unearth.create.share.
our mission. Elemdi performance collaborative is an unique union of multidisciplinary artists committed to cultivating the creative spirit in its local community and beyond through both spectacle and study.
our history. Elemdi performance collaborative initiated in the Fall of 2021 from the the mere seed of an idea from founder/director/choreographer, Lea Marie D’Arminio, to create meaning work for performance with her peers: Amy Maria Burns, Page Wooller, Alicia Wilder, Allie Smith, Maria Isabel Diaz and Emma Malbon. The COVID-19 Pandemic had left elemdi’s artists with a significant disconnection in both their creative and local communities. With this, elemdi evolved from this substantive desire to form a safe, collaborative, and supportive environment for dance research creation and performance – where equity in participation is paramount.
With the consistent generosity of Metamorphosis Dance Company/TEN31 Productions studios of Pawtucket, RI – elemdi has had the space and opportunity to research, study, create and amend One Size Fits All – its first evening-length dance/theater production – at AS220 May 2022 and PVD Fringe July 2022 (with new artists Rachel Kuntz and Kalie Ferry). This season, elemdi is thrilled to welcome local collaborator and artist Crespo Rosario II to continue work on upcoming project, The Silent M.
our vision. Elemdi performance collaborative continues to provide an unequivocal enrichment of the creative processes and experiences of its close-knit group of artists and collaborators. The inter- and intra-personal research that molds elemdi’s work touches upon the intricacies and nuances of the human experience and in turn, creates a lasting effect on its broader community of supporters.
WIth productions like One Size Fits All and others to come –The Silent M (set to premiere September 2023), elemdi imagines its movement work as not only benefiting the creators and performers involved, but also solidifying their connection to those that elemdi shares it with. Phase I of The Silent M (January through June 2023) has been funded primarily by Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) Make Art Grant – awarded to elemdi in January 2023. In addition, elemdi envisions Phase II of The Silent M (July through September 2023) as an opportunity to broaden its community collaborative connections – inviting in the work of diverse artists with expertise in costuming, production and soundscape.
elemdi is also thrilled to announce its 2024 goal of establishing nonprofit arts organization status in Rhode Island! More on that soon…
the happenings.
The Silent M
September 8-10 2023 | Ten31 Productions Pawtucket, RI
Your presence, support and contributions will not only subsidize artist pay, venue, and other varied production costs for our upcoming premiere of The Silent M (September 2023) but they will also help us reach our 2024 goal of nonprofit arts organization status in Rhode Island. We are forever grateful for all that you give. We hope to see you there!
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
AS220 Providence May 2022 | Providence Fringe Festival July 2022
what people are saying.
I thoroughly enjoyed Elemdi Performance Collaborative’s production of One Size Fits All. Its creative use of contemporary dance to explore issues of identity, self-image, and ultimately, acceptance were profound. I think most people can identify with what it means to look in the mirror and question what they see. I always appreciate performance art that with equal parts humor and soberness, gets me to examine myself and my values. The performance and the intimate venue at AS220 were excellent!
One size fits all is an enchanting collection of personal stories where trying to “fit in” grapples with the desire to be authentic and accepted for who we truly are. These vignettes are playfully woven by a collective chorus, revealing complex and often ridiculous inner conflicts and dialogues. I see a little piece of myself in everyone as the stories unfold and a deep appreciation for the ideosyncronicities that make each person uniquely themselves.
Attending both the May and July performances of the One Size Fits All show, I was on two different occasions (in two different locations!) thrown down the rabbit hole into the portraits of 6 individuals sharing their stories of challenging times in their lives, working through them, and coming out the other side a better version of themselves. I loved the visual props on stage and the players were truly relatable in their stories. I felt very connected to the players,and the group as a whole really brought the energy. Oh and did I mention FUN?!
the artists.
Emma Malbon (she/hers) is a freelance artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. She spent her younger years erecting epic fairy houses, tiptoeing amongst thorns, and dancing up storms. She earned her B.A. from Smith College, where she studied History and Dance—training under and working with a range of faculty and teaching artists in the Five College Dance Department and greater community. While her movement style is ever-shifting and informed by a range of experiences and influences, she has a particular passion for exploring interconnectivity, space, and power through a magical queer fiercely femme lens.
Allie Smith (she/hers) is a lifelong mover, shaker and dreamer. She is deeply passionate about cultivating curiosity, both within herself and with others. Allie loves working with space and exploring qualities in her movement, because for her, it’s all about the journey. She received a B.A. in Dance Performance from Rhode Island College, and has over a decade of professional dance experience in New England and Colorado. Allie has been a dance/movement educator for more than fifteen years in studios, schools, gyms, and professional settings. Her current fascination encompasses anatomy, movement patterns, and interoception, which combine to inform the choices we make each day. Allie is also a licensed massage therapist and a certified personal trainer.
