Versus

At the heart of Versus is an exploration of conflict, psychological and physical, both with oneself and the world. In the process of making this work, Staib dissected the company’s past repertoire and discovered through lines of tension and confrontation. The dancers spent many hours analyzing the implication of touch and the provocations of aggressive behavior. John Ammerman, Associate Professor of Theater at Emory University, contributed his expertise in stage combat to help dancers create and react to combative impulses. With a movement vocabulary that is at times unsettling, at others hilarious, the work delves into absurdity, sensationalism, overt violence, and the glorification of the misery of others.

Premiere: March 21-23, 2013
Choreographer: George Staib in collaboration with the dancers 
Stage Combat Director: John Ammerman
Sound Designer & Editing: Kendall Simpson
Lighting Designer: MIke Post
Costume Designer: Cynthia Church
Dancers: Anna Bracewell, Hannah Frankel, Kevin Huang, Andre Lumpkin, Julio Medina, Claire Molla, Lacey Pinson, Bridget Roosa, Sofia Saraceno, Kala Seidenberg, Joseph Smith, Nicholas Surbey, Erik Thurmond, Kathleen Wessel, Mohammad Zaidi

"...the company of dancers create an atmosphere that is at times dark, often amusing, and consistently unsettling and physical." - BWW DanceWorld