THE STANDARD
by Valerie Oliveiro
In collaboration with Non Edwards, Sam Johnson, Morgan Thorson, Rosy Simas and Arwen Wilder
Photography and video by Valerie Oliveiro

How do we hold each other? What other ways can we be together? Valerie Oliveiro teams up with Twin Cities dance luminaries in an exploration of agreements and empathy.

Valerie Oliveiro is an artist born in Singapore and based in Minneapolis, MN. Some generally accepted title descriptions of her work include being a director/choreographer, performer, designer, photographer and manager. Most recently she has performed in projects by Jennifer Monson (Live Dancing Archive, In Tow), Morgan Thorson (Still Life, Public Love), Rosy Simas (Weave) and Bouchra Ouizguen (Corbeaux).  This winter, she started working with Pramila Vasudevan for her new project 1/30. She also recently lit Parking Ramp Project by Pramila Vasudevan (September 2018) and Yam, Potatoe an Fish! by Alanna Morris Van-Tassel (October 2018). Her photographic work has been shown at Indigo (Champaign, IL), the University YWCA (Urbana, IL). Schneider Gallery (Chicago, IL), OBJECTIFS (Singapore), Murmur Gallery (Atlanta, GA) and Red Eye Theater (Minneapolis, MN).

Holy Doña
Direction and choreography: Pedro Pablo Lander, in collaboration with the performers
Performers: Lelis Brito, Genevieve D. Johnson, Pedro Lander, Sharon Picasso, Tim Rehborg, Kim Schneider
Visual architecture: Jess Kiel-Wornson

In Holy Doña, choreographer and draglesque queen Doña Pepa reimagines the crucifixion as a queer performance ritual. Doña Pepa draws on their experience in Catholic school and seminary, while mining the theatricality of drag, burlesque, and Catholic mass. Along with a powerful ensemble of performers, they exorcise repression in a search for full individual expression. Doña Pepa must be crucified for her piggy sins to be pardoned in this high-contrast spectacle.

Pedro Pablo Lander/Doña Pepa, is a Minneapolis-based, Venezuelan performance artist/choreographer/draglesque queen. They are a resident artist at Pillsbury House Theatre and a teaching artist with Upstream Arts. Pedro's work has been presented in venues like the Walker Art Center, First Avenue Mainroom, Open Eye Theatre, Icehouse, Lush, Red Eye Theater. Pedro creates original interactive performances for children and families, Drag Story Hour.