Submitted
Mélange: concoction, mixture, combination.
In this series of performances brough to you by Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre (GHDT), audiences experience art coming to life in front of their eyes in an intimate theatrical setting. Each series features three unique and talented artists of different genres. Together they create art at The Florence (Carmel’s newest black-box theatre space), in a collaborative and organic manner.
This Mélange Series features a vocalist, dancer and visual artist. The dancer creates spontaneous movement inspired by the singer, as the visual artist creates spontaneous art inspired by the dancer and the music. Audiences will experience live art in a new manner, bringing groundbreaking and creative art to central Indiana.
Audiences love the interactive nature of the Mélange performances. The artwork created during the performances is auctioned to audience members at the end of the performance.
The next production of the Mélange series features the haunting melodies of Jessica Crum Hawkins, the stunning visuals of artist Madhuchhanda Mandal, and the artistry of dancer Vivien Mickels.
The performances are set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 at The Florence, 329 Gradle Drive, Carmel. Tickets are $25 for general admission seating and can be purchased at this link.
Vocalist: Jessica Hawkins
Jessica Hawkins says she is humbled to be a part of The Melange Series with GHDT. She began her vocal training in high school and focused on more classical training at Cornerstone University. After a long break from performing, she began getting involved with musical theater in the Indianapolis area in 2011. She was a part of Gregory’s, La Casa Azul, as “Frida Kahlo” in 2015, and as “Natalia Trotsky” in 2019.
Jessica also sang the role of Frida at The Music of La Casa Azul at the Palladium in 2023. Some of her favorite roles in musical theater include “Aldonza” in Man of La Mancha (Southbank Theatre Company), “Jackie Noelle” in Disaster: The Musical (Buck Creek Players), “Clara” in Passion (The District Theatre), “Paulette” in Legally Blonde (Footlite Musicals), and “Betty Haynes” in White Christmas (Footlite Musicals).
Hawkins lives in Fishers with her amazing husband, John Paul, and their rescue dog, Loki. She is always grateful to share the gifts God has given her, and appreciates all the support from family and friends. She sends many thanks to Gregory Hancock for another wonderful opportunity, and for his friendship.
Dancer: Vivien Mickels
Vivien Mickels hails from Noblesville. Her training began at En Pointe Indiana Ballet, where she studied under Polyana Ribiero, Robert Moore, and Paige Robinson. She graduated in 2022 from Hope College with a BA in Dance Performance/Choreography and Psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she performed in works by notable choreographers such as Matthew Farmer, Crystal Frasier, Sharon Wong, and Linda Graham. She has been a member of both H2 Dance Company and Strike Time Dance Theater. Additionally, she has both performed and choreographed internationally and was the recipient of the DeLong Senior Dance Award and the Kurtze-Wickersheimer Dance Award during her tenure at Hope College. She has also been a member of Dance Kaleidoscope, where she had the pleasure of performing in works by David Hochoy, Stuart Lewis, Manuel Valdes, Sean Aaron Carmen, and Joshua Blake Carter.
Visual Artist: Madhuchhanda Mandal
Visual Artist Madhuchhanda Mandal was born in the city of Kolkata, India. She started her formal coaching in arts as early as 4 years old and finished her Diploma in Fine Arts in 1998, the same year she graduated high school as the class valedictorian. During her training as an art student, she mastered methods of watercolors, acrylic, and oil painting. She started participating in exhibitions, won awards and trained students but what truly gave wings to her passion for art were constructive criticisms from her teachers and fortunate patronage from art lovers. While practicing all genres of paintings, her favorite style became figurative abstracts. Alongside working towards my Diploma in Fine Arts, she finished her Bachelors and Masters’ program in Biological and Chemical Sciences.
In 2005, Mandal left her place of birth to pursue a Ph.D. in Neurosciences at the State University of New York. The artist in her found a home in Indiana in 2013. Currently, she works as a full-time scientist, alongside being an independent fine artist, fulfilling private commissions and funding private projects. Amber Grains Art LLC. became a formal entity in 2017. Her studio is a one woman’s dream to keep creativity alive. As her favorite painter Van Gogh said, “I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” Please visit Facebook.com/AmberGrainsArt to get a peek into her world of colors.
The Mélange Series at The Florence has been created by GHDT Executive Artistic Director Gregory Glade Hancock and is presented by Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre.