“The moment I entered the theater, the absurd, warm, confusing, humorous, and performative world had already begun. Absorbed in what was unfolding in front of me (real hair being cut off and breakfast cereal eaten), I forgot my friends beside me and felt myself join, instead, the friends before me, living onstage.”
“I was left spellbound. The work seamlessly blends the complexities of what it means to be alive, to exist in our world, and the effort it takes to find love and comfort—both for yourself and with others—intertwining humor and tragedy with visionary and technically flawless execution. As always, 2nd Best Dance Company exceeded all expectations.”
This work walks the line between dance performance and nonlinear play; leaning into text and movement, 2nd Best examines the sensation of being stuck – in a place, a memory, a thought pattern, or a life headed in one particular direction. The performers–Courtney Barth, Hannah Garner, Hsiao-Jou Tang, Will Noling and Ryan Yamauchi–employ tactics both sensical and ridiculous to confront their questions: half-understood science helps to reason away their fears, invented definitions for well known concepts make sense of their world, imagined and real obstacles help them contemplate what gets in the way. With very serious play, the cast invites audiences to witness as they attempt to maneuver a landscape of ephemeral materials: vanishing ideas, cracked foundations, starting over, and lots of cardboard.
This project was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
NY Times Listing // Dance Magazine Listing
Written, directed, choreographed by Hannah Garner in collaboration with the performers
Dancers: Courtney Barth, Hannah Garner, Hsiao-Jou Tang, Will Noling, Ryan Yamauchi
Costumes: CM Carney
Directorial Assistance: Patrick Garner
Lighting: Matt Morris
Music: Day by Day written by Sammy Cahn and performed by the Four Freshmen, Oooh-Wow written and performed by Roy Montrell and His Band, Songs My Mother Taught Me written by Antonín Dvořák and performed by Nellie Melba, O Solitude! My Sweetest Choice, Z. 406 composed by Henry Purcell and performed by Nancy Argenta, Mi par d'udir ancora composed by Georges Bizet and performed by Enrico Caruso, Amor ti vieta composed by Umberto Giordano and performed by Enrico Caruso, Chilly Winds written by John Stewart and performed by The Kingston Trio, Our Distance written and performed by Helios, editing/mixing/musical support from Sean McVerry
Premiere: November 2-4, 2023 @ Gibney 280 presented by Gibney Presents and Nigel Campbell
Special thanks to Triskelion Arts, The Garner Family, and Alexa Carroll. VERY special thanks to Julia Antinozzi.
The Box Dance made possible by NYSCA, Gibney, Triskelion Arts, and Chen Dance Center.
Photos: Alice Chacon
Video: Alexa Carroll and Hannah Garner, Isabella Pagano
