Temporary Landscapes
Further Afield, a quintet created in 2014, is inspired by varying energies and motions observed at Sara Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side in New York City. This park is considered to be a cultural crossroads where residents of various socioeconomic backgrounds collide as a result of gentrification; denizens of this park include soccer players, tai chi practitioners, tourists, hipsters, homeless people, salsa musicians and dancers. With an original score by composer Jeremy Stewart, Further Afield is a highly frenetic work with challenging technical feats for dancers in phrasing, coordination, partnering, and stamina.
Personal Forest is a solo work Roberts created in 2014 which explores theatrical landscapes based on a variety of ecosystems present on the Big Island of Hawaii. “Forest” references seen and unforeseen challenges that accompany one’s uncertainty in new surroundings, expressed through the interplay between choreographed phrases and improvised passages of movement. Drama Desk Award winner Arthur Solari provides an original music score that sets an apt tone for the solo.
The program will feature the world premiere of Night Cloud, a quartet made in collaboration with Seattle mixed-media artist Sangjun Yoo. Yoo’s installation will use light projectors and haze to create an indoor cloud to morph the stage space, revealing tableaux, silhouette, and varying spatial relationships between dancers. Additionally, composer Chatham’s Part II contributes to the ethereal atmosphere of the piece, harmonizing with the visual elements to create intrigue and mystery.