Definitions of family are undergoing dramatic transformation. Same-sex marriages, single-parent families, interreligious and interracial families, all once taboo, are now a routine part of the American landscape. And family issues are at the core of much of the world’s great art and literature. Sibling rivalry, infidelity, and domestic violence are part of the story, along with love, nurturing, and the wonders of childbearing. Our families are sources of support and struggle, values and sometimes vices.

On November 8, 2014, Full Circle Dance Company of Baltimore presents Bloodlines: Upheaval and Peace, a concert that explores family issues from multiple perspectives. Choreographers from Maryland, Washington DC, and Ohio tackle the theme from different angles, with dramatic results.

Artistic director Donna L. Jacobs investigates why self-destructive impulses sometimes take root in families, and how families endure and repair themselves. Theresa DeAngelo considers the family as a wellspring of support, where members can return for restoration when their emotional resources are exhausted. Jennifer Seye looks at couplings that cross racial and gender boundaries in multiple ways. Angelica Daniele examines the skeletons we might find in the family closet. Washington choreographer Kakuti Lin captures the joy and synchronicity we feel at the start of a passionate love or a remarkable friendship. Hope Byers celebrates the blending of cultures within and beyond the family. And Ohio-based choreographer Travis Gatling takes a moving look at women’s varied experiences and changing place in families.

With an emphasis on expressive and dynamic movement, and showcasing dramatically varied choreographic voices, Bloodlines: Upheaval and Peace, is a thought-provoking journey through family issues—both contemporary and timeless—and the marks they leave on all of us.