Free Fall was a first for Tony Feher who invited other artists from the Houston area to collaboratively respond to the work through performance, improvisational dance, music, and spoken word, all within the confines of the installation at DiverseWorks.
The results varied widely. In keeping with Feher’s intention, Rebecca Camacho Presents has programmed two performances to activate the installation at the gallery in 2024.
On 8 February 2024 at 7:00 p.m Bay Area-based dancers, performers, choreographers and advocates for the Deaf community, Antoine Hunter and Zahna Simon performed an improvisational duet withinFree Fall. Hunter and Simon’s performance will have an ASL translation.
Oakland native, Antoine Hunter aka Purple Fire Crow is an award-winning internationally known Black, Indigenous, Deaf, Disabled, choreographer, dancer, actor, instructor, speaker, producer and Deaf advocate. He creates opportunities for Disabled, Deaf and hearing artists, produces Deaf-friendly events, and founded the Urban Jazz Dance Company in 2007 and Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival in 2013. Awards include the 2023 Dance Magazine Awards, 2022 Disability Futures Fellowship, 2021 Dance Teacher Award, 2019 National Dance/USA fellowship amongst others.
Zahna Simon is a professional dancer, choreographer, chemist, nutritionist, and Deaf advocate. Simon received a BS/BFA in Chemistry and Dance at UC Irvine where she trained with Lisa Naugle and Donald McKayle. Simon is the Assistant Director for Urban Jazz Dance Company, the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival. She has performed with Kim Epifano, SF Trolley Dances, Alameda ICW, Man Dance Company and more.
