Put This on Your Radar – October 23, 2017

A weekly, highly personal and subjective list of performances and artists we want you to know about:

Martha says:

Two intriguing works are showing at BAM this week. At the intimate BAM Fisher, iconoclastic choreographer Cynthia Oliver takes on the issue of what constitutes black masculinity in a world premiere, “Virago-Man Dem.” The Latin construct “virago” comes from roots that means simultaneously male and female — and has become a term to describe a female warrior or a powerful, difficult woman. Oliver chose to point her title to the powerful, layered experience that constitutes black male identity and sexuality. With a cast of four performers who focus both Afro-Caribbean and African-American lenses, the piece reflects Oliver’s no-holds-barred style. Opens Wednesday, October 25 at 7:30 pm. (Before the performance on Friday October 27, Oliver and Jaamil Olawale Kosoko will also give a free talk, “Examining Black Masculinity,” in Wendy’s Reading Room on the ground floor.)

“bones and boulders.” Photo © Marie PierFrigon.

Also opening at BAM in the grandly decrepit Harvey Theater, “boulders and bones” is a large-scale dance celebration by ODC/Dance, choreographed by California-based Brenda Way and KT Nelson, and inspired by the brilliant natural sculpture Culvert Cairn, by artist Andrew Goldsworthy. The dance is set in front of a huge video of the sculpture by RJ Muna, and accompanied live by cellist/composer Zoë Keating. Nature, time, and art – three huge canvases – converge. Opens Wednesday, October 25 at 7:30 pm.

Simone Forti, Yvonne Rainer and Steve Paxton in “Tea for Three.” Photo © Naotaka Hiro, Courtesy of The Box, LA

In another part of town, the not-to-be-missed trio of Yvonne Rainer, Simone Forti, and Steve Paxton will perform and talk this week at Danspace Project in “Tea for Three,” their first-ever collaboration. Each of these choreographers carries so much of contemporary dance’s DNA that the combination offers almost any possibility; the “tea” suggests they’ve found a place of shared comfort with their choices. Opens on Thursday 10/26 at 8 pm.

Cover: Duane Cyrus and Jonathan Gonzalez in “Virago-Man Dem.” Photo © Chris Cameron.

Got something to say about this? Sound off here

[Don’t miss a thing! We’ll send you a notification of every article we post if you sign up with your email. (The signup is right below, scroll down). We promise you won’t be deluged and we won’t spam you either.]