hello how are we

This piece was a collaborative effort between myself and musician, Sarah Zimmer. We simultaneously created a piece of music and dance that was inspired by the texts, emails, and phone calls we received and made to check in with loved ones over the course of quarantine as a result of Covid-19. This unique creative process culminated in October 2020 in a site specific, outdoor, and socially distanced performance in Lower Allston.
Our music was an original composition rooted in the complicated climate our community is dealing with daily. From coronavirus to civil rights protests, we as a population were, and still are, coping daily and when someone reaches out to us, many of us find conflicting emotions. The desire to stay positive and uplifting directly opposes the need to address our sadness and anger. With each text and call our reaction fluctuates and changes depending on who we are talking with and what our relationship looks like. This music is spotted with these high points and check ins but never forgets or leaves that underlying feeling that something isn’t right.
10 dancers performed behind and between columns to the music. The columns allow for a practical marker of six feet to allow social distancing but also individual “backstage” space that is atypical of most performance spaces. These columns were incorporated into the piece to allow for character changes, shifts in mood, and individual “stages” to represent our physically separated state. The movement is driven by two points: the concept of waving, saying hello, and connecting with the audience or going through personal feelings, private situations, and more internal thoughts.
The first performance was held on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 5pm
in person for a small group of guests and live streamed for all via Facebook.
The full performance is now available. Join creative team members on Facebook for a casual question and answer at 6:00PM EST on February 20th.
The full event press release is located below.
This was a paid opportunity for the dancers. Thanks to a series of donations we exceeded our goal of $1,800. All addition contributions will cover additional cost or be additional funding for the dancers.
We are 105% funded!
Thank you to our supporters:
Melanie Bacaling
Kerri Beal
Daniel Dearing
Kathy Dearing
Dominic Delore
Karen Densmore
Liz Donovan
Jasmine Durant
Sarah Gally
Lina Haag
Rebecca Kittredge
Allison Penn
Sarah Plotkin
Brittney Sheffield
Megan Steinhilber
Kathie Woodhouse
Sarah Zimmer
Dancer Sponsors:
The Florence Family
Kaylee and Nick
Ross Zimmer
Hope Courtney
This program is supported in part by The Opportunity Fund, a grant from
the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the City of Boston.
Meet the Creators
Sarah Zimmer is an independent artist currently based in the Greater Philadelphia area. Her music draws inspiration from indie, folk, classical, electronic and punk genres to capture what can and cannot be put into words. Sarah has two self-released EPs and has graciously gotten to work with collaborators and friends on her music, as well as music for film and dance pieces. A classically trained singer, she is mainly a one-woman band, playing guitar, keys, drums and producing under the moniker ‘scapeghosts’ Sarah recieved her Bachelors in History and Theatre from Dickinson College, and Masters in Theatre Education for Community Engagement from Emerson College, focusing on research into consent and intimacy direction into undergraduate performing arts spaces. In addition to music, Sarah currently works as a tutor for elementary, high school, and college students. Follow her on Instagram @scapeghosties
Sarah Zimmer is an independent artist currently based in the Greater Philadelphia area. Her music draws inspiration from indie, folk, classical, electronic and punk genres to capture what can and cannot be put into words. Sarah has two self-released EPs and has graciously gotten to work with collaborators and friends on her music, as well as music for film and dance pieces. A classically trained singer, she is mainly a one-woman band, playing guitar, keys, drums and producing under the moniker ‘scapeghosts’ Sarah recieved her Bachelors in History and Theatre from Dickinson College, and Masters in Theatre Education for Community Engagement from Emerson College, focusing on research into consent and intimacy direction into undergraduate performing arts spaces. In addition to music, Sarah currently works as a tutor for elementary, high school, and college students. Follow her on Instagram @scapeghosties
Madison Florence is a Boston based dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She started dancing in her hometown in Connecticut at the age of two. In high school, she trained in heavily in many styles and was invited to dance in the dancEnlight Pre-professional Company. Madison attended college at Simmons University studying Public Relations/Marketing Communications and Graphic Design. Outside of her studies, she spent her time dancing and choreographing for Simmons University Dance Company (SUDC) holding multiple roles on the executive board. She recently concluded her position as the first Alumna-in-Residence with SUDC. Madison currently dances with Nozama Dance Collective, choreographs and performs with other local artists, and works as the Marketing and Communications, Senior Manager for the New Art Center.
