Booker T. Washington graduate, performer, artist, choreographer Marlee Fleisher has launched a dance theater company called Meat Market Productions. She says the aim is to “create high-quality accessible productions and events” and “to foster a diverse local creative community driven by experimentation, innovation and collaboration.”
Fleisher and co. recently received the maximum funding available through the Dallas Office of Arts & Culture’s ArtsActivate Grant. She says that money will be used to produce the company’s first multidisciplinary event titled, “They Saw Tomorrow.”
“‘They Saw Tomorrow’ is an immersive dance performance that combines film, live music and dance to explore what the future might look like from the perspective of the Dallas community,” she explains.
The show includes 20 interviews with Dallas residents about what they imagine the world will look like in 20 years as well as a new live performance featuring both dancers and musicians inspired by the archive, which will also be available in full online.
The performances take place July 22-30 at Oak Cliff’s Urban Arts Center.
Fleisher has a unique approach to ticket sales aimed at shrinking the fine-arts affordability gap.
Tickets are sold under a two-tiered pricing strategy, she explains. General tickets are an affordable $15, while “patron” tickets, “for those in the financial position to be able to purchase a higher-priced ticket,” are $30. “That eliminates the traditional financial barrier that comes when viewing high-quality works,” she says.
Fleisher says she and her troupe aim to push the boundaries of Dallas dance theater.
“We intended to make work that is thought-provoking, unforgettable and unique to Meat Market,” she says.
They also hope to expand the local audience for experimental art.
“Performing and engaging in communities outside of the traditional Dallas art scene allows Meat Market to bridge the gap between artists and patrons, creating space for audience members to see themselves as part of the art rather than just spectators of the performance,” Fleisher says.
Keep up with Meat Market Productions by way of their newsletter, and get your seats to this latest production, “They Saw Tomorrow,” here.
