Los Angeles’ BODYTRAFFIC Comes to The Joyce Theater
BODYTRAFFIC, Los Angeles’ premier contemporary dance company, returns to The Joyce Theater with a dynamic program that celebrates the city’s spirit of innovation and cultural vibrancy. Hailed for its “invention, attitude, and urban edge” (The Boston Globe), BODYTRAFFIC brings a bold, evocative evening exploring the power of memory and nostalgia—how paintings, songs, and sensations can evoke deep, lasting connections.
This year’s program features the New York City premieres of three works created for the company: Mayday, Incense Burning On A Saturday Morning: The Maestro, and I Forgot The Start.
Following a visit to the Buddy Holly Performing Arts Center in Lubbock, TX, Trey McIntyre’s Mayday is inspired by the life and music of 1950s rock and roll star Buddy Holly, a musician known for combining country, rhythm and blues, and rockabilly musical influences with upbeat tempos and youthful lyrics. McIntyre combines contemporary movement, balletic grace, and 1950s rock influences in choreography that is playful, exuberant, and bittersweet. This full company work includes Holly’s classics “Every Day,” “Peggy Sue,” That’ll Be The Day,” “Maybe Baby,” among others.
Juel D. Lane’s Incense Burning On A Saturday Morning: The Maestro is a vibrant tribute to Ernie Barnes. Commissioned by BODYTRAFFIC and premiered in late 2024, the production immerses dancers and audience in Barnes’s world, with full stage lighting and video projections by Los Angeles artist Yee Eun Nam. Renowned for his dynamic depictions of bodies in motion, Barnes captured the spirit of 1970s Harlem dance halls. His legendary work, like Sugar Shack, featured on Marvin Gaye’s I Want You album and in classic sitcom Good Times, comes to life through Lane’s choreography.
Created during a 2023 BODYTRAFFIC residency in Sun Valley, ID, Matthew Neenan’s I Forgot The Start walks the line between joy and grief to illuminate the sheer relentlessness of hope. The work is an exploration of resilience in the pursuit of connection, despite life’s uncertainties. Music includes songs by Sinéad O’Connor, Sufjan Stevens, Broken Social Scene, and others. Lighting, set, and video design by Christopher Ash.
“Coming back to New York is always magical,” says Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett. “I’m incredibly proud to share what our company is creating. This evening of dance takes audiences on a journey to bring them glimmers of joy and hope for the future.”
BODYTRAFFIC will be at The Joyce Theater April 15-20, 2025, Tue-Sat at 7:30pm, Sat & Sun at 2pm with a curtain chat on Wed 4/16. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue, NYC. Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased online at https://www.joyce.org/performances/164//bodytraffic or at the box office.
BODYTRAFFIC is an internationally renowned contemporary dance company proudly rooted in Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2007 by Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett, BODYTRAFFIC has become a leading force in contemporary dance, known for its versatility, technical brilliance, and bold artistic collaborations. The company has performed in over 30 U.S. states and 20 countries, including serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. State Department.
Celebrate LA’s vibrant arts scene by experiencing BODYTRAFFIC live at The Joyce. Your support helps amplify the voices of Los Angeles artists on a national stage.
BODYTRAFFIC, Photo by Trey McIntyre