Keith Hennessy, the internationally acclaimed artist, is described as a performer, choreographer, teacher, activist, preacher, sex-positive mentor, and master of ceremonies. His searing, radical and award-winning interdisciplinary performances draw on dance, performance art, circus, improvisation, activism and shamanism. His interdisciplinary research engages improvisation, ritual and public action as tools for investigating political realities. Recent awards include a NY Bessie (2009), two Isadora Duncan Awards (2009), the SF Bay Guardian’s Goldie (2007) the Alpert / MacDowell Fellowship in Dance (2005) and residencies at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Djerassi. Hennessy directs Zero Performance, and was a member of the collaborative performance companies: Contraband (85-94), CORE (95-98), and Cahin-caha, cirque bâtard (98-02). Recent works include “Delinquent”, a work with young adults investigating juvenile crime and punishment, commissioned by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and “Crotch”, a solo performance developed at L’Arsenic in Lausanne, and presented in New York, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Zagreb, Liverpool, Berlin, Vienna and just recently in Poznań (during Malta 2011 festival). Keith’s teaching includes University of Dance & Circus (Stockholm), ImPulsTanz (Vienna), Touch & Play Festival (Berlin), Ponderosa (Stolzenhagen) and American Dance Festival (Durham). Hennessy is a PhD candidate in Performance Studies at UC Davis.

“Hennessy is that rare artist who succeeds in translating fierce social concerns into artistically satisfying creations that enlighten and entertain. Against all odds he believes in art’s power to reassume its ritualistic and healing function.”

Rita Felciano, SF Bay Guardian