboration. Created by the founder of MovingPotential, the work began inside the walls of Greene Correctional Facility where Loring led yoga, writing and dance improvisation workshops for incarcerated men. These quiet moments of breath and movement grew into a collective story — a shared language of resilience, imagination and dignity. Moving beyond the prison walls, artists on the outside respond to the work of those inside through dance “scores,” gestures and what Loring calls telepathic dancing — a practice of connection that defies separation. The result is part ritual, part performance and wholly human. A discussion with the artists will follow the performance.
The performing ensemble includes Sunder Ashni, Eric Cherry, Peggy Gould, Erick Montes, Dwayne Resnick, Aidan Samp, Hana Van Der Kolk and Suanny Upegi. Inside Greene, collaborators include Andre, Arkeyse, Bipartisan, Brandon, Brian, Bruce, Cash, Christopher, Dennis, Donte, Jason, Joseph, Joshua, Josiah, Kevin, Lemar, Maurice, Mazraany, Mitchell, Otto, Player, Randy, Ricky, Robert, Royan, Terri, Thimas, Tim, Timothy, and Vashant. Original music is by Aidan Samp. One longtime participant, now released, has joined the company full-time — a living embodiment of art’s power to transform.
Wednesday, July 29 – KaJe Movement Collective’s “Behind the Rhythms: Choreography in Context”
Founded by Kara Jenelle Wade, this performance ensemble of radiant artistic Sistas embodying cultural legacy, creativity and powerful presence are rooted in rhythms of the African diaspora, social dance and contemporary expression. The collective integrates spoken word, musical composition and cinematic visuals in their choreography to honor the impact of Black histories, the vibrancy of Black joy and the urgency of liberation. Attendees will be welcomed into the creative process to witness how movement emerges from research rooted in culture, rituals and lived experience as well as to recognize choreography not only as performance, but as archive, language and a vessel for storytelling.
This focus will situate the collective’s performance piece “ÌYÁguration” within its cultural, historical, and artistic lineage, illuminating the work as both practice and inquiry. “ÌYÁguration” is a live performance and ceremonial work adapted from Wade’s original dance film, celebrating the resilience, joy, and sisterhood of Black women across the diaspora. Blending storytelling, rhythm, and ancestral memory, the work is a journey exploring the call of the djembe, sacred hymns, coiled crowns and movement practices from West Africa to the Americas.
These performances are made possible with funds from the NYS DanceForce, a partnership program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, as well as funding support from The Dance Alliance, Inc.