A Virtual Tour Through Dance Now’s Past, Present, and Future
To celebrate its 25th season, DANCE NOW is presenting a series of online events featuring new and archival digital works by more than 40 innovative dance makers, interviews with artists, artist-to audience celebrations, and much more. The DANCE NOW Story will be told in six monthly chapters starting September 10, 2020 through May 2021.
Traditionally held each year immediately after Labor Day, the DANCE NOW Festival is known as the kickoff to the dance season in New York City. As a response to the ongoing pandemic and to support its diverse community artists during this challenging time, DANCE NOW has reimagined its festival at Joe’s Pub, creating an alternative virtual space to celebrate the artists and this landmark anniversary. Each monthly chapter (September, October, November, February, March, and May) will bring new, emerging, and longtime veterans of the festival together to honor DANCE NOW’s past, embrace the present, and explore future possibilities for artists and audiences alike. The virtual series will also include an interactive timeline featuring photos, interviews, and additional facets of the DANCE NOW Story. DANCE NOW is thrilled to have Joe’s Pub as a partner on this project.
The anniversary season will include premieres of 19 digital works and 18 treasured pieces from the DANCE NOW archives, including past works from six DANCE NOW veterans—Robert Battle, Jane Comfort, Satoshi Haga, David Parker, Claire Porter, and Gus Solomons jr—who will be honored at the artist-to-audiences celebrations. Complete with a cocktail/mocktail recipe (and after party!), these Zoom celebrations will be hosted by a different artist each month to engage attendees in active conversation, recreating the intimate and lively environment of Joe’s Pub.
The September Performance Chapter, to be released on DANCE NOW’s new web platform on Thursday, September 10 (12pm Eastern), will feature commissioned premieres by Ayodele Casel, Mike Esperanza, and the collaborative trio LMnO3 (Deborah Lohse, Cori Marquis, and Donnell Oakley). Archival works from Tricia Brouk and HUMA will also be presented. On Thursday, September 24 (7pm Eastern), DANCE NOW will host its first artist-to-audience celebration honoring legendary artist Gus Solomons jr. The always insightful and entertaining TruDee (aka Deborah Lohse) serves as emcee.
The season will also feature new digital commissions by Tsiambwom M. Akuchu, Sarah Chien, Brendan Drake, Kayla Farrish, Jasmine Hearn, Orlando Hernandez, Jamal Jackson, Kate Ladenheim, Joshua L. Peugh, Katy Pyle, Alice Sheppard, Subject: Matter, Mariana Valencia, Nicole Vaughan-Diaz, Maleek Washington, and Nicole Wolcott, and archival works from Adam Barruch, Katherine Helen Fisher, Mark Gindick, Ruben Graciana, John Heginbotham, Paula Josa-Jones, Wanjiru Kamuyu, TAKE Dance, and Megan Williams.
Hosts throughout the season include Germaul Barnes, Christal Brown, Sara Juli, Deborah Lohse (aka TruDee), and Larry Keigwin & Nicole Wolcott.
For further information visit: www.dancenow.online
Image: HUMA by Yi-Chun Wu