LEIMAY Unveil World Premiere of FRANTIC BEAUTY at BAM
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 18, 2017
The multidisciplinary duo Ximena Garnica and Shige Moriya and the LEIMAY Ensemble return to BAM Fisher with FRANTIC BEAUTY, the newest evening-length work representing the mid-point in their BECOMING pentalogy. Combining the LEIMAY Ensemble's signature physicality layered over vivid visual landscapes, this world premiere reflects on society's pursuit of and relationship to beauty. The piece features an original score by Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal (House of Cards). Performances will take place at BAM Fisher / Fishman Space (321 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217.) Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at http://www.bam.org/dance/2017/frantic-beauty].
In conjunction with the live performances, LEIMAY will also lead a series of ancillary events (see below for detailed schedule). The opening night event will coincide with the launch of the accompanying publication and conclude with a reception including special guest performances.
Following in the tracks of BECOMING CORPUS and borders - the previous installments in the BECOMING series (both premiered at BAM Fisher) - FRANTIC BEAUTY emerges after a year-long studio collaboration between the lead creative duo and a group of international multidisciplinary collaborators. Equal parts dance theater and media-infused visual installation, this work envelops spectators in a minimalistic yet immersive environment.
The intricate tapestry of movement, projections, and sounds becomes the vehicle for the main themes of the piece: the ambivalence of beauty. In the words of co-creators Ximena Garnica and Shige Moriya: "We reflect on beauty as a form and a force in the context of the hyperspeed of consumption, production, and lifestyle of our times. FRANTIC BEAUTY is our call for recovering from centuries of losing touch with harmony."
The acclaimed composer Jeff Beal (House of Cards) joins Garnica and Moriya for the first time, having expressed interest in working with LEIMAY upon experiencing their previous work. Beal explains, "There is sense of live-cinema in Shige and Ximena's work, and visceral humanity which I'm very happy to be a part of as composer / collaborator."
The work is conceived, directed, and visual designed by Ximena Garnica and Shige Moriya. Choreography is by Garnica and Moriya with the LEIMAY Ensemble (Masanori Asahara, Krystel Copper, Derek DiMartini, Omer Ephron, and Mario Galeano.)
ANCILLARY EVENTS:
Thurs, September 14, following the performance. Post-show Opening Night Party (including guest performances)VIP seating for the performance, reception and publication package available at $100.Reception Tickets: $50 (Tickets for Thursday's performance sold separately).
Fri, Sep 15, following the performance. Post-Show Talk: Audience Roundtable
Free for same-day ticket holders
Sat, Sep 16, 6:30PMPre-Show Talk: Tracing the ArtFree for same-day ticket holders
Sun, Sep 17, 12:00 PMLEIMAY LUDUS What a Body Can Do Tickets: $25.
Sunday, Sep 17, following the performance.Post-Show Closing Night Toast Reception Tickets: $10 (Tickets for Sunday's performance sold separately).
Tickets for all events and signed copies of the publication accompanying the show can be purchased online at http://www.bam.org/dance/2017/frantic-beauty.
This event is presented by LEIMAY. BAM house, ticketing, and membership policies may not apply.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Colombian-born Ximena Garnica and Japan native Shige Moriya are a multidisciplinary duo and the artistic co-directors of the Brooklyn-based LEIMAY Ensemble. Since 2000, they have been creating collaborative works ranging from sculptural, video, light and mixed-media installation art, to contemporary performances, publications, and research projects. Their performative work with the LEIMAY Ensemble is rooted in LUDUS, an original practice developed at the ensemble's year-long studio sessions, rooted in high physicality and meditative stillness.
Garnica and Moriya's works with the LEIMAY Ensemble have been presented at leading performing arts venues such as BAM Fisher, HERE, The Brooklyn Museum, Japan Society, The New Museum in New York City; Robert Wilson's The Watermill Center; The Asian Museum of San Francisco, and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, among many other institutions in the US and abroad.
The LEIMAY Ensemble, (based at CAVE, an arts space founded by Moriya in 1996) is a group of international dancers and performers who maintain an ongoing educational and performative practice rooted in the LUDUS practice. Current members of the ensemble are Masanori Asahara, Derek DiMartini, Mario Galeano, Krystel Copper, and Omer Ephron.
Four-time Emmy Award-winning composer Jeff Beal is known for his music for film, media, theater, and the concert hall. His most acclaimed film scores include the Netflix originals House of Cards, Blackfish, and Queen of Versailles. Other lauded film scores include HBO's Carnivale and Rome and dramas Pollock and Appaloosa.
His first choral commission, The Salvage Men, was written for the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Eric Whitacre Singers. Beal's commissions include a score for Philip Haas' art installation Butchers, Dragons, Gods & Skeletons (2011 Venice Biennale); orchestral works for the St. Louis Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop and two pieces commissioned by the star conductor Kent Nagano; and recently, new works for The Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Music for theater includes the 2015 World Science Festival's production, Light Falls.
Beal's solo CDs, including Three Graces, Contemplations (Triloka), Red Shift (Koch Jazz), and Liberation (Island Records) established him as a respected recording artist and composer.
Beal graduated from the Eastman School of Music, where he was commencement speaker and honored alumnus in 2011. He now mentors and encourages young composers as a participant in the Sundance Film Composer seminars and as a guest lecturer at conservatories.
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