DNA Features Works by Nugent, Garnica, and Westwood, 2/17-20

Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) announces three collaborative creations piloted by fearless women, Ximena Garnica, Jennifer Nugent and Adrienne Westwood, in the Winter 2011 installment of OBject.obJECT, February 17-20. Through self-reflection, Garnica's interdisciplinary work investigates identity and the continuous state of "Becoming"; a vigorous duet integrates partnering, awkwardness, tension and vulnerability in Nugent's I'd Go Out With You; Westwood's nostalgic world premiere, Record, incorporates varied forms of multi-media including miniature objects with a live projected video feed and an engineered traveling sound score. 
A post-performance talkback moderated by choreographer/dance film presenter Michael Bodel will take place on Thursday, February 17.
 
Initiated in 2006 as DNA's most interdisciplinary series, OBject.obJECT celebrates the spirit, tenacity and ingenuity of female dance artists. DNA created the series to offer homage and encouragement for ongoing exploration and interdisciplinary collaboration experienced through the female lens. This season's shared evening of leading women illustrates possibilities for the field of dance by offering a glimpse at each artist's unique blending of dance, music, theater and new media.
 
"For over five years DNA has produced OBject.obJECT, offering dynamic women an opportunity to present audiences with choreography that embodies a contemporary female perspective. Each artist embraces the collaborative challenge, working with impressive artistic contributors to manifest their creations," says Catherine Peila, Executive Director. "Ximena, Jennifer and Adrienne ask penetrating questions, explore physicality and are continually forging ahead to reshape the contemporary dance landscape. They are a reflection of DNA's commitment to embrace risk taking artists and value creative interaction. Risk takers often introduce bold concepts, create discordance in the field and lead us all on a journey that enforces the idea that the usual and accepted/expected route is not necessarily the only path." 

Known for her remarkable creative breadth, Ximena Garnica has tackled elements of photography, video art, art installations, dance-theater pieces, interdisciplinary collaborations and educational projects. At DNA, Garnica will share excerpts of her newest evening-length work-to-be, Becoming, which is a collaborative creation between Garnica, video artist and LEIMAY co-founder Shige Moriya and musician/composer Roland Toledo. "I do not create alone and genuinely enjoy working with others. Artistic creation is similar to the game of hide-and-seek. In this case, the piece is hidden and we must collectively discover it," says Garnica. "I'm inspired by director Catherine Peila's dedication to DNA's mission of understanding the artist's process both in the studio and conceptually. The conversations, encouragement and openness to varied dance styles, working methods and aesthetics, have been fundamental building blocks leading up to this presentation."
Movement machine Jennifer Nugent presents a duet in flux; I'd Go Out With You. As Nugent and Asli Bulbul, employ tension, colliding awkwardness and vulnerability, they decide what they mean to each other, resulting in a tailored live performance. "Asli and I embody unique movement, possessing a raw human quality that enables us to connect with an audience. This piece is about dialogue, trust and vulnerability, revealing a relationship between women on stage through dance," says Nugent. "DNA has provided a platform for us to capture a genuine struggle and execute in-the-moment problem solving, significant elements of this work."

In Record, Adrienne Westwood conjures the space of a distant memory and transports it into the present. Although Westwood is joined by long-time collaborators Seth Easter (scenic and costume design) and Jim Briggs III (sound design), Record is the team's first go at simultaneously exploring their respective elements during the creative process. "I work with the body and objects from 'this' world, from my past, to suggest memories or dreams of another time and place," says Westwood. "Ultimately, I am interested in the experience of the piece allowing an audience member to access their own memories, to become conscious of the passage of time and events and be attentive to what stays behind when something is gone."

Performances take place Thursday - Saturday, February 17-20 at 8:00pm. Tickets range from $12 - $17 and may be purchased by visiting DNA's box office or www.dnadance.org. DNA is located near all major trains to Chambers Street/City Hall.