PUNK PRAYERS with Syniva Whitney
at Velocity Dance Center in Steward studio

Queer guided meditations, yoga for all levels, dance exercises to shake off the haters, a qtpoc led event for all interested humans. PUNK PRAYERS welcomes whispers and screams, the sacred and profane, the soft hearted and the hardcore.

Cost: Drop-ins welcome, this is a pay what you canClass no one will be turned away for lack of funds…$0, $5, $10, $15 sliding scale suggested : Pay your teacher directly with cash, check, or class cartd.

Class cards may be purchased at the office during standard business hours, or online. (1 class $15 / 5 classes $70 / 10 classes $130).

Questions or have accessibility needs? Call 206.325.8773 or email operations@velocitydancecenter.org

Syniva Whitney is an artist creating performative experiences that combine theater, dance and visual art. Syniva’s queer multiracial non-binary point of view is at the heart of their performance project, Gender Tender, for which Syniva creates experiences that investigate the nature of queer and transgender personal relationships and histories as well as the surreal nature of transformation, trauma, and healing. Syniva Whitney/Gender Tender engages a team of artists trained in Syniva’s unique methods modeled on the structures of sports teams, sitcoms and riots. Technical and conceptual focus combine to engage performers and audience in the dance of intellect, embodiment and radical compassion. Their work aims to disintegrate binary thinking for all participants.

Syniva Whitney was awarded the 2018 Artist in Residence position at Velocity Dance Center. Their performance work has been commissioned and produced by On the Board’s NW New Works Festival and Solo Festival; Velocity’s Next Fest NW and Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation; the Seattle International Dance Festival; Yellow Fish Epic Durational Performance Festival and was selected for the inaugural season of Seattle’s Gay CIty Arts. Their work has also been presented in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland OR, Chicago and San Francisco. Syniva has exhibited their visual art and screened their short films nationally. They have an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and they are a certified yoga instructor and graduate of the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. Their current project MELTED RIOT, a queer meditation inspired by the Stonewall Riots of 1969, is supported by the Velocity Dance Center Artist in Residence program. A key aspect of this project is stepping into my role as a community leader to grow something that is deeply heartfelt, that I hope has the potential to reshape the world and grow sustainable support systems for myself and others.

photo of Syniva and GT allstars Will Courtney, Kristi Krein, Hexe Fey and Biff Sunday courtesy of the artist.