½ Life constructs a contemporary ritual to address our dormant nuclear nightmares and investigates the survival of the body amidst a world of scientific research, data, and control. The performance swims across the Pacific Ocean and unites performers from nuclear superpower USA, atomic survivor Japan, and nuclear free New Zealand and teams them with a physicist to understand the physics of nuclear power. Data is translated into movement; scientific distillations of reality add up on a chalkboard. 1/2 LIFE will have its run from February 10-14.
Informed by principles of matter and energy, resonation, and radiation, and critical mass ½ Life generates a relationship between nuclear physics and physical movement (½ life is the time a radioactive substance takes to lose half its radioactivity through decay.) The BodyCartography Project incorporates an ensemble of shadow movers, like kuroko (on-stage set dressers in kabuki) who manipulate a set that is, in turn, inspired by the blue sheet architecture of Japan. Video and music combine with elements of group mind, issues of control, and the relationship between scientist and subject.
Dance and video artists Olive Bieringa and Otto Ramstad bring together an extraordinary collaborative team including composer and harpist Zeena Parkins, visual artist Emmett Ramstad, physicist Bryce Beverlin II and performer Takemi Kitamura.
Cast includes: Sinan Goknur, Becky Olson, Taja Will, Jennifer Arave, Kimberly Lesik, Emma Rainwater, Melissa Birch, Laressa Dickey, Melissa Guerrero, Sharon Mansur, Laura Grant and Nick LeMere http://www.bodycartography.org/
Otto Ramstad and Olive Bieringa co-direct The BodyCartography Project. Through dance, video, installation and curation their work addresses issues of body, perception, place and time. They were named Artists of the Year by Minneapolis City Pages and Public Art St Paul Sustainable Arts Fellows in 2008. They have received Minnesota Sage dance awards and New Zealand International Fringe Festival awards. Their work is supported by the Jerome Foundation, Map Fund/Rockefeller, Bush Foundation amongst others. Recent highlights include European tours of works Hello Nervous System and GO. Upcoming commissions include a new work with the Lyon Opera Ballet in 2010.
Zeena Parkins is sound artist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser, well-known as a pioneer of the electric harp, has also extended the language of the acoustic harp. She has received numerous awards and commissions to provide scores for film, video, chamber orchestras, theater and dance. She has collaborated and/or performed with Fred Frith, Christian Marclay, Pauline Oliveras, Bjork, John Zorn, and Yoko Ono amongst others.
Bryce Beverlin II is a multidisciplinary artist and scientist residing in Minneapolis where he explores various forms of art, primarily music. Bryce is also currently pursuing a PhD in Physics at the U of M conducting research on neural network behavior.
Takemi Kitamura is a native of Osaka whose work has been presented at many venues in NYC where she lives. As a dancer, she has worked with numerous choreographers and companies, such as Nami Yamamoto, Sally Silvers, Sondra Loring, to name a few. She is also performs Japanese sword fighting with Samurai Sword Soul.
Emmett Ramstad, a Minnesota native, makes visual art and collaborates as a writer, set and costume designer and performer with Morgan Thorson, The BodyCartography Project and others in addition to installing art shows at Yerba Buena and SFMOMA.
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½ Life was made possible with support from the Rockefeller MAP Fund, the Jerome Foundation, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Archibald Bush Foundation, Arts International, Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Moore Family Fund
Performance Space 122 is New York's ultimate destination for cutting-edge theatre, dance, music, live art and multi-media. PS122 is dedicated to supporting and presenting artists who explore innovative form and provocative content and who rigorously challenge the boundaries of contemporary performance; PS122 is committed to a steadfast search for pioneering artists from a diversity of cultures, nations and beliefs. www.ps122.org
½ Life premieres Wednesday February 10th and runs through Sunday, February 14th: Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm; and Sunday at 6pm.
Thursday Night Social: February 11 (a free post-show party for all ticket-holders)
Tickets: $20 and $15 (students/seniors).
Tickets and PS122 Passports are now on sale and available online at www.ps122.org, by calling TheaterMania at 212-352-3101, and at the Performance Space 122 Box Office.
Note: The PS122 Passport is a bundle of 5 tickets for only $55 that can be used in ANY combination to onsite Spring 2010 season performances. Performance Space 122 is located at 150 First Avenue @ E. 9th Street, New York, NY 10009
