Drawing from all-too-familiar experience dreaded by many, choreographer and visual artist Laura Peterson examines the eponymous FAILURE in the context of both personal and national experience of America, circa 2017. An original installation/performance, showing June 29-July 1 at Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Square South, Manhattan), takes Peterson’s signature formal rigor and visual wizardry to the previously unexamined territory. Tickets are available on “pay what you can” basis and can be obtained online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/failure-by-laura-peterson-choreography-tickets-32996413160 or at the door.
What is failure, and how do we deal with it – as individuals, and as communities? In FAILURE, Peterson uses choreographic language and sculptural design to probe the national consciousness in the aftermath of 2016 Presidential election. Peterson zeroes in on the overwhelming pressure to compete, which is at the heart of the American way of life. Is a small defeat less devastating than a colossal mistake? What is the real outcome of the “winner takes all?” Featuring Peterson’s trademark blend of visual art and performance, FAILURE is an immersive performance structured around giant paper sculptures in which the audiences are co-responsible for the shape and the outcome of the performance.
FAILURE consist of five sections: Parade; Duets of perfection; The Aftermath; Remove; and Hoppapocalypse.
The work is conceived, directed and choreographed by Laura Peterson and will be performed by Jennifer Sydor, Darrin Wright, Jo-anne Lee, and Laura Peterson. FAILURE features production design by Laura Peterson and lighting design by Ayumu Poe Saegusa; set was created in collaboration with Jon Pope.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/53652168
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Laura Peterson is a NYC-based dance artist creating works that challenge the limits of physicality and reframe performance spaces. Influenced by the visual art of the 1970’s, she creates visually arresting installations simultaneously and organically when devising the choreography. Her performances have included large-scale paintings, 1000 sq ft of living lawn, a 16ft tall paper sculpture, and other giant structures. Peterson’s work has been performed in the US at venues such as The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, and internationally.
Jon Pope (Production Manager) has worked Laura Peterson Choreography for the last 10 years. Jon is a member of Public Works Collaborative. He holds a BS from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. A long time ago, Jon was a fisheries biologist for the State of Alaska.
Darrin Wright (Dancer) has worked with The Metropolitan Opera, Susan Marshall, Terry Creach, Jane Comfort, Bill Young/Colleen Thomas, Yanira Castro, Jack Ferver, Antonio Ramos, Leslie Cuyjet, Doug Varone, Amber Sloan and Nancy Bannon. He received a Bessie Award for his 2009 work with A Canary Torsi' Dark Horse/Black Forest.
Jennifer Sydor (Dancer) has worked with choreographers such as Vanessa Walters, Jill Sigman, Stefanie Nelson, Nia Love, and many more. She is a dancer with The Metropolitan Opera where she has worked with Tony Award-winning directors and has appeared in Live in HD broadcasts and PBS's Great Performances. She has performed in Doug Elkins' Bessie Award-winning Fraulein Maria, and David Parker’s Nut/Cracked. Sydor was on international tour with the avant-garde pop band Fischerspooner (in collaboration with The Wooster Group).
Jo-anne Lee (Dancer) was a longtime member of Brian Brooks Moving Company. She also has appeared on staged combat productions, including Timothy Haskell’s The Jaded Assassin and Last Life. Her acting credits include a co-starring role in the CBS series Blue Bloods and as a lead in Eric McGinty’s Wallabout.
