The Healer

Posted on October 14, 2021 in by

Choreography

Katerina Wong, with the performers

Creative Team

Original Score: Daniel Berkman
Scenic Design: Chad Owens
Lighting Design: Del Medoff
Cinematography: Jenny Chu
Editing: Loren R. Robertson
Video produced by Loren Robertson Productions

Performers

Michaela Cruze, Juliann Witt, Katerina Wong, and Stacey Yuen

Additional Information

Costume Coordination: Jhia Jackson
TCM Consultation: Shawna Seth
Text: Szuson Wong, Doctor of Energy Medicine
Guest Speakers: Rebecca KellyG, Shawna Seth, and Xan West
Q&A Moderator: Yutian Wong
Understudy Dancer: Katherine Disenhof
Community Performers: Suzy Acquisto, Alex Carrington, Katherine Disenhof, Julie Doupé, Cristina Ibarra, Amy Miller, Elizabeth Sheets Orcutt, Michelle Ramos, Wendy Rein, Arielle Tonkin, Becca Welna, Robin Wong, & Agnes Yoon
Audio Describer: Rachael Dichter

Premiere

Virtual performance filmed at ODC Theater, 2021

Duration

32 min

Project Categories

Creation, Film, Works

The Healer (2021) mines the ancient history, systems, and beliefs of Traditional Chinese Medicine and holistic practices, to shed light on our innate ability to overcome physical and emotional suffering. Choreographed by former Co-Artistic Director Katerina Wong, and created in memory of her aunt, a Doctor of Energy Medicine, the work features a powerhouse quartet of female dancers, an original sound score by Daniel Berkman, lighting design by Del Medoff, and a bamboo scenic installation by Chad Owens.

Originally scheduled for March 2020 as part of TRIPLE TAKE and postponed due to COVID-19, RAWdance re-imagined the premiere of The Healer as a holistic online experience and virtual dance performance. After months of isolation, anxiety, frustration, loss, grief, and uncertainty, The Healer embraced a new purpose to create space for personal reflection, communal breath, and universal release.

Co-presented with ODC Theater, The Healer‘s premiere included a pre-show class/presentation by guest speakers, a dance performance filmed at ODC Theater, and a post-show moderated Q&A with the artistic collaborators. Learn more about the guest speakers and Q&A moderator.

The online premiere also included an optional mailed package called The Healer: Sensory Offerings, a specially curated collection of small objects designed to enhance the at-home viewing experience. A DIY version of the Sensory Offerings can be found here.

Captioning and Audio Description is available for this virtual performance.

For further information or to inquire about touring the live work or screening the film, please contact RAW@RAWDANCE.ORG

Press & Accolades

…meditative marriage of somatics and mindfulness…While internal, individual reflection was indeed present, the notion of the collective was so strong and palpable… beautiful shapes would be followed by an outward eruption into the space; particles bursting everywhere.
Heather Desaulniers, CriticalDance
The Healer is likely to imprint audience memories with images of power, strength, fluidity, courage, tenderness, serenity, and resilience.
Lou Fancher, San Francisco Classical Voice
…very different logistics but with the same — though newly intensified — intent.
Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle

Select Previous Performances

Virtual World Premiere Co-Presented by RAWdance and ODC Theater, Jan 29-30, 2021

Select Previous Engagements

Work-in-progress showings:
the CONCEPT Series: 25, The Green Room (San Francisco, CA) 2019
Mark Foehringer Dance Project | SF’s Dancing in the Park, Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, CA) 2019
Concept o4’s Full Moon Gathering, The Bindery (San Francisco, CA) 2019
the CONCEPT series: 26, The Green Room (San Francisco, CA) 2020
The Healer At Home, a short dance film captured during the Covid-19 shelter-in-place order, 2020