CHOREOGRAPHER'S NOTE from the Program
This work is inspired by New York City and the transit we use to move to and fro within it. I love the subway system, and I am in awe, and fascinated by the moments of collective sleepy quiet on a Monday morning, the intense proximity we share as New Yorkers, and how good we (generally) are at keeping space, and peace between us.
We have told one another stories of kindness between strangers, talked about what those moments of kindness require to occur, and how often they happen in silence. We’ve talked about the sailors of Snug Harbor, how they came to this place and had to live with the men around them. We’ve drawn maps of the space between people, we’ve invented together, and now we have worked together to place these tales and stories and experiences in the historic spaces of Snug Harbor.
We look forward to continuing this work in Inwood Hill Park.
PROGRAM INFO
Choreography/Direction
Melissa Riker
in constant collaboration with the dancers
Kinesis Project dancers
Zoe Allocco, Claudia Lynn Rightmire, Sumaya Mulla-Carrillo, Jiemin Yang
dancers whose contributions are still present in the work
Michael Greenberg, Marion Spencer, Michelle Amara Micca, therese Ronco
Text
Subway stories compiled by Melissa Riker
Street text taken from City Diaries, NY Times
Music
Arrangements and vocals by Joanna Nix
Rather Be, Clean Bandit | Gimme One Reason, Tracy Chapman| Valerie, Amy Winehouse | In the Cold Cold Night, The White Stripes | Dancing in the Dark, Bruce Springsteen |
I Call Your Name, Mamas and the Papas
*****
How do you see others?
What is generosity?
How does kindness occur?
What is helping?
“I remember remembering you.”