Architecture Through the Body focuses on how architecture relates to movement and sound. Learn from renowned professionals in dance, music, and architecture during this three-day workshop.

TEACHING ARTISTS

MOVEMENT | Raymond Ejiofor & JM. Rodriguez

ARCHITECTURE | Nefer Fernandez

SOUND | Justin Scheid + Annabelle Freedman

Over the course of the workshop, you will research architectural design and use your findings to create an original work. After a series of seminars from the teaching artists, you will receive feedback on your work. You will present your final work in a free public showing.

We have 15 spaces available for this workshop. The workshop is open to professionals, beginners, and artists from every field. Sign up now to confirm your spot.

Contact Raphaelle Ziemba at raphaelle@heididuckler.org for information about our work-study program. Eligible participants will receive a 50% discount on the registration fee.

Location

The Ebell of Los Angeles
743 S Lucerne Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Workshop will be happening on the third floor.

Schedule

DAY ONE –  JULY 14 | 3:00 pm – 9:45 pm

3:00 – 5:00 pm | Sound Workshop
5:00 – 5:15 pm | Break
5:15 – 7:15 pm | Movement Workshop
7:15 – 7:45 pm | Dinner Break
7:45 – 9:45 pm | Architecture Workshop 

DAY TWO – JULY 15 | 9:00 am – 4:45 pm

9:00 – 9:50 am |  Movement Warm Up
9:50 am – 10:00 am |  Transition/Break
10:00 am – 12:00 pm  | Creation/Prep (Participants will work on their creations; teaching artist Raymond Ejiofor will be available for feedback)
12:00  – 1:00 pm | Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 pm | Creation/Prep
3:00 – 3:15 pm | Break
3:15  – 4:45 pm | Work in Progress Showing (All teaching artist feedback discussion )

DAY THREE – JULY 16 | 10:00 am – 6:30 pm

10:00 – 10:50 am | Movement Warm Up
10:50 – 11:00 am | Transition/Break
11:00 am  – 1:00 pm | Creation/Prep
1:00 – 1:30 pm | Lunch
1:30 – 3:30 | Creation/Prep
3:30 – 4:00 pm | Transition/Break
4:00 – 5:00 pm |  Doors Open/Public Open/Reception
5:00 – 6:30 pm | Final Showing and Reception

Note: This schedule is subject to change.  

Raymond Ejiofor

Raymond Ejiofor holds a Masters of Public Health Policy from University of Southern California and is a recipient of the prestigious Gates Millennium Fellowship. Raymond graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Decision Science and double minor in Engineering Studies and Technology and Policy. Raymond began his training under Judith Rhodes Calgaro in Arlington, VA and the Dance Theater of Harlem. While balancing academics and artistry Raymond has worked with various choreographers including Daniel Ezralow, Aszure Barton, Ryan Heffington, Lula Washington, Sidra Bell, Camille A. Brown, Kyle Abraham, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Cindy Salgado, Cindera Che, Nina McNeely, Bryan Arias, Danielle Agami, Christopher Huggins, and Robert Battle. Some of his performance credits include Audi | Shanghai, Toshiba International Industrial, Samsung, Apple, 59th Annual Grammy Awards, American Music Awards 2018, MTV VMAs 2017, Beijing Dance Festival, Israeli Opera House, Springboard Danse Montreal, LA Phil, SummerStage NYC, Jazz Dance World Congress, and Pittsburgh Opera.

Ejiofor has danced for artists such as Katy Perry, Sia, Pharrell Williams, Dua Lipa, Little Boots, 30 Seconds to Mars, Gerard Way, The Acid, Moullinex, Fitz and the Tantrums and Daft Punk. Ejiofor joined the company of dance theater production PEARL, which premiered at Lincoln Center | David H. Koch Theater and continues to tour around the world. Under the direction of Greer Reed, Ejiofor was a founding member of August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble (AWCDE), which was named “25 to Watch” in 2012 by Dance Magazine. Ejiofor currently collaborates with various companies such as Ezralow Dance, Ate9 Dance Company, David Roussève / REALITY, Heidi Duckler Dance, Lula Washington Dance Theater, L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, Kevin Williamson Dance, Pony Box Dance Theater, Post Ballet, and Brice Mousset’s Oui Danse.

As a teaching artist, he has been a faculty member/master class instructor of number of studios and universities in Los Angeles and the Greater Pittsburgh region such as AMDA Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, Laura Lynn’s School of Dance, Hill Dance Academy Theater (HDAT), Camino Nuevo Charter Schools, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Morgantown Dance, Abby Lee Dance Company, Candy Apples Dance Studio and Ryan Heffington’s The Sweat Spot. A dynamic supporter of the arts Ejiofor served on the Board of Directors for HDAT in Pittsburgh, PA. He is currently the artist in residence at Heidi Duckler Dance.

JM. Rodriguez

An LA native, JM. Rodriguez graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where he trained in Ballet, Horton (under the mentorship of legendary Horton Master Don Martin), and Luigi Jazz.

