Saturday, May 2nd, Downtown Madison, WI

STRUT! Community Arts Procession Information

[Click here or scroll down for Procession Participants in Lineup Order]

SCHEDULE:

TIPS FOR SPECTATORS:

1. Go to the inner ring/Capitol-side sidewalk for best viewing
2. The best vantage point for seeing the entire parade is on E. Mifflin between N. Hamilton and Wisconsin Ave
3. The procession will go around the square twice
4. Stay on the sidewalk at all times
5. Share pictures and stories with hashtag #strutuwmadison

TIPS FOR INDEPENDENT PARTICIPANTS:

1. Be at top of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (where it meets the Capitol Square, by Starbucks) by 1:30pm to line up, and check in with route captain Cecilia Soto.
2. Re: Closing and Dance Off at the Madison Children's Museum— STRUT participants (in costume) are allowed in free, members of the public must pay admission fee.
3. Nothing may be thrown or handed out during the procession.

Event sponsors: UW–Madison Arts Institute, UW–Madison School of Human Ecology, Madison Children’s Museum

STRUT! is an event conceived of by Laura Anderson Barbata, the spring 2015 Interdisciplinary Artist in Residence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Barbata’s residency is hosted by the Design Studies Department.

This page was designed to be viewed on a mobile device. The desktop-friendly version is available here: http://artsinstitute.wisc.edu/iarp/barbata/strutpage.html

PROCESSION PARTICIPANTS IN LINEUP ORDER

1.         Madison Area Permaculture Guild
Madison Area Permaculture Guild cultivates diverse, healthy, and productive gardens, streetscapes, and local agriculture by sharing information, building relationships, and creating learning opportunities within our community and bioregion. For STRUT!, MAPG have been holding workshops to prepare an enormous arsenal of seedballs that they will distribute during STRUT!

2.         Black Star Drum Line
Black Star Drum Line was created and founded in 2008 by Joey B. Banks to give kids in the Madison community an opportunity for creative expression through the "Percussive Arts". Director Joey B. Banks incorporates diversity, respect for self and others, unity and mastery as the core of his youth development model he developed working as a youth development professional for over 20 years in the Madison area. Black Star Drum Line will be at the lead of STRUT! infusing the spirit of percussion with joy, discipline and expression.

3.         Alaura Seidl's Service Learning in Art Class at UW-Madison
Service Learning in Art is a class that engages artists with communities and aims to show ways that service learning can be an artform. Some of the members of the class will come together for STRUT! to help with Dumb Questions, a collaboration with librarians at College Library and Jay Ludden. The students will be marching with chalkboards, encouraging people to share their questions with them. For more information see www.ourdumbquestions.com.

4.         Madison Unicyclists
The Madison Unicyclists are interested in promoting and fostering support and interest in the healthy, wholesome activity of unicycling among youth in the area. MU activities support learning opportunities by providing equipment and instruction in all facets of unicycling and to give public demonstrations of unicycling with the intention of inspiring youth to learn how to unicycle and to improve the skills of the participants and to contribute to the community. Expect to see a dozen or more of the Madison Unicyclists rolling around in STRUT!

5.         Madison Circus Space
The Madison Circus Space (MCS) exists to be a home for the circus arts in Madison. The MCS welcomes clubs and classes in addition to providing a practice space for dedicated performers and hobbyists. Juggling, German wheel, stilt walking, aerial arts, acrobatic yoga, and hoop dancing are just a few of the activities that take place in the space. MCS is sending a joyous contingent of hula-hoop dancers to join STRUT!

6.         Nuestro Mundo
Nuestro Mundo is a dual language public charter school that is part of the Madison Metropolitan School District and located next to the Monona Public Library. Nuestro Mundo’s philosophy of dual language immersion is to develop literacy in both languages, preparing students for success in an increasingly global economy, and to promote acceptance and understanding of cultural differences and strengths. Nuestro Mundo will be showing their school pride as they join STRUT! with their puma giant puppet mascot created by Laura´s students and the Madison Children's Museum and decorated by the students of NM.

