A sponsored post by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and CounterPulse
Aside from being a source of joy and entertainment, art promises us this: to shock us or to expose a fundamental truth. And it promises to make us look at the world in a new way. The Way You Look (at Me) Tonight does all of the above using media and techniques completely unfamiliar to the stage.
Leading UK artist Claire Cunningham and international choreographer Jess Curtis perform a physical duet set against a series of philosophical questions read by UC Berkeley professor Dr. Alva Noë. This unlikely combination highlights contrast — differences in age, size, body and background — and how these contrasts shape the way we see each other and the way we see the world. In Curtis’s own words, “I’m interested in how we perform our lives, how we look at each other and how we allow ourselves to be seen.”
The Way You Look (at Me) Tonight answers questions like, how do we look at each other? How do we allow ourselves to be seen? How do our bodies shape the ways we perceive the world around us? Can we change how we see others? If you want to see what this really means, check out these stunning photos for a glimpse.
The Way You Look (at Me) Tonight marks a departure from Cunningham’s typically solo performances — the increased fragility of her bones makes partner work a rare decision. What results is a duet of trust, forged in the face of physical risk. Curtis and Cunningham force us to confront and accept disability by exploring movement in extreme proximity.
Still don’t believe us? Check out the other rave reviews:
“Walking into a dance rehearsal, one doesn’t expect to see a philosophy professor rolling on the floor doing contact improvisation. But when the choreographer is Jess Curtis, it’s best to expect the unexpected.”
— Claudia Bower, San Francisco Chronicle
“The evening was a thought-provoking, thought-challenging experience that left me more aware of my preconceptions about myself and about others, and prodded me to choose my thoughts more carefully.”
— Leigh Donlan, Ballet to the People
Curtis and Cunningham have worked hard to ensure that the performance will be highly accessible. Captioning and descriptive texts exist liberally in the work, along with sign-language interpretation, audio description and even preshow “touch tours” for the D/deaf, blind and visually impaired. The show will be not only creatively engaging but also incredibly inclusive. Don’t forget to buy tickets!
The Way You Look (at Me) Tonight will be performed at CounterPulse in San Francisco, from September 29 to October 9, 2016. Tickets are $20–$35. For tickets and information, visit www.counterpulse.org.
Created and performed by Claire Cunningham and Jess Curtis; philosophical consultation by Alva Noe; music by Matthias Herrmann; dramaturgy by Luke Pell; video design by Yoann Trellu; set/costume design by Michiel Keuper
Supported by Unlimited, with funding from Creative Scotland. Co-commissioned by Tramway Glasgow, the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the California Arts Council, Fonds Darstellende Künste e.V. and Kofinanzierungsfonds der Senatskanzlei für Kulturelle Angelegenheiten.
