Still/Together – Lokasparśa Dance Projects
Lokasparśa Dance Projects (NYSCA 2022 Choreographic Commission)
Saturday June 18, 7:30 PM
$20 ($25 day of); $15 WKC Member ($20 day of)
Light, time and stillness form essential, unnoticed connections between us. The world premiere of Lokasparśa Dance Projects’ latest work titled Still/Together is an invitation for people to notice and appreciate the tenderness of these elements. They are always present when we share space together.
New awareness of unnoticed connections is a subject clyde forth is keenly tuned to on the heels of the pandemic, though it’s one that is always relevant to her work. That new awareness or moment of realization is the story under every story.
The ideas and images for the movement material in Still/Together grow from clyde forth's experiences of heightened attention, solitude, apprehension and hope during the pandemic. But forth's personal research for this piece started pre-Covid. She studied the physics of light and the history of its relationship to religion. She did movement experiments with meditation, micro-movement, durational movement, natural light, and projected light. As these experiments and studies continue the piece takes form.
In Still/Together the choreography ranges from micro-movement to intense physicality as the six dancers transform their experiences of light, time, stillness and deep attention into physical expression. Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel, Gyorgy Ligeti’s Lux Aeturna, and original compositions by Rainer Reeves-Cohen provide the sonic landscape of the work. There are also video projections by Leighann Kowalsky and vocal/text elements written by clyde forth. The original lighting design by Zack Jacobs and Aree Bray’s new lighting adaptation for West Kortright Centre are being developed alongside the choreography. Experiments with physical and spiritual light formed the foundation of the choreographic exploration over the last three and half years as the project took shape.
Performed by: clyde forth (choreographer), Christine Bornarth, Jennifer Lavenhar, Sharon Penz, Isobel Seabrook and Glenna Yu.
Costumes: Pamela Martin.
Lokasparsá website here.
Video shows a compilation of rehearsal moments during Lokasparśa Dance Projects residency at Earthdance. Dancers: clyde forth, Christine Bornarth, Ana Maria Lopez, Sharon Penz, Isobel Seabrook.
Video production: Leighann Kowalsky.
This performance and event is funded with a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
2022 West Kortright Centre arts and community programs are funded in part by our members, by contributors to the 2022 Program Fund Drive, by the Bert Santora Trust and by grants from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and from the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O'Connor Foundation and the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation. Special thanks to our community sponsors: Catskill Country Living.