dance videos

Jerry Brandes:

Mar 12, 1943 - Nov 17, 2022

In the beginning days while my father was transitioning from his home in Holliston to assisted living, I felt called to be close by - it was not an easy transition. It was the first time in many years I slept in my childhood home.

The story of the night I got a crisis call from Valley Farm and went to support my dad; as well as threads from his remarkable life and legacy, are woven into this film.

My father, Jerry Brandes died November 17, 2022. My dance practice, my community, and the traditions passed down through my Jewish ancestry were the rocks I leaned upon... As well as the sweet stories and vivacious humor that was always part of my father's spirit.

Much of the following footage was recorded in the precious time near to his passing. Dad, I hope this film honors your life and your death.

Thank you for all who helped to make this film possible: Ari Kriegsman, Daniel Cook, Rythea Lee, Tom Knight, Saliq Savage for filming the ceremony, and the Thursday Underscore +/_ group for holding space in the precious moments of my father’s passing.

photos

testimonials (teaching)

“Brando offered a gentle way of teaching. I find the peaceful atmosphere it created in class helped me relax even more and enjoy exploring my space and my partners space.”

“It’s such a treasure to have you teach my students. You set a gorgeous environment and the way you articulate movement in both body and words is poetry. ”

“Brando’s explanation of details is just right… not too much or two little”

“DELICIOUS! You provided centered authentic witnessing in order to create a flow in motion that built upon the mechanics of technique”

“Thank you, I really got it!”

“Brando’s clarity lightness methodical weaving together of simple things to then prepare us for take-off”

“I appreciate the way Brando breaks things down - very methodically and connects with physics, developmental and anatomical principles”

“Attention to detail awakening awareness of what is happening and movement patterns so delicious! ”

“His scores are very informative as well as nourishing ”

“I want to thank you for that rich class on Saturday! You and Alyssa make a great team. I really appreciated the container that was held, the clarity of your teaching, and the invitations that were a bit edgy + ended up being incredibly opening.”

setGo

setGO is a Contact Improvisation Research and Performance ensemble founded in 2016 by dancers Shura Baryshnikov, Aaron Brando, Paul Singh, Bradley Teal Ellis, and Sarah Konner. Though all are interdisciplinary artists, each identifies Contact Improvisation as a primary practice and are lead researchers and educators in the field, both nationally and internationally. Collectively, setGO has been practicing the form of Contact Improvisation for over 60 years.

The setGO ensemble shares a love for whimsical, whole-hearted, virtuosic improvisation; they have been dance-making together since 2009. The group has performed at the Moving Arts Lab (Earthdance, MA), the RISD Museum Open Rehearsals, for the Institute for the Study of Environment and the Society at Brown University, Providence Fringe Festival, and the Everybody Moves Festival at the School for Contemporary Dance and Thought in Northampton, MA. They have developed pedagogy together as part of the CI Ground Research laboratory project since 2010.

In addition to directing their own companies, setGO artists have danced with other choreographers and companies including Amy Chavasse, Heidi Henderson, Chris Aiken, Faye Driscoll, Douglas Dunn, Gabriel Forestieri, and Headlong Dance Theater, and are currently on faculty, as well as artist-residents at universities across the United States. Members of the ensemble teach at acclaimed dance festivals nationally and internationally and offer regular classes in their local areas. They have unique training in somatic modalities including Laban Movement Analysis, Viewpoints Technique, Structural Integration, Safety Release Technique, Yoga, Pilates, and Body-Mind Centering®.