(Re)current Unrest

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digital recurrent unrest image with two versions of a dancer

Conceived and directed by Charles O. Anderson

Presented in partnership with Texas Performing Arts and Fusebox Festival 

(Re)current Unrest is an evening-length immersive performance installation ‘ritual’ built on the sonic foundation of Steve Reich’s three earliest works: It’s Gonna Rain (parts 1 and 2), Come Out and Pendulum. This work, created over a two-year development period, utilizes movement, media and powerful imagery to meditate on the “American Dream” and Black nihilism, born of the current racially charged moment.

An investigation of legacy, authorship and the history of Black art and protest through the lens of the erasure of the Africanist presence in Reich’s compositions, (Re)current Unrest explores the kinesthetic state of unrest -  the condition of unease, discontent and social disturbance. This physical state of agitation represents “staying woke.” To stay woke refers to an intangible level of awareness about community issues and social justice. 

Contains mature content, themes, language and imagery that some might find disturbing. Suitable for audiences 17+.

Runtime is approximately one hour with no intermission. 

View the (Re)current Unrest playbill.

ABOUT CHARLES O. ANDERSON

Charles O. Anderson, a native of Richmond, Virginia, is the head of the dance program, associate chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance and producing artistic director of the B.F.A. dance company, Dance Repertory Theatre at The University of Texas at Austin as well as artistic director of the critically-acclaimed afro-contemporary dance theatre company, dance theatre X (founded in 2003). He received his M.F.A. in Dance from Temple University (2002) in Philadelphia where he lived previously. Among his achievements in afro-contemporary choreography and dance theatre, Anderson was selected as one of "25 Artists to watch" by Dance Magazine and is a Pew Fellowship in the Arts recipient. His choreography, set upon undergraduate students, has been nationally showcased twice at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through the American College Dance Association, and he has also been recognized for outstanding achievement in experimental dance theatre by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. 

Learn more about Charles O. Anderson and (Re)current Unrest here.


Performances 

October 16 at 7:30 p.m. CST
October 17 at 7:30 p.m. CST

Performances of (Re)current Unrest have now concluded. To be added to our listserve to receive project updates on (Re)current Unrest, please contact us here

If you would still like to support this project and the work of Texas Theatre and Dance, you may do so here. (Please note that this support does not include the ability to stream the performance).

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