OMG SPILL THE TEA KHFRESH 2023
A conversation between ainsley elizabeth tharp and gizeh muñiz vengel , current curators for KHFRESH 2023–2024 and eternal fans of Kathleen Hermesdorf .
This is an intimate, casual conversation that happened over Zoom between two best friends with deep reflec- tions on their experience with FRESH FESTIVAL past, present, and future… gizeh muñiz vengel: I remember hearing about Kathleen when I was a dance student in Mexico, back in 2017. When I first visited the Bay I tried to take her class because every- one was like, “You gotta take her class,” but she wasn’t around that summer. (boo:()) Luckily, I came back to the Bay a year later and met her. My first FRESH was 2018 and it literally changed my relationship to dance and performance, like life changing!!!
a: Well first, OH EMM GEE Kath- leen’s dance class was a straight up party at 10am. Like she had this superpower of making you feel like you were the most perfect, beautiful amazing body at that exact moment, like nothing needed to change, you are showing up the way that you are showing up, and that is a gift to this earth. I feel like her other superpower was bringing commu- nity together. Reflecting on what you said, all of my closest, dearest forever babes come out of this experimen- tal FRESH community and, honestly, that is the reason why I stayed in the Bay. All these people swirled me into their lives and I was woven into the fabric of sweet, sweet experimental dance community of the Bay Area. Kathleen’s class, Kathleen’s FRESH space became such a hub for that magic to happen.
told me about FRESH and she said: “You should come!” And well… I did. g: Yah! were we newbies at FRESH the same year!?! I think it was 2018. a: Yes Yes! It was 2018… awhh little baby us<3
and moments that literally changed my life: Kathleen and Albert’s class, OMG EPIC, there will never be a class like that, ((EVER)) I’m dead seri- ous, by far the most empowering class I’ve ever taken. Performing at FRESH was also such a great opportunity, memory, and milestone in my career. You know, Kathleen and Albert were some of the first people that expressed how much they believed in me as an artist. I truly think that if it wasn’t for them, my path would have been sooooooooo different! Another memory was when I was working with Kathleen in an arts admin capacity, I loved going to her house and just chatting, hanging out, and getting to know each other. We had some intimate and vulnerable moments together. It’s the last FRESH with KK (Kathleen) that I will never forget.</3 How about you?
How about you? How did you first hear about FRESH?
ainsley elizabeth tharp: So, after college I was au pairing in Berlin circa 2017. A friend invited me to this FAKE Company show which was Kathleen’s company, it was at the ex-Australian embassy. At the time I remember thinking, “Huh, this sounds cool,” very punk rock, you know? So, I am at this show, and it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before, like seriously my mind was fuck- ing blown. ((((BLOWN__ away, into little tiny pieces of WOWIE!!!! woah)))) I remember being like, who the eff is this person, what are they doing, and how can I do that?!? It was at this FAKE Company show I met the late great Kathleen Hermesdorf and she
g: Aww yah, FRESH 2018 was my favorite so far, I think.
a: Same because I met you. (gizeh and ainsley staring longingly at each other through the Zoom screen). Do you have a favorite FRESH memory? g: I think FRESH was this meeting point and Kathleen was for sure a friendship godmother. Honestly, I met my most dearest friends there.<3 There are so many good memories
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in dance WINTER 2023 46
WINTER 2023 in dance 47
In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
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