fence
fence is a journey into a messy world of power struggles and dismissed histories, and an examination of how "otherness" can rob our power or become its source. Founded upon dramatic, life-changing events encountered as a child in Iran, George Staib and his company embarked on their most political and socially driven work to date.
Staib's intensely physical movement vocabulary bonds with traditional Iranian dance, exploring unrest felt personally and globally. Through rich and compelling collaborations with musicians; composers; and scenic, lighting and digital designers, audiences become woven in the work, giving shape to the conversation around what takes your power and what gives you power.
fence has toured to the American Dance Festival at Duke University, Florida State University, the Alabama Dance Festival, Temple University and Oxford College. Learn more.
photo © Christina Massad
Premiere: October 3, 2019 Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emory University
Choreographer: George Staib in collaboration with Sarah Hillmer and the dancers Dramaturg & Rehearsal Director: Sean Nguyen-Hilton
Sound Designer & Composer: Ben Coleman
Lighting Designer: Gregory Catellier
Scenic Designer: Sara W. Culpepper
Costume Designer: Tamara Cobus
Technical Artist: Into Outof Studio
Dancers: Anna Bracewell Crowder, Nicole Johnson, Jimmy Joyner, James LaRussa, Britanie Leland, Chrystola Luu, Gianna Mercandetti, Laura Morton, Amelia Reiser, Virginia Spinks
Videography: Hal Jacobs | HJacobs Creative
“As a work, fence resists assimilation through classification. It was deeply affecting and rhetorically expressive…” - Robin Wharton, Art Papers
“…a powerful and compelling rumination on power, trauma and the things that separate us.” - The Emory Wheel
fence was 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.
Production residency funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
