From a Distant Past, which will premiere in February 2024 at two venues in Long Island, is a new iteration of “Morning Afternoon Evening,” for 2024. This new performance piece consists of recorded text from Kyra Jucovy’s poem, spoken by actor Tzena Nicole over background music, dance, and new projected imagery. In this intimate iteration, including 5 dancers, the viewers are the protagonist, given a voice by the words of the actor and a body through the movement of the dancers, who also portray her companions. Dancers include Abby Dias, Beth Jucovy, Hope Kroog, Emily Butera and Albena Kervanbashieva.
The work has rich and varied dynamics and includes beautiful and eerie depictions of nature through words, movement, costumes, lighting and imagery. It encompasses timeless and timely themes of destruction leading to creation, darkness to light, endings to beginnings. Included in this iteration is Isadora Duncan repertory in Grecian tunics, which adds to the mythic overtones expressed through movement, tableaux, and lighting. These overtones reinforce the theme of cycles: of individuals, humanity, eras, universes-from the eternal past, and perhaps on into the eternal future. The work inspires viewers to reflect on the connection between the cycles of our lives and the cycles of the universe-and even the possibility of other universes, past and future.
This timeless work always seems to transform in meaning as times change and as the world takes on new challenges. The poem and performance reflects on three concepts which drive the journey on: Gravity, Desire and Violence. While Gravity and Desire are easier concepts for the protagonist to accept, violence is much more difficult. The work has several scenes devoted to reflections on violence. Preparing it now, with our current challenges, has been deeply meaningful for all involved. We are excited to learn how our viewers will interpret the piece-in its current form, in our current world. Here is a trailer, a video of excerpts of our work in progress this year. Parts of this video are from sections of the work presented in showcases, other parts are from rehearsals. Music in the trailer is by Gretchen Mulkey, inspired by Evening the film.
Dance Visions NY will premiere “From a Distant Past” at venues on Long Island in February.
- February 8 at 7 PM. Great Neck Community Education, 30 Cumberland Av. Great Neck 11020 Register at 516 441 4949
- February 11 at 2 PM. Jericho Library: 1 Merry Lane, Jericho, 11753. For reservations: 516 935 6790