7.         Cuicani
Cuicani’s unique instrumentation combines traditional Andean instruments, such as the siku (pan flute), the quena (Andean flute), and the bombo (drum), with stringed instruments of European origin and European or Native American manufacture, such as the violin, the mandolin, the guitar, and thecharango.  The sensitivity and artistry of this trio results in both a sweet and a powerful sonority that mirrors the rich spirit of the music of some of the many cultures of the Andean regions of South America.

The members of Cuicani are deeply committed to their Latin American heritage and to promoting an awareness of Latin American peoples and cultures through their music and presentations.  The trio has been performing throughout Wisconsin since 1987.  Cuicani’s repertoire brings you an example of the breath of the Andean repertoires.  Cuicani combines the talents of three musicians who play a variety of instruments:

Raquel G. Paraíso (from Spain): trained as a classical musician, Raquel plays siku, mandolin, violin, and percussion.
Enrique Rueda (from Colombia) is both a talented musician and a sound sculpture artist.  He plays quena, quenacho, and percussion.
Francisco López (from Mexico), the founding member of the group, plays guitar, charango, and siku. 

8.         Tania Tandias Flamenco and Spanish Dance
Tania Tandias Flamenco and Spanish Dance is a local flamenco dance company that performs at community events and festivals including the Overture Center’s annual international festival. Tania Tandias offers beginning to advanced classes. For STRUT!, the group will be showcasing an array of traditional Flamenco costumes--brightly colored skirts and gorgeous dresses- and will participate in Bently Spang´s dance off at the Madison Children's Museum.

9.         DanzTrad
A group of dancers that perform traditional dance from Mexico, DanzTrad has been part of the Weekly Community Conversations and will be a part of the street procession STRUT!. DanzTrad will also be participating in Bently Spang´s dance-off at Madison Children's Museum.

10.       Madison Children’s Museum, Chickens
The Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) takes play very seriously by engaging, challenging, and inspiring every visitor who comes through the Museum’s doors. The MCM’s dedicated staff create custom-crafted, award winning exhibits, provide programs that bring all ages together, and focus on sustainability. MCM connects children with their families, their communities, and the world beyond through discovery learning and creative play. The MCM is an important partner for STRUT!. They have participated in our Community Conversations series, offered numerous hands on workshops, provided materials for costuming, and offered design guidance both at the Museum and different sites. MCM will host Bently Spang´s dance off at their Funkyard and will also be joining STRUT! with spectacular giant puppets.

11.       Forward Marching Band
Forward! Marching Band is a community-based, democratic, music-making collective dedicated to maintaining the unique fighting spirit of the Wisconsin protest movement. Forward Marching Band has participated in our Weekly Community Conversations and will perform alongside AXOLOTE in STRUT!

12.       Axolote
The Organization Committee of the AXOLOTE [a.xo.ˈlo.te] Group of Mexican Students and Friends raises awareness and brings visibility and support to the current socio-political issues in Mexico. AXOLOTE has published an English edition of “Ayotzinapa: Forced Disappearances”, a cartonera (cardboard book) originally produced in Mexico following the state sponsored disappearance of 43 students from the state of Guerrero. Leading up to STRUT!, the group held cartonera workshops, where members of the community decorated book jackets. During STRUT!, AXOLOTE will hold a protest march and will sell the cartoneras to raise money for the victims’ families.

13.       350 Madison
Dedicated to achieving a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide emission, 350 Madison works locally in concert with the international organization 350. Started by Madison area climate activists, 350 Madison seeks to raise awareness of the pressing need to address climate change. For STRUT!, 350 Madison will present a floating Enbridge Tarsands Octopus which both uses a large helium balloon and has yet to be seen in Madison. 350 Madison will also have several colorful banners that represent some of their campaigns.

