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Annika Bentley

@annikabentley

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ｖ（＾＿＾ｖ）♪ // ME/CFS
singer-songwriter, composer, & artist
Artistic Director @mounthopeworldsingers_roc
soprano @rocatorio
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I am so thrilled to share that we will be presenting two encore performances of Bright Threads at this year’s ESL Rochester Fringe Festival! If you loved the show in June, come catch it a second time, and if you missed it then, now’s your chance! Blackfriars is a beautiful venue and a local treasure - we are honored to grace their stage 🌟🧵 Wednesday, 9/16, 6:00 pm Sunday, 9/20, 5:00 pm Blackfriars Theatre 795 E Main St, Rochester, NY 14605 Mount Hope World Singers, in collaboration with local instrumentalists & composers Ken Luk, Leah Ou, and Alyssa Rodriguez, presents Bright Threads, an immersive experience of musical healing. Bright Threads draws on and reinterprets global historical examples of music as medicine, creating a transformative new work focused on common humanity and emphasizing healing connection. Annika Bentley, Ken Luk, Leah Ou, and Alyssa Rodriguez have each composed new music for this project, in addition to selecting works from the world song traditions/instruments that each contributor specializes in.  Bright Threads features Swedish Nyckelharpa, Zimbabwean Mbira, and Chinese Pipa alongside percussion and choral voices. The program favors explorations of chant and euphoric rhythms in addition to lyrical and thematic content about illness and healing. Types of healing explored include body, mind, spirit, family, community, nature, intercultural connection, and the world at large. Both performances of Bright Threads will be ASL interpreted. There will be balloons available, enabling audience members to feel sonic vibrations with their hands. Braille programs will be provided upon request. Photos by Jackie McGriff Grab your tickets at mounthopeworldsingers.org/events or rochesterfringe.com/tickets-and-shows/bright-threads
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I’m so pleased and proud to share this footage of my 2025 choral composition, “Signal to Noise.”This gorgeous video was created by Nash Snyder. “Signal to Noise: an electrocommunicative fish romance” This piece unfolds in three aquatic sections: searching, connection, and dissipation. It is a love letter to South American knifefish, who use electrical pulses to conceive of the world around them and to communicate with one another. The middle section references the propulsive polyrhythms of tango.  South American knifefish live in murky rivers and utilize electroreception to signal jam, eavesdrop, predate, navigate, and woo. The electrical pulses they emit provide an instantaneous, omnidirectional snapshot of their surroundings, radiating outward in the shape of their own bodies and extending roughly one body’s length in distance.  Some species of knifefish use AC current, while others use DC; researchers at Cornell University are actively studying these fish and hypothesizing about their evolution and behaviors. This video clip is an excerpt from the larger collaborative work The Hundred Windows, which premiered at the Rochester Academy of Medicine in June, 2025, at RIT’s Sklarsky Glass Box Theater in September 2025, and at the JCC Hart Theater as part of the Rochester Fringe Festival in September, 2025. It can be seen in full on the Mount Hope World Singers youtube page (100 Windows link in my bio). Mount Hope World Singers Christine A. Banna, Projection Design/Animation Logan Barrett, Electronic Soundscape Annika Bentley, Creative Director & Producer Kathleen Fraser, Producer Brian White, Conductor Mark Wenderlich, Lighting Design Donetta Tchoroleev, Choreography Emma Mousaw, Set Design Kayden McLeod, Stage Manager Singers: Olivia Anderson Jen Becker Annika Bentley Julia Drover Crane Henry Cretella Michael Cullinan Lizz de Simone Kathleen Fraser Jennifer Gaul Elaine Hollis Krystal Kinder Debra Lindsey Jordan Oney Dorothy Petrie Carol Santos Peter Schoellkopf Tate Shaw Sahara Smith Rajiv Snape Jenny Stanberry Kayleigh White #thehundredwindows #signaltonoise #womencomposers
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I had a wonderful time chatting about Music as Medicine with Mona Seghatoleslami, Gaelen MCormick, and Jennifer Phillips on WXXI’s “Connections with Evan Dawson”—thanks for having me, @wxxinews ! Check it out wherever you get your podcasts 🎧
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Mount Hope World Singers, in collaboration with local instrumentalists & composers Ken Luk, Leah Ou, and Alyssa Rodriguez, presents Bright Threads, an immersive experience of musical healing. Bright Threads features 11 selected global choral works, 2 traditional instrumental world music pieces, and 4 original compositions written specifically for this program. The singers and instrumentalists engage as a group in thoughtful, communal movement, making use of simple props and bathed in layered lights, to strengthen the healing intention and efficacy of this program. Expressive ASL interpretation evokes a deeper understanding of content. Bright Threads draws on and reinterprets global historical examples of music as medicine, creating a transformative new work focused on common humanity and emphasizing healing connection. Annika Bentley, Ken Luk, Leah Ou, and Alyssa Rodriguez have each composed new music for this project, in addition to selecting works from the world song traditions/instruments that each contributor specializes in.  