Tabula Rasa Dance Theater Premieres Two New Works: Animus Necandi and Ship of Fools
With the support of a CUNY Dance Initiative residency at the Gerald W. Lynch Thetaer, Tabula Rasa Dance Theater premieres two compelling dance works that arise from the intersection of art and social justice: Animus Necandi and Ship of Fools.
" Tabula Rasa Dance Theater just might be the future of dance.”- The Dance Enthusiast
TICKET PRICES: $45 - $85 ( $25 Students + $0.63 cents for immigrants and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families)
Running time: 60 minutes
“Animus Necandi” brings attention to the pain of families who have lost relatives condemned to the death penalty. The piece also explores the moral issues of capital punishment, which continues as a legal practice in more than 55 countries and 27 U.S. States.
"Ship of Fools” is a dance-theater parable critiquing the global rise of authoritarian leaders. The piece examines the human cost of despotism and exalts the values of knowledge, wisdom, and justice.
Both works are choreographed by Tabula Rasa’s artistic director, Mexican-born Felipe Escalante, who founded the company in 2018 with a deep commitment to addressing complex social issues onstage. Collaborators include Lausanne prize-winning composer Felix Huerta, lighting designer and Princess Grace award winner Christopher Annas-Lee, and Columbia University professor and concert pianist John Gavalchin.
A note on ticket pricing: $0.63 is the average minimum hourly wage paid to incarcerated individuals in the State of New York. By charging 63 cents for a ticket,Tabula Rasa Dance Theater brings awareness to this human rights issue and makes dance affordable to people who might otherwise be unable to experience live performances.
Tabula Rasa Dance Theater’s residency and performances at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater are part of the CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI), an expansive program that secures two vital yet scarce resources—rehearsal time and performance space—for New York City choreographers and dance companies. Now in its 10th year, CDI is a residency program that supports local artists, enhances the cultural life and education of college students, and builds new dance audiences at CUNY performing arts centers.
The CUNY Dance Initiative receives major support from the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s Charles E. Culpeper Arts & Culture program, SHS Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.cuny.edu/danceinitiative
