Projects

  • “What is Love?” is a performance art piece in created and performed by artists Joy Prendergast and Elik Gilad. The piece explores themes of love and intimacy over the course of time.

    Is love different when there is less time available? Can love exist without hugs, kisses or sex?” Does fighting help love grow? Can you love without dependency? Joy Prendergast and Elik Gilad explore these questions and more in “What is Love?” A piece of life happening on stage.

    Duet, 30 minutes

  • An ongoing improvisational collaboration between myself and musician/poet Shoham Sakana Manela. We explore who is speaking, where is the music, and what are we fighting for?

    Performances in NY, NM, CO

    Photo Credit: Pat Berrett

  • A collaboration between myself and Shoham Sakana Manela and the students at Colorado State University.

    An exploration of placement, misplacement, exploitation, and cost fitting in at all costs.

    A huge thank you to CSU and the dancers for their trust, wit,curiosity, dedication, stamina, humor and joy. Nothing is possible without you. You shine so bright. A lighthouse for all of us.

    9 performers, 13 minutes

ARTIST STATEMENT

Joy creates improvisational and choreographed performances for both theater and site-specific settings, exploring the connection between music and dance. Her work investigates the intersection of personal and collective, using improvisation to navigate themes of memory, emotion, and cultural liminality. Grounded in collaboration, her practice reflects on displacement, otherness, and the tension between intimacy and alienation—particularly from a femme perspective. Dance becomes a bridge between the conscious and unconscious, with each environment offering a unique context. Rooted in wholeness, joy, and health, her work is both expressive and analytical, mapping the friction between self and society.

All Works

  • An ongoing improvisation performance and collaboration with musician Shoham Sakana Manela.

    Performed at Keshet Arts NM, and Movement Research NYC

    Duet, 12 minutes

  • Performance collaboration with artist Elik Gilad.

    Performed at Wolverine Farm Publick House, Fort Collins CO

    Duet, 30 minutes

  • Improvisation collaboration and performance with musician Bryce O’Tierney

    Performed at Wolverine Farm Publick House, Fort Collins CO

    Duet, 20 minutes

  • Collaboration with musician Shoham Sakana Manela for Colorado State University. Performed by dancers Marge Nelson, Charva Jamison, Clair Forden, Emily Campbell, Isabelle Bihler, Jacqueline Urquidez, Kaitlyn Tayntor, Anna Harbert, Madeline Palacio

    Performed at CSU in Fort Collins, CO

    9 dancers, 15 minutes

  • Commissioned by Canyon Concert Ballet Company.

    Performed in Fort Collins, CO

    4 dancers, 10 minutes

  • Musical Collaboration with Shoham Sakana Manela, and dancers Dorin Amitzur, Tamar Binyamini, Ahinoam Sperling and Joy Prendergast

    Performed at HaMiffal Art House in Jerusalem

    4 dancers, 40 min

  • Choreographic collaboration between Kelvin Vu and Joy Prendergast for the advanced students of Shira Ganor Dance School.

    Performed in Tel Aviv

    9 dancers, 12 minutes

  • Created and performed by Joy Prendergast

    Presented in IMAGE at Karnaf Theater in Jerusalem and Performa at Studio Naim Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Sound score by Joy Prendergast

    solo, 10 minutes

  • Created and Performed by Joy Prendergast

    Presented at Karnaf Theater in Jerusalem

    Solo, 15 minutes

  • Performance art collaboration with Musician Daniel Smith

    Performed at Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance

    5 Musicians, 5 Dancers, 7 minutes

  • Collaboration with Musician Daniel Talmor

    Performed at JAMD, and Gertrude Stein Choreography Competition Jerusalem

    Duet, 7 minutes

  • Created in collaboration with Caitlin Hefer

    Performed at JAMD

    Duet, 15 minutes

  • Choreographed by Joy Prendergast

    Performed at JAMD

    Duet, 10 minutes

  • Concept by Joy Prendergast for the 1 year students at JAMD

    Performed at the Hebrew University Campus in Jerusalem, Site specific piece

    7 dancers, 10 min

  • Created at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and various locations in San Francisco.

    Performed at SFCD and Featured in the San Francisco Tiny Dance Film Festival

    7 dancers, duration varies

  • Choreographed as part of the RAW Residency

    Performed at The Garage and SFCD Studio Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance

    3 dancers, 30 minutes

  • Choreographed by Joy Prendergast as RAW Residency

    Performed at The Garage (now SAFEhouseArts) and SFCD Studios San Francisco

    Duet, 15 minutes

  • Choreographed and Performed by Joy Prendergast

    Premiered at Z Space as part of San Francisco Summer Dance Series, and performed at The Garage, San Francisco

    Sound score by Joy Prendergast

    solo, 50 min

  • Created by Joy Prendergast at RAW Residency, The Garage (now SAFEhouseArts), San Francisco

    3 dancers, 20 min