These multidisciplinary dance pieces explore the lives of early 20th-century Chinese migrant women through dance, martial arts, film, and soundscapes. Created by Lenora Lee, dancer, choreographer and visiting scholar at NYU Asian/Pacific/American Institute. Post-performance discussion will follow both performances.

The Escape is inspired by stories of women who, after being trafficked into the United States, sought refuge in San Francisco's Donaldina Cameron House, a faith-based social service agency that today continues to serve Asian communities living in San Francisco's Chinatown. Rescued Memories: New York Stories retraces the life of Bessie M. Lee (Bessie You Toy–b. 1894), who spent two years in indentured servitude after migrating to New York City to work for a wealthy Chinese family.

Both evenings' performances will be followed by special conversations featuring the artists, community organizers, and scholars.

Panelists Bios:
Karen Shimakawa (moderator) is the Chair of Performance Studies at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and an adjunct instructor at the NYU School of Law. Her research focuses on critical race theory and Asian American performance.

Kaitlyn Keisel currently serves as Director of Polaris Project New Jersey and as a member of the Senior Management Team. Keisel works to continue expanding comprehensive programs that foster a holistic empowerment centered environment for survivors.

Larry Lee is the Executive Director of the New York Asian Women’s Center, the largest Asian American domestic violence agency in the country; a premier human trafficking serving agency; and, a national model for sexual assault services.

Co-presented by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU

Rescued Memories & The Escape clips from Lenora Lee on Vimeo.

About the organizations:

Founded in 2008, the mission of Lenora Lee Dance (LLD) is to create large-scale multimedia performance works integrating dance, original music, video, and text that connect various styles of movement and music to culture, history and human rights issues. LLD has been collaborating on pieces with Kei Lun Martial Arts & Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo since 2011.

Kei Lun Martial Arts is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the cultural legacies of the lion dance, dragon dance, and martial arts. Some members also practice Chinese healing arts, painting, calligraphy, and making/restoring costumes and equipment used in the Chinese lion dance.

The mission of Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo is to engage in rigorous karate training as a means of developing our abilities as martial artists and as a way of improving on our character as human beings. 100% of the Dojo’s proceeds are contributed to various agencies that are engaged in social justice and/or community organizing.