LIVE CULTURES 007
The theater is everything, everywhere all at once. Praying for you and your FOMO.
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As we enter the month that houses Thanksgiving, I once again find myself reflecting on gratitude for this community and the gifts that have been set forth on the stage for us. Last month, a healthy dozen of us gathered to see Botis Seva and Far from the Norm’s BLKDOG at the Joyce. The show was truly a gift, packed with complexity and duality as Seva reckons with his new found fatherhood alongside his own paternal trauma and loss; the piece was devastating and awe-inspiring all at once.
I truly could—and will— write so much more about the work, in addition to a special handful of performances that have been sparking larger thoughts and questions around artistic culture and the role of the theater. I’ll be spinning out Program Notes into its own column where I can devote essay length attention to these ideas. I have two essays already in the works on dying theater and the art of darkness, and I sincerely hope you enjoy (and if you don’t, you can secretly subscribe your worst enemy :p). Stay tuned!
With that, here are my picks for November.
P.S. I know I have exceptional taste in theater, but if you needed proof, here’s a testimonial from our last field trip:
“Whatever show Xi tells me to go see next, I am there.”
-Overheard at Field Trip 004
LIVE CULTURES: NOVEMBER PICKS
I owe you two apologies: 1) I typically try to keep this list concise, but there was TOO MUCH exciting stuff on to cut this down any further. 2) the weekends of November 8th/9th and November 14th/15th seem to be a popular weekends for shows with triple and even quintuple bookings forecasted. If you’re struggling to make a decision, my advice to you is to flip a coin and make peace with the fact that unlike Michelle Yeo, you can’t be everywhere all at once. Good luck! (I’ve added an asterisk on my personal itinerary for the month)
VALLETO: Eternal Bonds @ Center for Performance Research (November 8th & 9th)
Contemporary and experimental dance theater company, VALLETO celebrates a decade of provocative and transformative dance with the grand finale of the Eternal Bonds trilogy. I first heard about the performance through the instagram page of designer, Alba Garcia of Mariana, who has also designed the costumes for the perfomance. I was enamoured with the costumes and intrigued by the show description: Ten dancers, each embodying the threads of collective memory that define who we are, delve into the profound depths of memory, the echoes of joy, and the shadows of grief. The performance intertwines the abstract theatricality of Eternal Bonds.1 with the intimate revelations of Eternal Bonds.2
Each performance will be preceded by a reception. You can purchase tickets here.
Le Sacre de Lila @ New York Live Arts (November 8th & 9th)*
Born from Ismaël Mouraki’s childhood memories in the Maghreb. Le sacre de Lila explores trance with a group of male dancers from Quebec and Morocco. Meaning “night” in Arabic, a “Lila” is a set of nocturnal healing rituals that blends singing, dancing, and music, traditionally found in some North African countries. Ismaël transposes the rites and codes of these dance rituals onto the stage, while infusing his signature contemporary street dance style to reveal the sensitivity and sensuality of the male body. Tinted with the tastes and colors of Morocco, the artists transform the performance into a celebration and exaltation of bodies that unfolds with an undeniable energy.
Animals of Distinction: Frontera @Brooklyn Academy of Music (November 8th & 9th)
If you’re looking for catharsis in the midst of political/existencial anxiety, look no further than Frontera. Frontera is a large-scale multimedia dance and music event. Set in an synchronised field of light with projections against a live commissioned score awash in slashing guitars, psychedelic swirls, and motorik beats from experimental rock band Fly Pan Am, 10 dancers fearlessly engage in choreography that questions what space remains for the unruly, ungovernable body in an era of accelerated climate change, mass migration, and corporate surveillance.
Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists @ Brooklyn Academy of Music (November 13th-17th)*
Speaking of catharsis amidst political anxiety…The illustrious playwright and director Tiago Rodrigues, returns to BAM with a courageous, compelling work with a jaw-dropping premise. For over 70 years, a singular Portuguese family has gathered at their country house for an annual ritual: the execution of a fascist. Now, the youngest family member in the lineage, Catarina, questions their practice, igniting a family conflict that raises urgent questions: Should democratic principles be compromised to protect democracy itself? What role does violence play in creating a more just society?
With just 5 performances, I HIHGLY recommend prioritising this play if you can!
GALLIM: WONDERLAND @ The Joyce Theater (November 13th-17th)
GALLIM returns to The Joyce with the New York premiere of Andrea Miller’s WONDERLAND, a playground of ironies brought to life by the virtuosity, unconditional commitment, and fierce physicality of its dancers. Between selfie smiles and white knuckles, WONDERLAND examines pack mentality: animal instincts, social appetites, and colorful terrors. Sound design by Jakub Kiupinski & Cristina Spinei of Blind Ear Music gives a charming yet sinister edge to Miller’s visceral and kinetic movement.
Boca Tuya @ 92nd Street Y (November 14th & 15th)
Omar Román de Jesús’ Boca Tuya will be presenting three thought provoking works: Caress them in a way that hurts a little, Like those playground kids at midnight and Los Perros del Barrio Colosal. I was first introduced to Omar’s movement through dance class and fell in love with his penchant for characterful detail and mercurial physicality.
Prisma Works: Origins @Barashnikov Arts Center (November 14th-16th)
Built around the ideas of origins and personal mythology, Origins by PRISMA will explore genesis moments through live music and choreography. Each of the artists involved has a particular and impactful moment where they started pursuing one direction in their life, and their world was changed by a singular moment. Using this frame, they will explore the ideas storytelling has around the personal human journey and growth. I also must note that my friend and fellow dance collaborator, Niara (pictured) will be performing and she is simply mesmerizing to watch!
4 Plays and a…Hardware Store @ Garber Hardware 710 Greenwich St (November 15th)*
I first came across this guerilla performance series through a mutual acquaintance who happened to be acting in the inaugural show: 4 Plays and a… Boxing Ring. I love theater taken to new contexts, and this series is just that, serving you a one-night-only tasting menu of short plays on unexpected stages including a boxing gym, a coffee shop and now, a hardware store. This feels like a true New York moment — so please, follow your curiosity and grab a ticket!
FIELD TRIP 005: Dear Lord, Make Me Beautiful by Kyle Abraham at Park Avenue Armory (TBD: December 13th OR 14th)
For our fifth and final field trip of the year, we are going to see none other than Live Culture’s favourite, Kyle Abraham. This will be the World Premiere of the Armory’s latest commission featuring innovative visual design created by Cao Yuxi (JAMES) and an Armory-commissioned score composed and performed live by the critically acclaimed new music ensemble, yMusic, to explore the growing sensitivities of life and transition, and nature and humanity, in our chaotic world.
I have reached out to the theater, and they are kindly offering us discounted tickets (cheapest tiers range between $34 to $61). If you are interested in joining, please register you interest and date/price preferences here by 5pm on Monday, November 10th.
New friends always welcome!
Stay cultured and see you soon <3