Photo by Paula Court
A choreographic examination of the relationship between otherness, marginalization, and the closeted gay experience, this striking new work investigates the irresolvable coexistence of social facade and the chaos of internal desire. Part expression, part exorcism, and part political observation, this work celebrates the role of the “artist as outsider.” Performed with music composed by James Baker.
“Hang around the contemporary dance scene and you will hear [O’Connor] described as an essential figure, adored for his exquisitely constructed works, his mentoring, and his fiercely articulated beliefs about all things related to dance.”
— Claudia La Rocco, The New York Times
"O’Connor’s approach is an all-inclusive one. His is a deeply felt poetics of dance; the terrain of passion it covers is marked by elegance, empathy and wit.”
— RoseLee Goldberg, Artforum
About the Artists
Tere O’Connor has been making dances since 1982 and has created over 35 works for his company, which has performed throughout the US and in Europe, South America, and Canada. He has created works for dance companies around the world and is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including a 2009 United States Artist Rockefeller Fellowship. He is currently teaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A choreographic examination of the relationship between otherness, marginalization, and the closeted gay experience, this striking new work investigates the irresolvable coexistence of social facade and the chaos of internal desire. Part expression, part exorcism, and part political observation, this work celebrates the role of the “artist as outsider.”
James Baker (Composer) has composed numerous works for Tere O’Connor over the years including Heaven Up North, for which he won a Bessie award, and Like Two Kevins for the Lyon Opera Ballet. He is the Principal Percussionist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra and director of the Percussion Ensemble at the New School, Mannes College of Music. A noted conductor of contemporary music, he is Music Director of the Composers' Conference at Wellesley College and frequently leads both the New York New Music Ensemble and Speculum Musicae. He is resident conductor at the University of Buffalo's Center for 21st Century Music. He also appears as conductor with the Cygnus and Talea Ensembles and has led Tactus at the Manhattan School of Music.