Footloose operates Spring Fall Studio year-round for performing artists to rehearse, teach and showcase their work. The space hosts a variety of classes and events by a range of teachers and artists. Footloose also produces full-length theatrical productions and one person shows each season. Artistic Director, Mary Alice Fry, is constantly on the move to meet and invite fresh talent to participate
in outdoor performance installations, ongoing performance series and reading series for poets, playwrights, and singer/songwriters. The popular series Bitch and Tell: a real funny variety show showcases professional, international talent, including stand up comedians, musicians, circus acts, dancers and magicians. See/Sound/Move is an interactive performance jam for creative play fueled by open source digital media where the audience is invited to participate, plus the weekly contact improvisation jam in Berkeley. AIM: Artists in Motion residency program fosters artistic expression in emerging and established female artists from diverse ethnicities and backgrounds who take advantage of the freedom to make new work while being supported in all aspects of production and being paid! Mentoring is offered in how to build professional careers with practical business skills to locate funding sources, book venues, make contracts, improve photography and video documentation; publicize their story and garner critical acclaim. This network with other individuals in the arts brings new voices to the fore; gives them some momentum to overcome their feelings of isolation; and helps them find collaborators, directors, partners and more. Soloists often find their footing in a particular genre but sometimes decide not to go it alone and become part of a duo or group after participating in one of our programs. People find each other and connect through our performances, workshops, auditions or other events. Choreographers especially have gained from this to form their own companies. Some decide to self produce and many of our success stories are women who are now touring and making their living as an artist.
