Danspace Project and BRIC Studio will present
the second installment of "Out of Space" at BRIC Studio
on May 14 and May 15. The series is curated by Marya Wethers,
who works out of the Danspace headquarters in Manhattan’s St.
Mark’s Church, and features innovative work performed by a number
of emerging female dancers and choreographers.
"I wanted to give emerging choreographers the opportunity
to be seen in smaller settings and promote independent modern
dance," Wethers told GO Brooklyn. "Women of color was
definitely something that was important to me, and queer artists
as well."
Ron Brown/EVIDENCE dancer Shani Collins will perform her solo
work, "But Some of Us Are Brave," set to the Nina Simone
song "Images" about "a brown woman who doesn’t
know her glory," said Collins.
The piece is informed by the concept of rape, both physical and
cultural, as well as migration, movement and the raw energy of
nature, said Collins. It has also been influenced by the African
Yoruba religion in which deities known as "Orishas"
are personified aspects of nature and spirit. (Thus Oshun represents
love and sexual energy, and Yemaya is the ocean and one who protects.)
The work was inspired by the documentary video, "Quiet as
it’s kept," created by her younger sister, Phakiso Collins,
and will be accompanied by Bobby Scott singing "Images"
live.
Collins, who lives in Flatbush, says she’s happy to be performing
at BRIC because she’s "looking forward to seeing what everybody’s
creating."
Yanira Castro, 32, who formed her own company in 1997, will perform
"Verano," a duet, with company member Nancy Ellis.
The piece comes from a larger work performed in 2002 at the old
American Can factory in Gowanus at Third Street and Third Avenue.
"The project used the four seasons as an abstract expression
of a love affair," said Castro. "Verano represents
the sexual side. It’s kind of like being on a beach. It’s hot
on the beach, but there’s also the heat of sexual activity."
Both dancers will wear only the bottoms of bathing suits.
Castro has choreographed the dance for two women moving separately
but in unison.
"It’s like they are each dancing without partners,"
said Castro.
Although the piece was originally site-specific, Castro believes
it can be effective wherever it is performed.
"I make dances that can stand on their own, although the
site enhances the pieces," she said.
Site-specific work "can be quite difficult in Manhattan,"
said Castro, which is one of the reasons she welcomes the opportunity
of working in Brooklyn. Her company is currently creating a site-specific
project, "Beacon," which will premiere in January 2005
at the Brooklyn Lyceum.
"Brooklyn is where people are experimenting – going out
and being bolder," said Castro. "It’s a slightly younger
crowd."
Zoe Klein, a dancer, acrobat and lighting designer (she is a
technical director at both Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Danspace
Project), will perform "Desire Is Illegal," a sensuous
dance journey that takes a personal look at coping with loss.
The piece, which incorporates vocals by Saria Young and music
by Nightmares on Wax, uses movement, text and a heaping bin of
chocolate kisses to demonstrate how memory is distorted into
fantasy and pleasure is punished.
Nilaja Richards, aka Diva, is a breakdance artist who has choreographed
for various hip-hop groups in the tri-state area. She describes
her style as modern funk, a fusion of house, hip-hop, modern
and street funk. She will perform "Bboybitchdiva.com,"
her personal exploration of a young black woman’s journey within
minority communities and society at large. The piece is accompanied
by a soundscape of club music and original text she has written
and recorded.
Sarah Van’t Hull’s "Caught," performed around a stool,
is about contained tension and emotionally based movement expressed
through the torso.
Wethers is particularly pleased to be back at BRIC.
"The setup of the space is interesting and enjoyable – cabaret-style
and casual," she said. "In standard theaters the audience
is restricted to seats. Here people can get up and buy a glass
of wine or beer at the concession during the show. I really like
that kind of setup."
"Out of Space" will be performed
at BRIC Studio [57 Rockwell Place, second floor, at Fulton Street
in Fort Greene] on May 14 and May 15 at 8 pm. Tickets are $10,
$8 students. For more information, call (718) 855-7882, ext.
53 or visit www.bricstudio.org.
