The MasterZ at Work Dance Family
At outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage: Jul 13
Event Dates
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About
The MasterZ at Work Dance Family
This performance took place on July 13, 2024.
The outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage hosted The MasterZ at Work Dance Family for a special one-night-only performance on July 13, in honor of Pillow Pride. This performance included a “Choose What You Pay” ticketing option, with a suggested ticket price of $25.
A dance collective of fierce young performers from different dance backgrounds, MasterZ at Work ignites the stage with jazz, hip-hop, street jazz, house, African, vogue, and contemporary dance. Led by Black trans femme choreographer Courtney Washington Balenciaga—a legend in the ballroom community—the company creates dances that represent resilience, and which foster community in under-resourced areas of Brooklyn. Always “irrepressible” and “crowd-pleasing” (The Dance Enthusiast), the company wowed the Pillow audiences last year, and 2024 marks their triumphant return performing the Works & Process commissioned ALL INCLUSIVE and more.
Company Program
Cast: Jay Parel, Brian Starke, Deandre Cousley, Aaliyah Berry, Ja Quinn Coleman, Dashaun “DayDay” Peals, Bryce Farris, Jaylen Wallace, Tyreel Simpson, Lolita
ALL INCLUSIVE AND MORE
In their first residency with Works & Process, The MasterZ at Work Dance Family decided to show the company and cast by incorporating everyone’s personal style. Each dancer was trained by sharing their own style with the audience, piece, and each other. Black trans femme choreographer Courtney Washington Balenciaga says “this dance also gives us space to show everyone individually.” This piece was choreographed by everyone in the cast.
ALL INCLUSIVE AND MORE premiered on March 31, 2021 at the Guggenheim’s Works & Process.
Costume direction by Patrick Gordon & Jay Parel
Music by Byrell The great, cakes da killa, and Lolita
Space
Space was created and performed by and for the company. Whether Black, queer, loud, curly hair, no hair, no diet, fat, skinny, etc., Washington says that “this dance was created to show us taking up space in our true identity.”
Space premiered on November 21, 2022 at the Guggenheim’s with Works & Process.
Choreography by Luis Estevez, Jay Parel, Armani Moore, Brian Starke, Jaquinn Coleman, Dashaun Peals
Costume direction by Courtney Washington