Madison Florence is a Boston based dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She started dancing in her hometown in Connecticut at the age of two. In high school, she trained in heavily in many styles and was invited to dance in the dancEnlight Pre-professional Company. Madison attended college at Simmons University studying Public Relations/Marketing Communications and Graphic Design. Outside of her studies, she spent her time dancing and choreographing for Simmons University Dance Company (SUDC) holding multiple roles on the executive board. She recently concluded her position as the first Alumna-in-Residence with SUDC. Madison currently dances with Nozama Dance Collective, choreographs and performs with other local artists, and works as the Marketing and Communications, Senior Manager for the New Art Center.
Meet the Dancers
Azeb Freitas is a Boston based choreographer. She currently serves as artist in residence with Nozama Dance Collective. She is also a Visual Performance Technician with the Everett Music Department. Azeb has served as a guest choreographer for the Contemporary For All dance series. Azeb has danced with OnStage Dance Company in season 18. She has performed her work in the OnStage 360 and Empower One Another shows. Outside of dance, she is the co-host for The Freitas Effect Podcast, LLC and serves on the board of directors for the Material Aid and Advocacy Program based in Cambridge.
Azeb Freitas is a Boston based choreographer. She currently serves as artist in residence with Nozama Dance Collective. She is also a Visual Performance Technician with the Everett Music Department. Azeb has served as a guest choreographer for the Contemporary For All dance series. Azeb has danced with OnStage Dance Company in season 18. She has performed her work in the OnStage 360 and Empower One Another shows. Outside of dance, she is the co-host for The Freitas Effect Podcast, LLC and serves on the board of directors for the Material Aid and Advocacy Program based in Cambridge.
Caroline McQuade (she/ her/ hers) has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She is currently boston-based and has most recently danced with the Simmons University Dance Company, Colleges of the Fenway Dance Project, and was a community performer in a piece commissioned by the Rose Kennedy Greenway for Peter DiMurio/ Public Displays of Motion. Caroline is also passionate about choreography and has presented several works with Simmons University Dance Company and Colleges of the Fenway Dance Project. She also had the opportunity to present a co-choreographed piece of work at the American College Dance Association New England Regional Conference in 2018. Caroline graduated from Simmons University in 2019 with a BA in Public Health and is passionate about using dance as a health intervention.
Caroline McQuade (she/ her/ hers) has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She is currently boston-based and has most recently danced with the Simmons University Dance Company, Colleges of the Fenway Dance Project, and was a community performer in a piece commissioned by the Rose Kennedy Greenway for Peter DiMurio/ Public Displays of Motion. Caroline is also passionate about choreography and has presented several works with Simmons University Dance Company and Colleges of the Fenway Dance Project. She also had the opportunity to present a co-choreographed piece of work at the American College Dance Association New England Regional Conference in 2018. Caroline graduated from Simmons University in 2019 with a BA in Public Health and is passionate about using dance as a health intervention.
Dana Lee Alsamsam is a dancer, choreographer, director, poet and arts fundraiser based in Boston. Today, she is the Artistic Director in training for Nozama Dance Collective and a company member on Sasso & Company. In the past, she has performed as a company member or collaborator with Ascendence Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago ChoreoLab, wiss co, Lin Kahn's Music Dance Collective, DePaul Dance Company, Moonwater Dance Project, and Boston Dance Theater's Immersion Projects. Passionate about improvisation and process-based creation, Dana has set choreography on Nozama Dance Collective, DePaul Dance Company, Vernon Hills High School, Moonwater Dance Project, Onstage Choreography Residency participants, and Boston Dance Theater Immersion Project participants. Danaalsamsam.com / IG & Twitter @danaalsamsam
Dana Lee Alsamsam is a dancer, choreographer, director, poet and arts fundraiser based in Boston. Today, she is the Artistic Director in training for Nozama Dance Collective and a company member on Sasso & Company. In the past, she has performed as a company member or collaborator with Ascendence Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago ChoreoLab, wiss co, Lin Kahn's Music Dance Collective, DePaul Dance Company, Moonwater Dance Project, and Boston Dance Theater's Immersion Projects. Passionate about improvisation and process-based creation, Dana has set choreography on Nozama Dance Collective, DePaul Dance Company, Vernon Hills High School, Moonwater Dance Project, Onstage Choreography Residency participants, and Boston Dance Theater Immersion Project participants. Danaalsamsam.com / IG & Twitter @danaalsamsam
Lila Ruth Klaus is a dancer and educator in the Greater Boston area. She originally hails from Washington DC, where she performed in venues such as The Kennedy Center, the White House, The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, and the Canadian Embassy. She has both presented her choreography and performed at Bates Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival, Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka Alaska, the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Annandale-on-Hudson NY, Hibernian Hall in Roxbury and Arts at the Armory in Somerville. She received her BA in dance with a concentration in theology from Bard College. In addition to her artistic work, she has spent the past few years developing curriculum for dance and Jewish text at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham MA, where she also currently works as an educator.
