Yours, Mine, and Ours (SPLICE: DUETspaceQUARTET)

SPLICE: DUETspaceQUARTET

October 13-16

Joanna Kotze & Benn Rasmussen

Dance New Amsterdam

Photo by Erika Latta

Joanna Kotze’s Between You and Me begins with a divided stage; three rows of raised light bulbs delineate two rectangles.  A bell rings prompting Kotze and Francis Stansky to move, they start filling their separate tracks with a vocabulary of quirky, nonchalant movement.  They seem indifferent in their separate existence and content within a strict boarder around their space.  As their pace quickens they are no longer satisfied with their enclosed space, the two begin switching sides and exploring outside their borders.  They circle around each other.  In this stirring of space they notice each other and finally come close enough to touch.  When the initial connection is made they savor the moment, after being confined in their individual paths they have made human contact.  Keeping a close relationship, they explore this union.  With support from the other, one dancer is able test their own limits and discover new movement.  Kotze and Stansky don’t hold this connection for too long, they return to their separate movement but they no longer seem isolated.  Incrementally the rows of lights are moved and the divide between them is broken down, until there is no separation and the entire space is shared.  The individuals are no longer confined and discrete, they have merged into one relationship that occupies a much larger space.

 

Benn Rasmussen’s Black Groundbegins with several silent intervals that calmly and consciously introduce four dancers and two black books.  The lights expose a scene, the bodies on stage either move slowly or remain still, and after a short duration the scene ends.  As the piece builds momentum the continued silence focuses the audience on the two black books.  The objects are infused into the movement and become integral to the relationships of the group.

Photo by Eriak Latta

A book often comes between a couple; at times it is comforting and tender, other times it upsets the calm and divides the individuals. The books are rarely opened, often held at arms length, and then suddenly slammed to the ground.  Tension is palpable and the books appear to be the cause.  The audience is witnessing this community deal with their shared ownership of what is held in these books.   What they contain is unknown to the audience but it clearly weighs heavily on the group.

 

 

 

Joanna Kotze is one of four choreographers chosen for the inaugural year of the New Directions Choreography Lab at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  The goal of this novel program is to give emerging and mid-career artists an environment to develop their work without requiring a final product.  The choreographers are given a stipend, access to dancers from The Ailey School, mentorship and rehearsal space at The Joan Weil Center for Dance.   To learn more about this program click here.

Benn Rasmussen is founder and Lead Producer of RoofTop Dance, a project he started in 2010 with four other producers.  The summer series is self-sustaining and provides a platform for an emerging community of artists to share their work.  RTD has created an oasis for dance in Bushwick, if you haven’t been make sure to check it out next year! www.rooftopdance.com