Last Friday night, August 28, 2026, Jeanine Durning debuted The Invitation Situation at Stomping Ground L.A in Alhambra. Now, not being familiar with her work or direction, I had zero expectations on what I would be walking into. Stomping Ground L.A. has a pretty reliable track record of curating for the theatrical misfits that thrive in the murky no-man’s-land between theater and dance. So, naturally, I arrived with high expectations—an admittedly dangerous decision—and, to my surprise, the evening gave me very little reason to lower them.
“The Invitation Situation” Choreography by Jeanine Durning – Photo courtesy of Heidi Brewer.
The Invitation Situation made for and with four movement artists, Andee Scott, Clare Croft, Heidi Brewer, and Mary Williford-Shade at first glance seems stripped down of all necessary frills; however, the more I watched the more engaged I became with the necessities, whether they were frilly or not was a matter of welcomed opinion. The dance artists all moved around the stage in different directions with different movements, seemingly improvised, and in no relation to one another, but was it? One of the joyous aspects of watching The Invitation Situation was the questioning and curiosity it brought forth. Are they flocking? Are they independents? Are they watching one another? What are the rules by which they’re moving and weaving in between and beside each other. Like schools of fish, or bees around a hive, there seemed to be a collective goal or direction, but what was it? As they moved around the space, sometimes stopping in the corner of stage left, sometimes walking off the stage completely, I began to glaze my focus. The hush of questions dies down, and the improvisation washes over me. It’s a delightful feeling to drift in and out of a conscious state with dance, an achievement I’ve only felt after watching Cunningham or Miguel Gutierrez. I wasn’t bored, or hungry for how to sense this string of dance excerpts together, I was just…content being in the room.
“The Invitation Situation” Choreography by Jeanine Durning – Photo courtesy of Heidi Brewer.
A definite change of space and pace occurred when the dance artists began taking turns walking around solo, speaking in a monologue’esque free-write. One word or theme would lead them on a tangent to another word and theme on repeat. It was an open reminder on just how one’s brain works on hyper drive, not only in times of stress, but in other quieter times of loneliness, grief, or tranquility. At one point the artists brought props on stage one by one; a red chair, a shiny metal pipe, a potted plant, a blue-green traffic cone, a pillow, and a speaker. These objects were almost used as a grounding technique, giving them a boost or oxytocin or aiding in a separation anxiety as the monologues became faster and stronger in presence. Even something as unsqueezeable as a metal rod became the bridge of complete dependence from their own pattern making minds and movement. Wrestling with the prop and watching one another take turns in speaking, you began to see them as a controlled and yet uncontrollable family. Somehow together in space but not in time.
“The Invitation Situation” Choreography by Jeanine Durning – Photo courtesy of Heidi Brewer.
The Invitation Situation movement was all very postmodern, lingering somewhere between the old and the new ways of creating movement. Which, admittedly I was initially concerned would bother, bug, or bore me; however, I was delightfully surprised by the energy they showed up in. I believe this was the most successful aspect of the piece, its presence in the now, just as it is. No pretentious atmosphere, no giving me what they think I want to see, which unfortunately is becoming a more rare occurrence these days. Just making something they wanted to make and left enough space for me to inadvertently join them. Thank you, Jeanine Durning, for the invitation into a space that felt both unfamiliar and strangely like home.
For more information about Jeanine Durning, please follow her on Instragram.
Written by Grace Courvoisier for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: “The Invitation Situation” Choreography by Jeanine Durning – Photo courtesy of Heidi Brewer.
