"Untitled, The Black Act: Kia LaBeija"

Kia LaBeija’s first large scale performance work engages with Oskar Schlemmer’s early Bauhaus ballet piece Das triadische Ballett, a dance in three acts. LaBeija reinterprets the final, so called Black Act which relates to fantasy, mysticism, and the infinite void of the black stage. LaBeija proposes a contemporary interpretation, inserting herself as an artist working with numerous disciplines—including dance, portraiture, and performance—to investigate space, memory and personal history. Schlemmer’s extravagant costumes deliberately limited the dancers’ freedom of movement. Bodies became walking architectural structures unable to move with autonomous ease. Now, LaBeija responds and repositions Schlemmer’s critique by expanding his stage, searching for being, belonging, freedom, and wholeness.

Contemporary costumes designed in collaboration with Kyle Luu, with live music score by Kenn Michael featuring Warren Benbow.

(Untitled) The Black Act is co-commissioned with Performa and Performance Space New York and co-produced with The Josie Club – Mickalene Thomas, Racquel Chevremont, Jet Toomer and Nina Chanel Abney. Additional support provided by the Performa Commissioning Fund and Victoria Rogers. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Jerome Foundation.

Assistant Movement Director and Creative Producer, Taína Larot. Featuring Daniella Agosto, Selena Ettienne, Khristina Cayetano, Terry Lovette, and Taína Larot.

Performance starts at 7pm.