Heaven, Costume and set design, 2009-2010
“The obsessive detail of the designer Emmett Ramstad is admirable, perhaps devotional”
-NY times, 2009
Synopsis: Both borrowing from and subverting religious rituals, Minneapolis’ Morgan Thorson, a rising force on the national contemporary dance scene, breaks choreographic conventions in order to uncover the universal allure of transformation through Heaven’s holy performance trinity: dance, music, and light. Created as an ensemble dance and vocal piece through a Walker residency, Heaven explores the various manifestations of ecstasy—emotional, physical, and communal—present both in religious practices and in the ritualistic nature of dance in performance. Low’s Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker will perform the music and vocal orchestration they wrote for the work.
Choreography: Morgan Thorson
Lighting Design: Lenore Doxee
Sound: LOW
Costume and Set Design: Emmett Ramstad
Performers: Jessica Cressey, Justin Jones, Hannah Kramer, Elliot Durko Lynch, Mimi Parker, Chris Schlichting, Karen Sherman, Alan Sparhawk, Max Wirsing and Renee Copeland
Venues: Diverse Works, Houston, Texas. October 16-17, 2009
PS122, New York, New York. October 25-30, 2009
Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 4-5, 2010
On the Boards, Seattle, Washington. April 1-4, 2010
Photos by Cameron Wittig and Ryutaro Mishima
-NY times, 2009
Synopsis: Both borrowing from and subverting religious rituals, Minneapolis’ Morgan Thorson, a rising force on the national contemporary dance scene, breaks choreographic conventions in order to uncover the universal allure of transformation through Heaven’s holy performance trinity: dance, music, and light. Created as an ensemble dance and vocal piece through a Walker residency, Heaven explores the various manifestations of ecstasy—emotional, physical, and communal—present both in religious practices and in the ritualistic nature of dance in performance. Low’s Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker will perform the music and vocal orchestration they wrote for the work.
Choreography: Morgan Thorson
Lighting Design: Lenore Doxee
Sound: LOW
Costume and Set Design: Emmett Ramstad
Performers: Jessica Cressey, Justin Jones, Hannah Kramer, Elliot Durko Lynch, Mimi Parker, Chris Schlichting, Karen Sherman, Alan Sparhawk, Max Wirsing and Renee Copeland
Venues: Diverse Works, Houston, Texas. October 16-17, 2009
PS122, New York, New York. October 25-30, 2009
Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 4-5, 2010
On the Boards, Seattle, Washington. April 1-4, 2010
Photos by Cameron Wittig and Ryutaro Mishima