A History of Mime in Ann Arbor with Performances by Michael Lee

Thu, 01/16/2025 - 10:55am

Join us for a series of short performances and interviews with local mime Michael Lee and special guests O.J. Anderson and Perry Perrault. The performance, which will consist of short 4-6 minute pieces will be for many, an introduction to “the actor’s art” of mime. With credit given to the mime artists that inspired and taught Michael Lee, we’ll connect the dots between legendary mimes, and the local Ann Arbor mimes who knew and trained with them.

This project is part of AADL’s commemoration of the city’s bicentennial year.

AADL Talks To: Peter Sparling, Lecturer, Poet, Essayist, Dancer, and Filmmaker

Fri, 08/09/2024 - 10:00am

In this episode, AADL Talks To Peter Sparling. Peter is a lecturer, poet, essayist, dancer, and filmmaker. He is the Rudolf Arnheim Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Dance at the University of Michigan. Peter talks with us about his career, from his start as a member of the José Limón Dance Company and principal dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company through his time in Ann Arbor as director of his own Peter Sparling Dance Company. Peter talks about his activism, the changes in the Ann Arbor dance community over the years, and his current work after retiring from the university 6 years ago.