Kate Hutter Mason’s beautiful and spacious new community arts space Stomping Ground L.A. will soon become the permanent home of L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC). The company is celebrating with performances titled Terra through Saturday, October 12 and a performance and celebration titled Terra Firma on Sunday, October 13 at 6pm. I went on Wednesday night, October 9 and was completely enchanted by how the main studio was transformed and by creative team of visual, textile, and theatrical artists, and the work of Artistic Director and Choreographer Genevieve Carson & Choreographer/Director Drea Sobke, in collaboration with the LACDC dancers.
We walked into a mysterious yet welcoming environment created by Scenic Designer Carlo Maghirang; Video and Projection Designer Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh; Textile and Costume Designer Kelsey Vidic; Lighting Designer Datelan Braymer and through the music by Composer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, composer and filmmaker Robert Amjärv who, assisted by Bennett Barbakow, created his own landscape within and around all of us who were there. These artists divided the space into a square within a square within a square with hanging white panels of sheer material. It separated the space while allowing one to get glimpses of what was occurring on the other side of each panel – seen but not seen.
L.A. Contemporary Dance Compan in “Terra” by Genevieve Carson & Drea Sobke – Photo by Malachi Middleton
In the middle of this configuration was what I will call a musical island. It was an oasis for Amjärv to perform his ever-evolving score. He sat amongst his instruments and electronic equipment surrounded by tall grass and wood shavings on the floor and grass, textiles and fluorescent light sculptures hanging in a square around them. Included in one section of Amjärv’s score were sounds of birds and animals. My favorite: a growling tiger that felt like she/he was pacing nearby. The panels throughout the space shifted with projections of clouds, birds, forests, people’s faces, and structures, all helping to create a palpable sense of earth and home.
L.A. Contemporary Dance Compan in “Terra” by Genevieve Carson & Drea Sobke – Photo by Malachi Middleton
For creating Terra, this was an excellent match between Carson, who writes that her work focuses on the human condition, and Sobke who says that her work “explores the relationship between the human body and pop, fine art, landscapes, architecture and design.” The movement was earthy, joyous, sculptural, tender, mesmerizing, loose, improvisational, tactile, current, and occasionally confrontational.
L.A. Contemporary Dance Compan in “Terra” by Genevieve Carson & Drea Sobke – Photo by Malachi Middleton
One was free to roam around and inside the environment or sit along the sidelines to observe from a distance. The audience created how they experience this work through their own involvement. Dancers came close and looked into our eyes or gently took our hand to led us to another place. There was an inclusive section where dancers posed for audience members to take photos of them and any others who might wish to join in the group picture. Tender duets performed nearby others that were less friendly, exuding the various sides of humanity.
Part of the live music score made use of a theremin, invented by Léon Theremin in 1928. It is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer. According to Wikipedia, “The instrument’s controlling section usually consists of two metal antennas that sense the relative position of the thereminist’s hands and control oscillators for frequency with one hand, and amplitude (volume) with the other. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker.” This more modern theremin had one antenna (for frequency) that the dancers interacted with, while volume, voice and accompaniment were handled by Amjärv at his keyboard.
L.A. Contemporary Dance Company – Nicole Hagen in “Terra” by Genevieve Carson & Drea Sobke – Photo: Malachi Middleton
While watching performer Nicole Hagen move around the theremin, causing the music to oscillate or waffle, I was reminded of having the honor to perform in Merce Cunningham’s Variations V (1965) that included tall antennae situated throughout the space that effected the music as we danced nearby.
L.A. Contemporary Dance Compan in “Terra” by Genevieve Carson & Drea Sobke – Photo by Malachi Middleton
Just prior to the conclusion of Terra, a beautiful moment occurred not far from where I was standing. Carson stood motionless near Angel Tyson as she performed. Carson did not intend to draw attention away from Tyson, but the aura that surrounded her and the calm expression on her face was almost heartbreaking. This serene moment turned out to be a cue for the dancers to collect themselves and the audience around the music island for what could best be described as a ritualistic ceremony, a blessing of LACDC’s new home. As Carson put it “Terra is a celebration of new life, community, and a sense of belonging”.
The very talented cast of Terra included Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Lenin Fernandez, Nicole Hagen, Angel Tyson, JM Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz, Tiffany Sweat, and guest artist Carissa Songhorian.
Terra is extremely visual, sensual, memory stimulating, and thoughtful. It is a work that must be experienced. For information and tickets, click here.
To visit the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company website, click here.
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