In this residency, choreographer Lionel Popkins, will develop Reorient the Orient, a multifaceted exploration blending performance, installation, and social critique. Responding to the complex history of interculturalism, Popkin amplifies the presence of brown South Asian bodies in contemporary art and performance. The final work will create an immersive public sharing across Dance Place's theater, lobby, and studios, community members will be invited to explore freely, choosing their path and encounters.

'A&I' is a new dance and multimedia live production between five performers and a solitary AI interface (Luna) that uses smart home technology on a theatrical scale. The work questions how we see and care for the technologies we have created, which hold up the fragile ecosystems of modern society. Engaged in embodied conversations of their hopes and dreams, the performers and Luna are led into situations where they must see each other ‘face-to-face’–– together creating emotionally driven digital and sonic landscapes that reference the nostalgia of what it means to be a 21st century human.
The work evokes a ghostly ephemeral tone at times, as Luna uses the intangible elements of memory, light, and sound to hold the performers during the piece. Like the voicemail of a loved one who has passed away, the work taps into the timelessness and the impermanence of shared human experience and gives focus to the hopeful and ominous future we are creating with AI.

Dance Place is excited to bring back New Releases, a mixed-bill showcase designed for DMV based emerging artists to grow in their choreographic practice, receive feedback, and present new works!

Everyone I (N)Ever Loved is an exploration of the duality between queer joy and loneliness and how they truly are two sides of the same coin. Told through intimate vignettes of the dancers on stage these themes will be investigated and explored, through movement, spoken word, light and sound. This work is supported by the Dance Place Co-Presentation Series.

Heart Stück Bernie’s newest creation, Wolver Maroon is a feminine howl at the blood moon. From intimate solo reflections to a vibrant ensemble of 30, the performance delves into themes of caretaking, loss, and the exquisite intensity of existence. Featuring visionary art direction by Ben Furgal and electrifying music by Dan Deacon, the stage comes alive with unexpected props and surprises, including a first aid kit for existential questions that holds us all accountable for day on the other side of night. This presentation is supported by the Carla Fund for Choreography and Performance, established by the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation.

nowhere landing is a compelling trio featuring current Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane performers Shane Larson and Hui Wang Zhang, alongside alum Christina Robson. This dynamic work navigates themes of displacement, reunion, isolation, dissonance, and fellowship through a blend of rigorous choreography and structured improvisational scores. This work is a part of Dance Place’s Co-Presentation Series.

Photo by David DowlingAug 7 & Aug 8 at 7pmThe Energizers Creative Arts Summer Camp is a 6-week all day summer program on the Dance Place campus for ages 5-19. The program consists of a creative arts curriculum utilizing dance as a central theme for artistic expression and social-emotional learning. The Energizers Creative Arts Camp […]