Lila Ruth Klaus is a dancer and educator in the Greater Boston area. She originally hails from Washington DC, where she performed in venues such as The Kennedy Center, the White House, The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, and the Canadian Embassy. She has both presented her choreography and performed at Bates Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival, Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka Alaska, the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Annandale-on-Hudson NY, Hibernian Hall in Roxbury and Arts at the Armory in Somerville. She received her BA in dance with a concentration in theology from Bard College. In addition to her artistic work, she has spent the past few years developing curriculum for dance and Jewish text at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham MA, where she also currently works as an educator.
Lily Dearing is a 24-year-old Boston-based dancer, with a background in jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, ballet, pointe, tap, and contemporary styles. In 2018 she graduated summa cum laude from Simmons College, where she earned a BA in Arts Administration with a Digital Communications Track, Art History, and a French minor. During her studies Lily performed on the Simmons College Dance Company and the Colleges of the Fenway Dance Project. She trained at the Portland School of Ballet in Maine, the Joffrey Ballet School’s Musical Theater NYC Summer Intensive, as well as at the Paris Marais Dance School during her studies abroad in France. She holds positions as the Marketing and Development Associate at Cantata Singers and the Administrative Coordinator for the Greater Boston Choral Consortium. Since graduating from Simmons, Lily has danced in two performance series by Onstage Dance Company (Onstage 360° with choreography by Azeb Freitas and Empower One Another with choreography by Madison Florence), and was a dance model for Elkus Manfredi Architects.
Lily Dearing is a 24-year-old Boston-based dancer, with a background in jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, ballet, pointe, tap, and contemporary styles. In 2018 she graduated summa cum laude from Simmons College, where she earned a BA in Arts Administration with a Digital Communications Track, Art History, and a French minor. During her studies Lily performed on the Simmons College Dance Company and the Colleges of the Fenway Dance Project. She trained at the Portland School of Ballet in Maine, the Joffrey Ballet School’s Musical Theater NYC Summer Intensive, as well as at the Paris Marais Dance School during her studies abroad in France. She holds positions as the Marketing and Development Associate at Cantata Singers and the Administrative Coordinator for the Greater Boston Choral Consortium. Since graduating from Simmons, Lily has danced in two performance series by Onstage Dance Company (Onstage 360° with choreography by Azeb Freitas and Empower One Another with choreography by Madison Florence), and was a dance model for Elkus Manfredi Architects.
Meredith Price is a Massachusetts Native and began formal training with the Dancing Arts Center and Metrowest Ballet, now the Hopkinton Arts Center. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, receiving a BA Dance and a BA Visual Communications. She performed under the USC dance company performing contemporary works by Thaddeus Davis, Tanya Wideman-Davis, Bryan Arias, Addison Ector, as well as classical Balanchine works such as Serenade and Who Cares? She has attended intensives with Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Movement Inventions Project, Urbanity Dance, Boston Dance Theater, and Boston Ballet. Meredith had the pleasure of working with Yuhas & Dancers for the 2019/20 season, based out of Columbia, SC.
