Wednesday December 8, 2010 - A nice opportunity to re-connect with OtherShore and to experience (for the first time, I am amazed and ashamed to say) the work of Stephen Petronio. Composer Ryan Lott is the third party in this new creation: a work for five dancers entitled THE SOCIAL BAND. The dancers (above) are: Brandi Norton, Sonja Kostich, Aaron Mattocks, Elizabeth DeMent and Miguel Anaya. Tonight's presentation was of an extended excerpt from the work which will be premiered in Florida in 2011 and will also hopefully be staged here in New York City.
Stephen Petronio (above) spoke briefly about the work and he introduced the composer who was also present. The music derives from spirituals - indeed a singer is heard, the voice woven into the score:
"Bright angels on the water,
Hovering by the light
Poor sinners stand in the darkness,
And cannot see the light."
The work begins in stillness, the dancers standing in a row. The initial movements are limited and personal, each dancer seeming cautiously to explore the space on his or her own. They begin to make contact...
...finally developing into a collective.
From here both the music and the dance forms become more expansive with increasing inter-action between individuals: Aaron and Miguel, above.
The dancers create a shifting sculpture, a movement collective from which individuals emerge from and are then re-absorbed into the group.
Kokyat's images:
The dancers taking a bow after the presentation: Aaron, Brandi, Elizabeth, Miguel and Sonja.
Performance photos by Kokyat.
This showing took place in a small theatre within the Duo Multicultural Arts Center on East 4th Street: a very interesting space with some faux-Rococo paintings. Kokyat and I were thinking it would be an interesting setting for a photoshoot.
Here's a photo of the hall set up for cabaret. The tables can be removed for normal seating or to create an open space. It's fun discovering these 'secret' performing spaces tucked away in various parts of the City.
Comments