Life Songs (Her Mixtape's a Masterpiece) 

For Porchview Dances 2019

Music is a powerful trigger of memorable life moments. Songs can transport us back to a time and place, back to the experiences that have shaped us. That song that was playing at your high school dance. The song your mother sang to you as a child. The first song you learned to play on your guitar. 

Life Songs (Her Mixtape’s a Masterpiece) is a retrospective of life’s significant moments, remembered through music. An eclectic playlist of life songs reveals standout moments in the personal histories of five incredible women across three generations. 

Moments of celebration. 
Moments of catharsis. 
Moments of running late, of taking out the trash, of getting caught in the rain.
Moments of letting loose, of leaving home. 
Moments of being together, of grief, of joy.
Moments of achievement.
Moments of taking risks, of rebellion, of overcoming adversity.
Moments of slow dancing with the one you love.

Life Songs was commissioned in 2019 by Kaeja d'Dance for their annual Porch View Dances - a community dance event that "engages everyday people as creators, storytellers and performers – many of whom have never danced before. Audience members travel from house to house to see new dance works created with professional choreographers and performed by local families and residents on the front porches and lawns of their own homes."

Together with five fabulous women (Kirsten Boer, Marion Oliver, Lori Pacan, Evelyn Sham and Myriam Zitouni) from across three generations, we created Life Songs (her mixtape's a masterpiece) - a retrospective of life's significant moments, remembered through music.

We really had so much fun creating this piece. It started in my living room around a coffee table full of crudités, hummus and artichoke dip. With DJ Jef Mallory we built a playlist of memorable life moments and shared the stories they inspired. The next week we met in the studio and transformed our memories into movement. Stories became gestures and dances set to the music that shaped us.

Creative Team

Commissioned and Produced by Karen and Allen Kaeja/Kaeja d'Dance for Porch View Dances 2019 - Seaton Village

Choreographed by Shannon Litzenberger, together with community participants Kirstan Boer, Marion Oliver, Lori Pecan, Evelyn Sham, and Myriam Zitouni

Music Compilation and Sound Editing by DJ Jef Mallory

Stage Management by Sharon DiGenova

Technical Assistance by Shana Miller

Administrative and Production Team Beata Rasitsan and Drew Barry

Porch View Dances was created by Karen Kaeja and developed with Allen Kaeja of Kaeja d'Dance