The Emory Dance Program presents a first look at “ARARAT, the beginning” at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts with performances from Jan. 26 – 28. The weekend also will include community workshops and post-show discussions related to the production.
Choreographed by Emory dance professor George Staib, “ARARAT, the beginning” examines the stories, facts, implications and subsequent diaspora that followed the Armenian Genocide. The production speaks to a collective understanding that “place” is an ethereal notion and one that is stronger than land ownership, stronger even than political control. As such, “ARARAT, the beginning” is likewise a celebration of the countenance and resilience of the human spirit.
“ARARAT, the beginning” will be performed by the Atlanta-based contemporary dance company staibdance. Collaborators Gregory Catellier, Ben Coleman, Milton Cordero, Amelia Hayes and Rosalind Staib join the production.
In addition to the program performances, staibdance and ArtsATL have partnered to provide opportunities for the community to engage in curated and facilitated conversations and workshops surrounding contemporary dance and art.
Performances
Thursday, Jan. 26, Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Dance Studio
Cost: $25 ($10 for Emory students)
Purchase tickets: Thursday performance; Friday performance; Saturday performance
Post-show Discussions
Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28
In partnership with ArtsATL, senior editor Gillian Renault and staibdance artistic director George Staib will host a post-show discussion immediately following the performances.
Build the Engine
Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m.
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Dance Studio
Cost: $10
All bodies are welcome to join this movement-based workshop. Register here.
Embrace aspects of the creative process that brought “ARARAT, the beginning” to life. Move, create and encounter some of the choreographic material that anchors our work.
Led by staibdance artistic director George Staib alongside company teaching artists.
Move Your Story
Saturday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m.
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Dance Studio
Cost: $10
All bodies are welcome to join this movement-based workshop. Register here.
Encounter the potency of finding self in the creative work of others. Through prompts that respond to the notion of “beginning again,” participants will take a deep dive into the creative process by developing abstract scenarios with movement and text.
Led by staibdance artistic director George Staib alongside company teaching artists.
“ARARAT, the beginning” is made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Latham Foundation, New Music USA’s New Music Organizational Development Fund, the Emory University Research Committee and the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts.