Updraft: a conspiracy of movement

Updraft is an aerial dance company based in the Upper Shenandoah Valley, comprising rural areas of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. A collaborative effort, Updraft is skilled in the use of low-flying aerial apparatus such as trapeze, aerial fabric (silks), and harness work. Members of Updraft are committed to community and self-development, and specialize in projects that stimulate social activism. Their creative offerings are imbued with a sense of meaning and wacky intention.

Updraft is directed by Thérèse Keegan, who holds a Bachelors degree in dance from the University of Memphis, and a Masters degree in child-care administration from Nova Southeastern University. She has spent decades as a professional trainer and program director to support people in their development as thinkers, practitioners, and artists. Thérèse has performed with numerous modern dance companies in the metropolitan Washington area as well as with the Baltimore-based aerial company, Air Dance Bernasconi. She directs the Slipperyslope Institute, offering classes and workshops. Her work has been shown around the region.

Updraft is available for performances and site specific (both traditional and nontraditional) bookings throughout the year. Because of its focus on community education and development, Updraft is especially well suited for artistic residencies and lecture demonstrations in various learning environments. Recent themes of Updraft performance pieces have included subdivisions/land use, loss and grieving, time pressures in contemporary life, maintaining community in the face of violence and war, and re-connecting with spirits of the land.

In addition to performance, Updraft is available to conduct workshops and seminars in modern and aerial dance, improvisation and choreography, and artistic collaboration.