Janis Brenner & Dancers

07/06/2025

Companion mixed-media collage works— “Bird in Spring” (created in May) and “Bird in Summer” (created on July 4th, while the USA was being signed away…). All hand-cut or torn papers. Trying to keep “the lightness of being” present as much as possible this weekend.

06/28/2025

Meant to include this photo in the Jacob’s Pillow Gala post! With dear friends and it was a sheer delight to spend this tribute evening to our friend Norton Owen together, with so many other Dance World colleagues.

06/28/2025

What a beautiful, communal, joyful Jacob’s Pillow gala honoring our one-and-only Dance Icon Archivist/Preservationist and also my friend of 50-years! We went to Adelphi Univ. and were scholarship students at Jacob’s Pillow both under the direction of Norman Walker. Bravi and Congrats to EVERYONE who organized this special celebration and to good friend Wendy Perron for her curation of a remarkable Archive Exhibit in Norton’s honor. June 21st. And to our little Reunion of Adelphi friends and JP scholarship friends! Special Thanks to Lynn Modell ! Last 2 photos with my Juilliard New Dances 2004 alums and Adam Weinert: both Movers and Shakers in the Dance firmament.

06/03/2025

In One Week! Monday, June 9th, at 4pm. Join an amazing intergenerational, multidisciplinary group for Janis’ Interdisciplinary Improvisation workshop, sponsored by at Peridance here in NYC. We will move, speak, sound, do some Serous Play, and create community. Spots still open. Register at www.Peridance.com and take the full week of special master classes by iconic artist-teachers: ADG Modern Dance Workshop.

05/25/2025

This past Monday night, we all grabbed a collective few hours of joy, humor, pathos, and community (and then dinner!) at the annual Chita Rivera Awards. The iconic, “triple-threat” elder-statesman Ben Vereen received the Lifetime Achievement award, presented to him by his godson ! by way of the great composer/lyricist Stephan Schwartz—of Pippin, Godspell, Wicked and many others.Ben’s beautiful granddaughter accompanied him on stage. Magic. 2. My friend and 2-time Tony award-winner Donna Murphy was resplendent in orange, and presented the Outstanding Broadway Ensemble award to the gorgeous cast of Buena Vista Social Club! right after my former Juilliard colleague Patricia Delgado and hubby Justin Peck received the Outstanding Choreographer award for the same show. And more… David Neumann, a long-time colleague received a special Watt critics Choice award for Swept Away, and then… the amazing moment when colleague Suki John , whose feature film was in the same category as Wicked, Emilia Perez, and others, WON the award for “Sh’ma: A Story of Survival”!!! and I jumped up and down like little kids as she came to the stage. So moving. There was also the hilarious and brilliant Titus Burgess, who I saw in the title role of “Oh, Mary!” last month. And so many great performances. We are fortunate to be able to have a respite from the world when we can get it.

04/24/2025

A special “Outdoors Day” that coincided beautifully with Earth Day, with the fabulous Marymount Improv class — an exceptional, creative group! Thanks to you all. (Ok, 1st photo was a moment of “Dirty Dancing” re-creation…)

04/13/2025

04/02/2025

“What I did on my Spring Vacation” Stayed in the woods at a house Upstate, and promised myself to create a work each day… whether collage, acrylics, trace paper, Gelli plate, inks, etc. Two of the pieces might look better or just as interesting being upside down. Thank god there is Art, and Artists.

03/07/2025

Join Us on March 16th!! The last Interdisciplinary Workshop in this series! Come for some genuine intergenerational “Serious Play” with Movement, Voice, Theatre. We’ve had a beautiful time together. 1:30-4pm. Contact [email protected] to Register.

02/04/2025

We’re Back—2nd “Interdisciplinary Improvisation Workshop” this month is Sunday, February 16 from 1:30-4pm! Join an amazing, diverse, multitalented group of artists, dancers, teachers, vocalists, actors for some more “Serious Play.” In Soho, NYC. Limited Enrollment! Register at: [email protected] We need to come together and Create as much and as often as possible now. Thanks.

01/27/2025

Help in any way you can. The ACLU, whether or not you’ve agreed with every single decision they’ve ever made, is a true champion of Democracy and the Constitution. It has been a part of my family for 2 generations— my father was the Chair of the Long Island chapter when we were growing up, and taught the first Civil Liberties course to other Social Studies and History teachers on LI. They need our moral and financial support more than ever— have already filed lawsuits against the criminal fascist regime in charge. They’re one of many orgs who will be on the front lines for all 4 of these challenging (understatement) years.

01/23/2025

We keep going. We make Art. On the day that the (fake) Village People performed for the Village Idiot, we moved, we sang, we spoke, we improvised, we laughed, someone cried, we communed. Thank You All for 2 &1/2 hours of “resisting” in our own, creative ways. Intergenerational (from 20 to 70!), intercultural, interdisciplinary, multinational, and every one so open and talented. Here’s to more.