What does it mean to rediscover wonder as an adult? why are we all still here seeks to reckon with the feeling of finding characters in our lives that remind us of our past.
Set to a soundscape of live ambient blues music, why are we all still here begins in a space of curiosity and play, remembering and rebuilding. With choreography by Gillian Ebersole & Shannon Nulf and live music by Ben Court (fka Muddytooth), this work explores the connection between knick knacks and nostalgia.
why are we all still here is a reimagining of the first iteration, why are you all still here, which premiered at the Foundry West Stockbridge in 2023. This performance features an expanded cast of choreographers and performers, with core contributions from Akinyemi Blackshear, Steph Gennusa, and Hannah Lieberman.
Inspired by the items that stick with us, persisting even after every iteration of spring cleaning, we embody the objects of affection from our childhoods. A pair of pink plastic dinosaurs that became lifelines during the early days of the pandemic. A piece of wall art that displays a queer love story. A statue of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet holding a balloon. Through gesture and moments of rigor, we make meaning, again and again, in the same way that we do with our treasures. Movement unfolds through tenderness and strength, arriving at the realization that we have carried these pieces of ourselves with us all along.
Performance Details:
Join us Sunday, March 16 at 2pm at the Lenox Community Center (65 Walker St, Lenox, MA 01240); the performance will be on the second floor in the ballroom, accessible via stairs and an elevator.
Run time is approximately 1 hour with a brief intermission. This performance is family friendly and open to all!
Tickets are sliding scale, $10-$20+ each, and ticket sales will be split evenly amongst all performers! Children 4 & under attend free.
Buy tickets online in advance via Gillian Ebersole’s venmo - if you are venmoing, please choose “transaction between friends” and put your favorite emoji in the caption! OR pay for tickets via venmo/cash at the door the day of the performance (doors open at 1:30pm).
This performance was funded in part by New England Foundation for the Arts’ New England Dance Fund, with generous support from the Aliad Fund at the Boston Foundation.