Evie Ladin | United States
WEB | VIDEO

Banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive-dancer, choreographer and square-dance caller, Evie grew up in a traditional folk scene along the Eastern Seaboard of the US. Clogging at 5, playing banjo at 8, living in cities on both coasts, Evie brings a contemporary vision to her compositions and choreography, often rooted in old songs and percussive dance traditions. Music, dance, art are inseparable as in most traditional cultures, American culture inseparable from the clash of white, black and brown in the American South. Evie’s performances, recordings and teaching connect these dots in captivating, visually musical ways, reconnecting Appalachian music with other African-Diaspora traditions in the world music fabric. Evie graduated from Brown University (BA: African Studies In Dance), and received both Fulbright and Watson Fellowships, studying music/dance in Eastern Nigeria. For 8 years, she toured concert halls and festivals nationally with the music/dance ensemble Rhythm In Shoes, performing a range of step dance styles and body percussion. Since landing in California in 2000, Evie has choreographed numerous works for and with Keith Terry and Crosspulse ensembles Corposonic, Duo, Percussion Ensemble, more; performing at The Skirball Center, Ford Theater, Getty Center in Los Angeles, SFJAZZ, Stanford Jazz Festival, Univ. of Michigan, Lincoln Center, NY, Jacob’s Pillow and many more. Her all-female body music group MoToR/dance is a moving choir, producing dance-on-camera and live works. A prolific songwriter, Evie has produced three CDs and two instructional DVDs, and appears on many more. Based in Oakland, CA, Evie tours solo, duo with Keith Terry and trio with Erik Pearson rounding out the Evie Ladin Band. She is the Executive Director of the International Body Music Festival since 2008.