“Dancing with Words” at Lamoine Grange

Dance comedian Claire Porter, known for her droll, playful pieces inspired by puns and other usages of words, and Elizabeth Keen, an innovative dancer and choreographer, will perform original pieces as part of “Dancing with Words” at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at the Lamoine Grange Hall.

The following evening, Keen will offer a workshop, “Moving with Words.” Both events are free.

Keen, who teaches contemporary dance in the Alvin Ailey-Fordham Bachelor of Fine Arts program and the Martha Graham Intensives, will perform her new solo work, “Body Talk,” exploring “What is a body anyway?”

Over the years, Keen’s work has ranged widely from training Shakespearean actors to a piece tracing the history of women’s undergarments — from the corset to pantyhose — for a hosiery industrial show. She also will show the videos “Line Drive” and “Statistics” (with text by Waslava Szymborska) performed by Tomoni Amai.

Porter, a Guggenheim Fellow who has performed and created choreography around the world, will perform “Sexy Grammar,” portraying an earnest librarian struggling to explain grammar. In her other piece, “Tour Guide,” she becomes a dotty docent leading a group into an ever-changing view of history.

Keen’s Aug. 2 workshop, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lamoine Grange, will focus on “ways you can enhance a piece of text with movement.” Participants are asked to bring lines from a favorite play, monologue or poem as well as “a willingness to experiment!”

Admission to the performances and workshop is free, but donations are appreciated. The Lamoine Grange is located on Route 184 at the Lamoine Corner. The public is asked to wear masks and bring proof of vaccination to both “Dancing with Words” and “Moving with Words.”

For more info, call 667-4441 or email [email protected]