July 3, 2013
Warriors and Queens: Radical Stagings of Gender and Sexuality in Dance
Thursday, April 16 at 8:00 PM
Lab Theatre
Adjacent to west side of the Winship Drama Building
300 East 23rd Street
University of Texas at Austin
Free of Charge. No reservations accepted.
For Immediate Release:
“Warriors and Queens: Radical Stagings of Gender and Sexuality in Dance,” will present critically-acclaimed dance artists from Chicago — Breakbone DanceCo and Matthew Hollis — in an evening of radical dance theater that fearlessly tangles with traditional gender and sex roles. The performance begins at 8:00 PM in the Lab Theatre, adjacent to the Winship Drama Building, on the University of Texas campus; it will be followed by a discussion with the artists moderated by Dr. Rebecca Rossen (Theatre and Dance), who curated the event, and Dr. Ann Cvetkovich (Women's and Gender Studies).
Breakbone DanceCo. coalesces intensely physical movement, high-impact video, extreme sound-scores, and a punk-rock aesthetic to redefine the parameters of contemporary dance. Charged with an arsenal of raw energy and ferocious athleticism, this all-female troupe, directed by powerhouse performer Atalee Judy, offers up a multisensory experience that approaches revolution. For their Austin debut, Breakbone will present excerpts from Datastarve, a stunning commentary on fashion and gender, logotype(03), a gritty and propulsive solo, and Jeanne: Visions of Light (2007), a futuristic take on Joan of Arc.
"This amazing ensemble is about as far removed from pretty, artful choreography as the human body can endure… But that punk intensity, that anti-pretty aesthetic only begins to describe the gutsiness and ferocious imagination of artistic director Atalee Judy."
– Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune
With a sly wit and outrageous persona, Matthew Hollis creates provocative physical monologues that weave together dance, theater, and physical comedy to hilariously and poignantly chronicle his experiences as a gay man. For his Austin debut, Hollis will present The Day My Penis… a humorous solo about cross-gender identification and family dynamics, and excerpts from Let's Go Love a postmodern mélange of dance and cheerleading that offers a madcap commentary on love.
"Bittersweet and truthful," "Riotous,"
"A generous serving of soulful styling and social commentary."
– Chicago Tribune
This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance,
Performance as Public Practice, and the Center for Women's and Gender Studies.