Bright Threads features Swedish Nyckelharpa, Zimbabwean Mbira, and Chinese Pipa alongside percussion and choral voices. The program favors explorations of chant and euphoric rhythms in addition to lyrical and thematic content about illness and healing. Types of healing explored include body, mind, spirit, family, community, nature, intercultural connection, and the world at large. Bright Threads features choral works from Indigenous Australia, Canada, Estonia, Haiti, Inner Mongolia, Innu First Nation, Ireland, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States. The languages the chorus will be singing in include Yorta Yorta, Estonian, Haitian Creole, Mongolian, Innu, Gaelic, Spanish, Xhosa, and English. Three of the songs feature neutral syllables in lieu of words. Both June performances of Bright Threads will be ASL interpreted and livestreamed. There will be balloons available, enabling audience members to feel sonic vibrations with their hands. Braille programs will be provided upon request. Poster by Megan Asbeck #mounthopeworldsingers #mhws #brightthreads
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What a day. What a NIGHT. The Elevate Experience was everything we dreamed it would be and more. From workshops packed with talent and heart — Tango, Salsa, Bachata, Latin Hustle, Zumba, BollyX, Heels, Konpa, Fusion, Brazilian Zouk, Kizomba, and even Latin for Littles — the energy in every room was electric. From our youngest dancers to our most seasoned social dancers, students were fully engaged, instructors brought their absolute best, and everything flowed so smoothly from start to finish. And then… the social. Watching our ballroom come alive. Seeing people light up on the dance floor. Friends reconnecting, new dancers finding their rhythm, laughter at the bar, conversations in the lounge — it was magic. Our bar was buzzing all night and it was such a joy to see so many people enjoying this beautiful space we’ve worked so hard to build. A tremendous thank you to our guest DJ, @phil_djtrackmaster , who traveled all the way here despite crazy weather and spent the entire day and night keeping the music flowing and the dance floor FULL. Your energy, generosity, and dedication did not go unnoticed. We appreciate you tremendously and cannot wait to welcome you back to Rochester. To everyone who attended — thank you. For trusting us. For dancing. For supporting local artists. For believing in what we’re building. If yesterday was your first taste of Elevate, we hope to see you in classes and at future socials. This is just the beginning. We cannot wait to continue growing this beautiful space alongside all of you. With so much gratitude, Elyse & Darin #rochesterdance #latindance #elevatedancecenter #salsa #rocdancescene
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🔥 THE ELEVATE EXPERIENCE IS THIS SATURDAY 🔥 What an incredible lineup we are bringing together under one roof. This is the kind of talent you usually have to travel for… and it’s happening right here at Elevate. An entire day of workshops across TWO studios. An evening social with a full bar. Top tier instructors. Incredible DJs. Community. Culture. Connection. You do NOT want to miss this. 🎟 DISCOUNT TICKETS END FRIDAY Full price at the door: • $15 for all workshops • $15 for the evening party • Social only = $15 👟 IMPORTANT Please bring dry shoes and plan to change in the hallway to protect our floors. 📅 WORKSHOPS Classes run back-to-back in both studios all afternoon — be sure to check the schedule ahead of time and plan your day accordingly. • Light snacks + bottled water available for purchase • Kids under 18 are FREE for workshops 🌙 EVENING SOCIAL (at Elevate!) The party begins with a 1-hour Salsa lesson with Darin & Daniela — then we dance all night. 🍸 Full bar available 💃 Studio B switches to Kizomba & Zouk after 11pm 🎶 Two rooms. Multiple vibes. Endless dancing. 🅿️ Parking Options • Winthrop Lot • Street parking on Pitkin, Charlotte & Winthrop • FREE parking in the East End Garage This Saturday is about bringing our community together and showcasing just how much talent, passion, and culture lives right here in Rochester. We cannot wait to dance with you. DM Elyse with any questions. Let’s Elevate. 🔥
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✨ ELEVATE EXPERIENCE INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT ✨ We are so excited to welcome Annika Bentley to The Elevate Experience on 2/21! Annika is a singer-songwriter, composer, and multidisciplinary artist with an integrated degree in photography and music — but beyond all of that, she is a lifelong dancer and co-founder of Rochester Fusion Dance. Fusion dance is an improvised partner dance form grounded in connection and conversation. There’s no single vocabulary. No one “right” style. All dance backgrounds are welcome. It’s about listening, responding, and creating something in real time with another human. If you’ve ever wanted to expand beyond patterns… If you’re curious about deepening connection in your dancing… If you love the idea of blending styles and exploring musicality in a new way… You do not want to miss this. 🗓 February 21 📍 Elevate Dance Center – 17 Pitkin Street 🎟 Discounted online tickets available now: https://www.salseroroc.com/event-details/the-elevate-experience-day-of-workshops-and-saturday-night-social Join us for 12 workshops across Latin, African, Caribbean, and beyond — and stay for our full night social with guest DJ all the way from NYC. The Elevate Experience is about expanding your movement, your connection, and your community. .
