Season 5
Summer, 2022
ODC Theater
Artistic director, Dana genshaft gives an insight to the curation of Season 5:
I started the process of curating Season 5 last fall, a program that embodies our mission, aesthetic, an intention to highlight women in a big way, and give voice to up and coming artists. On closer consideration and after seeing the works in the intimacy of their creative processes… I see that the pulse and through line rides on the thematic idea of tension, each piece is a unique display of how energy can be stored, shared, transformed and released. The tension within our bodies, the tension between humans, tension between self and the outside world, and the energy between a community. Tension is the moment before action, it can create good or harm. I hope this show inspires you to look closely, inside your circle of reach, to move within that space with power, grace and humility.
Babatunji Johnson
Began Again, World Premiere
Music: Various artists
Costumes: Babatunji Johnson and Charmaine Butcher
Lighting Design: Jim French
Dancers: Babatunji Johnson, Brooke Corrales, Stella Jacobs, Ben Simeons
Photo: Stella Jacobs, Benjamin Simoens, Brooke Corrales, and Babatunji Johnson
Laura O’Malley
Within Where, World Premiere
Music: New commission by composer Kristina Dutton
Costume Design: Lauren Strongin
Lighting Design: Jim French
Dancers: Amelia Schultz, Lani Yamanaka, Erik Debono, Matt Wenckowski
“Created in collaboration with the dancers. Much gratitude for the generosity and support from Larissa Roesch, Dana Genshaft, and Kristina Dutton.”
Photo: Amelia Shultz, Lani Lamanaka Matt Wenckowski in Within Where.
Martha Graham
Deep Song, West Coast Premiere
Premiere date: 1937
Music: Henry Cowell single prepared piano recording, Cante Hondo
Lighting: Jim French
Costumes: Martha Graham
Bench Build: Lucas Smithey
Regisseur : Miki Orihara
Dancer: Dores André and Katerina Beckman
This work is made possible by the support of the Dossetter family, in loving memory of Jeremy and the generous support of David Chase.
Photo: Katerina Beckman in Deep Song
Edward Clug
mutual comfort, West Coast Premiere
Premiered in 2015 by NDT2
Music: Milko Lazar
Lighting: Tom Vissar, recreated by Jim French
Costume recreation: Eleve Design and Corrida Carr
Stagers: Aya Misaki and Alex Anderson
Dancers: Lani Yamanaka, Matt Wenckowski, Nick Korkos, Sarah Chou and Amelia Shultz, Brooke Corrales, Ben Simeons, Erik Debono
This work is made possible by the generous support of Susan Cambell and JP Conte. Special thanks to Alex Anderson for joining SFDanceworks in the re-staging of mutual comfort.
Photo: Ben Simeons, Erik Debono, & Amelia Shultz in mutual comfort
Danielle Rowe
Little Scratch, World Premiere
Music: Joby Talbot's gloriously rich rendition of "Chacony in G Minor"
Costumes: Susan Roemer
Lighting Design: Jim French
Staging: Brett Conway
Dancers: Ben Simeons and Katerina Beckman
“The piece traverses through two people's inner chatter and the feedback loop of memory, the senses and distractions whilst revealing the divergence between what is chosen to be shared and what is scratching beneath the skin.”
This work is made possible by the generous support of the Dossetter Family, in loving memory of Jeremy.
Photo: Katerina Beckman & Benjamin Simoens in Little Scratch.
Yin Yue
Just Above the Surface, West Coast Premiere
Digital Premiere with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company (NY) in 2020. “The piece was created during joint residency at West Michigan University with Peridance contemporary dance company.”
Music: Michel Banabila, Shifted, Machinefabriek & Freiband, Metamorphoses
Costumes: Mondo Morales
Lighting: Recreated by Jim French
Dancers: Lani Yamanaka, Brooke Corrales, Sarah Chou, Amelia Shultz, Matt Wenckowski, Erik Debono, Nick Korkos, Babatunji Johnson
The piece “is about realizing and becoming fully aware of our existence through gravity. We must anchor ourselves first before we can interact with others. Our desire is to sink our feet into the earth, to feel the ground, in order to reach toward the sky.”
Photo: Amelia Shultz & Erik Debono in Just Above the Surface.