About Tangled…
Some stories are too difficult to pen straight. Tangled by Blood (Moon Tide Press, 2023), a memoir-in-verse, is one of those stories. It follows the journey of a daughter, Rebecca, suffering betrayal by her mother. As she matures, memories of Rebecca’s adopted sister’s fierce protection surface. Only after giving birth, Rebecca begins to untangle childhood deceit and wounds, re-storying what it means to be a mother.
Unlike other memoirs, Tangled by Blood is not a tale of redemption, but one of hard-earned love and high stakes. Through a shifting POV, Tangled by Blood offers social commentary on abuse, sexual trauma, addiction, and suicide. The poems and prose in Tangled by Blood reflect, among many things, fractured intimacy. This fracturing influences every subsequent relationship—carrying scars and wounds throughout one’s life.
What must you untangle to become…whole?
Poetic Reading & Performance
Tangled by Blood was delivered as a poetic performance embodying this memoir-in-verse.
The performance featured dancers from Off Center Dance.
And So It Began…
So it began…
I met with Kelli Brown late Autumn, 2022. This would be a first of many meetings. I told her about my book, Tangled by Blood, and shared my hope. I longed for a performance from this memoir in verse. I told her, “This is not an easy read. I know this. I’m reaching out to you with the idea that a performance between poems could offer some reprieve, a place for the audience to breathe.”
Kelli nodded. She listened.
I continued, “I believe in the power of this book. It’s about childhood sexual trauma. It’s about the betrayal of a mother who could not, would not protect her daughter. It’s a love letter to an older, adopted sister, who pushed her bed between the bedroom door and her little sister, me, and took the brunt of abuse. It’s a story that is, sadly, far too common and worse, still too silenced.”
Kelli responded, “Well. We have to do this.”
And so she did. She gathered Lisa Whitwell and Madi Miller, all of them performers with Off Center Dance, and the curation began.
I selected 14 poems for the performance and book launch.
Each performer embodied one of the shifting POVs, the voice of the mother, of the sister (Tina), and of younger me (Beckalah).
I chose to not interrupt the creative process of the performers, believing it far more powerful for each to interpret the poems themselves.
Early in the process, Kelli sent this message:
“Rebecca:
We started reading each section with each other…. to say we were emotionally impacted is an understatement. I don’t have the words to express my sadness, happiness for your inner strength, the sacrifices of Tina, the sadness AND betrayal of your mother… so much more. Thank you for letting us be part of this. Thank you for sharing…
We hope to honor you and will be checking in through the process.”
a few rehearsal clips
Dress Rehearsal
The Performance at MING Studios
To see my narrative performed felt like an ocean, my heart full, my childhood story no longer held in only my body. These three performers shared my experience, held my story for me in order to tell it to the world.
For this I am forever grateful.
~
The Performers
Kelli Brown is the founder of Off Center Dance and Artistic Director for Flamenco Idaho. While with OCD, Ms. Brown choreographed over 30 modern dance works and 5 short dance videos. Her flamenco journey has taken her to Spain five times including two grants for study in Granada. She is an adjunct professor at Boise State University and a dance educator at Idaho Arts Charter School. Ms. Brown has performed with groups including, Flamenco Idaho, Off Center Dance, MahaVia, Flux, Boise Dance Co-op, Drop Dance Collective, and Idaho Dance Theatre. In addition to her performance work, she has choreographed for Alexa Rose Gallery, Drop, College of Southern Idaho and University of Texas, PanAmerica. Brown has taught flamenco workshops for the College of Southern Idaho, Idaho State University and set work on Idaho Dance Theater. She obtained her Master of Arts in Dance from California State University, Long Beach and her MFA in dance performance and choreography from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She is currently a second year member of the Artist Development Series with Carlota Santana Flamenco Vivo of NY (2020-22). Ms. Brown has been the recipient of Jacob’s Pillow Grant (2019), NWPE Grant for Flamenco Dance (2018), Alexa Rose Foundation Artist Grant (2017), Fund for Teachers Grant (2015), Boise Arts and History AiR Award (2009) and project grant (2010, 2015), Idaho Commission on the Arts Awards (2010/2022), a Surdna Foundation Fellowship (2010), Bates Dance Fellowship (2011, 2013), and was awarded IDEO Dance Educator of the year 2016.
Lisa Whitwell was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, where she began dancing at the age of 4. She danced at TimeStep Studios, Dance Dimensions, and Dance Pros before continuing her dance training with Marla Hansen at Boise State University. While attending BSU she earned a bachelor’s degree in science, and a masters degree in business. Lisa has been dancing with Off Center Dance since 2009 and became Managing Director in 2016. She currently lives in Boise, ID where she owns a small business with her family.
Madi Miller started dancing at fourteen years old at a studio in Twin Falls, Idaho. She then went on to dance with Inspirata Dance Project under the direction of Cindy Jones. She has an AA in dance and went on to teach at Grace Dance Academy, Xavier Charter School, and Sun Valley Ballet. She is now living in Boise and is a member of Off Center Dance. Madi is thrilled to be a part of this performance and is looking forward to sharing the stories of Rebecca Evans.