Alexander Crespo-Rosario (he/him) is a Native Taino, born in Puerto Rico. He is a Rhode Island College(RIC) graduate student, with a double major in Dance Performance and Musical Theatre. He started his career as a B-boy representing the All City Rockers hip hop crew, and now he continues to work on expanding his skills. Crespo has worked with RIC Musical Theatre director William Wilson, theatre professor Casey Seymour Kim, and guest directors/artists such as Tyler Dobrowsky, Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, Kari Margolis, and Beckie Menzie. In his second year in college, Crespo auditioned for the Rhode Island College Dance program where he met the RIC Dance director Angelica Vessella and Dance professor Jessica Pearson. Shortly after, Crespo was offered a full scholarship for the dance program and has since studied modern dance, and worked with guest artists such as Marta Renzi, Alexandra Beller, Teena Marie, Billy Siegenfeld, Rennie Harris, and 10 Hairy Legs, to name a few. Crespo became one of the first five students to receive the Miranda Fellows Scholarship, an award from Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Miranda Family for artists of color “who have exhibited exceptional passion, drive, and unique points of view in various artistic mediums.” In his last year in college, Crespo worked on the RIC growing stage production of I and You by Lauren Gunderson, where he directed, filmed, and edited the production for it to be streamed online during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Currently, he works as a theatre instructor with the Studio Playground theatre company and is a dance instructor at Metamorphosis dance company. He is associated with the Burbage Theatre Company and the Rhode Island Latino Arts company in Rhode Island. He also became a founder of both Nuestro Mundo Public Charter School and Providence Preparatory Charter school in Rhode Island. Crespo’s goal is to become the best human and performer that he can be — to help himself and others laugh, cry, celebrate — and just feel, through the connections that Theatre and Dance can bring.
Amy Maria Burns (she/hers) graduated magna cum laude from Adelphi University with a BFA in dance. Ms. Burns has danced in works by Robert Battle, Maria Bauman, Laura Bennett, Colin Connor, Danny Grossman, Deb Meunier, David Parsons, Pascal Rioult and Anna Sokolow. Amy currently dances with Balliamo Dance Collective, Denizen Arts, Metamorphosis Dance Company and is thrilled to be in her first season with elemdi performance collaborative. She also worked with Fusionworks Dance Company, Sokolow Now and as a guest wth Bill Evans Dance Company. She has been on faculty at Brown University, Dean College, Dancing Arts Center and Express Dance and is a Balanced Body certified Pilates instructor. When not dancing she spends most of her time with her three greatest accomplishments who go by the names Anthony, Eliana, and Marcus.
Page Wooller (they/them + she/hers – rarely he/him) – moved to the USA eleven years ago as an undergraduate exchange student. Their career path has led to many exciting experiences from professionally performing as a dancer to writing a graphic novel “Emily Corn: Discovering Darkness”. Page has also obtained their Masters in biology and written for McGraw Hill publishers in their science textbook series online exam questions. At present, Page runs a farm in Rhode Island, works as an artist painting and making sculptures, performs with a production group out of Pawtucket and dances with Balliamo Dance Collective.
Alicia Wilder (she/hers) is a native Rhode Island mover and creator. She is a graduate of Rhode Island College (‘10) where she earned a B.A. in Dance and minor in Theater. She is an active member of the New England arts community – teaching students ages five through adult. Alicia is a former company member of Providence Ballet Theater and currently perfroms with the Elm City Dance Collective (CT) and Bailiamo Dance Collective (RI). Alicia is proud to be the founder and director of Metamorphosis Dance Company (MDC) of TEN31 Productions of Pawtucket, RI. Alicia started with TEN31 in 2010. At MDC/TEN31, Alicia develops foundations for performance standards and training for her dancers and curates small and large scale immersive performances. Her work is centered around connecting the performing arts to people’s everyday lives. Outside of the performing arts, Alicia is a podcaster and cosplayer. She believes that artistic expression is for all, and is grateful for any opportunity she has to share it with others.
Maria Isabel Diaz (she/hers) sprung into the world of dance in 2013 at Brown University. Starting with swing dancing, she then began to learn various other dance forms throughout the years, including hiphop, salsa, bachata, Argentine tango, contemporary, West African dance, and modern dance. From 2017 to 2019, she had the immense pleasure being a part of New Works, World Traditions, a Providence-based dance community that integrates local dancers, artists, and movers to co-create productions that draw from multiple kinetic vocabularies. When she is not dancing, Maria spends her time wishing she was.
Rachel Kuntz (she/hers) has been dancing for millions of years, and simultaneously, is just beginning to move for the first time. She began studying concert dance forms in childhood, and in 2015, earned her BFA from the Boston Conservatory. In movement, she avoids upright verticality through spirals, floorwork, and inversions. Outside of the studio, Rachel is an almost-licensed mental health counselor, and loves playing frisbee with her puppy.
