Hi everyone! It has been such a wonderful experience creating a brand new immersive show, and then presenting it last November (to two sold-out crowds!) and now again this January! VULGAR uses humor to give audiences a brief escape from the outside world, while still calling attention to societal issues past and present. We humbly ask for your contributions (if you are able) to help us continue growing and showing this production.

"VULGAR" is a satirical work that invites audiences into the social dancing culture of the 1910s while critiquing the rigid moral and gender norms of the time. "VULGAR" was inspired by an original copy of the 1914 book Modern Dancing by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle, a seminal text that both instructed readers on proper social dance techniques and served as a moral guide, imploring proper etiquette as a way to curb one’s vulgar tendencies. The performance blends historical and contemporary movement, spoken text read from Modern Dancing, and theatrical staging to invoke a humorous yet thought-provoking commentary on societal expectations, past and present.

In its original 10-minute version, VULGAR has been presented at Highways Performance Space and at Los Angeles Dance Festival, receiving glowing audience feedback. Jeff Slayton, co-founder of and reviewer for the LA Dance Chronicle writes, “it was not just the reading [of the book] that made the audience laugh. It was a combination of the movement, the use of the set, the early 1900s white bras and pantaloons, and Mizrahi’s creative use of the book’s description of what was proper that sent us home with a smile on our faces.”

Celine Kiner of the LA Dance Chronicle wrote of our full-length premier: "The choreography was virtuosic, impressive, and decidedly cute in that the cast was all committed to the stylings of the prewar era, marked by ragtime and early jazz. The artists were each lovely in their own right. Though not always proper, they were prim and poised and right in time with the melody throughout, even while executing very acrobatic, athletic feats with stunning precision."

As you all probably know, dance is an incredibly underfunded field, and your donation will support:

-7 performers who put an immense amount of dedication into this performance

-countless hours of studio rehearsal space

-venue rental for tech and dress rehearsals

-costumes and props

-posters, advertising, programs, and other promotional materials

-venue rental for the performance

-sound and lighting technicians

-and more!

In this especially challenging and disheartening time in our country, prioritization of the arts continues to decline. Throughout human history, we have made art to help us understand our existence, to grapple with our place in this world and explore what it is to feel as human beings. Not only does this piece aim to make you think, but it also aims to make you laugh. This event offers a temporary escape from our current reality, as for just a few hours, you immerse yourselves in a different time and place.

Any donation you are able to make is so helpful. We are sincerely grateful for your support and hope to see you all at VULGAR this fall!

To keep in touch with us as we prepare for the show, follow @stephmizrahi and @vulgar_immersiveshow !