PRESENTS

Leonix is a movement theatre ensemble that devises original performance work provoked by creative explorations of burning questions.

The name “Leonix”, a fusion of the Lion and the Phoenix, is a metaphor of the troupe’s objective to create courageous and regenerative work.  Blurring the lines between theatre, dance, music and circus arts, Leonix strives to create innovative performances that are physically bold and visually surprising.  We engage diverse audiences by creating accessible, socially relevant work that encourages dialogue.

Erin Schlabach and Jones Welsh, Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors of Leonix Movement Theatre Ensemble, have worked in partnership since 2004.

More About Us: Leonix Bios

 

 In Development:

The War Within

Burning Question:  What is it to transition from soldier to civilian?

The idea of The War Within originated when we read an article that said 1,000 veterans had attempted suicide at VA hospitals that month.  We found this to be staggering and it opened up a lot of questions. 

It led us to ask what obligation society has to assist returning soldiers and their families, how do we respond to their need for healing and how we can facilitate forgiveness that a soldier may need from themselves, their family and the society that sent them to war?  War calls upon people to do things and experience things that they would never do or experience otherwise.  We have a strong need to acknowledge that reality. 

We are interested in what it is to transition from soldier to civilian, from danger to safety, from camaraderie to solitude, from mistrust to trust, from chaos to order, from lawlessness to law.  How does a soldier transition out of  ‘battlemind’;  the very state of mind that very likely kept the solider alive but in civilian life would be considered disorderly conduct, assult or worse?

Our hope for this piece in particular is to bring more awareness to what a number of our soldiers are going through and to stimulate dialogue in our communities.  

 

Past Productions:

Crossing the Bridge 

Burning Question:  What is it to face your own death?

“Until the last half century, young people would become familiar with death when siblings and parents died. Now, most of adulthood passes without personal contact with dying.” (Joyce Lynn, M.D., Center to Improve Care of the Dying)

In today’s society death is remote, hidden away in the back rooms of hospitals. There is a taboo about talking of death even though death is a normal part of life. 

Using humor and creative ensemble imagery, Crossing the Bridge explores one mans journey of facing his own death with the support of his sister.  A madcap series of hospital tests; poetic and revealing dinner dances; an absurd episode of The Peoples Court.  Moving and humorous, Crossing the Bridge counterpoints highly physical choreography with intimate, raw revelations.

Premiered in Los Angeles in 2009. 

 

LA Weekly

Pick of the Week

 

Dance in LA

"...fleshed out beautifully both in words and movement..."

 

NUVO

"Crossing the Bridge represents the kind of well-executed movement-infused theater we could use more of..."

 

IndyTheatreHabit.com

"...refreshingly free of clichéd material..."

 

IndianaAuditions.com

"One of the most powerful, emotion evoking performances I have experienced in a long time." - SheilaB

 

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