In Conversation: Ligia Lewis, Niall Jones, Will Rawls, Corey Scott-Gilbert, and Mame Diarra Speis

Join us Thursday, January 25 at 7:30 pm for a conversation between Ligia Lewis, Niall Jones, Will Rawls, Corey Scott-Gilbert, and Mame Diarra Speis.

The artists will discuss their own choreographic practices and the evolution of study now steady.

About the Speakers

Niall Jones: Niall Jones is an artist, performer, and teacher based in New York City, known for his immersive theatrical work that destabilizes traditional senses of place and narrative. He received a Bessie Award nomination in 2017 and a Grants-To-Artists Award in 2021. Jones’ notable works include “Sis Minor, in Fall” (2018) and “dark de luxe” (2022). He is also a Creative Producer and adjunct professor at the School of Dance, University of the Arts.

Will Rawls: Will Rawls is a multi-disciplinary choreographer, dancer, and writer, currently touring with his work [siccer] (2023). His recent contributions include “A Phrase That Fits” at the 35th Bienal de São Paulo and the film “regular degular” for the 2023 Counterpublic Biennial. Rawls has received fellowships from prestigious institutions and serves as an Associate Professor of Choreography at UCLA.

Corey Scott-Gilbert: Corey Scott-Gilbert, a graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts and The Juilliard School, was a soloist with Lyon Opera Ballet and received the Princess Grace Award in 2009. After an ankle injury while under the mentorship of Alonzo King, Scott-Gilbert continually seeks possibilities where an artistic process sparks a physical language. Scott-Gilbert is now freelancing with a base in Berlin, Germany focusing on works that are in dialogue with social dynamics.

Mame Diarra (Samantha) Speis: Mame Diarra (Samantha) Speis, a mother and movement improviser, is the Co-Artistic Director of Urban Bush Women. Her recent work includes “Haint Blu” (2023). A Bessie Award winner in 2017, Speis explores pelvic mobility in her teaching and performance practice. She has been a guest artist and lecturer at various institutions, including Princeton University and Montclair State University.