Vinesett: Embodied Offerings & commissioned choreography

Ava Vinesett was the Volunteer/Signage chair for the 2013 Across the Threshold Conference Planning Committee. At the conference, she presented a workshop titled, “Embodied Offerings.”

For November Dances 2012, she choreographed a new piece, “Reaching Into the Before Time,” developed in collaboration with sculptural installation artist, Cici Stevens, with support from the Collaborative Arts Grant, administered by the Vice Provost for the Arts and the Council for the Arts.

In April 2013, Ava choreographed Isicathulo presented by the Duke African Repertory Ensemble on the occasion of the LEAF Award for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts presented by the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. Her other choreographies for this year include, Lamban for ChoreoLab 2013, Kanyalang commissioned by E. Gwynn & Dancers, A&T University, and the Nasher Museum performance Commemorating 50 years of Black Students at Duke.

Ava continues her service as the Co-Director of the Baldwin Scholars Program. She conducted a workshop for the Duke House Course, Spoken Word and Slam Poetry in Context: The Art of Social Commentary. Ava also hosted a daylong workshop with Guinea artists, Aly Camara and Marietou Cisse at the Ark, co-sponsored by Karen Casey of River Rhythms and Happy Beat Drumming.