Suzanne Beahrs Dance to Premiere RISE at Danspace Project, 2/5-7

Suzanne Beahrs Dance presents a full evening of dance on February 5-7, 2015 at 8 pm as part of Dance:ACCESS at Danspace Project, located inside St. Mark's Church, 131 East 10th Street, NYC 10003. Tickets are $20 / $15 Danspace Members and are available at danspaceproject.org.

People often refer to being true to yourself. Uplifting quotes, casual pep talks with friends, children's books, and stories of coming out, coming home, leaving home, finding God, and leaving religion often include this idea. On one level, we all know what it means to "be yourself," but why do we so often find ourselves doing it wrong? As we grow up and grow old, we learn (and relearn) how to feel at home in our own skin. This process demands that we let go of everything that we are not, and stop acting as if we can replicate our role models. We can never replicate anything, because we does not exist outside of ourselves, and that is all we will ever be.

RISE begins with letting go, as we unfurl into more open versions of ourselves. The dancers move with buoyant, airy grace and bold, weighted strides. Physical support between the dancers represents the influences of our best teachers and coaches as they push us to fulfill our specific potential. As the piece progresses, the movement becomes rhythmic and driving, a confident and even defiant proclamation of the eccentricities that we have bared. The piece itself seems to let go and reveal itself, echoing the task so many of us undertake: uncovering who we are underneath.

Dancers: Suzanne Beahrs, Sarah Hillmon, Julia Jurgilewicz, Monica Mordaunt, Jessica Nolan, Julie Seal, and Celine Syslo.

Music: Chopin, marching band drumlines, LCD Soundsystem, text by Pablo Neruda, and more.

Lighting design: Brittany Spencer

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