April 18, 2018 - An international leader in integrating social justice education with music education, Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC) brings singers of different backgrounds together to create a better understanding of their part in the world around them through a shared love of music. In collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA), BCC has commissioned Movement Art Is, co-founded by dancers Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, to create a multidisciplinary performance. The work is part of a larger program by the Chorus exploring themes of family and of the meaning of home.
Have You Seen Me (Joowan Kim, 2018) explores the challenges faced by the more than 400,000 youth who are reported missing or exploited each year, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Featuring the chorus performing alongside Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, Have You Seen Me is a work of extraordinary power, grace, and hope, reflecting on national, local, and family efforts to locate and protect vulnerable youth.
Movement artists Lil Buck and Jon Boogz founded Movement Art Is (MAI) to inspire and change the world through movement. Their work finds a way to go beyond simply pointing out the problems facing humanity and look for solutions. For them, dance is about social consciousness, affecting change, tearing down walls of division, and fostering a more connected and empathetic society. Their works have tackled issues regarding criminal justice reform, the effects of climate change, and mass shootings.
Boston Children’s Chorus celebrates 15 years of music, education, and activism with an anniversary concert of song and dance. Previous concerts have tackled issues of identity, environmental justice, gender equity, and discrimination. Previous collaborations with the ICA/Boston include “A Boy Called King” (2013) with composer Daniel Roumain.
Movement Art Is and Boston Children’s Chorus will perform on April 27 at 8:00 PM and April 28 at 8:00 PM in the Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater at the ICA, 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston. Tickets ($30 general admission; $27 ICA members + students) can be purchased at http://www.icaboston.org or by calling 617-478-3103.
ABOUT MOVEMENT ART IS
Movement Art Is (MAI), co-founded by Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, is an organization that uses movement artistry to inspire and change the world while elevating the artistic, educational, and social impact of dance. Through movement art films, workshops, performances and exhibitions, MAI is resetting the spectrum of what dance is.
Jon Boogz is a movement artist, choreographer and director who seeks to push the evolution of what dance can be – sharing with audiences of all backgrounds an appreciation of the melding of art forms while inspiring and bringing awareness to social issues. He co-starred in the viral short film Color of Reality, which continues to screen at film festivals worldwide and has won numerous awards.
Lil Buck is an International phenomenon. He began jookin’ – a street dance that originated in Memphis – at age 13 and went on to train in hip-hop and ballet. Named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” his collaboration with Spike Jonze and Yo-Yo Ma performing The Swan went viral in 2011. Since then he has collaborated with a broad spectrum of artists across the world, and is an avid arts education advocate and recipient of the WSJ Innovator Award.
ABOUT BOSTON CHILDREN’S CHORUS
The Boston Children's Chorus (BCC) harnesses the power and joy of music to unite our city's diverse communities and inspire social change. Our singers transcend social barriers in a celebration of shared humanity and love of music. Through intensive choral training and high-profile public performance experience (locally, throughout the U.S. and around the world), they learn discipline, develop leadership skills, and proudly represent the city of Boston as ambassadors of harmony.
Dr. Anthony Trecek-King is the President and Artistic Director of the award-winning Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC). Under his direction, the chorus has earned a reputation as an ensemble of high distinction and, in 2013 received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from the White House. Trecek-King’s performances have been heralded as possessing a “surprising range of dynamics and depth of expression.” He has collaborated on performances with Keith Lockhart, John Williams, Simon Halsey, Yo-Yo Ma and Roomful of Teeth and has led BCC in performances at Boston Symphony Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City, and Royal Albert Hall in London. He is a frequent guest conductor for All State, Festival and Honor Choirs. In addition to Trecek-King’s conducting work, he can be seen on air and online on the WGBH television series “Sing That Thing.” and two TEDx Boston talks. He holds a B.M. in Cello Performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from Florida State University, and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Boston University.
ABOUT THE ICA
An influential forum for multi-disciplinary arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston has been at the leading edge of art in Boston for 80 years. Like its iconic building on Boston’s waterfront, the ICA offers new ways of engaging with the world around us. Its exhibitions and programs provide access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas. The ICA, located at 25 Harbor Shore Drive, is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 AM–5 PM; Thursday and Friday, 10 AM–9 PM (1st Friday of every month, 10 AM–5 PM); and Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM. Admission is $15 adults, $13 seniors and $10 students, and free for members and children 17 and under. Free admission for families at ICA Play Dates (2 adults + children 12 and under) on last Saturday of the month. For more information, call 617-478-3100 or visit our website at www.icaboston.org. Follow the ICA at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Support for Movement Art Is is generously provided in part from the Pratt-Hall Fund.
First Republic Bank is proud to sponsor the ICA’s 2017–18 Performance Season.
