Dance, words and scrap wood are the raw materials for "One with Others," an examination of who we become due to the choices we make — or that others make for us. Crude, handmade wooden appendages — part prop, part prosthetic, part costume — stand alongside text and choreography to form a trio of jerry-rigged tools that dismantle and cobble back together relationships between people, and with oneself; affinities and art; and what it means to be seen, handled, used and needed.
Choreography by Karen Sherman in collaboration with Joanna Furnans and Jeffrey Wells. Performed by Joanna Furnans, Karen Sherman and Jeffrey Wells. Sound design, scenic design and construction by Karen Sherman. Lighting design by Carrie Wood. Scenic consultants include Jeremy Wilhelm and Carrie Wood. Video by Karen Sherman and Andrew Welken. Text by Karen Sherman, Joanna Furnans, Jeffrey Wells, Claudia La Rocco, Nami Mun and Hope Forstenzer. Costumes by Tulle & Dye. Stage managed by Aaron Schoenrock. Dramaturgy and interpretation by Jeremy Wilhelm and Claudia La Rocco.
Karen Sherman has been based in Minneapolis since 2004 after relocating from New York City. Her work has been presented nationally by P.S. 122, Walker Art Center, The Southern Theater, Danspace Project, Movement Research at the Judson Church, Fusebox Festival, PICA/TBA Festival, Highways Performance Space, ODC, The Red Eye Theater, Philadelphia Dance Projects, Links Hall, and many others.
She has worked and collaborated with such artists as Sally Silvers, Morgan Thorson, Dan Hurlin, Emily Johnson, Lisa D'Amour, Katie Pearl, Nami Yamamoto, Neal Medlyn, National Theater of the United States of America, The Love Everybody Players, Tanya Gagné, Circus Amok and the feminist punk pop band Le Tigre. Sherman has received numerous awards for her work as a choreographer, performer and designer, including a 2007 "Bessie" Award for her work in Morgan Thorson's Faker, McKnight Foundation Fellowships in Choreography (2013, 2006) and Dance (2009), a Bush Foundation Artist Fellowship (2009), Sage Awards for her work as a Performer (2006) and Scenic Designer (for her 2008 work, copperhead), City Pages Best Artist Awards as a Dancer (2007) and Choreographer (2009), MacDowell Colony Fellowships (2010, 2003), a Movement Research Artist Residency (1999-2000) and a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship and residency in Liguria, Italy (2010).
She holds a BFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (with a double major in Women's Studies) and is also a singer, fifth-generation lasso spinner and former student of flying trapeze. Her background in these areas, as well as her work in nearly every facet of arts production as a producer, production and tour manager, technical director, scenic and sound designer, and technician, informs each aspect of her work.