Hancher hosts a world premiere this week: the multimedia dance theatre production Soil, directed by University of Iowa Assistant Professor of Dance Michael Sakamoto. The final performance is tonight, Feb. 9 at 7:30 pm in Strauss Hall, an intimate space that is making its debut as a theatre. Tickets are $10-35.
Soil developed over several years to become the hour-long work it is today, adding more dancers and perspectives to the mix. The work, now performed by a trio, is autobiographical, a composite of the dancers’ experiences of immigrating from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam and bridging the gap between their old and new homes.
Photo:
JaNelle Weatherford
Dance
Soil
Conceived, co-written, and directed by Michael Sakamoto
Presented by
Hancher
Tickets
Adult: $35
College Student: $10
Youth: $10
This performance is a Group I event - a 20% discount is applied when five or more Hancher events are purchased at the same time. More about event discounts.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 7:30 pm
Thursday, February 9, 2017, 7:30 pm
World Premiere
Co-choreographed by its performers—Cambodian traditional and contemporary dancer Chey Chankethya, Thai traditional and contemporary dancer Waewdao Sirisook, and Vietnamese-American contemporary dancer Nguyen Nguyen—Soil investigates crises in three Southeast Asian cultures while exploring transnational, East-West identities via personal narratives and choreography. Soil features original music by Reiko Imanishi and Shinichi Isohata. Co-creator Michael Sakamoto is a Professor of Dance at the University of Iowa.
Each performance will be followed by a discussion with the artists.
The presentation of Soil is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Season Sponsor: WEST MUSIC
Event Sponsors:
General Hancher Partners
Hancher Circle Donors
Residency Events
Open to the Public
Monday, February 6, 2017, 12:00 pm
Monday, February 6, 2017, 6:30 pm
News
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Iowa Now - Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Rebekah Kowal says she didn’t have much exposure to dance growing up.
It wasn’t until the native of Littleton, Colorado, spent time at Connecticut College, a private liberal arts college in New London, Connecticut, where she was a two-sport athlete in tennis and swimming, that she discovered her love for dance.
Now, the newly appointed chair of the University of Iowa Department of Dance is on a path to grow and improve the department and provide new and enriching opportunities for its students. Kowal, who has taught dance at the UI for 16 years, was named department head in June.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Paris Young in advance at (319) 467-4849 or at paris-sissel@uiowa.edu.