After celebrating numerous successful performances in Chicago, Milwaukee, and throughout California, “Barred from Life” played to a crowd of 500 on October 27, 2005 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Created and performed by Santa Clara University Assistant Professor in Dance David J. Popalisky, in collaboration with Cookie Ridolfi, Director of the Northern California Innocence Project, this innovative performance-work illuminates the human experience of individuals convicted for crimes they did not commit. This show premiered a cameo video performance by Danny Glover who, motivated by his concern for wrongful conviction and his awareness of this show, contributed his immense talent to this production.
“Barred from Life” occurs within a confined set, symbolic of a prison cell that embodies the restricted physical experience of these men. With the dance functioning as visceral glue for the story, the score and video represent the varying mental states of the wrongfully accused throughout the various stages of their ordeal. Excerpts from the exoneree’s interviews connect audiences with the voices, faces, and eloquence of these men and their astounding stories.
“David’s performance is an emotional commentary on an immensely important social issue – he melds poetry, media, and dance to portray the experiences of people forced into the nightmare of arrest and conviction for crimes they didn’t commit,” said Ridolfi. “I’m awed by David’s remarkable artistry. ‘Barred from Life’ is a powerful story of the pain, despair and resilience of wrongful conviction.”
In 2004 “Barred from Life” premiered at Santa Clara University to enthusiastic acclaim. Shortly after its premiere, the performance was presented at the American Association of Law Schools – Clinical Legal Education national conference in San Diego, which awarded “Barred from Life” a CLEA CREATIVITY AWARD for its approach to confronting important legal and humanitarian issues and for exemplifying inter-disciplinary collaboration.
