Jacob Jonas The Company brought “Keeping Score” to the BroadStage this past weekend. Jacob Jonas has created a triptych based on the divorce of his parents and his recent battle with cancer. I saw two of three works, “Product of Divorce” and “Nature Sounds While the IV Drips” on Sunday afternoon, March 22, 2026 .
Jonas is provocative, some might say controversial in his approach to movement. His training was non-conventional having found his way through acrobatics and street theater. Ultimately, he created a company “rooted in the intersection of dance, science and community.” At 24 he was the youngest choreographer to present work at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. This was followed by many prestigious engagements across the country. Today he continues developing new work focused on his forced medical hiatus and an examination of his parents’ divorce.
Jacob Jonas The Company – “Product of Divorce” Choreography by Jacob Jonas – Kai Inoue seated center – Photo by Joshua Geyer.
“Product of Divorce”
The performance began with a filmed argument between two actors we presume to be the parents of Jacob who in turn is seen onstage as a child played by Kai Inoue. The argument does not gain our sympathy or horror as it seems mild and does little to make clear the underlying issues of the marriage. From here the child takes refuge with the beloved Grandmother depicted by Lesly Evens who is reading “Babar the Elephant” to him. As she reads, performers in elephant masks enter and exit while also moving props. Their presence is oddly creepy as opposed to the gentleness of the stories’ character and so does not resonate with anyone familiar with the books. As the piece develops the dancers take the stage and the child and Grandmother become observers. Here is where the dance should become the instrument for storytelling but we are instead watching movement that never advances beyond an uncompromising hardline. The story seems forgotten as the performers throw themselves, albeit acrobatically, across the stage and through the space. They are all accomplished and execute what is expected with strength but to what end? The causes of all divorce stories are missing. There is no depiction of early love, romance or sexual connection, no good times mixed with the bad, nothing to help us understand why the break-up was so painful that Jonas carries it with him to this day. Jonas asks his dancers to start at ten and never come down. Impressive yes but exhausting and ultimately this distracts from the whole premise.
Jacob Jonas The Company – “Keeping Score” – Musician Antonio Sanchez – Photo by Joshua Geyer.
Jonas has added live drumming by the accomplished Antonio Sanchez. Sitting at his kit on a rolling platform he is moved from place to place adding interest to the atmosphere. Also added into the mix is excellent singer, guitarist, Okaidja Afroso. His soothing vocals are a balm for the soul, yet Jonas’ choreography does not reflect these subtleties and instead he keeps his performers moving non-stop without a moment of reflection. He uses many cliches of the dance world, sad wedding dresses, live camera action, a chain around a couple and a short monologue. It is clear that Jonas needs healing from the perceived trauma of divorce but perhaps going beyond the one note of anger would be more helpful in finding understanding and forgiveness for his parents who are just flawed people like the rest of us.
“Nature Sounds While the IV Drips”
After the intermission we enter the theater to see Jonas lying downstage on a mat preparing us for his hospital journey. The piece begins as the young Jonas, Kai Inoye, walks gingerly downstage to meet his alter ego. The dancers assemble onstage as the boy replaces the man on the mat where he must lay still for the following 30 or 40 minutes.
Jacob Jonas The Company – “Nature Sounds While The IV Drips” Choreography by Jacob Jonas – Photo by Joshua Geyer.
When the dancers begin, we are subjected to what feels like a replay of what we have just seen, a chaos of constant movement that neither reflects the sentiment nor the music. At no point do the dancers work in unison which, when used correctly, brings a surge of power and relief that individual movement cannot do. The performers are asked to spin, drop, flip, and keep moving without any idea of what emotion they are representing. From the perspective of this viewer, the work feels unfocused and very angry. If there are nature sounds as alluded to in the title, they go unacknowledged and are therefore lost to the audience. Where is the silence while the IV drips? Where is the subtle breeze that rustles the trees outside your window or a bird who sings there as the machine beeps? The heartbreak of the title allows for so much more than what is brought to the stage. Do the performers work hard, absolutely, are they good, yes, does it mean anything, well, that is the question.
Jacob Jonas The Company – “Nature Sounds While The IV Drips” Choreography by Jacob Jonas – Photo by Joshua Geyer.
Ultimately Jonas rejoins the boy on the mat and an orderly enters with an IV and pretends to hook him up. It is a sad ending to what has the potential to be important work.
Jonas has good ideas, he works with a strong unique style and he has a universal story to tell but he limits himself by repeating an assault of movement. A dramaturge might help him refine his focus and storytelling ability. A musical theme used judiciously throughout and acknowledged within the choreography would also help carry the story and bring the audience into the emotion. His early work was so admired that perhaps he is still in that bubble when in fact if he would break through, he just might create something truly new and important. Clearly Jonas has put his heart and soul into this concert which is why it is frustrating to this viewer because clearly within his reach is so much untapped potential.
Jacob Jonas The Company – “Nature Sounds While The IV Drips” Choreography by Jacob Jonas – Photo by Joshua Geyer.
The hard-working performing artists throughout were: Lorrin Brubaker, Alexa Donnelly, Paulina Donnelly, Dahsir Hausif, Baptista Kawa, Marco Palomino, Oscar Ramos, Alyse Rockett, Emma Rosenzweig-Bock, Vo Vera, Jill Wilson and Jarrett Yeary.
Product of Divorce;
Composer and live accompaniment: Antonio Sanchez
Music: Justin Boreta
“Night of the Accident”
Lyrics by: Robin Chase
Music by: Larry Jonas
Performed by: Okaidja Afroso
Nature Sounds While the IV Drips;
Live Accompaniment: Okaidja Afroso
Music: Justin Boreta, Imogen Heap, Diplo
For more information about Jacob Jonas The Company, please visit their website.
To learn more about the BroadStage, please visit their website.
Written by Tam Warner for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Jacob Jonas The Company – Product of Divorce Choreography by Jacob Jonas – Photo by Joshua Geyer.
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