On April 18, 2026 in Diavolo’s newly configured L’espace, Donna Sternberg & Dancers presented the seventh annual production of Awe & Wonder. This year’s collaboration of three scientists and three choreographers produced exciting new and thought provoking works illustrating the effects of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoro-alkyl substances) on our environment and wellbeing. The scientists included Laura Rabinow, Rachel Rogers, and Devavani Chatterjea. The choreographers who worked with them were Nandini Kannan, Dustin Payne (aka DPayne), and Donna Sternberg.
Nandini Kannan is a Bharatanatyam dancer who writes that her art is rooted in storytelling. Laura Rabinow is the director of research for the Rockefeller Institute of Government focusing on the effects of chemical contaminants. Their discussions and collaborative ideas culminated in a visually stunning piece titled Bioaccumulation: From Source to System featuring Nandini Kannan, Naomi Namboodiripad, and Purnima Suresh. Each performer demonstrated great skills in combining Bharatanatyam with western contemporary dance.
Awe and Wonder 2026 – Nandini Kannan, Naomi Namboodiripad, and Purnima Suresh in “Bioaccumulation: From Source to System” Choreography by Nandini Kannan – Photo by
Sarah Catania.
Kannan’s work was constructed in three acts. Act One presented the beauty of water and its importance to life on this planet. The effects of polluted water on humans and
the struggle to change how these PFAS are used was investigated in Acts Two and Three. Kannan’s use of traditional Bharatanatyam foot rhythms, exquisite hand gestures and facial expressions made her vision wonderfully vivid.
However, not having seen any other works by Kannan, her use of unison dance by the three performers eventually wore thin. How she moved them around the space showed her background in other styles but more often than not the dancers performed the identical movement continuously. Generally unison work has a greater impact when it shows up unexpectedly.
The music for Bioaccumulation: From Source to System was Maya by Benjy Wertheier and John de Kadt, “Molecular (Ovatow Reclock)” by Duplex, “Indian Summer” by Anoushka Shankar, and “Homelands” by Nitin Sawhney. The designer for the sari-like costumes was not credited.
Awe and Wonder 2026 – “Liquid Courage” Choreographed and Performed by Dustin Payne – Photo by
Sarah Catania.
After his correspondence and discussions with toxicologist Rachel Rogers, Dustin Payne choreographed and performed in Liquid Courage. Payne, a beautiful mover with smart acting abilities, utilized the stark but very effective set consisting of a throw rug and pillow to represent his bedroom, a wooden TV table, a fry pan to act as his kitchen and a small table and chair to depict his den. From waking happily, he prepares his breakfast, watches television and goes about his day until becoming ill. Discovering the source of his sickness, Payne appears to float across the floor with his incredible street dancing prowess, while never losing connection to his character. His impeccable dancing, his persona and his movement fully illustrate the story. When Payne lifts the frying pan to reveal the word Teflon on its’ bottom, we know the source of his illness, making it clear how Liquid Courage was influenced by Rogers’ knowledge of PFAS.
The music for Liquid Courage was “Saturn in Return” by Mad Keys, “Shangri La” by Josh Newmann, “BoomShakaLocka” by KNKRT, and “Wandering” by Brandi Carlile.
Awe and Wonder 2026 – Rebecca Aguilar, Rose Lindblom, Alyssa Milligan, Alexandria Paige, and Carmen Tienda in “Invasion” Choreography by Donna Sternberg – Photo by Sarah Catania. Sarah Catania.
Choreographer Donna Sternberg and scientist Devavani Chatterjea have worked together for nearly a decade and their close collaboration was evident in this performance. Invasion investigated how the body reacts to and fights against foreign substances – in this case a PFA – and the toll this takes on an individual’s entire system.
Following a poignant poem written and performed by Chatterjea, Sternberg’s potent Unbroken continued the evening’s theme. Hence, warning us of the devastating effects
of PFAS, not just to life on Earth but ultimately on the planet’s ability to survive in any form.
Sternberg is a strong, thoughtful and insightful choreographer whose work I have admired for many years. She knows how to make a dance without the actual mechanics of that process being obvious. That said, as a choreographer myself, I truly enjoyed how she worked the dancers in, out and around the space and each other while
weaving together her nonverbal narrative. It was rewarding to see.
Awe and Wonder 2026 – Rebecca Aguilar, Rose Lindblom, Alyssa Milligan, Alexandria Paige, and Carmen Tienda in “Unbroken” Choreography by Donna Sternberg – Photo by
Sarah Catania.
The very talented cast of both Invasion and Unbroken were Rebecca Aguilar, Rose Lindblom, Alyssa Milligan, Alexandria Paige, and Carmen Tienda.
The music for Invasion was by David Little and for Unbroken the composers included David Lang, Rami Chalhoub, and George Frideric Handel.
After viewing this concert and attending the Q&A that followed, I was left with a renewed sense of hope for the human race and mankind’s ability to confront and find a solution to all the harm we have caused to Mother Earth. Why? Because all three of the works ended with a vision of solution and survival. If these choreographers, scientists and performers have this feeling of promise, perhaps Earth’s creatures have a future after all.
Intentional or not, the fact that all the dancers wore identical costumes in color and design caused confusion as to who represented the PNA and who was the intruder. The choreography suggested that the role performed with excellence by Alexandria Paige was the PFA and the rest of the cast became the human body, but in reality, it could have worked either way. The results were the same; a toxic substance was introduced into the body’s system resulting in warfare and chaos.
The wonderful lighting by Designer and Technical Director Evan Nie provided each of the three works with their own unique environment. The Sound and Video Technician was Michael Selle.
To learn more about Donna Sternberg & Dancers, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Awe and Wonder 2026 – Rebecca Aguilar, Rose Lindblom, Alyssa Milligan, Alexandria Paige, and Carmen Tienda in “Invasion” Choreography by Donna Sternberg – Photo by Sarah Catania.
