Via DTW's site:
As many of our readers know Jillian Peña, dancer/choreographer, was hit by a car in two and half weeks ago in Brooklyn, NY. Click here for more information about the accident. Since then she has been at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. She was admitted with two hematomas in her head, underwent multiple surgeries, and is now progressively waking up from a coma. For more information about Jillian’s recovery visit the Friends of Jillian Pena blog.
Unfortunately, as with so many artists and working people in this country, Jillian doesn’t have health insurance. The medical costs will be staggering. In addition, her parents have re-located here indefinitely from their home in New Mexico, and it will be a huge expense for them as well to stay in NY during Jillian’s rehabilitation.
A paypal account has been set up to receive financial donations to alleviate the financial hardship that Jillian and her family are experiencing at this time. Please consider making a donation on her behalf. ANY amount, any number of times that you can give it, will be invaluable for her and for her family. I know this is hardly a time when people have extra cash, but please know that this donation will provide immediate and much needed assistance. No donation is too small or too large.
To donate, go to paypal.com and sign up for an account (takes literally about 2-3 minutes) and then go to the “Send Money” tab and make the donation to:
donations4jillian@gmail.com
Please consider making a donation on behalf of Jillian and her family today.
This is an interview with Jillian at dance-tech.net from April 2008:
Read more…
From the New York Post:
An accomplished dancer, choreographer and artist was struck and critically injured by an unlicensed driver as she crossed a rain-slicked Brooklyn street yesterday.
Jillian D. Peña, 28 - a doctoral candidate in fine arts in London who got her MA at the Art Institute of Chicago - was in critical condition after getting hit at around 11 a.m. at Myrtle and Marcy avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
…
Peña is a National Merit Scholar who is pursuing a Ph.D. in performance studies, according to her online profile. “Mothership,” which she choreographed, was performed at the Dance Theater Workshop last spring.
Writing about her National Hispanic Merit scholarship, she says on a foundation Web site that “although I had always identified myself as Hispanic, this was the first time it had been thrust towards me from the outside as something that set me apart.”
“I am a female Hispanic/Scandinavian performance artist, but simultaneously, and more simply, I am an American artist.”
Jillian’s friend’s have started a blog to keep everyone abreast of progress. Here is the link:
friendsofjillian.blogspot.com
Jillian was one the first artist interviewed by dance-tech.net for her premiere at DTW for the Spring Season 2008.
see interview here:
Read more…
