CELLISTA TO PRESENT: Finding San José | A Multimedia Stage Poem
in tribute to the 100th anniversary of Jean Cocteau’s Parade
May 18-20th, 2017 | 8PM
Akiyama Wellness Center in SJ Japantown
110 Jackson Street, SJ, 95112
CELLISTA TO PRESENT: Finding San José | A Multimedia Stage Poem
Cellista has set the lucid spirit of San José to music and stage
Cellista, the multidisciplinary artistic director of the performing arts company Juxtapositions has created a stage poem which places the eclectic communities of San José side by side. The production, first staged and workshopped in San Francisco to a sold-out, enthusiastic audiences makes its way home to San José.
Freya (Cellista) is a classically trained, punk rock spirited girl with the charm and elegance to defy the stereotype that classical music isn’t cool.
— Belle Foundation
This presentation of Finding San José marks the 100th year anniversary of the realist ballet Parade directed by French surrealist Jean Cocteau. The work, created for the Ballets Russe incorporated music from Eric Satie, artwork from Picasso, and choreography from Léonide Massine.
Finding San José is Cellista’s attempt to set the aura of her home of San José, to music, dance, film and stage, placing artists from across disciplines side-by-side.
Beautifully weird.
— Director Brian Allan Hobbs
The production, first staged and workshopped in San Francisco to a sold-out audience makes its way home. The production features video projections and short films by filmmaker Jennifer Gigantino (
jennifergigantino.com), daring dance choreography from Lilith Ransom of Ransom Dance (
facebook.com/ransomdance), Mojo DeVille (
Haus Serpens Cabaret), and San Jose’s own Lauren Baines (
laurenbaines.com). It includes a short experimental documentary entitled
Cellista by filmmaker
Brian Favorite.
Using her critically acclaimed debut full-length album of the same name as its soundtrack, Finding San José renders a lyrical truth to our present day and presents Cellista’s want to provide a mirror to the community she calls home. Finding San José, the stage poem is a complete work that juxtaposes disciplines in order to create a reaction to the reality of what it means to have a sense of place within a participatory and observational place.
Cellista is an American cellist, artistic director, and arts advocate and may very well be part cello. When she was born maybe a little piece of cello squirmed inside her bassinet and burrowed its way into her very being making the otherworldly performances she produces come to life. That’s the only explanation that makes sense at least.
Finding San José comes home for three performances on May 18-20, 2017 at 8PM at the Akiyama Wellness Center (110 Jackson St. SJ, CA 95112)
All Ages