SPLIT BILL #41
STEPHEN SHYNES
GRACE YI-LI TONG
NOVEMBER 30 & DECEMBER 1, 2023
8PM
LIMITED WAITLIST + FLOOR SEATING AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR
AT-THE-DOOR
$25 / $30 SUPERFAN
STEPHEN SHYNES
suRREALIST
suRREALIST* is an exploration of the intricate realms within our conscious and subconscious minds, unraveling the struggle between the tangible world of reality and the boundless landscapes of our dreams. Through a series of episodes, this work invites the viewers to explore not only Stephen’s perspective but also to traverse one’s own thoughts, leaving room for introspection and reflection on an open-ended synopsis. During the duet, the motion development unfolds from character studies and genuine life experiences. The narrative, shaped by the interplay of reality and dreams, is like a dance between the conscious and the subconscious. Each step and gesture tell a story, drawing the audience into a realm where the boundaries between what is real and imagined blur.
Stephen Shynes is an interdisciplinary artist from Washington, D.C. He began his dance training at Duke Ellington School of Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Montclair State University in 2016. Shynes is a creator, story teller, director, teacher, and collaborator. When creating, he enjoys exploring all genres of art to communicate his message. His choreography has been presented at Dixon Place, Martha Graham Studio, The Public Theater, The Joffrey Ballet School, SMUSH Gallery, Orange Dance Festival, In Full Color, The Tank, NOosphere Arts, and the ACE Hotel. He has taught at TRI-C Dance Academy, Gallim Dance, Jersey City Library, Mark Morris Dance Group, Montclair State University, The Graham School, Arts High School, and several studios in the Tri-state area. He is currently a teaching artist at The Apollo Theater, a resident artist at Triskelion Arts, and at CUNY College Dance Initiative.
@stephen.shynes
www.stephen.shynes
*Please note this piece contains portions of nudity.
Photo by Whitney Browne
GRACE YI-LI TONG
GUTDANCE
GUTDANCE is a make-believe ceremony excavating memories of homespace and hurt from the body. Integrating clowning, “reverse karaoke,” facedance, soft sculpture, and an original score, this new interdisciplinary work imagines a universe built from things once trapped within. The performers turn their bodies inside-out and transform their innerwear to outerwear, playing house in this world of their own design. GUTDANCE is a flirtation of opposites: reality and fantasy, pain and healing, obvious and unseen.
GUTDANCE is created by Grace Yi-Li Tong and Micaela Pirzio-Biroli in collaboration with Phoebe Frances and Sydney Shu-Yu Chow. GUTDANCE was originally created in Amsterdam, Netherlands with the support of the Netherland-America Foundation. This is GUTDANCE’s U.S. premiere.
Grace Yi-Li Tong (she/her) is an Asian-American movement and performance artist originally from the Pacific Northwest. Influenced by clowning, paper collage, puppetry, and contemporary dance theater, her work ridiculously collages “regular” events onstage to decontextualize bodily and social identity, fairytale, and comedy. In 2021, Grace graduated summa cum laude from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. She now works as a choreographer, performer, educator, and arts admin.
Recently, Grace has been in residence at ReMo Studios (Amsterdam), and has presented choreographic work at Arts on Site (2023), Art Cake Dance Series II (2022), Laguardia Performing Arts Center with the Emerging Choreographer Series (2022), and Governor’s Island (2021) with The Craft: NY. Film credits include choreographic collaborations with brands Tod’s Shoes and Yayi Chen.
Photo by Anthony Barton