Open Ended // Empress Archer

Open Space and BodyVox present Open Ended // Empress Archer  

Empress Archer digests the input of 12 choreographers, 10 years, 8 cities, 4 global upheavals, 3 weddings, 2 pregnancies, and an infinite grasping for humanity into a dance show about one relationship. Ariel Freedman and Meredith Webster join forces from opposite corners of the world (Israel/Palestine and San Francisco, respectively) to witness each other, survive motherhood and loss, goof around, and achieve something together that can't be done alone.  

Source Material By: Roy Assaf, Christian Burns, Charlotte Griffin, David Harvey, Magdalena Jarkowiec, Ledoh, Melinda Jean Myers, Ohad Naharin, Ella Rothschild, Ilya Vidrin, Zack Winokur, and Aviv Abeba Yosef

Co-Created by: Ariel Freedman, Benjamin Wardell, and Meredith Webster

Note From Freedman and Webster: While our dance was not expressly made to be "about" Palestine/Israel, we feel that, at this time, there is no way to show up on a stage anywhere in the world and present this piece without speaking about it. Before anything else, the work is about us. It's about a relationship-- our relationship. It's about how we are trying to walk through and meet this world. For that reason, this statement (click here), written by Ariel from her home on October 17, 2023, is something we want to share with folks before we see them in person. We hope it gives an indication of where we are both coming from, and offers an open hand to all those who might want to speak with us about it.  

Open Space will open the performance with Squeezing Honey from a Stone, a world premiere by Canadian New York-based choreographer, Elijah Labay.

Labay describes his work as "a reflection of self and how we present ourselves to the world....we explore the dichotomy of a hard exterior to protect ourselves and forms of inner softness, which we reserve for our relationships or self love."

BodyVox Accessibility:

BodyVox Dance Center is a wheelchair accessible theater (ramp to front entrance, no internal stairs) with wheelchair seating available for power or manual wheelchairs.  Bodyvox has two all-gender restrooms that are accessible for power and manual wheelchairs. Please contact charlene@openspace.dance if you will be using accessible seating, have any additional questions, or just want to let us know you’re coming so we can plan accordingly.

ASL Interpretation: Open Ended // Empress Archer will not have an on-site ASL interpreter; rather, guests may provide their own ASL Interpreter and Open Space will cover the cost of the interpreter’s ticket. Pending the interpreter’s rate, Open Space can cover a portion or the full interpreter fee. Please email charlene@openspace.dance to coordinate.

No one is turned away for lack of funds. Please email charlene@openspace.dance if ticket prices are a barrier.