Dance Repertory Theatre’s Rooted in Motion is a tapestry of original choreographic works, transporting audiences to four unique worlds. Each choreographer has their own specific aesthetic influences and dance backgrounds, expanded and emphasized by their dancers, designers and creative teams. The pieces in this dance concert investigate the power and comfort of community and the ever-evolving realization of our inner selves. They look towards the future while uncovering the past. Between the four pieces, they pull from hip hop, jazz, ballet, post-modern and Nigerian dance forms and styles. We spoke with choreographers Makaila Natividad, Vanessa Anspaugh, Sinclair Emoghene and EG Gionfriddo to understand the distinct processes and influences behind the works on stage as part of Rooted in Motion.

Continue Reading Choreographers on Their Inspiration and Discoveries as Part of ROOTED IN MOTION

Ph.D. candidate and dramaturg Georgia Beckmann reflects on the true history of the Weimar Republic at the center of Cabaret, and the questions the show continues to ask of its audiences. 

Part of what makes Cabaret so compelling is that while it is allegorical in nature, this iconic musical is also rooted in real people and real histories. Cabaret is based on a play, which is based on the auto-fictional writings of Christopher Isherwood, a gay English author who lived in Berlin, Germany from 1929 to 1933. From a first-hand yet culturally-removed vantage point, Isherwood witnessed the fall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi dictatorship. Though fictionalized, Cabaret is shrouded in truth: its characters are inspired by real people, its plot touches on real events and its structural premise of a cabaret show represents the vibrant queer nightlife of Weimar Berlin.

Continue Reading The Many Histories of Cabaret: A Dramaturg’s Process