Odonata Dance Project, a Brooklyn-based troupe, has several short works in the, well, works. To help in their development, the dancers are inviting you to a fund raiser cabaret called “Brooklyn Tea Party,” where you can see the works in progress, catch some high-flying trapeze artists and party like it’s 1773.
Headed to Public Assembly, the Williamsburg space formerly known as Galapagos Art Space, this July 27, the benefit is the third such party for Odonata at the venue, where they will showcase “Tethered” and “Junk Drawer” among other more scandalous activities, as they promote their troupe and raise some money in the process.
Meshing modern dance with dance theater since they formed in 2003, Odonata moves more toward multimedia and video with their upcoming production, “Tethered.” A combination of text, video and dance, in “Tethered,” the performers (Sara Greenfield, Kate Thompson, Kristina Walton, Yayoi Hirano and Itsuko Higashi) are attached to each other and the stage in a critique of the social restraints of women during the Victorian age as well as today.
Part of the dance, which features imagery of the Victorian ritual of high tea (hence the Brooklyn tea party theme of the affair) will be apart of the DUMBO Dance Festival this fall, but viewers can catch the work in progress at Public Assembly.
The texts in question used in “Tethered” include T.S. Eliot's “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and verses from the Victorian era, as well as contemporary work from Brooklyn-based artists. All are interwoven in the dance and either recorded or spoken by the performers themselves. The video, music, set and Victorian-inspired costumes are also done here in the borough.
“We've been kind of 'Brooklyn pride' in the creation of 'Tethered' for sure,” said Jessica Bonenfant, creative director of Odonata, which, though it doesn't have a permanent one, calls frequent rehearsal space Micro Museum, located on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, home.
The upcoming performance of “Tethered” is a move toward more collaboration and feedback for Odonata, which is becoming the way the troupe, in their fourth self-produced dance since forming five years ago, wants to work.
“This is the most organic composition as a piece so far,” said Bonenfant. “I think we've learned a lot. We're proud of what we're doing.”
In addition to “Tethered,” Odonata will also premiere “Junk Drawer,” a two-person collage of dances, stories and films featuring Bonenfant and Greenfeld. From here, the dance will travel to the Boulder International Fringe Festival this August.
The title refers to the “junk drawers of our brains,” said Bonenfant, “all the little ideas that we never actually pursued.” This translates to the two incorporating costume changes into the routine as they stay on stage the entire length of the performance.
In addition to sneak peaks at the two dances, Odonata's benefit will also be a circus of trapeze, drag, clowning from juggler Shawn Blue, a date auction of the dancers, folk gospel from the Brooklyn-based musician Nervous Assistant, raffles of bar tabs and yoga classes, and hopefully some burlesque.
The idea of a cabaret benefit is one Bonenfant admits to borrowing from another frequent act at the Williamsburg venue.
“The Bindlestiff Family Circus — they were doing cabarets every month in the space,” said the dancer. “We stole their idea. They don't mind.”
Other ideas Bonenfant had in the works for their bash include a kiddie pool filled with tea (but only if someone was willing to bring the kiddie pool) and a green tea martini as she geared up for her third shindig at the art space.
“I think the reason we're still doing this is people say, 'So I want to go and I'm bringing people,'” Bonenfant said. “Everyone that comes always comes again.”
Odonata Dance Project's “Brooklyn Tea Party” benefit will be July 27 at 7 p.m. at Public Assembly (70 North 6th Street, formerly Galapagos Arts Space). Tickets are $15. For more information, call 718-384-4586 go to www.publicassemblynyc.com or www.odonatadanceproject.org.
