Bisset, Orthwein, Goldhuber and Williams Set for West End Theater's 'Soaking Wet' Series

The intimate and friendly West End Theater will once again play host to the Soaking WET dance series, curated by David Parker and Jeff Kazin, May 19-22, two performances, two different programs daily. The early performances will be shared by Joshua Bisset/Shuagroup and Katy Orthwein; the later shows will feature the ensembles of Larry Goldhuber and Christopher Williams.

PROGRAM A

Thursday-Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM

THE SHUA GROUP

Choreographed by Joshua Bisset in collaboration with Malik Nashad Sharpe

Take it All explores masculinity and racial perceptions through an intimate and ruthlessly physical duet. The work is the second in a series of collaborative engagements between the two dance artists which confront the boundaries of their perceptions of each other. Performers are Joshua Bisset and Malik Nashad Sharpe; Laura Quattrocchi designed the set, which is a tapestry of sanitary napkins.

KATY ORTHWEIN DANCE PROJECTS

The Orthwein dancers vacillate between steadiness and abandon, intimacy and space, exploring how time can seemingly suspend, then cascade in this second phase of Mirage, an ongoing project with dancers Jean Freebury, Minna Liimatainen, Orthwein and Jessica Weiss. The original score is by Cynthia Hopkins, costumes are by Mary McNaugher, and an added projection element of super-8 film footage has been added for the Soaking WET series.

PROGRAM B

Thursday-Saturday at 8:30 PM; Sunday at 4 PM

LAWRENCE GOLDHUBER

Director/choreographer Goldhuber will present two excerpts from Smite, a work that rewrites classic lessons in morality, twisting them into dance narratives that confront our country's perpetual state of war. Set to original commissioned music by Geoff Gersh, the first excerpt, "David & Goliath," will be performed by the choreographer joined by Roy Fialkow (of the Trockaderos). Two recent graduates from Manhattanville College, Alexandra Montalbano and Elyse Desmond, will perform a more abstract excerpt to a collaged soundtrack by composer Gersh of Biblical names. For more, visit www.bigmanarts.com.

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS

Williams will present excerpts from his latest work, Il Giardino d'Amore, excerpted for an ensemble of five and set to Alessandro Scarlatti's 18th century serenata Il Giardino di Amore, inspired by the mythic lovers Venus and Adonis. Dancers are Christiana Axelsen, Andrew Champlin, Raja Kelly, Kyle Gerry and Justin Lynch. Costumes are designed by Andrew Jordan.

The West End Theater is located at 263 West 86th Street (2nd floor of the Church- there is an elevator at the back of the lobby). Tickets: $20. Reservations: www.brownpapertickets.com or 1.800.838.3006.