Tending Ahead

MISSION STATEMENT The purposes for which Black Earth Collaborative Arts Company is formed are to promote and produce community cultural and original collaborative performance works by professional artists of diverse art forms, including modern dance and music; to foster a collaborative relationship between professional artists and the community; to provide atmosphere, education, performance, and training within these diverse art forms, thus inspiring artistic potential and life applications of art within the Grand Traverse Bay Area community and environment; and to carry out all other purposes necessary or incident to the above. Music Composition Tom Bourcier Choreography Jane Hawley Poetry & Prose Raymond E. Nargis Duncan Sprattmoran Costume Designer Donna Marie Thorson Poster & Logo Design Agustin Bolanos Tending Ahead is funded in part by the Glen Arbor Art Association's Artist-in-Residence program.	an original performance of dance, music and poetry rooted in human evolution In order to understand our place in the world, we seek explanations of why we are here. We create myth so we can root ourselves in time, place and self. We seek to create meaning for life; experiences that resonate within our own inner self to help us feel alive.
	The Performers
	Raymond E. Nargis is an award winning poet, playwright, non-fiction and fiction writer. Author of three chapbooks of poetry: O Caritas, Moniker and Working My Father's Ranch, Mr. Nargis' works have been anthologized in numerous publications. For the past 15 years, Ray has been working as a poet/storyteller in the oral tradition and is a founding member of The Stone Circle and the Beach Bards. Duncan Sprattmoran lives with his wife and two daughters in their off the grid house beside and organic garden in Leelanau County. Between painting, writing and teaching, Duncan manages to search for morels in spring, swim in summer and ski in winter.	Thomas Bourcier is a Michigan-based instrumentalist and composer who takes great curiosity in the endless possibilities regarding musical creation. This eclecticism is apparent in his work both as a performer and composer. Tom currently teaches at the Pathfinder School and, with Jane Hawley, is co-director of Black Earth Collaborative Arts Company and Establishment Jane Hawley received her training from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York and the University of Illinois where she was awarded her MFA in performance and choreography. Jane teaches for the Adult Modern Program at Dance Arts Academy in Traverse City and is an artist-in-residence at the Leelanau Children's Center
1267 Dyer Lake Rd. Traverse City, MI 49684 (231) 943-3104 blackearth@oneota.net www.leelanau.com/blackearth/	Black Earth Collaborative Arts Company Home Page