an evening of dance normalizing periods

Self-produced production at Mason Hall at the Preston Bradley Center (2020)

Cast: Kristen Donovan, Marceia L. Scruggs, Simone Stevens, Kait Dessoffy 

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“Legalize Menstruation” discusses and focuses on three main themes in order to normalize menstruation: 1) Establishing the idea that people that menstruate are not always women 2) Educating our audience on period poverty and the lack of accessibility of menstrual hygiene products in Chicago 3) Ending the taboo of talking about your period and individual, menstruation experiences with openness and honesty. Our end product constructed these themes through social dance, theatre, humor, and contemporary dance forms. This two day weekend performance was also a donation site for menstrual hygiene products and were distributed through the non-profit organization Chicago Period Project. We ended our weekend with 2,059 menstrual products donated to shelters and schools in the Chicago community.

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TO FURTHER SUPPORT CHICAGO PERIOD PROJECT: donate through their website

Menstrual hygiene products you can donate to Chicago Period Project: 

• TAMPONS

• PADS

• PANTY LINERS

• MENSTRUAL CUPS

• TRAVEL SIZE PACKS OF WIPES

• MINI HAND SANITIZER

• NEW UNDERWEAR

Legalize Menstruation Show Credits

Producer

 LOUD BODIES in partnership with Chicago Period Project

 Artistic Directors & Choreographers

 Maria Blanco & Yariana Baralt Torres

Marketing Director

Jordan Kunkel

Mentor

Amy Wilkinson

Lighting Designer

 Katelyn Le-Thompson

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Show Order and Credits:

“Ciclo Ancestral” (Premiere) by Taimy Ramos and LOUD BODIES

Performers: Taimy Ramos, Marceia Scruggs and Kait Dessofy

Music: Haul - Christian Löffler and Max Cooper

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"Does anybody have a tampon?" (Premiere) by LOUD BODIES in collaboration with the dancers

Performers: Kristen Donovan, Marceia Scruggs, Simone Stevens and Kait Dessofy

Music: Can You Feel It - Jacksons 5, PMS Blues - Dolly Parton, Hot in Here - Nelly, I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor, Té para Dos Cha Cha Cha - Ramón Márquez y Su Orquesta, Funky Sensation - Disclosure and Gwen McCrae, Evan Finds the Third Room - Khruangbin, Menstruatango - Sofia Viola, Bizet: Carmen: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle: Habanera - Act One - Georges Bizet, Shirley Verrett, Covent Garden Chorus and Sir Georg Solti, I Need A Painkiller - Armand Van Helden and Butter Rush, Tampax Commercial - Yes You Can 1991

Music Editing: Yariana Baralt Torres