Ancestor's Voices: A Movement Workshop

Ancestors Voices is a dance theater project that explores the field of epigenetics and generational inherited trauma in the Jewish community. Partnering with scientists who study epigenetics and therapists with a history of dealing with trauma, they conceive and conduct workshops that will ultimately shape the content of the new dance work.

This is a participatory community workshop in which participants will examine inherited ancestral trauma and how it manifests in the body through guided movement exercises, writing, drawing and sharing. According to Duke University, intergenerational trauma affects individuals mentally, emotionally and physically. Tactics historically necessary for survival may in the present adversely affect one’s sense of self-worth, agency, connection and belonging as well as mental health and neurological functioning. In times of turbulence, like today’s rise of anti-Semitism, the external environment may trigger genes to function in different ways. It can be life-changing to examine and recognize the effects of generational trauma and to be empowered to change or override what is no longer beneficial.

The body, not the thinking brain, is where we experience most of our trauma and where we process most of what happens to us. It is also where we do most of our healing, including our emotional and psychological healing. The body exercises in the workshop, beginning with simples ones such as deep and slow breathing, can easily be done outside the workshops and can be utilized in everyday life. The workshop will provide an opportunity for healing and uplifting, to join in community to imagine a world that we would like to create.

No prior movement experience necessary. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you can move in.

This workshop is made possible in part by grants from the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the California Arts Council, a state agency.

Donna Sternberg & Dancers is a contemporary dance company with the goal to discover, transform, connect. We believe the act of discovery can be transformative and to this end we seek to build bridges and make connections between dance, science, the arts and communities. We intentionally seek partnerships with artists, cultural organizations, scientists, educational and science institutions to find innovative ways to probe the science/human connection through dance in collaboration with other art forms.

Space is limited. RSVP HERE