14.       US Gathering and TetraPAKMAN (Victor Castro)
Artist and activist Victor Castro has worked extensively with repurposed material to create art with social meaning. Victor Castro has led workshops alongside Chris Walker and John Hitchcock to make costumes with recycled materials to be worn in STRUT! You can expect to see Victor Castro and his sculptures in STRUT! in his portrayal USgathering & TetraPAKMAN.

15.       Carolyn Kallenborn’s PULSE Fashion Show Class at UW-Madison
Students from the Textile and Fashion Design Program in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are linking their big annual fashion show event, PULSE, to STRUT! by carrying gigantic banners printed by Jennifer Angus’ printing class.

16.       Jennifer Angus’ Print and Dye class at UW-Madison
Jennifer Angus and her class have printed giant, ¨exquisite corps¨ banners which utilize silkscreening and dyed textiles. Their banners and flags were printed using silk screen and will be carried by Design Studies and printmaking students.

17.       Bently Spang
Bently Spang is a Tsitsistas/So'taeo'o (Northern Cheyenne) writer, curator, educator, and multidisciplinary artist whose mediums include mixed media sculpture, performance, video, and installation. By combining organic and non-organic matter into sculpture, infusing performance with ironic humor and pushing the boundaries of video and installation, he creates Indigenous cultural spaces and expresses himself as a contemporary Cheyenne. Bently will be in the procession and is working with the dance and music groups that are part of STRUT! to participate in a dance-off and music-off based on his Techno Powwow performances. Spang collaborated with Carolyn Kallenborn on the dyes and jumpsuits used in STRUT!, and Carolyn Benferado made the custom gold lamé suits used in STRUT!.

18.       Guerilla Screen Printmaking
John Hitchcock and Emily Arthur will be making prints from a bicycle-mounted silkscreening station at the Madison Children’s Museum Funkyard after the main procession. Don’t forget to bring a shirt and have it screen printed! John Hitchcock also participated in our Weekly Community Conversations. This semester, John and Emily´s students have been preparing and creating headpieces and masks with repurposed cardboard inspired by all the activities and workshops that have taken place for STRUT!, and they will perform these pieces during the procession.

19.       The Studio Residential Learning Community and First Wave at UW-Madison
The Studio is a place where students connect, live, make art, grow and learn surrounded by peers who share similar passions. Students from The Studio and First Wave serve their community through the arts, by hosting performances and teaching others a variety of skills. With the guidance and direction of Marina Kelly and John Hitchcock, the students from The Studio and First Wave will perform a special spoken word and musical piece created especially for STRUT! Carolyn Kallenborn worked with the print-on fabrics and t-shirts used for costumes.

20.       Zebras on poles
Created by Laura Anderson Barbata, carried by students of Chris Walker, Assistant Professor of Dance.

21.       Madison Children’s Museum, Zebras
The Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) takes play very seriously by engaging, challenging, and inspiring every visitor who comes through the Museum’s doors. The MCM’s dedicated staff create custom-crafted, award winning exhibits, provide programs that bring all ages together, and focus on sustainability. MCM connects children with their families, their communities, and the world beyond through discovery learning and creative play. The MCM is an important partner for STRUT!. They have participated in our Community Conversations series, offered numerous hands on workshops, provided materials for costuming, and offered design guidance both at the Museum and different sites. MCM will host Bently Spang´s dance off at their Funkyard and will also be joining STRUT! with spectacular giant puppets.

22.       Zebra heads, shaggies, other Spontaneous Strutters

23.       Breaking Barriers
Breaking Barriers envisions a community in which every youth experiences nurturing one-to-one relationships and community support, which in turn allows each of them to develop into their full potential, capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our community. For STRUT!, Breaking Barriers has been working with Hancock Center for Dance and Movement Therapy and Chris Walker, developing movements based on themes of Yemanja, the “Mother of Waters.” Breaking Barriers has also been designing wings and dyeing their costumes with Carolyn Kallenborn to create a special presentation that will be featured in STRUT!.