Meredith Price is a Massachusetts Native and began formal training with the Dancing Arts Center and Metrowest Ballet, now the Hopkinton Arts Center. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, receiving a BA Dance and a BA Visual Communications. She performed under the USC dance company performing contemporary works by Thaddeus Davis, Tanya Wideman-Davis, Bryan Arias, Addison Ector, as well as classical Balanchine works such as Serenade and Who Cares? She has attended intensives with Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Movement Inventions Project, Urbanity Dance, Boston Dance Theater, and Boston Ballet. Meredith had the pleasure of working with Yuhas & Dancers for the 2019/20 season, based out of Columbia, SC.
Moraya Ugwu is a senior at Simmons University studying Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. She is a senior member of the Simmons Univeristy Dance company in which she choreographed her pride and joy "Break the Silence" a contemporary piece about sexual harrassment and rape culture. She is so excited to be joining this wonderful group of Dancers for "Hello How Are We" and to be performing again!
Moraya Ugwu is a senior at Simmons University studying Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. She is a senior member of the Simmons Univeristy Dance company in which she choreographed her pride and joy "Break the Silence" a contemporary piece about sexual harrassment and rape culture. She is so excited to be joining this wonderful group of Dancers for "Hello How Are We" and to be performing again!
Olivia Evans is currently a high school senior and pre-professional dance student at Integrarte, studying with Erica Cornejo and Carlos Molina. Though she has trained in classical ballet for most of her life, she has developed a passion for contemporary dance and choreography. She has presented multiple original pieces in local showcases, and has had recent opportunities to train with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Urbanity Dance. She has worked with Madison for over a year now, and is grateful and excited to be a part of “hello how are we”!
Olivia Evans is currently a high school senior and pre-professional dance student at Integrarte, studying with Erica Cornejo and Carlos Molina. Though she has trained in classical ballet for most of her life, she has developed a passion for contemporary dance and choreography. She has presented multiple original pieces in local showcases, and has had recent opportunities to train with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Urbanity Dance. She has worked with Madison for over a year now, and is grateful and excited to be a part of “hello how are we”!
Shira Weiss (they/them) is a Boston-based dancer, theatre artist, teaching artist, educator, and photographer. She is currently a theatre student at Northeastern University and hopes to pursue a career in socially engaged arts education. Shira’s current project is an interview-based, interactive devised theatre piece engaging with college students’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find her photography work on instagram @photography.byshira and @beantowndogblog.
Shira Weiss (they/them) is a Boston-based dancer, theatre artist, teaching artist, educator, and photographer. She is currently a theatre student at Northeastern University and hopes to pursue a career in socially engaged arts education. Shira’s current project is an interview-based, interactive devised theatre piece engaging with college students’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find her photography work on instagram @photography.byshira and @beantowndogblog.
Sunny Winn is a 17 year old aspiring professional ballet dancer who began dancing at age 3 at Reaching Heart School of Ballet on Cape Cod. She is currently in her fourth year of her pre-professional training under the direction of Erica Cornejo and Carlos Molina at Integrarte in Jamaica Plain. Additionally, she has been taking contemporary classes with Madison for over a year. Sunny has also had the honor of attending summer programs with American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Carolina Ballet and Nashville Ballet. Sunny is very excited and grateful for this opportunity to perform in “hello how are we”!
Sunny Winn is a 17 year old aspiring professional ballet dancer who began dancing at age 3 at Reaching Heart School of Ballet on Cape Cod. She is currently in her fourth year of her pre-professional training under the direction of Erica Cornejo and Carlos Molina at Integrarte in Jamaica Plain. Additionally, she has been taking contemporary classes with Madison for over a year. Sunny has also had the honor of attending summer programs with American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Carolina Ballet and Nashville Ballet. Sunny is very excited and grateful for this opportunity to perform in “hello how are we”!
Meet the Video Editor
Angelica Coleman is a media professional and video editor located in the Boston area, with an interest in documenting dance performances and the choreographic process. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Simmons University, with a second major in Spanish and a minor in cinema and media studies. She currently works as a production assistant on the PBS science documentary series NOVA, produced by GBH in Boston.
Angelica Coleman is a media professional and video editor located in the Boston area, with an interest in documenting dance performances and the choreographic process. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Simmons University, with a second major in Spanish and a minor in cinema and media studies. She currently works as a production assistant on the PBS science documentary series NOVA, produced by GBH in Boston.

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