Celestial Movement

Reclaiming the Home is a moving exhibit, bringing attention towards the relationship between sexual assault , Hyper sexuality, and BDSM culture. While reclaiming ownership over the home that is our body, Mitchell is continuously implementing healing as a practice through their work. Standing firmly in their pleasure (as an Assault Survivor) without fear, or judgement is the inspiration behind this work. “Reclaiming the Home “creates a gaze into Star’s home through Sexual Spells. Visual Mediums will be in the form of movement, virtual poetry, cinema, and natural elements. Creating the bridge between Personal Boundaries after sexual assault and Boundaries within BDSM Practices.

Center for Performance Research’s Artist-in-Residence (AiR) Program seeks to support a wide range of artists, from emerging choreographers to established companies, working within various perspectives of contemporary dance and performance, and time-based forms.

 The project is called HOME// AGIAN Choreographed by Star Mitchell. Home//Again Re-imagines the world as a utopia from the lenses of our inner children. Embodying joy as a homecoming and act of resilience. Home // Again is a celebration of life, using the energy from the elements and bringing awareness to the multidimensional experience of black and brown queerness as well as humanhood. I decided to incorporate three styles of movement ( Modern, House, and Vogue) I put under the umbrella of liberation styles as they all evolved as either an act of defiance toward a systems that weren’t serving them. While utilizing emotionally invoking prompts to aid dancers in the process of individuation. Prompts such as but not limited to (Can you start moving from a place of rage and change it into a place of peace?  How would your inner child move through this space ? Embody freedom while thinking about water, how it moves freely but crashes on to the shore with force . ) This project was brought to life with the help of The City Artist Corps grant which was formed to engage the public with arts activities this summer and fall. I showcased this work at prospect park peristyle as an Interactive work in progress. 

City Artist Corps Grants is part of City Artist Corps, a new $25 million recovery initiative designed to help artists who were both hard hit by the pandemic and who may have been left out of other local and federal funding opportunities.

City Artist Corps Grants are intended to support NYC-based working artists who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The program will distribute one-time $5,000 grants to over 3,000 artists to help sustain their practice and engage the public across New York City’s five boroughs beginning in July 2021. Artists working in any discipline were eligible to apply.

Field Day is a reimagining of track and field that centers athleticism, aesthetic liberation, and collective joy for Black queer and trans people. I had the pleasure of choreographing a House piece entitled " Hot Music, Is Joy" that would utilize the hurdle event in new and creative ways. Finding ways to dance/jump/ and slide through each hurdle while honoring each element of the style. Some events maintained traditional aspects of the sport, while others (such as my own) stretch and reimagine them through the integration of more expressive, Black liberation dance styles. Field Day was performed at The Shed's Open Call.
 

 Created warm ups to aid in students in injury prevention and recovery. Made lesson plans to inform students of the the dance history of select styles ( Modern, Hip-hop, House, West African.) Choreographed Dances for Family Art nights.  Communicated with students and parents in person, via email and by phone to resolve issues and answer questions. Created a healthy and safe learning environment for all students by implementing class rules and promoting mutual respect and gentle discipline.