24.       Chris Walker’s Carnival and Masquerade Performance Class at UW Madison
Chris Walker, Assistant Professor of Dance, is the Artistic Director of the First Wave Hip Hop Theater Ensemble at UW-Madison and artistic director of NuMoRune Collaborative. Students in Chris Walker’s Carnival and Masquerade Performance Class will be part of STRUT!. Chris Walker has also given a number of workshops in preparation for STRUT!, worked with Breaking Barriers, and participated in our weekly Community Conversations.

25.       Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble
Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Mandjou Mara, performs traditional music and dance from Guinea and Mali, West Africa. Limanya is composed of a diverse group of dancers and drummers from the U.S. and Africa who share a love of African tradition, celebration, and culture. For STRUT!, Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble has participated in the Weekly Community Conversations and will be in the procession sharing the tradition they work so hard to preserve. Expect to see them performing in Bently Spang´s dance off at Madison Children's Museum! They will also be joined by performers from Mami Wata and Wongai Africa.

26.       ROOTZ
ROOTZ is a newly-formed Afro-Caribbean dance team that fuses both cultures through Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Dancehall and African music. ROOTZ integrates traditional and modern dances that are free, expressive and enriched with culture. For STRUT!, they will be doing a lead and follow style of dance, incorporating African and Caribbean moves and will be participating in Bently Spang´s dance off at the Madison Children's Museum.

27.       Handphibians
The Handphibians are modeled after the Brazilian baterias (percussion batteries) of the Escolas de Samba in Rio de Janeiro, Blocos Afros of Salvador, and the Maracatu Naçãos of Recife. The Handphibians’ music is also naturally influenced by the percussion traditions of Cuba, Africa, and even good ol' Wisconsin. They have participated in our weekly Community Conversations and will be our largest percussion group for Strut! providing the rhythm and groove for 50 stilt dancers! They will also be carrying a boneco, a traditional giant puppet that has been created exclusively for them in workshops at the Madison Children's Museum by students in Laura’s class.

28.       Brooklyn Jumbies
The Brooklyn Jumbies perform stilt dancing, one of the numerous cultural elements of the African and Caribbean Diaspora. The founding members of Brooklyn Jumbies Inc. are Ali Sylvester and Najja Codrington. They have collaborated with Barbata since 2007. As part of STRUT!, the Brooklyn Jumbies held several outreach workshops for the Madison community, performed in Chris Walker´s Moonshine, made a presentation and held a stilt jam session at the Overture Center for the Arts. At the Lussier Community Education Center, they introduced and launched a stilt dancing program. The Brooklyn Jumbies are returning to Madison to participate in STRUT!

29.       Cycropia Aerial Dance
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Cycropia uses single-point trapeze, bungee, lyra, and aerial fabric and combines modern dance, athleticism and the magic of defying gravity. Cycropia’s mission is to foster artistic expression and creative movement through aerial dance, education, performance and other community-building activities. Stilt dancers in Cycropia will be part of STRUT!’s stilt dancing ensemble. Cycropia has also participated in our weekly Community Conversations , in a stilt-dancing workshop with the Brooklyn Jumbies and in the opening reception of the exhibition “Transcommunality,” at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery.

30.       Wild Rumpus Circus
The Wild Rumpus Circus uses the traditional arts of the circus, including juggling, tightwire walking, clowning, aerial arts and acrobatics to teach kids and adults about overcoming challenges and connecting with others in a way that is safe, non-competitive, and fun. Marcia Miquelon and Jacob Mills offer circus- and theater-based experiences via camps, performances, classes and workshops. In preparation for STRUT!, they taught weekly stilt dancing classes at the Lussier Community Education Center, giving over 30 youth the chance to try walking tall. The Wild Rumpus also participated in our Community Conversations series, in the Brooklyn Jumbies’ stilt dancing workshop, and dozens of Wild Rumpus Alumnus will be stilt dancing for STRUT! They will be joined by stilt dancers from the Jolly Giants, the Uppity Women, and the Long-Legged Ladies,.