JM. since has been working both commercially, as well in the concert dance scene.  After being signed with agents at 19, JM. began working as a professional dancer for tv shows and touring shows.  He’s worked with artists such as Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, and The Maria’s; has danced in shows such as Disney’s Shake It Up, Apple TV’s ROAR, Disney Plus’ Mysterious Benedict Society, and Netflix’s Dear White People; has worked with choreographers such as Nina McNeely, Fatima Robinson, Marguerite Derricks,  Ryan Heffington, and many more. Since summer of 2012, JM. has been performing and touring as a company member with the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company and has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Christian Denice, Roderick George,  Alice Clock, and Whytberg (founders of GroundGrooves) to name a few.   With over 10 years of experience in both working commercially and in the company world, JM. has begun to fuse together his own mix of contemporary, that incorporates much of his horton roots, with a mix of commercial-esque musicality, and contemporary flow.  His aim is to create the kind of environment where everyone in the space can discover fulfillment in the process of learning through movement and music.

Nefer Fernandez

Nefer Fernandez is a co-founder and principal of Not Applicable Office. He is an architectural thinker, artist, and filmmaker. Originally born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, he moved to California in the early aughts, where he received his undergraduate education at the University of Southern California. Nefer’s interest in design thinking and art led him to obtain a Master from Columbia University (GSAPP) in New York City.

Early in his career, Nefer worked in single family housing with Johnston Marklee (Los Angeles, CA), Formation Association (Los Angeles, CA), Ezequiel Farca (Mexico City, MX) and Michael Maltzan Architecture (Los Angeles, CA). After obtaining his Masters, he worked with Adamson Associates, where  he gained experience in large scale buildings throughout the west coast. Consecutively, Nefer became the studio director of RFRM Collective, an architecture studio he co-founded in 2016. In late 2022, Nefer founded Not Applicable Office, a multidisciplinary studio at the intersection of Art, Architecture and Film.

Nefer’s experience and interests have provided him with a wide spectrum of knowledge that is both conceptual and practical. His collaborations have been widely published in digital and print media, including GA Houses and El Croquis. His graduate work is in Abstract 2019, a yearly publication of selected work and research from Columbia University GSAPP. In 2021 he was a guest lecturer at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina. In 2022, his work titled Maintaining Dichotomies (Holding opposing thoughts) was part of a group show at the art gallery Modest Common in Downtown Los Angeles. Nefer currently resides in Los Feliz where he enjoys long bike rides and walks around Griffith Park.

Justin Scheid 

Justin Clark Scheid is a composer, performer, sound artist, and  production technician based in Los Angeles, California. 

Justin enjoys writing music for both acoustic and electronic mediums, often collaborating with other artists to create unique  environmental experiences. In recent years, he has  worked extensively with dancers and choreographers to create  both staged and immersive works. He has had the honor to write and arrange music for Dance Aegis, Iris Company, Heidi Duckler Dance, Lawrence Blake, Julie Bour, and the Yorke Dance Project for their  20th Anniversary Tour. He is also a co-founding member of the sound and vision project Cannibalistic Caterpillar.  

As a technician, Justin has worked throughout Orange County, Los Angeles and Hollywood. While his speciality is audio, he has worked in every medium of technical production in support of  commercial and non-commercial events. Outside of live production, Justin also has experience as museum and art gallery preparator. Notable venues and events include REDCAT, OC Fair & Event  Center, MUZEO Museum and Cultural Center, Pasadena Convention Center (Politicon 2017), KABC-TV (LA Martin Luther King Day Parade 2019 and LA Pride Parade 2019), and The Hard  Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. 

Justin received his Bachelor’s Degree from California State University Long Beach and his Master’s Degree from California Institute of the Arts, studying flute performance with Dr. John  Barcellona and music composition with Dr. Alan Shockley, Michael Jon Fink, Ulrich Krieger, and Michael Pisaro. He taught electronic music and production technology at both Rio Hondo  College and Chapman University, as well as music classes for the  Sharon Lund School of Dance at CalArts where he worked for  three years as a technical director for their dance theater. 

Outside of work, Justin is an avid DIY enthusiast and enjoys  building synthesizers and working with microcontrollers. As a hobby he collects vinyl records, bad jokes, and flannel shirts. He  can also make an excellent peanut butter and banana smoothie.

Annabelle Freedman

Annabelle Freedman is an interdependent artist based in LA. 

“. . . there’s something affecting and even mystical going on. Marvel at it.” – Buzzbands.la 

Annabelle wraps you in a blanket of warm stacked vocals and rich symphonic melodies. They were selected for NPR’s top 5 tracks to soothe quarantine blues. They have been played by international DJs, and remain favored by reputable stations such as KCRW, Dublab, and Spotify playlists. 

Throughout their career, Annabelle has played the festivals SXSW, UMS, Broke LA, and Chinatown Summer Nights and venues including The El Rey, The Lodge Room, Regent Theater, The Echo, Bootleg Theater, Bottom of the Hill, Sister and more. They have performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Denver, Barcelona, Nijmegen, and Berlin. Collaborators include CAPYAC, Def Sound, Smile High, Zhao, Teddy Roxpin, aja monet, TwoLips, jess joy, Osei Parker, && more “Mirror’s Eye / Going Within” was featured in the ABC series Grownish, and “Hear My Mind” was used for a Dolce & Gabbana social media ad. Annabelle has also scored music for the fashion short film for Garo Sparo for NYFW.