KAREN BRAY
Making Fun of Life
performance artist. dance-maker. teacher. trainer.
RESUMÉ
PHYSICAL THERAPIST/PERSONAL TRAINER
Independent movement consultant in private homes:
2000 to present
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activities of daily living
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posture & balance
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orthopedic issues
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chronic conditions
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post-surgical rehabilitation
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER
Artistic Director: Do Business/Make Art: The Newton Project.
Artistic Director of collaboration among local businesses, local artists, the New Art Center and community members. Spring, 2016. Click here for More Details.
Artful Pianos:
Director, choreographer of nine dances performed outdoors in collaboration with nine “Artful Pianos” sponsored by the Newton Festival of the Arts. Newton, MA. Summer 2016. Click here for More Details.
Dance/Theater Concerts:
Choreographer, Director, Performer: Evening-length dance/theatre concerts with children and adults. Green Street Studios, Cambridge, MA., May 2008 & May 2009. Click here for Testimonials
Queen Mess-ʻem up Productions:
Choreographer, director. Childrenʼs Dance Theatre. Essex Elementary School, Essex, MA, 1990-94.
PERFORMER
Arts Alive:
Interactive comedic duo: improvise sketches in a variety of locations including art galleries, open studios, businesses. Boston area. 2000 -present. click here for video
Interactive/Improvisational Performance Artist:
Invented characters interact with the public in city settings, Boston and Metro-west, MA, 1981-present
Artful Pianos:
Performed choreography at nine outdoor locations in Newton with pianos and dancers. Summer, 2016
Boston “Outside the Box Theater Festival”:
Performed "ARTS ALIVE" roving character sketches with the public. Boston, Ma. Summer, 2013.
Synapse Dance Theatre:
Member modern dance company. Cambridge, Ma. 1982-86.
"Kraus and...":
Member modern dance company. Cambridge, Ma. 1978-84.
Pigeon Drop Dance/Theatre Group:
Founding Member. Performed and choreographed adult and childrenʼs Dance/Theater throughout the Netherlands, Germany & France. 1976-1978.
Mimetroupe of America:
Performed Mime for Children and Adults throughout Michigan.
1974-76.
Circus McGurkus:
Childrenʼs Theater. Eckerd College. 1972-74.
EDUCATION
MSPT in Physical Therapy
Simmons College. Boston, MA, 1997
MFA in Dance
University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI, 1976
BFA in Theatre and Dance
Eckerd College. St. Petersburg, FL, 1974
VISUAL ARTIST
"Two By Three Collaborative Collage":
Karen Bray, Nan Daly, Kay Villa
Three artists who create six collaborative collages per month for exhibition purposes. 2008-2012
EXHIBITIONS:
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New Art Center, Holzwasser Gallery, Newton, MA. 2011
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Olin College, Needham, MA. 2010
TEACHER
Creativity Lab:
Co-Teacher of multi-disciplinary movement & visual art class for adults. New Art Center, Newton, MA. 2009-present.
Leadership in Motion:
Musical Theater Day Camp for refugee children ages 5-15. Worcester Public Schools. April, 2011.
Dance improvisation:
For adults. Green Street Studios. Cambridge, MA. Spring, 2008.
Creative Movement:
For children. London, England and Boston, MA,1986-1994.
Dance & Clowning:
For adults. Throughout the Netherlands, 1976-1978.
VOLUNTEER WORK
IN
ARTS & EDUCATION
Rosie’s Place:
Teacher of English through theater and movement to homeless women Boston. 2010-2014.
The Second Step, Inc.:
Teacher of dance and exercise for residents. Newton, MA, 2003-2004.
Queen Mess-‘em-up Productions
Choreographer/ Director, of Dance/Theater for Children.“Queen Mess-‘em-up Productions”. Bowen Elementary School Newton, MA, 1990-1994.
Bowen Elementary School:
PTA Co-President. Newton, MA. 1992.
Environmental Education Committee:
Chair. Bowen Elementary School, Newton, MA.1990-1994.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
IN
VISUAL ARTS
Mixed-Media:
New Art Center, John Murray, Bonnie Mineo, Newton, MA. 2000-present.
Silkscreen:
Cambridge Center for Adult Education. 2010-present.
Paste Paper:
Background paper on website is an example of my paste paper work. Studied paste paper & journal-making with Joy Seidler.
2010-present.
Collage:
Joan Lowenberg. Decordova Museum. Lincoln, MA. 2006.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
IN
DANCE/THEATRE
Boston University:
Studied dance Improvisation with Liz Roncka. 2014-2016
True Story Theatre:
Studied movement, improvisation, storytelling. Arlington, Ma. 2015
Action Theatre:
Studied improvisation with Billie Jo Joy. Cambridge, Ma. 2012-2014
Pilobolus Dance Theater:
Studied choreography with Jonathan Wolken, Washington Depot, Ct. 2009.
Kelley Donovan:
Studied choreography. Green Street Studios.Cambridge, MA. 2008
Daena Giardella/Creative Process:
Studied movement improvisation. Watertown, Ma. 2005-2008.
Action Theatre:
Studied Improvisation with Ruth Zaporah. Santa Fe, N. M., Summer, 2008. .
Tere O'Connor:
Studied Choreography. Green Street Studios. Cambridge, Ma. Spring 2005.
Body Cartography:
Studied choreography withOlive Bieringa. Plainfield, MA. 2005.
The Expansive Artist:
Helen Pickett. Movement generation workshop, Boston, MA, 2005.
Dance Educator's Workshop:
Minnesota Summer Arts Experience. Minneapolis, MN. 1982-1994.
Twyla Tharp Summer Workshop:
Studied choreography. American University. Washington DC, 1975.