Hammer & Rain: Reflections Through Time focuses on the collaboration between one composer, JoAnne C. Maffia, and four choreographer/dancers all over the age of 50. The project not only focuses on the significance of aging and the dynamic shift one feels after ‘turning 50’ but also seeks to represent diverse female voices in our society.

As the creator and producer, follow JoAnne’s journey throughout the past year, from first receiving the Art Ventures Grant in May 2020 to the shutdown of the country in June 2020 to the realization in December 2020 that live performance, as the project was originally intended to be, was not going to happen. The pandemic transformed Hammer & Rain into a full-length documentary film. The pandemic challenged JoAnne and the choreographers to ‘get creative’ essentially forcing well-established artists to do what they do best…get creative about being creative!

The link to see the documentary will be available indefinitely.

JoAnne C. Maffia is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist and music educator; working within the fields of music/sound design, theater, dance, radio and film.

JoAnne is a recent recipient of the Art Ventures Grant, May 2020. Her previous collaboration with choreographer Rebecca R. Levy of The Jacksonville Dance Theater, BODY: a long-form work premiered May 2019 at The Florida Theater.  A year earlier in May 2018, her electronic music composition Frenetic Sparks premiered at the 12th Annual Electronic Music Festival in Schloss Leuk, Switzerland.

In 2017 JoAnne was the recipient of The Promoting Excellence in Diversity grant from SUNY Brockport as both a guest lecturer and artist. The same year, Ms. Maffia’s collaboration with The Mariah Maloney Dance Company premiered in New York City. Her radio works have been featured on The Hear Now Festival in Kansas City and in Bolzano, Italy on the MuseRuole women in experimental music festival. She has also been a theatrical sound designer and composer for The Vermont Shakespeare Festival.

JoAnne is an adjunct professor, sound designer, and percussionist for the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida. JoAnne holds degrees in music composition, music education, and dramatic literature.