ABOUT BORROWED /  TICKETS / LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ARTIST BIOS

ABOUT BORROWED

Borrowed (2024) is a dance performance and immersion experience that prompts audiences to reflect on our relationship with Earth's resources and marginalized communities. This multifacited performance combines nature immersion, performance art, and community engagement, enabling audiences to examine how humanity has disproportionately used Earth’s resources, “borrowing time” from the planet, marginalized communities, and ourselves.

This project is tailored to specific communities and designed to be adaptable for replication in various locations across the United States. The premiere chapter unfolded in Joshua Tree, California, with performances in May 2024. 

Previous Experiences in Joshua Tree National Park

Location
Black Rock Nature Center
9800 Black Rock Canyon Road
Yucca Valley, CA 92284
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​Performance Schedule
Saturday, May 11th, 4 PM -6 PM
Sunday, May 12th, 10 AM - 12 PM

May 10th Workshop at Mojave Desert Land Trust

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Mojave Desert Land Trust is collaborating with our team to offer our community a chance to reconnect with nature. These embodiment workshops are designed to nourish your mind, body, and spirit, guiding you through practices that deepen your connection with nature and yourself. Hosted by MDLT, this experience aims to foster community and enhance your understanding of your relationship with nature.

Join us on Friday, May 10th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at MDLT. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated. Secure your spot  for an evening of self-care and connection.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Borrowed, ph1 unfolds on the ancestral territories of the Serrano tribes. We acknowledging with appreciation the opportunity to unite and celebrate art on these historic grounds. We invite attendees to delve deeper into the rich heritage of the Serrano, Chemehuevi, and the Cahuilla peoples and the indigenous legacy of their local lands through resources like Native-Land.ca.

ARTIST BIOS

​CONNI MCKENZIE | Artistic Director & Choreographer

Conni is a versatile performer with an extensive background spanning across dance, theater, psychology, education, filmmaking, and photography. In 2021, Conni released her first film, “Set Me Free.” The film was featured in the 2021 San Francisco Dance Film Festival and various other festivals nationally and internationally in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. During the same year, she co-directed "Lungs of the Earth," a short film which was featured in the Bay Area Shorts Festival and the 'All that you touch' exhibit at Thatcher Gallery.

This fall, Conni debuts her first Exhibition & Performance project as an immersive exhibition and dance theater experience. "Flow" explores the pursuit and sustenance of flow states in our daily lives and our connection to the environment, and is a part of the 2023-2024 DEAR Residency with New Performance Traditions.

BoxoPROJECTS | Producer

BoxoPROJECTS is a multi-program arts initiative based in Joshua Tree, California, dedicated to exploring contemporary art at the new frontier. BoxoPROJECTS is interested in the role of art and artists in creating community and in the power of art to shape the destiny of communities. We offer facilitated artist residencies and related programming at BoxoHOUSE in Joshua Tree, as well as exhibitions, installations and performances in various locations. BoxoPROJECTS was founded by Bernard Leibov in 2009. In 2015, a partnership with curator KJ Baysa led to the creation of Joshua Treenial, a celebration of site-responsive installations and performances showcasing the spirit of Joshua Tree. Recognizing the individual and systematic inequities that prevail in the art world, BoxoPROJECTS promotes diversity and inclusion by welcoming artists whose production is informed by race, sexual orientation or identity, religion, national origin, gender and/or physical limitations. BoxoPROJECTS is a sponsored project of Fulcrum Arts, enabling tax-deductible contributions for its charitable endeavors.

ADRIAN CONTRERAS | Dancer & Collaborator

Adrian Contreras (he/him) started dancing at the age of 17 at Melodic Remedy Dance Studio. While there he trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Musical Theater, Jazz Funk, and Hip Hop. He then went to Chapman University to further continue his training in Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary and Ballroom and simultaneously obtained a degree in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Finance. After college he was a mentee with the IAF dance company in LA run by So You Think You can Dance winner Chehon Wespi-Tschopp. Since then he has performed in San Francisco with Stacy Printz on a few of her projects as well as a music video for a local artist and with the Ramm Dance company. He looks forward to performing Conni's work.

DANIELLE NODA | Dancer & Collaborator

Danielle Noda (she/her) began her dance training at NCDC under the direction of Jen Bradford. Danielle was awarded the Virginia Ann Excellence in Dance Scholarship which allowed her to continue her training at San Jose State University and perform as a company member of University Dance Theater. Danielle received her BFA in Dance from San Jose State University with the “Above and Beyond” award for her exceptional performance and artistry in dance. She is currently a company member with SjDanceCo, and has danced professionally for Kara Davis, Nhan Ho, Rogelio Lopez, Diane Frank, Jenni Hong Dance, Maria Basile, Jhia Jackson and seymour::dance collective. Outside of the studio, Danielle is passionate about collaborating with artists of other disciplines.

MONICA FRANGOUL | Dancer & Collaborator

Monica Portugues Frangoul (she/her) is a teaching artist, holistic movement healer, dancer, and therapist in-training, emphasizing her art in contemporary-ballet and modern dance. She has received her B.A in Performing Arts and Social Justice- dance and a M.A in the Arts of Teaching Reading with a bilingual credential in Spanish, pursuing her passion of working with kids and sharing the exploration of self-love and expression through movement. After working for SFUSD -- as a Spanish immersion kindergarten and first grade teacher-- and a teaching artist with SFArtsEd, she is now exploring the healing nature of movement through her graduate studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies to soon become a somatic based Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). Her studies in Somatic Psychology inspire her art exploration in the interconnectedness of the psychology of the body and of the mind, the importance of befriending our nervous system, and the power of reconnecting to our bodies through stillness and movement. 

SIERRA PAOLA | Dancer & Collaborator

Sierra Paola (she/her) is a dancer and attorney in the Bay Area. Sierra attended Pacific University where she danced for the Pacific Dance Ensemble and graduated in 2019 with a minor in Dance. She then danced for Vytal Movement Dance in Spokane, Washington for three years while attending law school. Since moving to the Bay Area, Sierra has had the pleasure to work with an array of choreographers including Alex Tiscerano, Sara Bush, Courtney Ramm, and Maggie Ogle. 

SAINT HILLS | Sound Designer

saint hills is a Brazilian multi-hyphenate music artist who has built a diverse and versatile repertoire. Always guided by authenticity and exploration, the producer, DJ and live entertainer has found a unique confluence of Brazilian vibes merging with global waves. In 2022, saint hills starred in the documentary “No More Longing”, which showed how being a trans person impacts his creative process. 

ANCA BALACEANU | Costume Designer

Anca Balaceanu is a human-centered designer and visual artist currently based in the Bay Area. Originally from Romania, Anca is a multi faceted designer who creates both digital and physical products and experiences. She builds interfaces for technology startups and also exhibits traditional artwork at galleries in San Francisco.  She approaches costume design with a human-centered lens that prioritizes the needs of the body and soul. Anca is passionate about building interdisciplinary relationships and creative projects within her community and hopes to infuse design in everything she does.

SPECIAL THANKS

Bernard Leibov
Sant Khalsa
Yvonne Buchanan
Felicitas Fischer
Angel Velez
​Black Rock Nature Center