Rxchel Abrahams - Multidisciplinary Artist Creative Collaborator rxchel.abrahams@gmail.com https://rachelcreative.space
EDUCATION
Tulane University MFA Interdisciplinary Dance Performance - expected graduation 2024
California Institute of the Arts BFA in Dance and Choreography 2009
ARTS ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS (Rehearsal Direction, Production)
‘Odyssey’
Newcomb Dance Company 2023, responsibilities include:
Rehearsal Director, Choreographic Collaborator, Sound Designer
BODYART Dance
‘Digital Magpies’ Residency 2022
Rehearsal Director
‘hymn + them’ Chile Tour 2022
Rehearsal Director & Performer, responsibilities include:
Collaborate with director on restructuring of work; reset work on new cast.
‘HACER JUNTXS’ Residency
Valparíso 2022
Devise, Choreograph, Sound Design an immersive site specific work.
‘Water Stories’ Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley 2019
Rehearsal Director & Performer, responsibilities include:
Lead multi-level modern dance classes to university students; host audition; conduct rehearsals for student company; provide notation and stage direction for faculty; create movement and phrase work for BODYART dancers; planning and executing travel logistics; manage communication before and after the tour with performers.
‘Maison’
Dir. Leslie Scott, Monica Payne, Darci Fulcher
New Orleans 2018
Collaborator, Theatre Consultant, & Performer, responsibilities include:
Creative consultant for Immersive Theatre event; curate playlist for post-show cocktail party; cast liaison to the directors.
‘Blow’
New York City 2014
Producer, responsibilities include:
Arrange equipment rentals; location scout; director to performer and director to site liaison; arrange cast travel to set; day-of coordinator on set.
Yin Mei Dance
‘Antigone’ Chengdu Shakespeare Festival, Sichuan International Theatre Festival 2017 (China)
Rehearsal Director & Performer, responsibilities include:
Cast performers for dance theatre project; communication liaison between performers and director; assist producer in organizing travel including visa acquisition and roundtrip flight accommodations; schedule and deliver reminders for performers; conduct rehearsals in Chengdu, China; lead company warm-up classes; teach university class in Hainan and participate in theatre lecture/talk back.
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2023 Graduate Instructor - Modern Dance III/IV
2023 Graduate Instructor - Modern Dance III/IV, Ballet III,IV
2022 Graduate Instructor - Modern Dance I, Modern Dance II
2022 Teaching Assistant - Early Summer Session SLA; Service Learning Mentor for Non Profit Development (undergraduate)
RESEARCH - WRITING AND DATA COLLECTION
2023 Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. Vicki Mayer
2023 Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. Vicki Mayer, Professor of Communication, SLA - Tulane University
2022 ‘Who Holds Up Art In New Orleans?’ Taylor Center’s Taylor Hub Blog
2022 Graduate Research Assistant with Arts Council New Orleans, Research for v1 New Orleans Cultural Masterplan
2021 Assisted in Public Space and Monuments Study with Dr. Lisa Molix, Emilie Welty-Taylor, and Tiffany Lin
‘A Walk Through Empathy’
‘Misconceptions of Knowing’
‘Rhetoric Receipts and Facts’
CHOREOGRAPHIC WORK FOR STAGE
2023 ‘Moonwork Two’ International Dance Festival New Orleans, Peter + Paul Performance Space (LA)
2023 ‘Odyssey’ Lupin Theatre (LA)
2022 ‘Moonwork 1’ Above The Oaks (LA)
2022 ‘The Mad Ones’ Loyola University, Movement Direction & Choreography (LA) 2022 ‘Inside Weather’ Young Performers (LA)
2021 ‘4th Gen’ Above The Oaks (LA)
WORK FOR NON-TRADITIONAL SPACES (site specific)
2023 ‘Ritual’ dir Monica Payne, Wonderland Bywater (LA)
2022 ‘Rising Water’ with Australis Duo, Rogers Memorial Chapel (LA)
2022 Site Specific Immersive Theatre in collaboration with Corredor de Danza at Maestranza Baron in Valparaiso (Chile)
2022 ‘Hacer Juntxs’ Collaborative Movement Film shot in Valdivia (Chile)
2021 Spontaneous Response to Ron Bechet’s Art in Prospect.5 “Yesterday we said tomorrow.” Newcomb Art Museum (LA)
INVITED SEMINARS AND TEACHING RESIDENCIES
2022 Moving2Heal — Tulane University — New Orleans, LA, movement practice and lecture on utilizing empathy to engage in learning, community, and allyship
2022 Hacer Juntxs — Valdivia, Chile Five- day class and creation residency at CCDR 2019 California State Fullerton – Fullerton, CA Seven-day seminar and workshop series for contemporary dance technique, performance technique, and repertory. 2017 Hainan University – Haikou, China Contemporary dance technique
2017 Suan Sati - Chiang Mai, Thailand — Five weeks of twice daily yoga and meditation classes
INVITED MASTERCLASSES
CEE Valdivia (CHILE) 2022
University of KwaZulu - Natal (South Africa) 2019
Tulane University (LA) 2018, 2019
Birdville Dance (TX) 2014, 2018
BODYART Intensive (NYC) 2012, 2013, 2014
Booker T Washington High School for the Performing Arts (TX) Creekview High School (TX) 2012-2014
The Dance Workshop (CT) 2014
Dallas Independent Schools (TX) 2012-2018
Denton High School (TX) 2012
Greenhill Performing Arts Center (TX) 2012 - 2014
Tarrant County Community College South (TX) 2012
Texas Christian University (TX) 2012-2014
University of North Texas (TX) 2012, 2014
PANELIST/CONFERENCE PRESENTATION/ATTENDANCE
2022 ‘Imagining America’, member & attendee New Orleans, LA
2022 ‘Screen Dance as Community Engagement’, ACDA National Screen Dance Fest (remote)
2021 ‘Moving2Heal Webinar’, New Orleans, LA
2017 ‘Dance + Theatre in the US’, Chengdu Arts University Chengdu, China 2014 ‘St Olaf Artist Panel’, Museum of Modern Art New York, NY
COMMUNITY ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP
2022 Engaging in Empathy for Learning
Lecture for Non Profit Development (Tulane University, SLA)
2020 Moving2Heal, BODYART Connects
Create curriculum for Moving2Heal Program. Moving2Heal is a trauma-informed guided movement experience that aims to release physical and emotional tension through breath, imagery, and imaginative movement.
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2023 CELT Classroom Grant
2023 Graduate Summer Research Grant
2023 Tulane Center for Public Service Community Engaged Research Grant
2022 CELT Classroom Grant
2022 Tulane Mellon Fellowship for Community Engaged Scholarship (LA)
2022 Taylor Center Changemaker Catalyst Award (LA)
2021 Tulane University, MFA Interdisciplinary Dance Performance (LA) - awarded full tuition scholarship
2019 Grand Valley State University (MI) - Artist in Residence
2018 Pocoapoco Oaxaca (MX) - Artist in Residence