Rachel Sadie Lieberman

Imaginary Dances & Desecrate

Movers (Desecrate): Dominick Burkhardt, Rachel Lieberman, Javan Mngrezzo, AyM, Addie Smith 

Tzitzit (fringes) are commanded in ancient Jewish law to be worn on the corners of daily garments as a physical reminder to act in accordance with the teachings of the Torah: to act holy. In contrast to armor, which is doubled inward in order to insulate us from the world and protect us from it, the specific knotting of tzitzit represents God and oneness, and extending openly outward. When tying tzitzit, one must avoid cutting the ends with any metal instrument. Metal is associated with instruments of war, and tzitzit represent peace and separation from evil inclinations.

In November 2023, a Brooklyn-based Rabbi’s RaiseaThon campaign received $48,000 toward purchasing “#Tzitzit4Soldiers”.  “And because of army regulations, the garments had to be green instead of the usual white and made of moisture-wicking material instead of the usual cotton” (Benami, Jordana, “Spiritual Armor for the IDF”, Jewish Standard, 2023). 

Deep gratitude to the Red Eye Theater leadership and 2025 New Works 4 Weeks cohort for welcoming me and holding this creation process-ing with such care. And to Addie, AyM, Dominick, & Javan for so generously giving their time, faith, physicality, and artistry.

This project was made possible in part with the support of Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, an initiative of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.

May this work be for free bodies, free hearts, free minds, Free Palestine.

A California native, Addie Smith graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BA in Theater Arts and Dance. Since moving to Minneapolis in 2017, they have created and performed with various local companies and artists including Loom Lab, Crash Dance Productions, Alternative Motion Project, Analog Dance Works, Rogue and Rabble Dance, Black Label Movement, Amez Dance, Zoe Koenig, Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies, and Bobby Rethwish. Addie has worked with Rachel on previous productions "Forgive, Forget, & the Fool" and "WAIL" and always cherishes the unique combo of chaos, specificity, enthusiasm, and patience that Rachel brings to her processes.

Twin Cities–based dancer and choreographer Dominick Burkhardt discovered his passion for the arts early in life. Growing up in his mother’s dance studio, he trained extensively in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary, modern, and acro. Dominick graduated in 2018 from Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists with a focus on both commercial and concert dance, as well as some musical theater. He has since worked with top artists and global brands, performing and modeling for the NFL, several Fortune 500 companies, and a range of commercial campaigns. He has performed with companies and artists including Black Label Movement at American Dance Festival, Cheng Xiong in ARENA Dance's Candy Box Festival, & Rachel Lieberman in the Red Eye's NW4W Festival. In 2025, Dominick will debut original work in Black Label Movement’s Movers Make 2.0 showcase. Dominick also is a dedicated educator, currently teaching various styles of dance across several twin-cities dance schools. Outside of the dance world, Dominick holds a BS in Information Technology from Upper Iowa University and works as a system administrator in Minneapolis, and serves as a Staff Sergeant in the Iowa Air National Guard. 

AyM has been a movement artist in Minnesota since 2018. She studied dance mainly with Judith Howard and Jane Shockley at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She has had a chance to work with Herbert Johnson III, HIJACK, Mathew Janczewski, BRKFST Dance Company, and Rosy Simas. She had the honor of presenting her solo, My Heart, Your Hand, Their Grandma’s Eyebrow, created under the direction of D. Jinza Thayer, at the American College Dance Association North Central Conference in March 2022, which was selected for performance in the conference’s closing Gala Concert. In the Twin Cities, she has performed in works by Hatch Dance, Jon Ferguson, Margaret Ogas, Dance Projects by ME, Mary Willmeng, and Darrius Strong. She is grateful for the support and care within the performing arts community.

Javan Mngrezzo (he/him) is a dance creator, instructor, and performer. He relocated to Minnesota in 2021 by way of Portland, OR. Oregon, his second home state after CA, was where he graduated from Western Oregon University in three years, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Sociology. As a creator: past credits include AMEZ Dance, James Sewell Ballet, and Minnesota Dance Theater—to name a few. As an instructor: he has taught at Out on a Limb, Lundstrum, and HotHouse—to name a few. As a performer: past credits include AMEZ Dance, Rhythmically Speaking, ARENA Dances, and Black Label Movement—to name a few. He is presently investigating the convergence of dance and other mediums as well as reflecting on the turbulent arts landscape to which we all currently bear witness.

Growing up in and around Chicago, Rachel Sadie Lieberman developed a large, early-career repertoire of group dances utilizing her always enthusiastic cast of younger siblings and cousins. She moved to the Twin Cities to attend Macalester College, graduating in 2018 with a BA in Geography. Rachel has since performed with Contempo Physical, Leila Awadallah, Off-Leash Area, A Cripple’s Dance, ARENA Dances, Javan Mngrezzo, Annika Johansson, Analog Dance Works, Black Label Movement, Zoë Koenig, and J.H. Shuǐ Xiān. Primarily a dancer, Rachel also enjoys playing in textile arts, textual arts, and sound, set and costume design and construction. She has choreographed solo and group works presented by Alternative Motion Project, Franconia Sculpture Garden, Candy Box Dance Festival, Black Label Movement, Threads Dance, and the Walker Art Center. Off-stage, Rachel works as a Program Director at Cow Tipping Press, teaching and publishing creative writing by adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Akiko

Fever Dream 

Performers: Lizz Windnagel, Masanari Kawahara, Pedra Pepa

Sound: Matthew Amundsen 

Visual and costume: Orren Fen 

Luigi: Jake Quatt 

Voiceover: Leilani Smith, Lamont Easterling, Elijah King Bell, Kyrie King, Kailah King

Special thanks to Signe Lisa-Dotter, Magdalena Holz, Anja Amundsen, Sachan and Masa. 

Akiko is a multimedia story teller, teaching artist, curator, and activist. She has been creating both visual and performance art since 2016. She uses poetry, music, dance, collage, and puppetry. She creates art to reflect her time, and the narrative of immigrant women of color. She aims to create a shared language within her community to collectively resist the oppressive system.

Akiko is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

NW4W Embedded Writer

In 2025, current OMNIVERS artist and New Works 4 Weeks alumnus José A. Luis joins the festival as embedded writer. His writing practice, titled “Reflections,” meets the festival through a series of pieces surrounding the public performances.

New Works 4 Weeks Continues!