31.       Lussier Community Education Center
The Lussier Community Education Center (LCEC) is an innovative intergenerational, green-built community center open to the public on the west side of Madison. Previously known as the Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center, the LCEC has a decades-long track record of deep roots in the community, as well as strong partnerships with schools, churches, businesses, and service agencies across the city. Madison Children's Museum has partnered with Marcia Miquelon of Wild Rumpus Circus to teach youth from the LCEC to stilt dance and they will be a part of the stilt dancing group in STRUT!

Remote participants

College Library
Two librarians from College Library, Kelli Hughes and Pamela O'Donnell, will be participating in STRUT! by collecting and answering “Dumb Questions”. During the week of April 27th, the library will have a display promoting STRUT!, and a box where patrons can anonymously drop off questions. On the day of STRUT! students' questions will be tweeted and answered. Kelli and Pamela will both be available to answer any Dumb Questions live during STRUT!.

Collaborators

Carolyn Benforado
Pattern maker, seamstress, costume designer who worked closely with Carolyn Kallenborn and Bently Spang to create Spang´s iconic Techno Powwow gold lamé jumpsuit for his performance in STRUT! and dance-off at the Madison Children's Museum.

Carolyn Kallenborn
Professor and Department lead for Barbata’s residency at the School of Human Ecology and Design Studies. Professor Kallenborn is co-creator of STRUT! by facilitating interactions and collaborations between UW departments, Professors and Community groups. Kallenborn offered numerous outreach workshops in costuming, design and dye to members of community groups, worked closely with artist Bently Spang in the creation of his signature gold lame jumpsuit by utilizing dye and print techniques to decorate the fabric, worked closely with Hitchcock’s students to create printed garments for the event and in addition participated in all aspects of STRUT! and the residency.

Diane Ragsdale’s Beauty and Business class at UW-Madison
Students in Diane Ragsdale’s class explored concepts of procession and protest in relation to carnival. Laura and Diane Ragsdale cross pollinated ideas and presented to each others classes.

Faisal Abdu’Allah, Emily Arthur and John Hitchcock Screenprinting at UW-Madison
Faisal Abdu’Allah in partnership with the Madison Children's Museum will be working with kids and youth at the Lussier Community Education Center in an art project that explores identity and language through photographic and print images.

Hancock Center for Dance and Movement Therapy
The Hancock Center has given several workshops to Breaking Barriers and has utilized the zebras that are part of STRUT! for their workshops with teens with developmental differences.

Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection
The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection has been a source for research material such as elements related to costuming, headpieces and techniques from all around the world. They’ve generously given their time and expertise to provide students and the public with information about textile arts to inspire creations for STRUT!

Independent Participants
Individuals and groups interested in joining STRUT! are invited to participate and are encouraged to do so. We expect to have numerous groups joining us.

Jennifer Angus’ Print and Dye class at UW-Madison
Jennifer Angus and her class have printed giant, ¨exquisite corps¨ banners which utilize silkscreening and dyed textiles. Their banners and flags were printed using silk screen and will be carried by Design Studies and printmaking students.

Kaylee Werner
Donated paper maché mask-headpieces of “scary clowns” that she created and will be worn by community members. The masks have been inscribed with names of elements in nature and for STRUT! will portray a form of warning and call to action for conservation.

Latin-American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program (LACIS) at UW-Madison
Our department sponsor, LACIS has provided both valuable support and references for research, as well as an important community liaison for STRUT!.

Leslee Nelson
Textile artist and former faculty of UW in Design Studies. Professor Nelson was an active participant during the Community Conversation Series. Nelson donated large amounts of beautiful saris that have been utilized to create numerous pieces that will be worn in STRUT!

