Exit12 Gala Performance – Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
Overview:
Exit12 Dance Company held a powerful three-day workshop with DC-based veterans & military-connected individuals, culminating in a performance at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, CreatiVets, the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), and renowned tenor & veteran Jesús Daniel Hernández with guitarist Michael Bard. The event had over 500 RSVPs and nearly 300 audience members in-person, including military families, veterans, civilian supporters, and key representatives from national veteran service organizations and institutions. This project was a remarkable example of community collaboration, artistic excellence, and the healing potential of storytelling through dance.
Workshop Summary:
From April 29-May 1, Exit12 led a three-day dance and storytelling workshop for 10 military-connected individuals, including one National Guardsman, 4 retired Army, two retired USAF, one veteran who served in 3 branches (USAF, USN and US Army), one Marine, and one military family member. In collaboration with ASAP, participants explored personal identity, journeys, struggles, triumphs, and visions of hope for the future.
Facilitated by Exit12 artists and teaching staff, the workshop created a safe, expressive environment where lived experience was translated into movement. The result was a seven-minute original dance piece performed during the final event, choreographed by and with the participants themselves and included a custom soundscape that incorporated their voices and emotions. The process fostered connection, transformation, and a profound sense of agency through creative expression. Post-workshop feedback from participants reflected themes of emotional healing, empowerment, and renewed community. During the post-performance networking, participants and family members expressed an interest in repeating the workshop as a participant and expanding it to others in their network. This indicates an advanced level of engagement and effectiveness.
Performance Highlights:
The culminating performance at DAR Constitution Hall was a deeply moving evening of storytelling, music, and dance, featuring:
Opening Ceremony: The performance began with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by LCpl Travia Jackson of the United States Marine Corps Quantico Marine Band, setting a tone of honor and reflection. In the hall as LCpl Jackson began to sing, the American Flag was dropped to hang from the ceiling and came to rest just feet above the audience.
Collaborative Dance Works:
A deeply powerful and emotional dance piece set to live music by Jesús Daniel Hernández, US Army Iraq War Veteran and Classically Trained Singer and Michael Bard Classically Trained Guitarist and Cultural Ambassador, weaving whimsical classical and Spanish traditions into the physical narratives of our dancers. It spoke to the raw, unfiltered creativity that emerges when people who have experienced life at its most intense turn to the arts.
A second collaborative dance piece performed to Chris Ferrara's live music from CreatiVets titled The Last Letter Home which takes inspiration from the letter that a deployed service member entrusts to their battle buddy in the case they don’t make it home, the letter will.
Powerful Personal Testimonies:
Compelling spoken word and narrative storytelling from Maureen Elias and Rodney Remson, both affiliated with ASAP, provided authentic, first-person perspectives on the military experience.
Exit12 Repertoire:
The company presented signature works from its repertoire, illustrating the complex realities of military life including Sometimes, Silence and Conflict(ed). Sometimes, Silence, choreographed by Army mom Angela Scimonelli with music by USMC Band Veteran Paul Scimonelli, the work explores the loss of innocence, worry, and longing that comes with military service - through the eyes of a mother. Conflict(ed) choreographed by AD Román Baca investigates the struggle between duty and humanity in a warzone.
Artistic Director's Lived Experience through Stories:
US Marine Iraq War Veteran and Exit12 Artistic Director Román Baca shared personal insights and experiences in uniform, grounding the performance in lived truth and leadership by example.
Audience and Attendance:
The event drew an impressive and diverse audience. Nearly 300 people attended in person, including:
Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
The Former Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor
Clinicians and staff from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence as well as professionals working in the Arts and Health sector.
Scholars from the Bush Presidential Institute's Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program
Representatives from Amazon Military, the Hunt Family Foundation/Veterans Collaborative, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
Veterans from Access Housing and military-connected civilians from the broader DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DCMV) area
Impact and Feedback:
Audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the emotional power, authenticity, and accessibility of the performance. Attendees described the program as:
“A powerful and accessible portrayal of veterans’ stories.”
“A transformative evening that brought understanding to complex military experiences.”
“An emotional and honest performance that bridged civilian and military communities.”
Audiences also offered to get involved with Exit12 around (1) event messaging/social/brand awareness (2) grant writing and (3) marketing.
Workshop participants reported experiencing: Feeling touched, still, awestruck, gratitude, moved, inspiration, connection to others, exhilaration, not being stuck in my head, vulnerability, hope, honor, free, able to let go, happiness, relaxed, sense of ease, and acknowledgement of likenesses and differences.
Conclusion:
Exit12’s appearance at DAR Constitution Hall was more than a performance—it was a community gathering, a space for healing, and a demonstration of the unifying power of the arts. Through dance, music, and storytelling, we illuminated the hidden narratives of military life and created a bridge between veterans and civilians in the heart of our nation’s capital.
This event stands as a testament to the strength of creative collaboration, the importance of veteran voices in the arts, and the ability of performance to foster understanding and connection.