In a career spanning three decades, ‘Punk ballerina’ Karole Armitage has continuously bridged contemporary ballet with the worlds of visual art and fashion. This week, she brings her hybrid choreography to Abrons Arts Center with Werk!: The Armitage Gone! Variety Show, a multimedia extravaganza that features the US premiere of Rave, her celebratory work for 26 dancers that mixes capoeira, voguing, and the Chinese martial art wushu.
Armitage created Rave in 2001 as a response to the tragic events surrounding 9/11—she was in France at the time serving as the resident choreographer for Ballet de Lorraine. The tragedy served as a point of departure for Armitage—rather than be preoccupied with mourning, she chose to honor the dead with a “carnivalesque sense of celebration,” a unique combination of ball, ballet and carnival.
In keeping with the celebratory spirit of the evening—and characteristic of her embrace of visual art—Armitage has invited several celebrated visual artist friends and peers to contribute short pieces to the program. Artists include Will Cotton, Doug Fitch, Kalup Linzy, Aïda Ruilova, and William Wegman, plus one of his famous dogs dancing! Guest dancers from the Ailey School will also join the company.
466 Grand Street // May 2, 4, 5 // 7:3pm // $30
