Time and distance are both measurable and finite in the technical world. Yet, in our minds and hearts, they feel infinite, impossible, abstract and immeasurable. Squiggly lines or circles that cannot be locked down, finding their way between two points.

To create this sprawling, sandy dance, we used our own stories in which time felt unusual; moments that extend forever in one minute, or when precious seconds click by too quickly. We also used inspirations from two brilliant poets who deeply interrogate the world around them, bringing it back to us in well placed words: Rumi and Billy Collins.

Not only did the translation of Rumi’s poem by Coleman Barks help us find our way in the topics and content, but the original Persian characters he would have been writing in became a beautiful, curving inspiration for the movement of this work.

Finally — Quantum Entanglement Theory — or, as Einstein said in frustration: “spooky action at a distance.” The theory that two particles, when measured, will stay in relationship to one another at any distance. From a romantic’s point of view...those particles, or molecules, or people that affect us at any distance, immediately, with a connection that seems to go on forever.

This work is for them - may neither time, nor distance keep us from staying connected.

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.”
~ Jalal al-Din Rumi
as translated by Coleman Barks.

In Pharsi (Persian) :
از کفر و ز اسلام برون صحرائی است
ما را به میان آن فضا سودائی است
عارف چو بدان رسید سر را بنهد
نه کفر و نه اسلام و نه آنجا جائی است

Poems referenced by Billy Collins: “The Chairs That No One Sits In”, “Cheerios”

Venues Performed

Iona College, New Rochelle, NY (April 2018), Friends of Waterfront Seattle, Waterfront Park, Seattle (August 2018), John Jay College Rooftop Plaza, New York, NY (September 2017), Dance Safari, Riverside Park South, NYC (September 2017), INSITU Site Specific Dance Festival, Long Island City, Queens, NY (August 2017), Gibney Dance: Dance-Mobile, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY (July 2017)

Credits

Choreography by Melissa Riker, in constant collaboration with the dancers

Zoe Allocco
Cassandra Cotta
Michael Greenberg
Michelle Micca
Therese Ronco
Marion Spencer

Costume design and construction by Asa Thornton
Set design and cutting by Celeste Cooning, Celeste Cooning Studio
Composition, arrangement, band direction by Kate Jaworski
Composition and arrangement by Becky Turro
Kate Jaworski on vocals
Hilary Hawke on vocals, ukulele, banjo, guitar
Philippa Thompson on vocals, fiddle
Ian Riggs on upright bass

Kinesis Project is a highly collaborative company, the work was created with the performers listed above as well as past performer Zachary L. Denison.