On April 29, 2025, the Skirball Cultural Center presented Donna Sternberg & Dancers’ (DS&D) Ancestor’s Voices to celebrated their 40th Anniversary. DS&D has been gifting Southern California, and far-reaching audiences, with their thought-provoking and artful interdisciplinary dance projects. Sternberg’s prolific works have always influenced new thought in dance by pairing elements of science and art together with innovative, and at times, Renaissance-like results. Her wonderful and willing mind encourages experimentation and unity, always proving that they definitely have something to do with each other. Some pieces could be quirky, some helped introduce new concepts, and some are absolutely mind-blowing. With compelling emotional and physical thoughtfulness, she helps the dancers and audience discover and transform connections that make these experiments “hold hands,” integrating empathy and fascination for the subjects.
Donna Sternberg and Dancers – “Ancestor’s Voices” – Photo by Sarah Catania.
Sternberg’s Ancestor’s Voices has been a two-year journey that has blossomed into an exploration of insightful connections, becoming a work of art. In the Q&A at the end of the concert, Sternberg explained why it was of interest to her. Her curiosity helped further exploration uncovering, in turn, a universal question about her own and other’s connection with ancestral trauma and its effects. She was not alone in her wonderment. She partnered with scientists, Devavani Chtterjea and Kathy Sanders-Phillips, and uncovered a whole science dedicated to the study of ancestral trauma; Epigenetics. This project on DNA, Cellular memory and ancestral trauma was piqued by an article she read, “Do Jews Carry Trauma in our Genes?” by author David Samuels. In turn, it evoked additional possibilities; do famines, wars, and other traumatic experiences effect the future?
Donna Sternberg and Dancers – “Ancestor’s Voices” – Photo by Sarah Catania.
Sternberg then integrated her curiosity and translated her discoveries into dance and music, relatable by its physicality and personal storytelling. Like an unwavering sleuth and artist that she is, Sternberg’s interest is always to query the ’Big Questions’ that deal with sources of human experience, and how to express that artfully. This in turn challenged the audience to journey with her. Rather than being passive, it encouraged wonder, curiosity and empathy that she and her company managed to build throughout the 2-year workshops and this final wrap up performance.
Her courage in fusing both science and art in her framework, with assistance by Dramaturge, Julie Bour, gently guided the storied evening through the use of the versatile and expressive dancer/actors, Rebecca Aquilar, Alexandria Paige Amstutz, Robert Huerta, Anna Kazwell, and Alyssa Milligan who pulled the audience in with their ability to reach out and grab the emotions and engagement of the onlookers. This was embellished by two thrilling composer/performers Carisa Bianca Mellado (Vocalist) and Andrew Dalziell (Cello) who improvised over an expressive base of infectious music by Klezmer Juice.
Donna Sternberg and Dancers – “Ancestor’s Voices” – Photo by Sarah Catania.
The Skirball’s welcoming black box theatre stage began with lighting by Evan Nie and muted earth-toned layered loose fitting costumes by Danica Martino. Then Visions of bodies clinging, falling, and rolling evoked a sense of struggle. Levels of movement and powerful energy and forms soon morphed into playlets of reminiscences. Strains of Klezmer music filled the air, the dancers moving in unison in varied formations, arms encircling themselves and each other with changes of partners, tempos and dynamics. The use of infectious rhythms, breath and voice followed and evoked a sense of humanness and community. A moving nostalgia triggered a recognition of what had been lost. As the movements became more chaotic, we began seeing the earth-shaking trauma manifested in sudden moves of a person’s hand, then body, then a burst of laughter, and a moan, causing others to isolate or reach out with protective support.
Donna Sternberg and Dancers – Alexandria Paige Amstutz in “Ancestor’s Voices” – Photo by Sarah Catania.
Through Sternberg’s joy of discovery and wizardry with dance, vocal and musical experimentations, she brought the viewer slowly to the recognition that this cellular trauma was not isolated in only one culture, but all cultures down through time. This connected us and did so expertly through her understanding and sensitive work with her fellow scientists, and artists across space to the audience. It was a journey that evoked empathy. A visceral experience, without words, simply sounds and movement, and brought depth of connection and humanness.
Donna Sternberg and Dancers – “Ancestor’s Voices” – Photo by Sarah Catania.
We are fortunate to have such a thoughtful artist still producing work that not only entertains but queries and generates the wonder of discovery. The powerful mission of Sternberg since 1985, through inventive use of venues, great thoughts, discoveries and how to bridge them from theory to a visceral experience, is a gift. The support of such works are vital in today’s world of shallow insignificance and presents a thoughtful road to discovery and invention. Happy anniversary SD&D, we can count you as one of our treasures of Southern California.
For more information about Donna Sternberg & Dancers, please visit their website.
To learn more about the Skirball Cultural Center, please visit their website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Donna Sternberg and Dancers – “Ancestor’s Voices” – Photo by Sarah Catania.
