“Clarity & Connection” was originally made possible by The Greene Family in 2023.
Evening-Length Works
“Clarity & Connection”, inspired by the book from author Yung Pueblo, delves into the concept of self-awareness, and how we cannot form healthy relationships with others until we have a strong understanding of ourselves. Following the five chapters of the book (Self-Awareness, Unbinding, The Love Between Us, Growing, and A New Life), Artistic Director Jared Baker takes us on this narrative through the mediums of dance and music. Told from the perspective of different individuals, this evening-length work also draws from the personal stories of each artist, as we all have different, unique, and complex experiences, yet similar struggles and challenges to overcome in life. Throughout the piece, we are taken on a journey of letting go of past trauma, connecting deeper with our relationships, and healing into a new version of ourselves.
Choreography - Jared Baker
Lighting Design - Stuart Jacobs
Length - Approximately 83 Minutes with Intermission
Dancers - 11-13
Music - Nina Simone, The National, Billie
Holiday, Kronos Quartet, Peter Broderick,
Bill Evans Trio, Chet Baker, Ani DeFranco,
Ludovico Einaudi, Hozier, Brittany Howard,
Ben Howard, The Vernon Spring,
& Joni Mitchell
“Bloom & Decline” was originally made possible by The Greene Family in 2023.
“Bloom & Decline” explores the unique, complex, and ever-changing concept of time. In the first half, the piece takes a youthful perspective, using time as a record and acumulation of experiences in life. How do we interact with time when we aren’t overly aware of it?What do we do with our time, when it seems like there is so much of it? After intermission, that perspective changes. At a certain point, we become more aware of how fleeting life really is and have to make decisions about what to do with the time that is left.
Choreography - Jared Baker
Lighting Design - Stuart Jacobs
Length - Approximately 78 Minutes with Intermission
Dancers - 9-13
Music - Alva Noto, Yann Tiersen, Michael
Stein, Machinefabriek, Ryuichi Sakamoto
& Alva Noto, Anna Yarbrough, Son Lux,
Arcade Fire & Owen Pallet, Floating Points,
Murcof, Dan Romer, Nina Simone, Erik Satie,
Dakota Suite & Emanuele Errante, Matthew
Simmons, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kronos
Quartet & Philip Glass, Hans Zimmer
“The Great Pause” was originally made possible by Accent On Dance in 2022.
“The Great Pause” reflects on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Inspired by an essay by Julio Gambuto, Baker offers perspectives from different individuals and their own stories, experiences, and feelings regarding “The Great Pause”. In the first act, we are transported back to the early days of the pandemic, along with the feelings of fear, isolation, lonelines, and the extreme need for normalcy. Following intermission, the piece examines whether or not the “old normal was really in the best interest of us all. This piece can serve as a reminder that as our lives continue to go back to “normal”, that we don’t forget the clarity that the pause brought to all of us.