raphael xavier
In Residence June 29 - July 12, 2021
Distilling the art of Breaking to its purest form, Raphael Xavier (pronounced ZAH-vee-ay) takes this movement vocabulary to uncharted territory. For the past 20+ years, Xavier has explored Breaking as social, physical, and mental “movement.” He has forged an exceptional approach to improvisation—expanding both dancer and audience expectations—and cleared the path for those interested in Breaking as an artform. Xavier is a multifaceted creator who draws inspiration from his many talents in dance, music, photography, and writing. His original works are a transcendent mix of poetry, precision, and spontaneity.
In June of 2021, Xavier returned to The Yard to continue creating XAVIER'S: The Musician and The Mover, which highlights the traditions of freestyle and improvisation in both Breaking and Jazz. He was joined by a saxophonist, bassist, pianist, percussionist, and dancers.
Closing his residency was an outdoor performance at Featherstone Center for the Arts, marking the first live performance for much of his crew of musicians and dancers. Go behind the dance to see Xavier add the finishing touches on XAVIER’S: The Musician and The Mover!
Meet Raphael xavier
Raphael Xavier (Choreographer, Breaker) Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Raphael Xavier (pronounced ZAH-vee-ay) has been a Breaking practitioner since 1983. As he has forged an exceptional approach to improvisation, Brenda Dixon Gottschild deemed Xavier, ‘A fine rhythm technician who transforms a bravado dance style into an introspective meditation.’ Extensive research in the Breaking form has led to the creation of Ground-Core, a Somatic dance technique that gives the practitioner a better understanding of the body within all dance forms. His solo and ensemble choreographic dance works have been performed worldwide. XAVIER’S: The Musicians & The Mover is currently being developed as part of New York Live Arts’ Live Feed Artist Residency. Past works have been performed at REDCAT Los Angeles, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, ART (American Repertory Theatre in Boston), the Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago and Painted Bride in Philadelphia, PA among others. He currently lives in Philadelphia and is a Professor of dance at Princeton University and University of Texas Austin.
The Yard is a Partner of the National Performance Network (NPN). This project is made possible in part by support from the NPN Artist Engagement Fund. Major contributors include the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information visit www.npnweb.org.
IMAGINARY is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Jacob’s Pillow, Middlebury College, and The Yard. The Creation Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org
Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.