Next Wave, the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM) annual forward-thinking performance art festival has dropped its fall 2023 lineup, kicking off Oct. 19 across the academy’s three locations.
The curtain is set to rise on the 40th iteration of the festival of dance, theater, and opera with the US premiere of Gregory Maqoma and Thuthuka Sibisi’s “Broken Chord” from Oct. 19 to 21 — which sees a South African choir confront racism with a cathartic piece full of dance and music.
The first theater performance of the program will be the NY premiere of “FOOD”, an intimate dinner party performance from acclaimed theater maker Geoff Sobelle.
In FOOD, which is running from Nov. 2 to Nov. 18, Sobelle gathers the audience around a gargantuan banquet table for a culinary experience that uses smell, taste, touch and audience instruction to feed a meditation on the ways and whys of eating – the final piece in his immersive performance trilogy.
The operatic portion of the programme, Huang Ruo’s “Angel Island“, closes out the festival in early 2024 with performances running from Jan. 11 to Jan. 13.
The Chinese American composer crafted a “visceral, clear-eyed” opera in tribute to the rebellion and resilience of the Chinese immigrants who passed through and perished at the infamous immigration port in San Francisco.
“Amidst the challenges currently facing performing arts institutions, BAM deeply thanks Bloomberg Philanthropies, our donors, and our dedicated civic leaders, council members, community representatives, and elected officials for their support,” said BAM President Gina Duncan who added that the academy is “proud to continue serving and empowering artists and community members.”
Other performances rounding up this seasons lineup include: the debut of Corps extrêmes from the French aerialist and choreographer Rachid Ouramdane; Lynette Wallworth’s HOW TO LIVE (after you die); Trajal Harrell’s dazzling The Köln Concert; Peter Born who joins BAM alum Okwui Okpokwasili for the vibrant adaku, part 1: the road opens.
BAM said this year’s line-up will continue the academy’s mission to be a definitive haven for today’s “most audacious and visionary artists who re-define the academy’s theatrical spaces and unveil performances that are genre-busting, formally daring, and thought-provoking.”
For the full line-up of events and tickets prices visit www.bam.org
