The Ume Group to Stage BY WING, FIN, HOOF, OR FOOT This June

The Ume Group will present by wing, fin, hoof, or foot, a newly devised meditation on migration, immigration and presence, at the Church of Grace & St. Paul on W 71st. Street in NYC from June 2nd - June 24th, 2017.

by wing, fin, hoof, or foot is a socially responsive piece of physical-theatre that uses the simplicity and reliability of migrating animals to explore the complex and fluctuating rules of immigration, representation, private narratives of public spaces and vice versa. Tension and unity are collapsed and expanded at the points where these migrations intersect. This piece is directed by Producing Artistic Director Keelie Sheridan and is collaboration between The Ume Group and scenic/costume designer Valentin Peter Eisele.

The 2016-2017 Ume Group Ensemble & Guest Artists are Angela Bilki, Annie McCoy, Brantley Ivey, Clara Kundin, Efrén Sánchez, Fiamma Piacentini, Jennifer Marinelli, Jorge Luna, Keelie Sheridan, Laura Aristovulos, Miles Butler, Raphael Anastas, Robin Dill, Rui Dun, Sammy DeSimone, Valentin Peter Eisele and Yokko.

Tickets range from $15-75 (with concessions for students/ seniors/ artists and an option to help subsidize tickets) and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2950640.

The Ume Group is a New York-based dance/physical theatre ensemble dedicated to sharing traditions and developing new work. We believe that a good performance artist is constantly learning, creating, teaching, and performing. We work in physical disciplines ranging from butoh dance, gymnastics, yoga and martial arts to ceíli dance, clowning and commedia.

Hailed by critics for their "commanding, physically impressive performances" (The Village Voice) and "risky physical vulnerability" (nytheatre.com), their work has engaged audiences across the US, from Hollywood to Brooklyn. The Ume Group celebrated their Five Year Anniversary at The Irondale Center in Brooklyn in 2015. Most recently, The Ume Group launched their first company-wide Social Action Project--a series of street performances inspired by the individual activism of ensemble members.

With a BA in Information Design, years of experience in Graphic Design and collaborations with several theaters in Germany, Valentin Peter focused on Stage Design in the MFA program at The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art, Dublin, Ireland. With a keen interest in creating haptic and visual experiences in the theatre space, he is currently working on Set and Costume Designs for the independent dance theatre company Backsteinhaus Produktion and the production house Theater Rampe. He combines different design approaches and experiments with creative techniques in all aspects of his work.

For more information, visit www.theumegroup.org. Follow The Ume Group on Instagram @the_ume_group or on Facebook.