2024 Production Residency: August & Co.
MARCH 2024

TRANSVERBERATION; the act of beating, striking, or piercing through.

Interchangeably known as Religious Ecstasy, this tradition within Judeo-Christian mysticism recounts the experience of a subject receiving “the love of God”. It is described as an innate act of violence, penetrating its entrants through their heart in a fiery display. Though traumatic in nature, recipients of this endeavor also delight in its gratification… It is ecstasy in the presence of agony, the behavioral motivations of pain and pleasure becoming one.

TRANSVERBERATION by August & Company is a movement-based rendering of this consecrated hedonism; anguish held with reverence, arousal begotten by torment.

“The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it.” - St. Teresa de Ávila (c. 1559)

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Erick Montes
OCTOBER 2023

Small:2Big, the end of theory. is an innovative and dynamic project that masterfully blends sound and movement to create a rich, immersive experience. Using carefully curated materials and textures, the project boldly explores complex and existential themes such as willpower, guilt, blame, passion, aversion, and the enduring impact of trauma and memory. With a keen eye for storytelling and a bold artistic vision, "Small:2Big" fearlessly charts new territory, breaking down barriers and challenging conventional notions of what is possible. This project demands attention and respect, and we are committed to representing the seemingly impossible in a way that is both powerful and accessible to all.

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NVA & Guests
NOVEMBER 2023

The Fear Project is a compelling dance theatre stage work, where dancers embark on a profound exploration of Fear, Conflict, Identity, and Self-Love. Playfulness and darkness intertwine, creating an emotional landscape that spans from sheer happiness to gripping fear. Audience participation blurs the boundaries, engaging viewers mentally and physically, fostering a deep connection to the themes explored. Composer Benjamin Louis Brody's ethereal music of his album “Floating into Infinity” enhances the journey, seamlessly blending with the dancers' movements. Prepare for a transformative experience as this immersive performance unravels the depths of human emotion.

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Jamal Jackson Dance Company
NOVEMBER 2023

TEETH is a dance and theater work that takes a classroom of young students on a journey to explore their identities, experiences, and roles in shaping the United States of America during its quest for independence at the end of the 18th century.

During their Curriculum Study Unit on George Washington, Ona, William, Giles, and Margaret are visited by a Griot Tooth Fairy. They are transported in time where they see their connections to the Battle of Trenton, the various communities within the 13 colonies, as well as their close relationships with Martha and George Washington. As the first student loses his loose tooth, the Griot Tooth Fairy says…

Within these molars lie the history
Of those who created this story
There will be no chapters written about them
No selfies on coins
No statues carved from the earth
No documentation of their birth
But their spirit will be felt
Through their heart-felt speech
A bond despite the bonds
A connection through teeth

These children embody their past as former enslaved members on Mount Vernon, but more importantly see their past selves as humans who achieved greatness in building community despite their enslavement. Giles, one of the few people who traveled all 13 colonies, helped keep families connected, William Lee, crossed the Delaware to help win the war, Ona Judge, defied her enslavers, (The Washingtons) escaping bondage to start a new life.

The voices of these particular people and so many others are heard within Washington’s many speeches. Their teeth were purchased and fashioned as dentures for Washington so that he could deliver addresses to the nation. This story focuses on their impact on our democracy.

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