Breathing, Listening and Creating Change

An Interactive Community Keynote Forum

2 - 4 p.m.
Nelson Fine Arts Center Room 231
Light refreshments provided

Join us in the Music, Dance and Theatre Wellness Studio for an interactive community keynote forum. Recent research demonstrates that audiences’ heartbeats synchronize during performances. Audience members’ heartbeats also synchronize with the artists on stage. This interactive presentation and discussion offers this and other recent research in neurobiology from an artist’s perspective. Collectively, Daniel and participants explore how these modern “discoveries,” often mirroring ancient wisdom and knowledge held by multiple world cultures, impact the audience-artist relationship and the responsibility of artists, presenters, and producers. 

Come for an enlightening and centering experience, and leave feeling refreshed full of new insights about your personal and professional practice!

RSVPs are requested, but not required.

About the presenter:

Daniel Banks, Ph.D., is a director, deviser, dance dramaturg, community organizer and co-founder, with dancer/choreographer Adam W. McKinney, of DNAWORKS: Dialogue and Healing through the Arts. He has directed, led workshops and/or instigated projects in 39 states and 23 countries at such venues as the National Theatre of Uganda, the Belarussian National Drama Theatre, The Market Theatre (South Africa), ArtsEmerson (Boston), Playhouse Square (Cleveland), the Oval House and Teatro Technis (U.K.), with the NYC and DC Hip Hop Theatre Festivals and many more throughout the world. Recent directing projects include "HaMapah/The Map: Dance-on-Film" choreographed and performed by Adam W. McKinney, "The Real James Bond…Was Dominican" by and with Christopher Rivas, and "The Secret Sharer" (in development). 

An accomplished scholar who has served on the faculties of the Tisch School of the Arts, CUNY, Carnegie Mellon, Naropa Institute and the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, Daniel is editor of the first critical anthology of Hip Hop Theatre plays "Say Word: Voices" from Hip Hop Theater and co-editor with Dr. Claire Syler of "The Welcome Table: Casting a Movement." He is the founder and director of the Hip Hop Theatre Initiative (HHTI) that engages Hip Hop Theatre to catalyze youth self expression and leadership and Associate Director of Theatre Without Borders. Daniel is recipient of Theatre Communications Group’s Alan Schneider Director Award.