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PHEWWWW Look at this calendar! February is STACKED with amazing classes and instructors. We have BollyX, Zumba, konpa, New Performance teams, Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Tango, Zouk, West Coast Swing, Latin Hustle, Devy Sweat, Fusion, KPop, Karaoke, Belly Dance, Kids classes, and our The Elevate Experience - 2.21.26 - Full Day Workshops AND Night Social event happening ALL in the month of February. Be sure to get your butt to the studio this month - you won’t be disappointed! Belly Dance - contact @rylbellydances Devy Sweat - Contact @rocdevy Tango - Contact @rochestertango BollyX - Contact @amarinderrr KPop - Contact Kpop Rochester NY Zumba - Contact @fernando_acb2 Latin Hustle and WCS - contact Antoinette Fusion - Contact @annikabentley with Friday Night Fusion Dance Brazillian Zouk - Contact @northeastzouk All Latin Classes - @salsero_roc Kizomba - @roc_kizomba Karaoke - Margarita Jimenez and KZK @djalletta
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The Greg Woodsbie Flextet Special Christmas choir edition! Tue 12/23 at Cheshire 7-9 No Cover!
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Last chance to see The Hundred Windows is this weekend!!! Performances Saturday 9/13 at RIT and Monday 9/15 at JCC—we would love to see you there 🪟🐟🎈🎮 📅8 pm Saturday, 9/13 📍Sklarsky Glass Box Theater at RIT’s SHED, 300 Lomb Memorial Dr. 14623 (park in lots E or F and follow the signs to the SHED) 📅 6 pm Monday, 9/15 📍JCC Hart Theater, 1200 Edgewood Ave. 14618 🎟️🔗 Tickets and links in @mounthopeworldsinger_roc bio ✨🐠 Mount Hope World Singers, in collaboration with visual artist Christine Banna and composer Logan Barrett, is thrilled to present The Hundred Windows, an immersive, multidisciplinary exploration of the senses featuring 12 choral works from around the globe, a quadraphonic electronic soundscape, and projected animations. Both the soundscape and projections will be live mixed, making each performance unique. The show is inspired by the umwelt, a term coined in the 1930s by German biologist Jakob von Uexküll, and by Ed Yong’s beautiful non-fiction book on this subject, An Immense World. An umwelt is the specific way in which organisms of a particular species perceive and experience the world, shaped by the capabilities of their sensory organs and perceptual systems. Performances will be ASL interpreted. There will be balloons available, enabling audience members to feel sonic vibrations with their hands, and an interactive XBox controller linked to the soundscape. Photos from the Rochester Academy of Medicine by Jackie McGriff, video by Michael Sherman. Poster by Megan Asbeck @istisher #mounthopeworldsingers #mhws #communitychorus #communitychoir #worldmusicchoir #worldmusicchorus #rochesterny #rochestermusic #rochestermusicians #thehundredwindows #christinebanna #loganbarrett #umwelt #animmenseworld the poster for the hundred windows, featuring abstract blue and green shapes, with text listing dates and times, also listed in the caption. the poster also features logos of mount hope world singers and the granting agencies that have provided funding
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📣 Attention, RIT community! In addition to our performance of The Hundred Windows on campus on Saturday, September 13, we’re thrilled to present an open dress rehearsal on Thursday, September 11, that is FREE for all RIT students, faculty, and staff (and your loved ones)! Both performances are at 8 pm in the Sklarsky GlassBox Theatre in the SHED. Both will be ASL interpreted. We’re grateful to RIT’s College of Art and Design, School of Performing Arts, and National Technical Institute for the Deaf for their support of these performances and to RIT School of Film and Animation Assistant Professor Christine Banna and students Bathschèba Duronvil ‘26 MFA (film and animation) and Katelyn Park ‘25 (film and animation) for their astounding work in this production! Details at rit.edu/events/hundred-windows-performance. Full show details and tickets at our link in bio.
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After The Hundred Windows premiered in June, audiences were raving. Don’t miss your chance to experience it for yourself—or to experience it again—when it returns this month! The Hundred Windows at RIT: Saturday, September 13, 8 pm The Hundred Windows at JCC: ESL Rochester Fringe Festival: Monday, September 15, 6 pm The show features choral works from Malaysia, Haiti, South Africa, Norway, Brazil, Ireland, Australia, China, Ecuador, the United States, Canada, and the Ute people; the languages the chorus will be singing in include Malaysian, Haitian Creole, Xhosa, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Latin. Two of the songs are in untranslated indigenous languages, two feature neutral syllables in lieu of words, and two are in English. Tickets and further details available through our link in bio. We hope you’ll join us!
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