Effervescent Collective

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Effervescent Collective

Formation| 2008
Dissolved| 2014
Type| Experimental dance collective
Headquarters| Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Region served

| Baltimore

Official language

| English

Founder and director

| Lily Kind

Effervescent Collective was an organization of dancers, choreographers, physical performers, and multidisciplinary artists that presented work exclusively in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded just after the 2008 financial crisis, the company derived its name from anthropologist’s Emile Durkheim’s term “collective effervescence” to describe the larger-than-the-sum-of-its-parts feeling to large group assemblies, such as concerts or sporting events.

## History

[edit]

Effervescent Collective was founded by Lily Kind while at Goucher College, just as an influx of artists settled in Baltimore in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Effervescent produced over a dozen full-length productions between 2008 and 2014 and curated different forms of local showcases that featured other emergent dance creators in the city. These productions and events helped expand Baltimore’s dance and physical theater scene by producing the work of many emerging artists and insisting on the presence of experimental dance in the city's blossoming arts community.[1] Effervescent was known for activating unconventional and unused spaces for dance, as well as supporting dancers who found they did not fit into conventions of the concert dance world.[2]

During Effervescent's existence, Kind oversaw the majority of productions, which were created with and danced by a changing set of members over the group’s seven year existence. Members often also popped up in impromptu installation-style performances at local festivals Artscape and High Zero. Members also appeared in music videos of local musicians Dungeonesse, Dan Deacon and Bosley. Members of Effervescent performed and developed many of the dancing roles for the Baltimore Rock Opera Society.[3][4][5]

Effervescent was known for its use of non-traditional spaces, partly out of economic necessity, and partly out of an interest in creating immersive experience for the audience. Effervescent created performances unique to Area 405, Patapsco State Park, Baltimore Skate Park, 2640 Space, Sanctuary Bodyworks, the former The Coward Shoe, the former Maryland Art Place, and Now Child Sound Stage. Individual members also collaborated with rising local theaters such as Baltimore Annex Theater and Single Carrot Theater.

Effervescent was under the fiscal sponsorship of Fractured Atlas, and sustained itself through member contributions and the profits from prolific performance schedule. After Kind’s departure from Baltimore in 2014, Effervescent disbanded.[6] Some members who remained in Baltimore have since established Baltimore Independent Dance Theater, a dance presenting and curating organization. Former member Britta Grant moved to Los Angeles in 2014 and has found success in the commercial dance industry.[7] Claire Cote now works out of Berlin as multi-media performer Zaftik. Lynne Price was the 2017 Artist in Residence at UMBC, her graduate alma mater.[8]

## Accolades

[edit]

Effervescent was frequently named "Best Dance Company" by some of the city's major news outlets, including The Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Magazine.[9][10] Baltimore City Paper awarded Effervescent the title for three consecutive years.[11][12]

## Performers and members

[edit]

The first wave of members were recent graduates of social sciences programs at Goucher College including Peace Studies, Anthropology, Education, Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion. Long standing members included: Britta Grant, Erin Reid, Lynne Price, Jenny B.N., Clarissa Gregory, Pilar Diaz, Christine Striver, Emile Sorger, Peter Redgrave, Marlys Yvonne, Laura Grossman, Melissa Talleda, Marilyn Mullens, Sierra DeSalvia, and Claire Cote - many of whom have since developed professions in the fields of dance, visual art, wellness, health, or social justice.

## Works

[edit]

### Productions

[edit]

* Dirty Dancing, 2010 (Directed by Claire Cote and Lily Kind)[13]
* Powermoves Forever, 2011 (Directed by Claire Cote)[14][15]
* Cove Folder, 2011(Directed by Lily Kind)[16]
* Turn Into, 2012 (Directed by collective members, including Lynne Price, Melissa Talleda, Pilar Diaz, Clarissa Gregory, Tiffany Seal, Erin Reid)
* Butterknife, 2013 (Directed by Lily Kind)[17][18][19]
* Tendao, 2013 (Including small group and solo works by collective members)
* Pull Drift, 2013 (Directed by Clarissa Gregory)[20] Adapted into a film by Meg Rorinson.[21]

### Collaborations

[edit]

* Baltimore Dance Round Robin[22]
* Effervescent Diaspora[23]

Effervescent also collaborated with Seattle based experimental dance troupe, Pendleton House, led by Babette McGeady

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chevlen, Dorie (June 30, 2014). "Kind of Blue". City PAper. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
2. ^ Ober, Caea (March 16, 2014). "Creative Dance Maker: An Interview with Effervescent Collective's Lily Kind – BmoreArt | Baltimore Contemporary Art". Bmore Art. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
3. ^ Gunther, Amanda (13 May 2013). "'Murdercastle' at Baltimore Rock Opera Society by Amanda Gunther". DC Metro Theater Arts. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
4. ^ Gnuther, Amanda (22 September 2017). "The Terrible Secret of Lunastus at Baltimore Rock Opera Society". TheatreBloom. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
5. ^ Birch, Doug (April 18, 2012). "Backstage as Baltimore Rock Opera Society prepares its latest: "Valhella"". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
6. ^ Monroe, Rachel (11 July 2014). "This Video of Baltimore Dancers Perfectly Epitomizes Summer". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
7. ^ "Britta Grant". AMax Entertainment. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
8. ^ "NextDANCE featuring Lynne Price & Kristen Yeung". The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. September 15, 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
9. ^ Ali, Abdu (September 22, 2010). "Effervescent Collectiveeffervescentcollective.org". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
10. ^ Lewis, John (13 August 2012). "Best of Baltimore 2012: Arts". Baltimore magazine. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
11. ^ "Dance Newsletter, Winter 2010". Goucher College Dance Newsletter. Issuu. Winter 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
12. ^ Sellinger, D (4 September 2013). "Pull/Drift with Effervescent Collective". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
13. ^ Ditkoff, Anna (2 June 2010). "Bear Feet in High Heels: Twisting gender and class in the Effervescent Collective's subversively entertaining Dirty Dancing | Baltimore City Paper". City Paper. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2019.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
14. ^ Ali, Abdu (September 21, 2011). "Power Moves Forever Quest". citypaper.com. No. Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
15. ^ Sessa, Sam (April 28, 2011). "Preview: Transmodern Festival". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
16. ^ Fischer, Jared T. (September 28, 2011). "Effervescent Collective and Baltimore Experimental Dance Collective team up in Cove Folder". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
17. ^ Woods, Baynard (March 19, 2014). "Effervescent Collective's new piece revels in human movement". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
18. ^ "Effervescent Collective w/ J Pope and Funk Friday | Creative Alliance". Creative Alliance. January 25, 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
19. ^ Lewis, John (1 August 2014). "Best of Baltimore: Arts". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
20. ^ Ober, Cara (September 4, 2013). "Pull/Drift: An Interview with Clarissa Stowell Gregory by Cara Ober – BmoreArt | Baltimore Contemporary Art". Bmore Art. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
21. ^ "Margaret Rorison: In Person – 2017 | Athens International Film + Video Festival 2019 - April 8–14". Athens International Film + Video Festival. April 5, 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2019. "This film documents a unique choreographed performance that took place one late summer afternoon in Patapsco State Park in Baltimore, Maryland. Choreographed by Clarissa Stowell Gregory and performed by The Effervescent Collective. Soundtrack composed by Josh Millrod."
22. ^ Monroe, Rachel (February 23, 2011). "The Baltimore dance round robin gets everyone on the floor". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
23. ^ "Effervescent Diaspora". Creative Alliance. August 8, 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2019.