PURE Reflections

 

Beauty reimagined

PURE Reflections is a theatrical dance performance about people confronting and overcoming the obstacles to cultivating a healthy body image. Bring this show to your community.

A terrible truth

Twenty million women suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life and ten million women battle anorexia or bulimia. Because of the beauty myth, an obsession with physical perfection that traps the modern woman in an endless spiral of hope, self-consciousness, and self-hatred as she tries to fulfill society’s impossible definition of “the flawless beauty.

An evolving concept

Every show is a collaboration between performers of varying levels of experience. The weeklong intensive and final performance is a community-building and cathartic, healing experience for everyone.

The relationships of universal forces through the lens of Jung, Freud and the Tao (Yin & Yang) are explored. Therapeutic methodologies such as distancing, role theory and embodiment are employed for performers to play different archetypes to gain more insight into who they are and to reframe their perception of self.

World renowned belly dancer and P.U.R.E. (Public Urban Ritual Experiment) Co-Founder and Director, Kaeshi Chai draws upon influences as diverse as comedy improvisation, mime, contemporary, hip-hop, world-fusion belly dance, as well as her own personal struggles with self empowerment to shed light on this dark corner of the human experience. The result is a is a fast-paced, entertaining and uplifting show.

PURE Reflections serves as a living, breathing testament to the healing power of art.

Bring this show to your community.

Download 2013 Press Release

Past shows

Teatro de la Republica, Mexico City, Mexico (2014)

  • Producer, Azur
  • Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Acting Coach, Arielle Adamy
  • Dance Coach, Natalie Nazario

A Philip Randolph High School, Harlem, NY (2013)

  • Producer, Kierra Foster-Ba
  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Pacita Prasarn

A Philip Randolph High School, Harlem, NY (2012)

  • Producer, Kierra Foster-Ba
  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Pacita Prasarn

Harwood-Watson Theater, Orlando, FL (2011)

  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Carol Henning

Richmond Shepard Theatre, New York, NY (2011)

  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Carol Henning

The Red House Theatre, Taipei, Taiwan (2011)

  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Carol Henning

Yokohama Creative Center, Yokohama, Japan (2010)

  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Carol Henning

Dragon’s Egg, Mystic, CT (May 2010)

  • Producer, Katie Bertsche
  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Dixie Fernandez

Lerner Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY (2010 )

  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Dixie Fernandez

Speyer Hall, University Settlement, New York, NY (2009)

  • Artistic Director/Choreographer, Kaeshi Chai
  • Director, Dixie Fernandez

Videos

Harwood-Watson Theater, Orlando FL November 26th 8pm Show Question and Answer with Kaeshi Chai, Pacita Prasarn and Carol Henning The PURE Reflections show was conceptualized by Kaeshi Chai, and is a project that is constantly evolving. It is customized for each location to reflect the local culture and beauty stereotypes.
Excerpts from the 2013 PURE Reflections: Beauty Reimagined theatrical dance story about the journey to self-love and becoming whole.

PURE Reflections Show with Teens in Harlem and at NYU, April 2012.

PURE Reflections Show at the CreativeCity Yokohama Center, Japan 2010

PURE Reflections Show at Columbia University, 2010.

First PURE Reflections show in 2009 at University Settlement.