Movement for Mercy

About the Production

Mercy /noun/ compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm

Movement /noun/ an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed; a group of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas

Keshet’s Movement for Mercy production is a contemporary dance performance intended to examine (and change) the US juvenile carceral system/s. Co-created & performed by a team of collaborating dance artists from Keshet Dance Co and incarcerated young adults from Keshet’s M3 Program (Movement + Mentorship = Metamorphosis), Movement for Mercy is created through a durational process inside & outside of prison walls, with the work shared through the bodies of those on the outside for this unique performance experience. Through the process we are aware of how the physical space & lived experience of freedom vs. incarceration influences the collaborative process & product. The process is intentionally slow, and leaves room for both emotional care & logistical realities of dancemaking in prison. Movement for Mercy explores themes of human empowerment and resiliency while bringing awareness to a small slice of the realities facing our youth who are navigating the current juvenile (in)justice system.

“In creating work for {…} Movement for Mercy production, I’ve seen collaborating artists approach their creative vision with a deep desire to share, to be seen and heard. Many of our young artists sharing work are eager to pave their paths in the truth of what “justice” means for their futures and it’s an honor to see it unfold in this partnership,” says Director of Arts & Justice Initiatives and Keshet Company Dancer Elysia Pope. “We’re seeing artist collaborations span across communities in Albuquerque, but also engage Keshet partner organizations rooted in arts and justice work from out of state. The breadth of lived experiences and striking, honest artistry from our collaborators will offer not only a stunning production, but a meaningful and necessary conversation on how art and justice can transform our visions of the future.”

There are multiple intentions for this production: 1) to amplify the voices of our collaborating artists who are still incarcerated and unable to share their artistry and advocacy directly with those on the outside; 2) to bring awareness to juvenile justice issues for those that may not be aware of the current and ongoing injustices happening to our young community members, and 3) to support justice reform policy platforms via collaborative legislative impact efforts.

Movement for Mercy performances and showings occur throughout NM, including residencies and partnerships throughout the U.S. Movement for Mercy 2025 will preview in New Mexico November 7-8, 2025 and premiere in Los Angeles on November 15, 2025 at the Odyssey Theater.

History

In 2016 the Keshet artistic team began seeking new ways to bring the choreographic voices of the young artists inside (currently incarcerated) to outside audiences. In 2019 the Movement for Mercy project was formalized, and began generating work in progress performances of various iterations over the course of 2020-present. In 2022, Keshet received a National Dance Project (NDP) award via the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) to formally premiere this work and begin touring in specifically identified regions of the US.

Sponsors and Partners

New England Foundation for the Arts, National Dance Project
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) (2025 Production)
State of New Mexico Economic Development Departments Creative Industries Division (2025 Production)

New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department:
Youth Diagnostic and Development Center (ABQ);
Camino Nuevo Youth Center (ABQ);
ABQ Boys Reintegration Center;
ABQ Girls Reintegration Center;
John Paul Taylor Center (Las Cruces)
Bernalillo County Youth Services Center (ABQ)

Project Knucklehead (Los Angeles, CA) (2025 Production)
Arts for Healing and Justice Network (Los Angeles, CA) (2025 Production)
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (Brooklyn, NY) (2025 Production)