“Potent, powerful, epic dance theater.”
– San Francisco Chronicle

“The hip-hop dance was commanding, the truths delivered unflinching. In case I haven’t been emphatic enough: Call up your local presenter. You need to see this.”
–Fjord Review

“A new piece of documentary dance theater, Belly of the Whale will be performed, adding to what is one of the Bay Area’s most exciting and diversified showcases of street and social dance.” – 48 Hills

Embodiment Project envisions a world where dance is integrated as a critical dimension of social and cultural revolution. 

TOURING PROGRAMS

Belly of the Whale, an original work of dance theater choreographed and directed by Nicole Klaymoon, with musical direction by Amikaeyla Gaston returns by popular demand. Set as a live podcast recording, this provocative hip-hop theater remix of the ancient biblical story of Jonah and the Whale blends dance, spoken word, comedy, live music, documentary theater, mask art, interactive media, and butoh to unpack the contradictions of cancel culture and disposability politics. What does it mean to embody radical “Revolutionary Love" in this time of profound polarization? With a cast of ten virtuosic and acclaimed street dancers, vocalists, and actors Belly of the Whale masterfully points us to the way. 

Embodiment Project is an award-winning dance theater company that has been producing and touring cutting-edge original street dance theater for 18 years.

At a glance…

Beyond the performance

Embodiment Project can tailor community engagement opportunities to complement the performance and support each presenter's goals.

[MASTER CLASSES]
Artistic Director Nicole Klaymoon provides master classes on street dance technique, as well as incorporating storytelling into performance and composition.

[COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS]
Workshops can be tailored to a community audience, for an all-levels and intergenerational exploration of Black social dance and Liberatory Storytelling.

[POST-SHOW RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CIRCLES]
These circles, facilitated by Restorative Justice experts local to your community, allow audiences to process and galvanize their experience viewing Belly of the Whale, helping to transform artistic inspiration into actualized personal and community healing.

ABOUT EMBODIMENT PROJECT

Embodiment Project (EP) is an award-winning and named as one of the Bay Area’s, “ten companies and artists who challenged expectations and unveiled surprises” founded by Nicole Klaymoon.Since its founding, EP has created and toured ten original evening-length multidisciplinary dance productions, including Music of the Actualized Child, Belly of the Whale, and X RATED PLANET. The company's work has received national recognition, including such as the MAP Fund and a New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project. Ancient Children, commissioned by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, was also presented at The Joyce Theater in New York City.  EP that envisions a world where dance is integrated as a critical dimension of social and cultural transformation.