Kawasaki Gift Establishes Guest Artist Program in the UW Department of Dance
zoe | juniper to be inaugural guest artists
The Department of Dance in the University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences announced that it is establishing the first guest artist program in its history, naming Seattle-based dance and visual arts team, zoe | juniper as the inaugural guest artists. This visiting artists program is made possible through support from Glenn Kawasaki, chief executive officer and director of Accium BioSciences and a passionate supporter of the arts, specifically dance.
“We are incredibly grateful for Glenn’s gift as it gives us the ability to host long-term guest artist residencies over the next three years,” stated Jennifer Salk, associate professor and chair of the Department of Dance who also holds the Floyd and Delores Jones Endowed Chair in the Arts. Salk added, “During the first two years of the program, we plan to feature local artists and in the third year, we will host an international artist. After extensive consideration of Seattle artists, faculty selected zoe | juniper as our first guest artists because they have an international reputation but they have chosen to make Seattle their home. Most students had not had exposure to them. Their work is collaborative and they are familiar with working with large groups.”
“Glenn’s vision to help us create this innovative program will be truly transformative for the Department of Dance. The goal of this gift is to focus on direct benefit to undergraduate students while elevating the already strong reputation and viability of the dance arts in Seattle. It also provides the Department with unique networking opportunities for students, local alumni artists and faculty,” said Catherine Cole, divisional dean for the Arts.
During the autumn quarter, zoe | juniper will choreograph a new work with students in the Department of Dance to be performed at the Faculty Dance Concert, which will take place January 25-28, 2018 in Meany Studio Theater. The zoe | juniper team will also hold bi-weekly evening seminars where UW students will discuss and analyze local performances, visual art works and concerts that they have all viewed. There will also be opportunities for the community to engage with zoe | juniper as part of this effort.
About Glenn Kawasaki
Kawasaki is a dedicated philanthropist and patron of the Arts. In May 2017, ArtsFund recognized him with its Outstanding Contribution to the Arts award. Kawasaki serves on a variety of local arts boards, including Pacific NW Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theatre, zoe | juniper and Khambatta Dance. He is also board president of Velocity Dance Center and founding trustee of Seattle Dance Project and Whim W’Him. He has a Ph.D., MBA, and law degree from the University of Washington.
About zoe | juniper
2015 Guggenheim Fellow and 2013 Stranger Genius award winner zoe | juniper (zj) is a Seattle-based dance and visual arts team that The Boston Globe describes as a “crazy dream you just can’t shake.” Cofounded by choreographer Zoe Scofield and visual artist Juniper Shuey, the company creates stunning multidisciplinary dance performance and installation works. Over the past 13 years zj has been commissioned and presented nationally and internationally by Jacob’s Pillow, On the Boards, Dance Theater Workshop/NYLA, Bates Dance Festival, PICA, DiverseWorks, PS122, Spoleto Festival, Columbia College, PuSh Festival, Wesleyan University, American Realness, Pennsylvania Ballet, ICA Boston, Joyce Theater, DancePlace, Frye Art Museum, Yerba Buena Center, Trafo House, REDCAT, OzArts, SIFFx, Carolina Performing Arts, Fringe Arts Festival, CNDC Anger and others. Awards and residencies include The MacDowell Colony, Bellagio Rockefeller Foundation, Princess Grace Foundation, Mellon Foundation and MAPFund.