Marcia Miquelon
Marcia is a self-employed movement teacher, performer and event coordinator. As the Community Outreach Assistant for Laura’s residency she coordinated the weekly Community Conversations series, the Brooklyn Jumbies’ workshops, and assisted with route design, logistics, planning and coordination for the procession. It is her personal goal to see at least 50 stilt dancers strutting their stuff around the capitol square!

Marianne Fairbank’s Off-Loom and Woven Structures class at UW-Madison
Marianne Fairbanks opened her class to participate in STRUT!, shared concepts of textiles utilized in performance and public art, and was one of the speakers in our Weekly Community Conversations. In anticipation of STRUT! the students have experimented with textiles, off-loom structures and designs for processions and performance.

Mary Hark's Papermaking class at UW-Madison
Mary Hark is a paper maker and artist who organizes community-based, environmentally-consciously projects. Mary Hark has supported STRUT! by sharing techniques and guidance, reaching out to the community and opened her class to participate in STRUT!. Mary Hark’s students’ indigo projects will live on for other performances and has inspired future collaborations with her students. Her students have created a large scale hand made paper wearable sculpture that will be performed in STRUT!

Overture Center for the Arts
The Overture Center for the Arts is a performing arts center and gallery. Their mission is to engage the community with innovative programming and performing arts. The Overture Center for the Arts is an important partner for STRUT´s Weekly Community Conversations, the Center generously provided their extraordinary facilities and technical support for workshops, talks and performances.
           
Ruth Davis Design Gallery
Laura Anderson Barbata’s show, Transcommunality, was exhibited in the Ruth David Design Gallery. RDDG also installed Laura’s work at the Madison Children’s Museum.

School of Human Ecology (SOHE)
The School of Human Ecology is the department host for Laura Anderson Barbata’s residency and where her class is held with the support of faculty lead Carolyn Kallenborn. SoHE has been the host of numerous Weekly Community Conversations, as well as workshops in which students shared their classroom and creative process with community members.

UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence
Laura has held art workshops with UNIDOS to explore concepts of beauty, dignity, respect, identity-building and self empowerment.

UW Madison Interdisciplinary Arts Social Art Practice Students, STRUT! Co-creators
Hannah O'Hare Bennett (TA), Pete Bouchard, Augusta Brulla, Michael Kuca, Ligia (Licho) Lopez, Jay Ludden, Lisbeth Solano and Cecilia Soto. Students were actively involved in the planning, designing, conceptual development, creation of costuming elements, promotion and outreach activities for STRUT! Acting as Ambassadors of STRUT! as they reached out to their community groups and contacted new groups to engage in the project. Students participated in all aspects necessary to realize this large scale public event and are participating in STRUT! along with their community partners.

THANKS

In addition to all the participants, co-creators, and collaborators listed above, this is just a few of the people we would like to thank for their work in making STRUT! and the Laura Anderson Barbata Interdisciplinary Arts Residency a reality:

• Sandra Bonnici Hoecherl, Madison Children's Museum
• Jay Burlingham, Arts Institute
• Allen Ebert, Arts Institute
• Natalie Feggested, Design Studies Department
• Ellen Felix, Design Gallery
• Staci Francis, Arts Institute
• Natalie Galles, Arts Institute
• Aaron Granat, Arts Institute
• Kate Hewson, Arts Institute
• Christina Martin-Wright, Arts Institute
• Troy Ninedorf, Arts Institute
• Heather Owens and Kate Lochner, Arts Institute
• Liese Pfeifer, Design Gallery
• Beth Racette, Overture Center for the Arts
• Susan Ramspacher, Lussier Community Education Center
• Aliza Rand, Arts Institute
• Roberto Rengel, Design Studies
• Zack Robbins, Arts Institute
• Laurie Rossbach, Madison Children's Museum
• Norma Saldivar, Arts Institute
• Jonathan Zarov, Madison Children's Museum

© 2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System